Pastor Retires After 50 Years in Ministry

Story by LaTasha Hewitt

Orlando Moncrieffe (pictured with his wife, Maureen) recently celebrated his retirement from active ministry at the University Heights church in Somerset, N.J. He pastored there for three years, totaling 14 years of ministry at the Allegheny East Conference.

For more than 50 years, Moncrieffe has pastored 53 congregations, five of them in New Jersey: First church in Teaneck; Muungano church in Jersey City; New Maranatha Karibu church in Jersey City; Community Company in Brunswick; and University Heights.

Moncrieffe not only served in pastoral ministry, but devoted 25 years of service to Adventist higher education. He served at West Indies College (Jamaica), Caribbean Union College (Trinidad and Tobago) and Atlantic Union College (Mass.), where he held positions of professor of religion; chair of the Religion Department; assistant college church pastor; director of Religious Affairs; vice president for Student Services and Enrollment Management; vice president for Student Development and Services; and vice president for Academic Administration. He also served on the Board of Governors for all three colleges.

“I find great satisfaction in thinking of the many students I have taught and guided,” says Moncrieffe, “and the thousands of members whom I have nurtured spiritually over these 51 years. I know that I will continue to use the gifts and competences with which God has endowed me to serve Him.”