LEADERSHIP
SENIOR PASTOR
Reverend Ronald Edward Swisher was born in Oakland, California. He attended
and graduated from the University of San Francisco, then attended Seminary at the Pacific School of Religion
in Berkeley, California. In 1972, his senior year in Seminary, Rev. Swisher became the Youth Minister at Elmhurst
United Methodist Church in Oakland, CA. The following year he was ordained and became Elmhurst UMC's Pastor.
He served in this position for five years.
From 1978 to 1990 he was Pastor of Easter Hill United Methodist Church
in Richmond, CA. In 1990 he was appointed District Superintendent of the Sacramento area by Bishop Melvin G.
Talbert of the California/Nevada Conference.
Rev. Swisher attended the opening celebration for the United Methodist
Church sponsored Africa University in Zimbabwe. He also served as the Western Jurisdiction representative on the
Development Committee of Africa University.
Rev. Swisher has served for six years on the National Board of Directors
of the United Methodist Church Black Methodists for Church Renewal. During the 1990's Rev. Swisher served for
eight years on the Board of Directors of Glide Memorial United Methodist Church, San Francisco, CA., including four
years as its President. He also served as Glide's Minister of Congregational Life.
In 1998 Rev. Swisher was appointed Senior Pastor of Taylor
Memorial United Methodist Church.