First United Methodist Church Welcomes New Reverend

in Port Jefferson had a new face at morning mass a few weeks ago however, it was not a member of the congregation that was new, but the Pastor. Reverend David Mantz performed his first service as the new Pastor at the church on Sunday July 3.

For Rev. Mantz, his move to First United Methodist Church has not only been a blessing for himself but his entire family. His wife Sandy is the new pastor at United Methodist in Setauket. The couple will now be at neighboring churches, less then 2 miles apart in fact and often performing ministry together.

Patch sat down with Rev. Mantz to find out what he is looking forward to most as the Pastor of The First United Methodist Church and what this life changing move means to  his family.

As the new Pastor of First United Methodist Church what attributes do you feel you will be bringing to the church?

Fifteen years of being a pastor and three churches already. Then before that probably 15 years of working in churches and doing missions and working with youth and young adults. I’ve been very involved for a long time.

I’m an administrator by background so I worked in the business world for 15 years before becoming a Pastor. I have a broad business and Ministry background overall and it’s a different background than a lot of Pastors. I think it is very helpful.

What are you looking forward to most?

I will do whatever needs to be done. We have a fairly active Sunday School and a senior high group. Conformation class is going to be pretty big so it will be a major component of things. But I do a lot of bible study and teaching and I try to get out in the community. I am member of Rotary on the other side of the river were I used to Pastor and I plan on joining the Rotary group here too. Waiting to get all the boxes unpacked though.

Have you found everyone in the community welcoming?

Yes absolutely, I went to a meeting already and that was great. Next month it’s going to be held on the so that will be fun. Everything is going nice and we are very excited.

Your wife is also a Pastor. She is the new Rev. at United Methodist in Setauket, how has this situation been for you both?

We were 45 minutes apart before with our churches, now it’s 5 minutes. The Port Jefferson Church has already challenged the Setauket Church to a softball game, and we have soft ball picnic on the calender for October. It will be really fun, both congregations are very enthusiastic, we are all excited.

So your looking forward to working together?

Oh tons, conformation this year we are already working on. It will start in September and I have 12 kids and she has 3 right now, so we are going to do most the classes here and once month there she’ll teach one a month and myself and the staff here will teach the rest.

What are you hoping for long term?

We are hoping for a long stay. First we believe God makes these matches and we are thrilled with the match so far. It was a match made in heaven literally. We love the people, we love the churches. We are at the age were we have probably 15 years to 17 years left of ministry before we retire. We would be happy to stay here until we retire and we both believe that over time if the match is good then switching for longer term Pastors is a very good thing for churches. Because there is so much continuity and it is just great.

I am speaking for both us we are thrilled and couldn’t be happier, being so close and so ideally matched is a great thing.