Remembering Rev. Bruce Foreman

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AM’s founding executive director, Bruce Foreman, passed away June 19 after a brief illness. He was 94 years of age and suffered in recent years from Alzheimer’s disease; although that slowed him down, to the end he retained his caring, loving personality, and his gentlemanly demeanor, always offering a welcoming smile to family and friends.

Bruce was born in Iowa, and his family migrated to California in 1943. He obtained his first college degree in California, later obtaining a Theology degrees in Boston and New York City. While doing a pastoral internship in Boston, Bruce met Paula Schilling; they were married in 1959 and blessed with two children.

Bruce and Paula moved to Western Washington that same year, where Bruce served parishes in Fircrest and Gig Harbor as a United Methodist pastor. In 1969, he was called to be the founding director and “Metropolitan Minister” of Associated Ministries. After 10 years, Bruce returned to the pastorate and served at several other parishes in Western Washington, and he remained very active in ministering to a variety of organizations throughout his life.

Bruce was an avid barber shopper, singing baritone in a number of quartets and choruses for over 50 years. Bruce and Paula traveled extensively around the US and internationally. A celebration of life is being planned for later in the summer and the family has requested that memorial contributions be given in his honor to Associated Ministries at this link: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/AMDonationsSite

AM History with Rev. Foreman…

1969: Associated Ministries was incorporated and Bruce Foreman was called to be the founding “Metropolitan Minister”. Under the leadership of Rev. Foreman, the agency developed a solid organizational base and broadened its constituency to include over 100 churches.

Programs developed included: Friend to Friend, FISH/Foodbanks, information and referral, the Church Services Agency, the paper buying service, and various events. A.M. was also very active in helping programs to get started. Once established, they were “spun off.” Examples are the Tacoma Seamen’s Ministry (Tacoma Seamen’s Center), the Police Chaplaincy, Ministry with Service People (later Con-neXion), and FISH. During these formative years the agency facilitated a wide variety of other programs and ministries throughout the Tacoma-Pierce County area.

1973: Associated Ministries’ first home, located at the Tacoma Community House burned down. AM then moved to offices located at the 6th Ave. Street Baptist Church.

1979: After 10 years of serving as the Executive Director of Associated Ministries, Rev. Bruce Foreman resigned in order to return to pastorate.