Alan is an associate on the Church Transformation Ministry (CTM) team and is an ordained elder in full connection in the North Carolina Conference. In addition to his time in CTM, he serves Ebenezer UMC and Black Creek UMC, and he is on the board of Heart of Carolina Emmaus. Recently retired as the Senior Pastor of Highland UMC (6 years), he also served as Senior Pastor of Kitty Hawk (5 years), Horne Memorial in Clayton (8 years), and Oxford UMC (6 years). In his 43+ years of ministry, he served other churches within the North Carolina Conference.
Dr. Swartz graduated from Apex High School in 1975 and holds degrees from Methodist College (1978), the Divinity School of Duke University (1983), and the Theological School of Drew University (1993). He completed postgraduate work in Wesleyan Studies at Duke and Clinical Pastoral Education at Pitt County Memorial Hospital. Alan was licensed to preach in 1979, ordained a Deacon in the North Carolina Conference in 1980, and an Elder in 1984. He has chaired the Conference IT Committee, Resolutions Committee, Insurance Committee, and the Goldsboro District Council of Ministries. He has also served on the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry and the Board of Worship.
He has been married to Jo Anne (Yates) since 1978. Jo Anne has degrees in music from Appalachian State University and has taught music at every level, from preschool to college. She attended the Teacher Executive Institute and has been designated Teacher of the Year. She grew up in Shelby, NC.
Jo Anne and Alan have two sons: Paul, a chef and barista, and John, who is a paramedic/firefighter and lives in San Rafael (California) with his wife, Jen, and daughter, Kate.