
The Reverend Dr. Vance P. Ross presently serves as Pastor of the Historic Central United Methodist Church, Atlanta, GA. , the “Church at the Heart of the City with the City at Heart.” To attract and develop persons as disciples of Jesus Christ, the congregation focuses on its Mission, Vision and Purpose (MVP) through the Six Marks of Discipleship.
Prior to his appointment to Central, Ross served as: Director of Annual Conference Relationships for Discipleship Ministries where he connected s the agency with annual conference; 2011-2015, Senior Pastor, Gordon Memorial United Methodist Church, Nashville, TN an 1100 member urban congregation; 2004-2011, the first ever Deputy General Secretary for Discipleship Ministries, Nashville, TN; 1998-2004, Senior Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Hyattsville, MD, the largest multicultural and international church, at the time, in the Northeast region of the United Methodist Church.
Elected to the 1992 General Conference and Jurisdictional Conferences, Ross also served as alternate to the 1996 and 2004 General and Jurisdictional conferences. As a General Church staff member he attended and served the 1996, 2004, 2008 and 2016 General Conferences.
A sought after preacher and presenter, Ross co-facilitates a Doctor of Ministry cohort at United Theological Seminary, teaches Course of Study Summer term at Candler School of Theology as well as participating as a Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century Initiative coach for pastors and lay teams.
A native of Bluefield, WV, Ross has the B. A. degree, Government/Youth Services from West Virginia Wesleyan College. He is an honor graduate of Gammon Seminary (ITC) with the M.Div. degree. In 2015, he graduated from the United Theological Seminary with the Doctor of Ministry degree.
Ross has received numerous honors and awards. He received the Gammon Distinguished Alumni award, Copher/Branch Old Testament Award and twice won the Isaac R. Clark Preaching Award at the ITC. He twice received Vision Awards from the Convocation of Black Churches (United Methodist). Ross received Man of the Year Award at Simpson Church, a servant leader award at Clark Memorial Church, Nashville and a Citizen’s Award from Hyattsville, MD city council.
He is married to the Rev. Bridgette D. Young Ross, Dean of the Chapel and Spiritual Life at Emory University, Atlanta, GA. He has three adult children: Kristina, Alyssa and Bryant. He has two grand children Christopher and Jaylie.