Dr. Tim Bruster to Join CTC Team as Director of Finance & Administration
July 28, 2022
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr., resident bishop of the Central Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church, has announced that Dr. Tim Bruster will join the Conference staff as the Director of Finance and Administrative Services. This is a part-time position and is effective Aug. 1.
In his role, Tim, who recently retired from a 42-year ministry as a local church pastor (the last 19 years as the senior pastor of First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth) will be a member of the Cabinet and serve as the staff liaison for the Conference Council on Finance and Administration, Conference Trustees, Conference Board of Pensions, and other duties as described in ¶619.2 of the UMC Book of Discipline. Greg Carey will continue to serve as the Central Texas Conference Treasurer.
The Director of Finance and Administrative Services position comes as a rather unexpected next step in Dr. Bruster’s ministry to many, including Dr. Bruster.
“This was not part of Susan’s and my retirement plan,” quipped Tim. “However, I have such a high level of respect for Bishop Saenz and his vision for our conference moving forward, that it wasn’t that tough a decision when he asked me to consider taking this part-time appointment.
“This is an opportunity to serve the Annual Conference at a critical phase of our moving forward into our next chapter of ministry and mission to our communities and world,” Tim continued. “For 42 years, I’ve preached almost every Sunday. This role opens the door to being able to serve in new ways – and not just in the typical finance and administration areas, but also how we can best resource the conference to effectively move forward in our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”
While Dr. Bruster’s ministry to this point has been primarily focused on leadership at the local church level, he is no stranger to conference- and UMC connectional-level leadership roles. He has served on and/or chaired several CTC boards and committees, including the Conference Council on Finance & Administration, the Episcopacy Committee and the Board of Ordained Ministry. Tim has also served the entire United Methodist Church as a member of the General Council on Finance & Administration, the Judicial Council and as a delegate - often lead clergy delegate - to General and Jurisdictional Conferences in 2008, 2012, 2016, 2019 (Special Session) and the now thrice postponed 2020 General Conference.
“Tim has been a beacon of Christ-centered leadership to the Central Texas Conference for more than 26 years,” said Bishop Saenz. “Beyond his very successful and fruitful senior pastor appointments at some of the CTC’s largest churches, his service and leadership at the conference and connectional levels has helped shape our conference and The UMC connection and set them on the path for ministry fruitfulness for years to come. I am delighted that Tim will be joining the conference team in this capacity, and I eagerly anticipate all the ways he will help energize and equip the churches and people of the Central Texas Conference to Reimagine Discipleship as we all move forward with hope as a conference.”
The announcement of Dr. Bruster as the Director of Finance & Administration was enthusiastically received by the chairs of the boards with which he’ll primarily collaborate.
“Dr. Bruster's love for the Church of Jesus Christ and his proven record of integrity and transparency gives me great comfort that his work will bring further graciousness and professionalism to the CTC,” declared Rev. Fred Bates, CTC Trustees chair. “Having worked with Tim on various boards, and observing his wisdom firsthand, I have nothing but a joyful expectation in continuing this important work.”
Rev. Scott Goodfellow, chair of the Conference Board of Pensions, followed Fred’s comments by saying, “I have a deep level of admiration and respect for Tim. Given his years of leadership in the local church, the Conference, General and Jurisdictional Conferences, along with his highly-developed gifts of wisdom and discernment, I’m confident Tim will perform in this new role at the highest level.”
Gary Sult, Conference CF&A chair, echoed his chair counterparts’ excitement. “I’m most delighted to hear that Dr. Tim Bruster has agreed to share his talents and connections as part of the Central Texas Conference Team. I’m equally excited to know his wisdom will be shared with CF&A and we look forward to being an administrative part of the mission of The United Methodist Church.”
Dr. Bruster will assume the Finance & Administration leadership duties from Scott Brewer, Treasurer/Director of Administrative Services for the Great Plains Conference. Scott expertly stepped into this role on an interim basis following Jeff Roper’s July 1 retirement. “I’d be most remiss to not acknowledge Scott’s impact and importance to the Central Texas Conference,” Bishop Saenz emphasized. “Even in this relatively short time frame, Scott’s advice, counsel, and leadership has been outstanding and most appreciated by all with whom he’s collaborated – especially me.
“That being said,” continued Bishop Saenz, “I believe that having someone in the Finance and Administration Director role who knows and is well-known and respected by the conference, has experience managing and growing churches in the CTC and who is passionate about the mission and future of the conference and The UMC is what is needed for our short- and long-term missional viability. Tim Bruster is that person.”
