PAstoR Ross O'Neal
Rev. Ross O’Neal was appointed to Christ United Methodist Church on July 1, 2025. He sees his role as helping the congregation connect with God, follow Jesus, and grow in the Holy Spirit. A United Methodist since 1985, Pastor Ross was drawn to the church’s emphasis on grace—God’s loving power to transform lives from the inside out. For him, faith is a lifelong journey, not a one-time transaction. He feels called to help people encounter God where they are and to nurture an ongoing relationship with Christ.
Ross began serving in ministry in 1996 while attending Duke Divinity School. After graduating in 2000, he completed a yearlong residency with the British Methodist Church in Liverpool before receiving his first appointment in the Western North Carolina Conference in 2001. He also completed a chaplain residency at Wake Forest Baptist Health in 2011–12. Before ministry, Ross worked for eight years as a vocational rehabilitation counselor in Eastern North Carolina and Charlotte. His current educational interest is in Spiritual Direction with the Charlotte Spirituality Center.
Born in Williamsburg, VA and raised in Durham, Ross holds degrees from NC State University (B.A.), East Carolina University (M.S. in Rehabilitation Studies), and Duke Divinity School (M.Div.).