New Pastor Begins July 1st

Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball has appointed a new pastor—Rev. Robert Hernan—to serve Jesus at Monaca UMC and our sister church, First UMC of Aliquippa.

Born and raised in Franklin, Pa., Rev. Rob earned his BA in Humanities with a specialization in Speech Communication and Theatre from Clarion University of Pa. (now PennWest Clarion). He continued at Clarion as a graduate student in English before leaving the program to attend seminary.

Rev. Rob graduated from Methodist Theological School in Ohio with an M.Div. in 1998. He worked his way through high school, college, and seminary, taking active roles with youth ministries, radio, and theatre programs, to name a few.

During Rev. Rob’s time as a student local pastor in Ohio, he married his wife, Bridgot, and adopted Bridgot’s daughter, Shelby. The Hernans later welcomed their two younger children, Alianne (Aae) and Cabot (Lucas).

Rev. Rob served at several churches in the Franklin, Johnstown, and Kane Districts of the Western Pa. United Methodist Church Conference, before his most recent appointment at College Avenue UMC in Beaver, Pa., located directly across the river from Monaca UMC.

More about Rev. Rob and the Hernan family may be found on the WPAUMC Conference website here.

Your continued prayers will be appreciated over the next several weeks as the Sands and Hernan families and all of the affected congregations prepare for this change.

We hope you will join us in giving Pastor Jim a fond farewell and Rev. Rob a warm welcome!