Rev. Dr. Rom A. Pegram, Senior Pastor

Being raised in a ministry family (his father was a pastor for over 40 years), Rom is a second career pastor in the Wisconsin Annual Conference. Throughout his 20s, he worked in the air express industry in the areas of operations, sales, and management.

Returning to school at around 30 years old, Rom and his family of four moved to Wilmore, Kentucky, where Rom went to Asbury College, completing his Bachelor of Arts degree in Bible. From there, the Pegrams moved back to Wisconsin where Rom worked at Cargill United Methodist Church in Janesville as their youth director, while attending Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary for the better part of a year. Taking the next couple of years to solidify his call to pastoral ministry, Rom continued his education at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. While there, he was a student pastor at the Belmont & Whig United Methodist Churches in Southwest Wisconsin.

After completing seminary with a Master of Divinity degree, Rom did a short stint as pastor of the Markesan United Methodist Church in Green Lake County. From there, Rom and Jane moved back to Southwest Wisconsin to pastor at the Dodgeville & Ridgeway: Grace United Methodist Churches. Rom recently completed his Doctor of Ministry degree (focus on church membership), also from the University of Dubuque.

Rom and his wife, Jane, have two grown children—Josh, who is currently a UM pastor in Richland County and Rachel, currently employed by BEMA Media, an independent label in Nashville.
 

Rev. Charlene Bennett, Visitation Pastor

Charlene grew up and was confirmed in the United Brethren Church, which eventually became The United Methodist Church. I had a one-on-one experience with Jesus at Camp Witwen at age 16. A series of bad choices and mistakes led to divorce and depression in her early 40's. She testifies to the Lord's faithfulness in that He led her out of the pit and brought her into a second experience with Jesus -- The baptism of His Holy Spirit. As she followed His leading, she found a whole new adventure, was led to return to school and eventually into ministry.

Through a series of circumstances, Charlene was ordained in the American Baptist Church in Dodgeville, WI; later serving the United Methodist Church in Waldwick for 10 years and most recently feels blessed in serving as Visitation Pastor for Dodgeville UMC.

Carla Pustina, Office Manager

Carla grew up in the hills between Dodgeville and Highland and stayed right there to raise a family of 5 with her husband, Karl. Besides feeding the tribe, Carla has been involved with music over the years, writing songs, facilitating worship, and directing the worship and media ministry at church for several years. Carla remains on staff at her church part-time as Video Editor and is thrilled to be able to expand her involvement in the greater church community by serving here at DUMC.

Brenda Crowe, Christian Education Director

Brenda has served many roles in many different churches over the years— in Maryland, Tennessee, Georgia and Wisconsin. 

She has served as a Sunday school teacher for a variety of ages, Sunday School Superintendent, VBS Director, President of women’s organizations, and as an Associate Lay Pastor.  She has been trained at conferences by John Maxwell, as well as workshops in the area of Christian Education at Anderson College in Indiana.  A passion of Brenda’s is also the Santa Secret Shop—a community outreach that happens toward the beginning of Advent each year, where children from a variety of economic backgrounds can come and shop for their families for Christmas.

Beth Schlueter, Connections Coordinator

Beth currently serves as our Connections Coordinator.  She is in charge of this ‘umbrella ministry’ that works with all people and ministry teams to connect the right person with the right ministry in the church (as well as many other assorted duties). 

Beth’s background includes training at the Lay School of Ministry (through Evangelical Lutheran Church in America), completing 2 years of course study in church history, theology, worship, church mission, faith formation, as well as both Old and New Testament studies. 

Beth has also experienced training through Marriage Encounter, Weekend to Remember, Reggie McNeal's ‘Present Future’ Workshop, as well as extensive personal study in many areas of ministry, leadership and church growth. Also having served as a church secretary, Beth has organized events such as Spiritual Growth Ministry, Sunday school, Weigh Down Workshops (weight loss from a Christian perspective), as well as women’s retreats, Relay for Life, and Operation Christmas Child campaigns.

Beth has a passion for ministry in general and sees a possibility of pastoral ministry somewhere in the future.