Our Pastor

Pastor James McCoy Bruce

Pastor James began serving at Trenholm Road United Methodist on June 29, 2022. Prior to serving at Trenholm Road UMC, James was the Senior Pastor of Main Street United Methodist, Greenwood, South Carolina. His wife, Reverend Ashley McCoy-Bruce also serves in ministry. Reverend Ashley is the pastor of Columbia United Methodist in Columbia, South Carolina.

Rev. James McCoy-Bruce graduated from Furman University with a degree in Business Administration and Emory University with a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology.

He was first appointed in 1993 as a Student Local Pastor and was ordained an elder in the United Methodist Church in 2000, just seconds after Ashley. James has primarily served as a pastor or associate pastor over his years of ministry.

James grew up in Piedmont, SC and met Ashley while he was a senior at Furman (Ashley was a freshman). They celebrated 30 years of marriage in August 2023. He loves playing the piano, fiddling with technology, traveling to new places (especially with family), exploring different cuisines (except peaches), and sharing what little sense of humor he has.

James and Ashley have two young, adult children: Thomas, who works with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Jordan, who is a student at Western Carolina University.

Contact Pastor James - pastor@trumc.org