Welcome Pastor Nancy!

On July 1, 2025, Fort Hill UMC welcomed our new pastor, Rev. Nancy C. Johnson. Nancy has served in ministry with the United Methodist Church for over 35 years, in both part-time and full-time capacities, in many different settings and in all kinds of churches. In addition to pastoral ministry, she has served as an elementary and middle school teacher in both public and private schools, in Christian Education ministries, as an Associate Minister of Programming, as founder, director and teacher of a United Methodist Preschool, and as a Minister of Music.  Nancy entered part-time pastoral ministry on the former Lynchburg District in 2010, and transitioned to a full-time appointment at Emmanuel UMC in Amherst in 2013, where she is finishing her twelfth year of ministry.

Nancy is a thankful “preacher’s kid” who was blessed with a father who was an elder in the Virginia Conference. She has deep roots in the greater Lynchburg area. She was born at Virginia Baptist Hospital when her faither was serving churches in Hurt and in Bedford County, and the Lynchburg area and surrounding counties have been “home” for 23 years. Nancy’s husband, Bruce, has served in pastoral ministry in the VAUMC for 30 years, and is currently the pastor of Pender UMC on the Northern Virginia District. Nancy holds a Bachelor of Science in Education with a concentration in Music, and a Master of Divinity degree, with special focus on Christian Education, Biblical Hebrew and cross-cultural studies. She has experience and interest in ministry with children and youth, music, small group ministries, Christian Education for all ages and enhancing worship with visual and dramatic arts. Nancy is active in both District and Conference leadership including serving as Connecting Ministries Coordinator for the Peaks View Region of the Mountain View District, Group Leader for the Amherst Community Group (through June 30), a member of the MV District Committee on Ordained Ministry, the Executive Team for the VAUMC Fellowship of Licensed Local Pastors and Associate Members, and current President of Virginia United Methodist Pensions, Inc. Nancy and Bruce have two adult daughters, Lydia and Anna. In her spare time, Nancy enjoys singing, playing the piano, gardening and creative arts of all kinds. She is eager to get to know the congregation of
Fort Hill UMC as we begin our ministry together and live into the future God has for us.