Lead Pastor
pastorjim@woodridgeumc.org
On July 1st, 2010, WUMC welcomed the Rev. Dr. James Galbreath and Deacon Beth Galbreath as our new Pastor and Deacon. Rev. Galbreath has served North Illinois Conference United Methodist churches in Chicago’s Roseland and West Pullman area, in inner city Rockford, in small town Pecatonica, in suburban Evergreen Park, and, most recently, for 11 years in the county-seat town of Princeton, IL.
Rev. Galbreath earned his B.A. in Religion/Philosophy from Illinois Wesleyan, received his M.Div. from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, and earned his D.Min. from McCormick Theological Seminary. Rev. Galbreath has been an active participant in District and Conference activities including Rockford District Mission Secretary, Rockford Urban Ministries Board President, Northern Illinois Conference Computer Users Group, Northern Illinois Conference Board of Global Ministries Treasurer, Northern Illinois Conference Communications Chairperson for eight years, DeKalb District Committee on Ministry, Southern District/Rockford District/DeKalb District Councils on Ministry/Connectional Tables, and currently Supervisory Committee chairperson of the Board of Directors of the statewide United Methodist Ministries Credit Union
Rev. Galbreath has been an active participant in community affairs, including Clergy Associations in Chicago’s Southside, Rockford, Pecatonica, Evergreen Park and Princeton (10 years as president), Rockford Housing Options Taskforce convener, Pecatonica Ambulance chaplain, local hospital volunteer chaplaincies, Little Company of Mary Hospital Mission Committee, Christian/Muslim dialogue in Evergreen Park, a “let’s talk” dialogue on diversity issues in Evergreen Park, initial support for creation of and active volunteer for the Bureau County Health and Welfare Clinic (a donation-supported clinic supporting the uninsured), and various issue-oriented groups over the years.
Rev. Galbreath has also been a vigorous advocate for mission, and dived into that area of ministry in Woodridge United Methodist Church by actively participating in a two week mission trip to the Philippines in his first year in the WUMC congregation. He regularly helps with PADS shelter staffing along with others from WUMC. He strongly endorses the missional sister church relationship that WUMC has with Trinity UMC, Joliet, and has helped with food donations and summer tutoring there, along with other WUMC members. Past areas of mission involvement have included Board of Global Ministries participation, a Mission Study trip to Mozambique and Zimbabwe with Bishop Duecker, initiating mission work trips in two local churches he previously served that included work at Crow Creek Reservation in South Dakota, Red Bird Mission in Kentucky, and Henderson Settlement in Kentucky, a firm commitment to paying each church's apportionment in full, and being a full Rainbow Covenant congregation.
Mentoring new clergy candidates in another arena of Rev. Galbreath's service over many years. He serves both as a mentor for candidates going through the process of preparation to become elders and deacons, and also as a clergy mentor for those who have advanced to the level of "provisional elders." This work involves working with developing clergy in the areas of theological and Biblical study and examination, as well as dialogue on church administration and pastoral care in the congregation.
Rev. Galbreath has also been a strong advocate for relief work by helping to organize a District-wide food donation drive for Russia, helping fill a container for Angola, securing donations of medical supplies for hospitals in Mozambique, sponsoring collections center in Princeton for Katrina relief supplies and currently for Haiti supplies, and delivering relief donations to Sager Brown Center in Louisiana and Chatham in Illinois.
Rev. Galbreath has a wonderful family. His wife, Beth Galbreath, is an ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church She is a gifted Biblical storyteller and trainer in storytelling, a dedicated digital culture ministry practitioner and advocate, a strong supporter of mission (organized relief supply donations), and provided pastoral support for 2 years to the Malden United Methodist Church congregation. Beth earned her B.A. from Illinois Wesleyan, a M.A. from Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern, and a M.A. from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary plus Certification in Spiritual Formation. Beth has been active in church work in many settings. She has had several careers, and is currently the contract programmer for the Northern Illinois Conference. She is an amazing wife, mother, and “grandmom”.
Rev. Galbreath is very proud of his children. His daughter Lee and her husband, Dan Sipp, reside in Durham NC. Lee is a legal secretary, massage therapist and trained in opera. Rev. Galbreath's son, Dr. Kurt Galbreath, lives in Marquette MI with his wife Kim and their son Ian. Kurt is Assistant Professor of Biology with a specialty in parasitology at Northern Michigan University. Kim is an experienced Junior High science teacher now undertaking graduate study at NMU. Ian is just beginning his academic endeavors, but is bright, talented, and resourceful.