Reverend Dwight W. Moore was called to be the pastor of Bethlehem in December, 1956.  He was “at the tender age of 22 and a student at Elon [University].  Obviously, I had not a clue as to what I was supposed to do or how it was to be done.  However folks were understanding and forgiving, so I thought I was doing a good job!  My fondest memories are the Sunday dinners to which I was invited most every week.  I could name a number of the families, but I shall refrain from doing so lest I omit someone.”

Upon graduation from Elon in 1958, he was granted Limited, or Conference Ordination at Bethlehem and continued his education at Duke Divinity School.  Shortly after college graduation he moved from Veteran’s Apartments at Elon to a house in the neighborhood of Bethlehem and owned by church member Lee Rudd.  In December, 1959, he moved to South Boston, VA, to serve as pastor of Center Christian Church.  Other churches he served are Oakland Christian Church in Suffolk, VA, Warwick United Church of Christ in Newport News, VA, and Carolina Christian Church north of Burlington, NC.

Reverend Moore is now retired but still pastor of Liberty United Church of Christ, where he leads worship twice monthly.  He also preaches monthly at a nearby Baptist church.  In 2001 he married Faye Coates, and they reside in the parsonage of Liberty UCC.

Reverend Moore has two children, Douglas (born during his years at Bethlehem) and Deborah, and five grandchildren.