WHO WE ARE

First Church was the first organized church in the Pecos Valley and what would become Roswell. Started in 1885, our first building was constructed in 1888 from adobe. In 1897 the congregation moved a block and a half south to a rock and brick buildings on the current location. The history of First Church is rich and colorful and includes the stories of farmers, ranchers, cowboys, a school bell and many business persons.


We are a large church in the United Methodist tradition which has a well-established reputation for conducting quality, traditional worship, where adults of all generations, youth, and children find a place to develop and grow in our relationship with God through Jesus Christ.


Today, First United Methodist Church, the mother church of Roswell, occupies a prominent corner at Second Street and Pennsylvania Ave, near downtown. And it holds an important place in the life, values, and culture of our city. The church is well-known for its beautiful facility, which is made available for many public events in addition to the Christian worship schedule. First Church is known also for our grand music tradition and support of the arts and music within our community. Our choirs have sung in Carnegie Hall, toured parts of the United States and contribute weekly to inspiring worship.



Reverends laird and tina cross

FUMC is fortunate to have Rev. Laird Cross and Rev. Tina Cross as Co-Senior Pastors. Both are ordained Elders in the United Methodist Church, and are passionate about serving FUMC together as a clergy couple. Laird and Tina met in seminary at Iliff School of Theology in Denver, where both received their Master of Divinity degrees. Tina and Laird have served churches in Colorado and West Texas, and are delighted to now be in Roswell. Laird’s call to ministry came in the midst of a corporate career which equipped him with a keen understanding of what it means to live out one’s faith in the real world. He knows the needs of God’s people and God’s church and feels truly blessed to minister with warmth and humor. Pastor Laird grew up in Alamogordo, graduated from the University of New Mexico, and served one tour in the US Marines before returning to New Mexico. Tina was raised as a United Methodist in the farm lands of South Dakota. She has degrees in Music and Special Education from Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD and has served as a special education teacher, a private music instructor, and Director of Music at a Disciples of Christ Church in Colorado. Tina is a teacher at heart which is reflected in her lively, understandable sermons, which often include a bit of Norwegian American humor. She is passionate about preaching, teaching and providing pastoral care with her husband and ministry partner, Laird. When not at the church, she can be found either learning to ride a horse across the New Mexico landscape, or snuggled with her family while trying to finish crocheting that afghan. Tina and Laird have five adult children and five grandchildren. They live at home with their daughter Beth, dogs Raspberry, Scarlett, and Willow, and horses Buddy and Norman.