Announced yesterday morning during our services, Rev. Hannah Loughman has been appointed as our new pastor, once Pastor Russel retires in June. Mark Benjamin, chair of SPRC, stated, “I feel that the Bishop and DS did hear what our congregation was expressing and through the discernment process have made an excellent appointment to Sewickley UMC. Stay tuned in the months ahead as we prepare to say farewell to Russel as our pastor and have the opportunity to ready the parsonage for the new family.”

Here is the official announcement from the WPAUMC website.

About Hannah Loughman

Hannah Loughman was born and raised in Western Pennsylvania. She graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. and she received her Master of Divinity degree from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Intermittent with church work, Hannah was a TSS (Therapeutic Staff Support) in the home for kids with Autism. She also worked in the private school setting with kids with severe degrees of low functioning Autism.

Hannah did an internship at Creekside UMC, was placed by extension of the D.S. at Uniontown and Bowdertown UMC in Indiana District, has been appointed to Homewood UMC on the Butler District, Houston and Bridgeville UMCs in the Washington District and most recently Butler First UMC. She also served as the Director of Christian Education at Smithfield UCC. She has served on the WPAUMC Way Forward task force.

Hannah has a passion for addiction recovery, small group life, creating safe spaces for all people to worship and grow and engaging the community.

She and her husband Todd Loughman have two children and one on the way. Hannah enjoys exploring new cultures and new places. Together they love to travel, hike in the woods, visit community festivals and spend time with their family.

About Sewickley United Methodist Church

The Sewickley United Methodist Church is known as “The Church with Time for you” and has been an active presence in the Sewickley Valley and beyond for 183 years. The church seeks to be faithful to Jesus’ two “Great Commandments,” celebrating human diversity and all persons as children of God. The Sewickley UMC officially became a Reconciling Congregation in June of 2019.

GOD welcomes ALL! Therefore, Sewickley UMC welcomes ALL, including those of all races, cultures, and nationalities; those of all sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, and relationship statuses; those of all ages, whether babies, children, adults, or those with more life experience. All are welcomed without regard to addictions, physical or mental health, imprisonment, socio-economic circumstances, or anything else that too often divides.

Sewickley UMC embraces the full inclusion of all God’s beloved through contemporary and traditional worship, and actively responds to God’s love and grace by engaging in Christian Education and outreach beyond the walls of the church. The ministry of nurture is offered to strive to mirror the “Radical Hospitality” practiced by Jesus. All who walk through the doors of the Sewickley UMC will know they are welcome, wanted and celebrated!