First Rowlett United Methodist Church

Dretha Burris was appointed to serve at First Rowlett UMC as an Associate Pastor in 2008.  Prior to ministry, she spent 31 years in public education in a variety of positions – secretary, teacher, counselor, assistant principal, and principal.  At First Rowlett, Dretha supervises the Children’s Ministry, assists with pastoral care, provides pastoral counseling, oversees the missions programs, teaches Bible study classes, and participates in worship planning and leading worship.  Dretha serves on the Commission of Archives and History for the North Texas Conference as well as on the North Texas Conference Congregational, Assessment, Response and Transformation teams for Conflict and for Crisis.

In addition to her work at First Rowlett UMC, Dretha is a part-time Clinical Faculty instructor at SMU in the Department of Educational Leadership.  She believes in community involvement and serves as the Chaplain for the Rowlett Citizens Corps Council, for the Rowlett Fire Corps, and for the Rowlett Citizens Emergency Response Team.  She serves on the board of Operation Community Outreach, the North Garland High School Site Based Decision Team, is an alumnus of the Leadership Rowlett program, and participates in the Rowlett Chamber of Commerce.  Dretha and her daughter, Andrea, adopted each other when Andrea was only 6 years old.  Andrea is now entering her senior year as a psychology major at Texas Tech University where she volunteers at the Women’s Shelter and assists with the Lubbock Police Department’s Crisis Team. Dretha’s “other daughter”, Sherry, is finishing her undergraduate education at the University of North Texas with a plan to attend law school. Sherry works part-time for Faith UMC in Denton.