Rev. Bruce Ballantine began serving First Presbyterian Church as the Interim Pastor on  April 1, 2017. In February 2020, he was called by the congregation to become our installed (permanent) Pastor/Head of Staff.

Prior to coming to Ridgewood, Bruce has served as an installed or interim pastor in Oakmont and Burgettstown, PA; Weirton, WV; Wellsville, Youngstown and Wooster, OH; and most recently, in Morrisville, PA. 

Bruce is a graduate of Grove City College, Grove City, PA, and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. His experience within the Presbyterian Church (USA) includes ordination as a Deacon and Elder (prior to entering seminary); serving as the Pittsburgh Presbytery 1992 World Mission Intern in Zomba, Malawi; serving as a Theological Student Advisory Delegate to the 1993 General Assembly; as well as service on a number of presbytery committees and commissions.  

Prior to entering ministry, Bruce worked as a reporter-photographer for a small newspaper; as a portrait photographer and sales representative for a pictorial church directory company; and as a sales representative, sales manager and branch manager for an insurance company.

He spends his free time working out and walking; hiking, canoeing and kayaking; and reading fiction and non-fiction. His favorite authors include Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Eugene Peterson, Frederick Buechner, Anne Lamott, Philip Yancey, Ann Weems, Barbara Brown Taylor, Ann Patchett, Barbara Kingsolver, Edwidge Danticat, Michael Connelly and John Grisham.

Bruce has a deep and abiding love for Christ, a passion for serving the church, and finds great joy in sharing the love of Christ with neighbors near and far.