Lead Pastor
Rev. Spencer Broce is the Lead Pastor of Bethlehem United Methodist Church, joining the congregation in 2025 after twenty-seven years of ministry across Virginia. A Northern Virginia native, he is married to Lori, a special-education teacher, and they have two daughters, Gavyn and Morgan, who are beginning their careers in Northern Virginia. Spencer leads with a simple conviction—no agenda but Jesus—and enjoys time outdoors fishing, kayaking, and gardening. His favorite scripture is Romans 8:38–39, a reminder that nothing can separate us from God’s love.
Associate Pastor
Following a career in engineering and
20 years as a stay home mom, she felt called to ministry as a connector
between the church and the community, specifically the poor. She has been in ministry since 2013, serving through the United Methodist Church and also with local non-profits such as
the Faith Network, Lake Christian
Ministries, the Warming Shelter of Franklin County, and Kaleidoscope – The Gathering Place. Susan grew up in Baltimore, Maryland but has been at home in the Smith Mountain Lake area since 2000.
Director of Children, Youth, & Family Ministries
Maegan Mitchell earned her B.A. in Religion with an emphasis in Christian Ministries at Ferrum College and earned her
Certificate in Youth Ministry and Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary. Maegan has served children, youth, families, and young adults in
ministry for the last 18 years. She lives in Franklin County with her husband, Brandon, and daughter Madilynne.
Music Director & Organist
Robert Downey began taking piano lessons at the age of six, and organ lessons at the age of 14. He received a BA in Fine Arts with music emphasis from Roanoke College. He directed his first Easter Cantata when he was 18, and was the choir director at West End Presbyterian Church in Roanoke, and Fort Lewis Baptist Church in Salem before coming to Bethlehem as organist in 1999, and choir director in 2004.
Pianist
Robin Zimmerman graduated with
a BA in Music Education from
Milligan College in Tennessee with
double major in voice and piano
with a minor in K-12 education. Robin is a resident of Bedford.
Administrative Assistant
Karen Carter has nearly 30
years of administrative and
financial experience in both for profit & nonprofit companies.
She resides at Smith Mountain
Lake with her husband Allen.
She has three grown children in
various parts of the country.
Nursery Care Leader
Since 2012, Amber Scott has provided loving care for newborns and children up to age 2 on Sunday
mornings and Wednesday
evenings. Amber grew up in
Meadville, PA and earned her AS in Business.