Please join Bishop Saenz, the Cabinet and Conference Service Center Team in welcoming Tim to the team and in praying for him in this next step of his ministry.
In his role, Tim, who recently retired from a 42-year ministry as a local church pastor (the last 19 years as the senior pastor of First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth) will be a member of the Cabinet and serve as the staff liaison for the Conference Council on Finance and Administration, Conference Trustees, Conference Board of Pensions, and other duties as described in ¶619.2 of the UMC Book of Discipline. Greg Carey will continue to serve as the Central Texas Conference Treasurer.
The Director of Finance and Administrative Services position comes as a rather unexpected next step in Dr. Bruster’s ministry to many, including Dr. Bruster.
“This was not part of Susan’s and my retirement plan,” quipped Tim. “However, I have such a high level of respect for Bishop Saenz and his vision for our conference moving forward, that it wasn’t that tough a decision when he asked me to consider taking this part-time appointment.
 |
| Dr. Tim Bruster looks forward to working with Conference boards, staff and the Cabinet and help to resource the ministries of CTC churches, the Conference and the United Methodist Connection. "Whatever role I can play to support our disciple making mission, is what I want to do." |
While Dr. Bruster’s ministry to this point has been primarily focused on leadership at the local church level, he is no stranger to conference- and UMC connectional-level leadership roles. He has served on and/or chaired several CTC boards and committees, including the Conference Council on Finance & Administration, the Episcopacy Committee and the Board of Ordained Ministry. Tim has also served the entire United Methodist Church as a member of the General Council on Finance & Administration, the Judicial Council and as a delegate - often lead clergy delegate - to General and Jurisdictional Conferences in 2008, 2012, 2016, 2019 (Special Session) and the now thrice postponed 2020 General Conference.
“Tim has been a beacon of Christ-centered leadership to the Central Texas Conference for more than 26 years,” said Bishop Saenz. “Beyond his very successful and fruitful senior pastor appointments at some of the CTC’s largest churches, his service and leadership at the conference and connectional levels has helped shape our conference and The UMC connection and set them on the path for ministry fruitfulness for years to come. I am delighted that Tim will be joining the conference team in this capacity, and I eagerly anticipate all the ways he will help energize and equip the churches and people of the Central Texas Conference to Reimagine Discipleship as we all move forward with hope as a conference.”
The announcement of Dr. Bruster as the Director of Finance & Administration was enthusiastically received by the chairs of the boards with which he’ll primarily collaborate.
“Dr. Bruster's love for the Church of Jesus Christ and his proven record of integrity and transparency gives me great comfort that his work will bring further graciousness and professionalism to the CTC,” declared Rev. Fred Bates, CTC Trustees chair. “Having worked with Tim on various boards, and observing his wisdom firsthand, I have nothing but a joyful expectation in continuing this important work.”
Rev. Scott Goodfellow, chair of the Conference Board of Pensions, followed Fred’s comments by saying, “I have a deep level of admiration and respect for Tim. Given his years of leadership in the local church, the Conference, General and Jurisdictional Conferences, along with his highly-developed gifts of wisdom and discernment, I’m confident Tim will perform in this new role at the highest level.”
Gary Sult, Conference CF&A chair, echoed his chair counterparts’ excitement. “I’m most delighted to hear that Dr. Tim Bruster has agreed to share his talents and connections as part of the Central Texas Conference Team. I’m equally excited to know his wisdom will be shared with CF&A and we look forward to being an administrative part of the mission of The United Methodist Church.”
Dr. Bruster will assume the Finance & Administration leadership duties from Scott Brewer, Treasurer/Director of Administrative Services for the Great Plains Conference. Scott expertly stepped into this role on an interim basis following Jeff Roper’s July 1 retirement. “I’d be most remiss to not acknowledge Scott’s impact and importance to the Central Texas Conference,” Bishop Saenz emphasized. “Even in this relatively short time frame, Scott’s advice, counsel, and leadership has been outstanding and most appreciated by all with whom he’s collaborated – especially me.
“That being said,” continued Bishop Saenz, “I believe that having someone in the Finance and Administration Director role who knows and is well-known and respected by the conference, has experience managing and growing churches in the CTC and who is passionate about the mission and future of the conference and The UMC is what is needed for our short- and long-term missional viability. Tim Bruster is that person.”
Please join Bishop Saenz, the Cabinet and Conference Service Center Team in welcoming Tim to the team and in praying for him in this next step of his ministry.