Rev. Bob Ruedebusch, who serves as senior pastor at First UMC in Sioux Falls, SD will serve as the Southwest District Superintendent, beginning July 1, 2020, addresses the 2019 Annual Conference session in Bismarck, ND. Photo by jlynn studio.

“I am deep in my walk with God. He has guided me to walk alongside all kinds of people. By being a vehicle of God’s grace, I have been able to touch so many.” Rev. Bob Ruedebusch, who serves as the senior pastor at First United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and will begin serving as the Southwest District Superintendent for the Dakotas Conference on July 1, 2020. Pastor Bob reflects on 40 years of ministry, a ministry that has allowed him to officiate at thousands of weddings and funerals.

Ruedebusch grew up attending a Missouri Synod Lutheran church. In eighth grade, he sang his first solo in church. As a youth, he remembers watching his pastor preaching. Bob thought, “Maybe I could do that.” 

After high school, he attended Dakota Wesleyan University and majored in Music Education. It was at DWU that his call to ministry flourished.

“I was a member of the singing group, the Highlanders, at DWU. In my junior year, we went on a singing tour to various churches. We sang at Greenleaf UMC, outside of Miller, South Dakota. A man approached me and asked if I ever thought about being a pastor,” says Pastor Bob.

Rev. Dave Heetland, an elder of the Dakotas Conference who serves in extension ministry as the Vice President for Planned Giving at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, was serving as the campus pastor during Ruedebusch’s undergraduate years. Heetland nurtured the call to ministry and supported him while serving as the student pastor at Alpena, South Dakota.

“There were so many things that happened during my years at DWU that help me answer my call to ministry,” says Ruedebusch.

He completed his Master of Divinity degree at Iliff Theological Seminary in Colorado. His first appointments were serving as a youth pastor in Iowa Falls, Iowa, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Rev. Ruedebusch has also served the Dakotas Conference congregations of Riverview UMC in Huron, South Dakota, Virgil UMC in Virgil, South Dakota, the United Methodist Church in Canton, South Dakota, and 17 years at Canyon Lake UMC in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Most recently, he served as the district superintendent for the Prairie Hills District, now Southwest District, of the Dakotas Conference. Pastor Bob is completing eight years of service at First United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

On July 1, Ruedebusch will return to the district superintendency to serve the Southwest District. He notes that it fits into a long-term goal, to retire in the Rapid City area with his wife, Paula. 

“This past summer, I attended the Higher Ground retreat. It allowed me to look back on the seasons of ministry that I have experienced and to reflect,” says Pastor Bob. “It  allowed me to think about how I might serve God as I move towards retirement. It allowed me to open myself up to ministry in new ways like coaching and consultation.” 

A goal that Rev. Ruedebusch has as a district superintendent is to equip and support the next generation of clergy leaders, as well as those currently serving in ministry. 

“Ministry is not an easy task,” he says. “Through God’s faithfulness, I hope to equip clergy and the next generation of leaders. As I meet people, I want to invite them to ministry.” 

The United Methodist Church has postponed its 2020 General Conference where delegates are expected to take up legislation to potentially split the denomination. COVID-19 is complicating setting the dates for General Conference. Ruedebusch sees God at work during this time of tension and uncertainty.

“God will use all of this for a new birth. Some divisions are surfacing. Our relationships, here in the Dakotas, are still strong. We can take those strong relationships and build as much unity as possible.”