Local pastor retires after 41 years in ministry
On April 9, Pastor J. Stephen Fair of Faith United Church of Christ, Ridgway, and St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Johnsonburg, will retire following Easter services. He has served as a pastor for more than 41 years.
Ordained on May 31, 1981 at First & St. Stephen's United Church of Christ in Baltimore, MD, Pastor Fair served churches in Maryland, Ohio and Illinois in addition to Pennsylvania in his ministry. He has pastored Faith United Church of Christ in Ridgway since November 2003 and St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Johnsonburg since June 2005.
A celebration reception will be held at St. John's Lutheran Church in Johnsonburg on March 26 from 1 to-4 p.m. The public is invited to attend and share memories of Pastor Fair's ministry. Refreshments will be provided. Originally from Baltimore, MD, Pastor Fair graduated from Towson University in Baltimore, MD in 1978 and married the former Kathryn E. Barrans in 1980. Following his seminary graduation and ordination in 1981, he initially served as pastor of Byron United Church of Christ in Xenia, OH from June 1, 1981 to November 30, 1984. He then moved back to Baltimore to serve United Evangelical United Church of Christ December 1, 1984 to May 31, 1990.
Pastor Fair became a novice in the Order of Corpus Christi in 1987 and professed his final vows in the Order in 1988. He has been active in this religious order ever since.
Pastor Fair then served Trinity United Church of Christ in Lewistown, PA June 1, 1990 to June 30, 1994, when he moved to Reading to serve Schwartzwald United Church of Christ July 1, 1994 to June 30, 1996.
Pastor Fair served Belpre Congregational Church (United Church of Christ) in Belpre, OH September 1, 1996 to May 1, 1998. He then served the United Church of Christ of El Paso, IL May 1998 to June 2003.
Pastor Fair and his family moved to RIdgway in November 2003 to begin serving Faith United Church of Christ. In addition to serving the two churches, Pastor Fair has also been involved as the Chaplain of the Johnsonburg Fire Department since 2009. He previously was a volunteer firefighter and chaplain in Lewistown, PA and Reading, PA.
Pastor Fair also served on the board of directors of the Lutheran Home in Kane and was vice president and president of the Board of Directors. Pastor Fair has also been active in the Ridgway and Johnsonburg ministeriums and has periodically hosted community worship services. Pastor and Kathy Fair have been active in the Johnsonburg Community Vacation Bible School for many years.
Pastor Fair has also served in wider church ministries including
the Synod Council for the Northwest Pennsylvania Synod, ELCA. He has served the United Church of Christ Clarion Association as a member of the committee on ministry and the Association President. He has served the Penn West Conference (UCC) as a faculty member of the Penn West Academy, chair of the unified fitness review committee, parlimementarian of the Conference annual meeting and member of the Conference Board of Directors.
Kathryn Fair has sung in the Elk County Concert Choir since 2004 and has served as organist at Faith Church since 2011 and at St. John Lutheran Church since 2013. She
has been choir director at Faith Church since 2007. She has taught piano and flute lessons for 47 years. Kathryn worked as a Mental Health Professional at Dickinson Center from 2004 to 2011 and was a Behavioral Specialist (BSC) with Behavioral Advancements of DuBois from 2012 to 2017 and Merakey (formerly NHS) from 2017 until retiring in 2022. Kathryn is currently
substitute teaching throughout Elk County. A professional flutist, she is planning a farewell flute recital before the couple moves to their new home outside Baltimore, MD.
Pastor and Kathryn Fair are building a home outside Baltimore MD where they will move following retirement. They plan to travel and spend time with their grandchildren.