BY LISA VALENTINE
Lake Orion Review Staff Writer
There is a new face at the helm of Lake Orion United Methodist Church.
Reverend Bruce Denton took over as the church’s senior pastor on July 1, replacing Pastor Tom Macaulay. Denton comes to Lake Orion from a Flushing church where he had served as senior pastor since 1995.
‘I was at Flushing United Methodist for nine years,? he said. ‘Before that, I was at Birmingham First as an associated pastor for seven years.?
Denton’s first appointment was in Iron River for three years, and then on to Harrisville and Lincoln for five years. Before going to Birmingham he was in West Branch.
Denton, who was born in Detroit and grew up in Redford, first thought about becoming a pastor when he met a pastor who worked with the youth in his family’s church.
‘I was inspired by him,? Denton said. ‘In high school, I wanted to go into the Air Force. I wanted to be a Christian pilot.?
Denton became active in the Christian Club at his high school, and served at a storefront mission in Detroit. He knew he would become a pastor after seeing a Billy Graham movie at Ford Auditorium.
‘My family always went to church,? he said. ‘At that time, I had the knowledge, but I didn’t have the heart until I went forward at the Billy Graham movie.?
Denton went to Adrian College and attended seminary at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, graduating in 1975.
‘With my job, one of the things I enjoy the most is being with people at some of the key moments in their life,? he said. ‘Weddings and baptisms…and also times of grief. That’s a real time of ministry and a time to bring comfort. I feel privileged that they let me be there.
‘I enjoy seeing God at work in the lives of the people. Weddings are always enjoyable to me, I have a lot of fun with the couples during the wedding preparations.?
Denton and wife Jeannine have two sons: Michael, 29, a former Marine living in North Carolina with his wife Nicole and their daughter; and son Christopher, 26, who lives in Clarkston.
Jeannine is a nurse and works at the Oakland County Health Department.
Denton’s father-in-law, the Reverend Ralph Churchill, is a retired pastor, and the two are the only pastors in the family.
Denton came to Lake Orion because the United Methodist church here seemed to be facing many of the same issues he dealt with in Flushing.
‘They are a downtown church, looking to maintain a presence in the community,? Denton said of both the Flushing church and Lake Orion United Methodist Church (located on Flint Street). ‘They are both in need of expansion due to growth.?
In Flushing, Denton served 600 members, and serves 900 in Lake Orion.
‘We started a contemporary service in Flushing, and there is an interest here in Lake Orion for that,? he said. ‘The church here is very much interested in having people use their spiritual gifts, the talents God gave them, and we also did that in Flushing.?
Denton explained that a contemporary service, as opposed to the kind of traditional service he grew up with, uses a band with guitar, keyboard and drums instead of an organ, and is more casual and informal.
Denton was impressed when members of the church in Flushing voted to give up their favorite traditional worship time for the contemporary service.
‘The traditional folks relinquished the 11 o’clock time, which was their favorite time, to meet the needs of people in the community without a church background,? he said.
‘All worship is contemporary really…in the contemporary service, you give people sermon points to take home with them. There’s a definite emphasis on applying faith to our everyday life.?
When he has free time, Denton enjoys ‘a good movie and a good book.?
‘I enjoy working with computers,? he said. ‘I used to play golf, but I haven’t done that much lately.?