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John Ross Thompson
Pastor
517-812-9679
johnross@tds.net
John Ross Thompson most recently was conference director for
the 425 churches of the West Michigan Conference. He was ordained in 1966 and
graduated from Penn State University, Drew University Theological School and
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He and his wife Ellen A. Brubaker, a retired
pastor, have seven children and 15 grandchildren.
Q: What's your impression of UUMC been so far?
A: It's diverse in terms of ethnic background, leadership
ability, theological thinking. It's a complex and fascinating place because of
the people that make it that way. The combination of University and Government
in this town, as well as all the other incredible people, just make it unique.
It's probably the most multicultural church in our whole conference. We're still
very European in how we do things, but in terms of the people who come to this
church, I don't know of any other that has as many cultures.
Q: It's been said that Sunday morning is the most segregated
time in America.
A: It is, and people tend to want to be with their own kind
of people. But the university sort of pulls us together. There are obviously
people who get along in the university community, and they somehow relate here.
And the combination with the Wesley Foundation. There's no other church that
shares a facility like this with a campus ministry.
Q: Tell me about your goals, for UUMC and generally for your
career?
A: To figure out what the next level is and to take the
church to that. You just completed an incredible building program. We don't have
to do that for years. So what do we do next? We have a solid background and a
solid future. Where do we want to go now?
Q: Any goals for your career?
A: My goal is to be the best pastor that I can. I'm back to
what I love the most. I was an administrator for a number of years. But what I
love the most is being a pastor, and seeing people come alive and use their
leadership skills. It isn't about me doing ministry. It's about me helping
people do their ministry. That's what excites me.
Q: What inspires you?
A: People. Let me put it this way, I'm not a mechanical
person. Everybody else in my family is mechanical. They can fix any machine. I
can't. I tell them that people are easier to fix and to understand than
machines. They look at me like I'm wacko. But I'd rather deal with people than a
lawnmower or a computer.
I'm a communicator, too. My background is in journalism and I love figuring out
how to say something, how to say something in a new and unique and helpful way.
I realize on Sunday morning, all the different audiences I have. You can't just
target one group. It's got to be multi-dimensional.
Q: What concerns you?
A: I'm concerned about our whole society becoming more
polarized. People not even talking to people they don't agree with. People
turning to the TV news channel that only meets their point of view. I do it,
too. You're an NPR News person or you're a Fox News Channel person. I'm
concerned about the world, with the U.S. becoming more isolated from the rest of
the world, instead of being a leader in terms of bringing people together.
The same would be true of the local church. I'd be concerned if anybody won't
talk to someone else, or they won't go to this group or that program because
they don't feel it represents them. I'm a middle child, I want everybody to get
along. I just want to bring people together.
Q: What is your favorite bible verse or parable?
A: With God all things are possible. And that's in several
places.
Q: Favorite books, other than the Bible.
A: I like historical books. Someone asked me the other day,
what was the last book I read. And I couldn't think of it. As soon as I read it,
I move beyond to something else. Ellen reminded me of it later. The last book I
read was "A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian: A Novel" It was one of the
weirdest, funniest novels I've ever read. The one before that was "Adam Bede" a
classic by George Eliot.
Q: Favorite movies?
A: The one I haven't seen yet. The one that's different,
that's going to take me to someplace.
Q: Favorite song or singer?
A: I'm eclectic. I went to the opera the other night. We go
to a lot of theater. Songs? Sometimes jazz, sometimes classical, sometimes pop.
It's hard to label me.
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