The Rev. Dr. Judson O. Gears grew up in southeastern Pennsylvania. In 1963, he received the Bachelor of Arts degree from Lincoln University. In 1958, he received the Master of Theology degree from Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. In 1976, a Doctor of Ministry degree was awarded from Lancaster Theological Seminary. Since completing his degree work, he has participated in numerous workshops and classes, including several classes and trips to Palestine-Israel.
Judson’s first church appointments were in Maryland and Texas while he was attending college and seminary. He was ordained Deacon in 1966 and Elder in 1968. Following seminary and ordination, he served three appointments in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference including the Panther Valley Larger Parish. This was a new ministry in the economically depressed hard coal areas of Carbon County, Pennsylvania.
In 1979, he transferred to the California-Nevada Conference and served five appointments prior to retirement in 2002. These appointments included Yreka-Montague, Grass Valley, Oroville, Mill Valley: Mt. Tamalpais, and Pacific Grove: First. Since retirement, he has been asked to serve as interim pastor at Rescue: Foothills, the North Gold Circuit (North San Juan, Downieville, and Sierra City), and San Francisco: Bethany.
Judson has served the United Methodist Church on Cluster, District, Conference, and Jurisdictional levels. Some of the areas of his service include: Chairperson of Commission on Town and Country Ministries, Secretary of Northeastern Jurisdiction Town and Country Association, Secretary of the Wesbury Bookstore Board of Managers, various District Council on Ministries, leadership trainer for wilderness camping, Board of Mission Strategy, Board of Discipleship, District Committees on Church Location and Building, District Committees on Ordained Ministry, Secretary of the Board of Ordained Ministry, Golden Gate District Coordinator for Expanding our Vision (Conference Capital Funds Campaign), Annual Conference Journal editor, and Secretary for the Conference Relations Committee, Board of Ordained Ministry.
Judson has participated and served in a variety of leadership positions in local ministerial associations and ministeriums in the communities where he has lived.
During his career, he has had the opportunity to serve the local communities in a variety of ways including a Cub Scouts Committee Member, ambulance driver, Panther Valley Hunger Walk (C.R.O.P.), Haverford Township Citizens’ Advisory Committee for Quality Education, F.I.R.E. (Fire Interchurch Response Enterprise) Board Member, and as treasurer for Oroville Hunger Walk (C.R.O.P.).
Judson says, "I look forward to serving as the pastor of Bethany Church. It is an exciting time to be here. The church renovation project will update the facility and provide a new venue for ministry and community outreach and service. For a while, we will worship at Bethany Center. This will be an opportunity to reach out in a new situation with the good news of God’s love and concern.
"God precedes us into our new future. As disciples, we are called to follow. In the coming months, we will explore that future together. We seek to discover the joy of new relationships, renewal and reconciliation in old relationships, and the grace of God in every relationship. We invite you to join us as we travel Freedom Road toward the Promise Land."
