Fort Myers Beach Masonic Lodge
17671 Pine Ridge Road
Fort Myers Beach, Florida 33931
Reverend RC, Pastor
Gail Fleeman, Minister of Worship and Music
Dr. Bruce N. Merton, Pastor Emeritus
PASTOR, R.C. FLEEMAN
and
MINISTER OF WORSHIP AND MUSIC, GAIL FLEEMAN
RC’s EDUCATION: Graduated from the University of West Florida in 1977 with a BA Degree in Psychology. Attended the Salvation Army College for Officer Training from 1978-1980 and was ordained as a Salvation Army Officer (Minister) in 1980. Education also includes graduate studies in Public Administration at Clemson University, Clemson, SC, and Christian Ministry at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Charlotte, NC.
GAIL’s EDUCATION: Gail attended Jeffersontown High School while living Louisville, KY. She attended the University of Louisville from 1976 until 1978. From 1978 until 1980, she attended The Salvation Army College for Officer Training in Atlanta, GA and was ordained as a Salvation Army Officer in 1980. Of course, that’s where she met R.C. Gail also attended Southwest Florida College from 2002 until 2003 and earned a degree in Medical Transcription.
RC and GAIL’S PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: RC served as an associate Salvation Army officer in High Point, NC from 1980 until 1981. Gail served as an associate Salvation Army officer in Raleigh, NC and Anderson, SC from 1980 until 1982.
In 1981, RC was appointed to the faculty of The Salvation Army College for Officer Training in Atlanta, GA. Gail joined him in that appointment when they were married on April 17, 1982. They served together as co-pastors of Salvation Army congregations in the following cities: Hendersonville, NC, Gastonia, NC, Greenville, SC, and Fort Myers, FL. In between some of those appointments, they served on Salvation Army Divisional Headquarters in Louisville, KY and Washington, DC, overseeing regional Youth Ministry and Summer Camps.
R.C. and Gail left The Salvation Army in 2003 and formed Oasis Ministries of Southwest Florida, a hospitality ministry for that brought pastors from various denominations to Fort Myers Beach for periods of rest and renewal. They are taking a sabbatical from that ministry for a period of time.
From 2003-2007, RC has served as the Executive Director of the Cape Coral Housing Rehabilitation and Development Corporation. In 2007 he became the Director of Operations for Lamb of God Church, a Lutheran–Episcopal Congregation in the San Carlos / Estero area of Lee County. He worked at that church until just recently, having resigned to become the Pastor of Peace Community Church on April 6, 2015.
Before becoming a Salvation Army Minister, Gail served as a referral counselor through the United Way of Louisville, KY. After leaving The Salvation Army, for a short time she served as a medical transcriptionist, servicing the IMA practice and also the Lee Memorial Hospital Emergency Rooms. She returned to The Salvation Army, Lee County, FL in August 2004. She is currently the Executive Secretary to the Area Commander. She will continue in that position even as she takes on her new, part time role as Minister of Worship and Music for Peace Community Church.
RC and Gail have continually maintained their ordination as ministers of the gospel, even during the times when they were not serving as pastors. Their ordination is currently held with the International Council of Community Churches.
Click HERE to read about our Founding Pastor and Pastor Emeritus
Rev. Dr. Bruce N. Merton.