Holston Welcomes 4
By Annette Bender
The conference welcomes four new
staff members this summer -- three in
the Knoxville office and one on the
University of Tennessee campus.
The Rev. Grady Winegar, former
Kingsport District superintendent, joined the
staff as full-time director of clergy concerns
and conference secretary on June 25.
In part-time positions are two recent
clergy retirees. The Rev. Doug Smith
assumed his new role as director of clergy
concerns on July 1, one year after retirement.
The Rev. Bill Kilday, after retiring at Annual
Conference in June, will serve as director of
stewardship/new church development beginning
Aug. 16.
At the University of Tennessee in Knoxville,
the Rev. David Jackson began as fulltime
director of the Wesley Foundation on
June 25. Jackson is former associate pastor
at Wesley Memorial United Methodist
Church, Johnson City District.
Bishop Ray Chamberlain praised Winegar,
Smith, and Kilday, who have offices in
Knoxville-based Cokesbury Center and will
serve on the cabinet.
Winegar, age 62, is "one of those rare
individuals who is at once a fine theologian
and competent administrator," Chamberlain
said recently.
In addition to leading the Kingsport
District, Winegar has served as Wytheville
District superintendent. He also served as
pastor at Bearden UMC and Central UMC
in Knoxville District and Wesley Memorial
UMC in Cleveland District. Winegar follows
the Rev. Dennie Humphreys, who in
June was appointed senior pastor at Brainerd
UMC, Chattanooga District.
"As director of clergy services, I want
to assist candidates for ordained ministry
through the process and to help district
superintendents and the Board of Ordained
Ministry to better serve clergy candidates,"
Winegar said.
"As conference secretary, I hope to build
on the tradition of those who have preceded
me in bringing excellence to the Journal and
our other publications."
Calling Smith a "dearly loved elder in
this conference," Chamberlain said that he
was "personally pleased" that the former
First Morristown UMC pastor is assuming
the work of steward of clergy concerns.VV
Smith, age 64, follows the Rev. James
Green, who returned to retirement in June after four years in
the position.
"I'm honored to have been asked to be a part of the clergy
support team," Smith said. "I look forward to working with
pastors and families in helpful ways. I see this role as being
supportive of every pastor, along with the bishop."
Smith has also served as Maryville District superintendent
and pastor at Middlebrook Pike UMC in Knoxville District.
He plans to maintain office hours on Mondays, Tuesdays and
Wednesdays.
When Kilday officially joins the conference staff next month,
he will assume duties performed by former director of new
church development, John Ripley, who returned to retirement in
June 2003. Kilday also will assume new responsibilities as the
conference's first director of stewardship.
"A year ago the conference voted to make stewardship a major
emphasis," Chamberlain said. "Bill will help us with stewardship
issues -- it is a passion for him ... He is a proven leader in this
conference."
Kilday, age 63, also has served as pastor at Fountain City
UMC and Bearden UMC, both of Knoxville District. He plans to
maintain office hours on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
?One of my hopes is to help people erase the line between
finances and spirituality,? Kilday said. "People don't like to
think of money and giving as a very important part of the
church, but it is."
Jackson, age 33, joins the conference staff as one of five
Wesley Foundation directors. He follows the Rev. Lauri Jo Cranford,
who in June was appointed associate pastor at Munsey
Memorial UMC, Johnson City District.
Anne Travis, director of connectional ministries, said she
is "very excited" about welcoming Jackson to the conference
staff.
"He is very interested in working with his board and the supporting
districts and superintendents to strengthen the ministry,"
Travis said. "He's been working hard this summer, making plans
for the fall, which include exciting new ways to worship and
ideas for small-group experiences at the Wesley Foundation."
Jackson, who also has served St. Paul UMC, said that he is
"looking forward" to working with students in college ministry.
"It's an important constituency for us."VV
"Go Vols," he added.
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New Bishop on the Way
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