Rev. John Britt receives a congratulatory hug from Bishop Lanette Plambeck at the 2026 Celebration of Life in Ministry Service.

“It is nice to know that you have created a connection. The way that people are engaged and are willing to communicate, connect, and serve others. That Wesleyan Spirit is meaningful and brings joy in ministry and life.” These words express the highlights of ministry for Rev. John Britt, associate member of the Dakotas Conference of The United Methodist Church.

At the 2026 Celebration of Life in Ministry Service in Bismarck, North Dakota, Rev. John Britt became an associate member of the Dakotas Conference. An associate member is a former local pastor who has met certain educational and service requirements, is at least 40 years old, and has completed all credentialing requirements. An associate member is not ordained but does receive a “permanent license for pastoral ministry” that continues into retirement. An associate member is itinerate and guaranteed appointment.

“I became an associate member because I want to continue to serve and live out my call to ministry in retirement,” shared Pastor John Britt, currently serving at Grace United Methodist Church in Piedmont, South Dakota.

John Britt grew up in South Dakota and moved to the East Coast with his family. He was born in Spearfish and moved to Rapid City. Britt’s father worked for Travelers Insurance, which brought the family to Virginia, Florida, and Connecticut.

His family attended a United Church of Christ (UCC) congregation in Hartford, Connecticut, where John was involved in youth group and youth choir.

“I was involved in church, but I was not really serious about my faith,” said Britt.

He graduated from high school in Hartford and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Connecticut. He later earned a Master’s degree from Central Connecticut State University and became a teacher.

In 1991, he moved to South Dakota with his wife Kristen. John was familiar with South Dakota and would spend his summers there. His mother’s family lived in western South Dakota. He taught two years in Oelrich, South Dakota. Then he taught at Dakota Middle School for 20 years. Britt taught Mathematics and Social Studies and did a lot of coaching.  While teaching, Britt became employed part-time at First UMC in Rapid City as the youth director.

“I traded out my 20 hours of coaching each week at school for 20 hours working at the church as the youth director. It was my first job employed in ministry. A lot of little steps happened that opened doors for full-time ministry,” Pastor John said.

First UMC had a strong lay ministry program. There were opportunities for training and for ministry. Twelve people in the congregation were engaged in lay ministry. In 2012, the associate pastor, Rev. Jim Cissell, died. Lay ministers stepped up to serve the congregation.

“That sad loss created opportunities. The lay minister team I was part of stepped in to serve. It also provided an opportunity to hire someone different,” explained Pastor John.

At the end of the school year, Britt resigned from teaching and entered ministry full-time at First United Methodist Church in Rapid City. He attended licensing school and completed Course of Study through Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.

Pastor John Britt with wife Kristen. Photos by jlynn studios.

Several small steps led Pastor John to answer God’s call. It began with a couple’s group at Rapid City First UMC.

“I give credit to Kristen for her encouragement to get involved and grow in my faith. We went to First UMC when we moved to Rapid City because that is where my grandmother went, and we brought her to church.  Kristen was the one who got us started with a couple’s group at First. She has always supported me along the way,” shared Pastor John.

The couple’s group led John to join a men’s group at First UMC. Eventually, he was leading the men’s group. Pastor John began helping with youth group, which led to leading youth group.

“Each was a little step farther to get deeper into God’s call. One step at a time, gradually, I became more and more at home in ministry,” describes Pastor John.

He credits Rev. Doug Diehl with coaching him on what it means to be called and to answer God’s call to ministry. Rev. Peary Wilson served as Pastor John’s mentor as he entered full-time ministry. Rev. Greg Kroger, another lead pastor at First UMC, supported Pastor John’s ministry.

Youth are near and dear to Pastor John’s heart in ministry and as a teacher.

“I have always enjoyed working with kids, teaching, and in ministry. Being a teacher or a pastor is similar. You’re finding opportunities to pour into people’s lives, make a difference, and help them grow as a person. It is all about relationships. It is about something you want others to know and figuring out how to communicate it to them. Whether it is a Sunday morning message or a social studies lesson, it is the same process: building relationships and communicating,” describes Pastor John. “There is an energy in kids. I like being around that energy. It brings out the kid in me.”

Recently, Pastor John spent two weeks working with a team of youth from Texas. His son led the team that traveled to the Rapid City area to do mission work. The Texas team spent time serving in Piedmont building decks, painting, and serving at Love Inc. in Sturgis.

Pastor John Britt, row three, far right, with the Conference Council on Youth Ministry.

“It was fun to be around them. It was good to connect with them and build relationships,” said Britt.

According to Pastor John, the differences between teaching and ministry lie in subject matter or content, hierarchy, and the support systems within the organization.

“As a teacher, you are part of an organization that has a built-in hierarchy and support structure like department heads, head coaches, building leaders, and district leaders. As a pastor, you have your superintendent and colleagues, but you are much more independent. You lead more. You are expected to make decisions as a teacher; you don’t have to make them as resolutely as a pastor. Pastors need to be a team leader and develop gifts of adults to serve,” shares Pastor John. “As pastor, you are always in the public eye. There is an expectation by the community about how you need to act.”

Building relationships fuels ministry for Pastor John. He recently conducted a funeral for someone he first met while serving at First UMC in Rapid. Two years ago, he reconnected with the family and visited with the father who had fallen ill. The reconnection of the relationship was spirit-led.

“Relationships are what it is all about. Leading in love and allowing God’s love to enter as you build relationships with others. That leads to ministry happening,” shares Pastor John about his approach to ministry.