Languages | Education | Training | Ministry History | Questions

LANGUAGES

English

EDUCATION

School

Degree

End (mm/yy)

Young Harris College

Bachelor of Arts

12/16

Candler School of Theology

Master of Divinity

05/20

TRAINING

Course

End (mm/yy)

N/A

N/A

CERTIFICATIONS

Certification

End (mm/yy)

N/A

N/A

MINISTRY HISTORY

Church/Organization

Position

Begin (mm/yy)

Center Valley Methodist Church

Lead Pastor

08/16

Due West Methodist Church

Associate Pastor

09/20

Sam Jones Methodist Church

Senior Pastor

08/22

MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS

1) Center Valley Methodist Church

received first new members and professions of faith in the life of the church in almost 10 years. The greatest highlight of these was receiving by profession of faith a former convicted felon of 14 years who was transformed by the gospel after his release.

Helped lead the church through strategic planning to set into motion a senior adult and widows ministry. Also led the creation of a young adult discipleship group that met weekly.

2) Due West Methodist Church

Facilitated the transition of the entire church to the Planning Center Online database. In conjunction, created a campus-wide visitor center that utilized Planning Center's online form system to adequately integrate visitors and guests into the life of the church.

Championed the creation of the Bonfire Ministry; a young adult discipleship ministry with monthly gatherings and weekly small group participation.

3) Sam Jones Methodist Church -

Established Serve Sunday: every 5th Sunday we gather together for worship through service. This combined service empowers the congregation to serve in various capacities on Sunday mornings. Service projects include packing 30k meals for local food pantries. Making stuffed animals, sorting clothes, and writing letters to children in the Jesus Loves Me Clinic in Bong County, Liberia. Sorting over 20 thousand pounds of can goods through our yearly October canned food drive.

It's Scary to Be Hungry Food Drive: Partnered with our local high school football team and a local business to promote a Blackout Football Game where citizens could bring 4 cans of food to receive a free blackout t-shirt. This revolutionized our yearly can food drive and involved the community in new and exciting ways. This has nearly doubled the amount of food received, and has allowed us to support more than one food pantry, including delivering food to hurricane victims in 2024.

Food/Coffee Trailer: Helped identify and purchase a food/coffee trailer for the purpose of missions and evangelism in our community. The trailer has been taken to local apartment complexes, the local homeless shelter, and other places. Starting in May, the trailer is planning to be used to at the local farmers market to give our free coffee and share the gospel.

Life Groups: Initiated the creation of small group discipleship bands. The first round of leaders will be done with training by the end of Spring. 4 Life groups are anticipated to begin in fall of 2026 with the intention of at least 4 more starting in Spring of 2027.

The Whole Story: In 2025, led the church through a year long process of reading the bible while simultaneously preaching through the bible all 52 weeks. What a blessing to have people share the impact of reading scripture in their lives. We had long-time members state that this was the first time they read all the way through the bible. And they are continuing to do it in 2026!

Purchase of 113 W. Church Street: Led the church through the acquisition of an adjacent property that added important real estate to our land-locked property in downtown Cartersville. This property will allow the church to grow for many years. We are currently in development of a 10 year facilities plan to ensure proper stewardship of this new asset.

Church Growth: We have had the blessing of receiving 237 people into membership in the church since I started in August of 2022. 73 of these were received by Profession of Faith. The greatest highlight of these was seeing my future brother-in-law being led to faith and having the distinct privilege of baptizing him during one of our services. God is good!

QUESTIONS

1. Gospel: What is the gospel?

The gospel is good news. For, being bound by the nature and corruption of sin, all of humanity is condemned to death and eternal separation from God. Having disobeyed and shattering within ourselves the image of God bestowed by the Father, humans are therefore incapable of restoring ourselves to right relationship with God. In His justice and mercy, God sent Jesus to be the perfect mediator between God and people. Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary, lived a perfect life, died our death, and was ultimately raised to new life. On the cross, Jesus paid the punishment for our sins. Through the resurrection, Jesus declared victory over death and the grave. Because of this, all who call upon the name of the Lord are saved and receive the gift of eternal life.

2. Trinity: How would you articulate the doctrine of the Trinity and why it matters?

There is but one true and powerful God, eternal in nature and limitless in power. He alone is worthy of our honor and praise. This is the God of Israel, Yahweh, the creator of heaven and earth, who has revealed Himself to the world through the person of Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit. As three-persons of the one Godhead, God exists eternally, in the fullness of glory and in perfect unity as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit being of one substance, or essence. Therefore, God is both “one-in-three” and “three-in-one.” Though one of the grand mysteries of faith, understanding God as Trinity is essential to recognizing God’s nature. The doctrine of the Trinity serves a dual purpose, demonstrating God’s inherent relational nature, as well as highlighting His ineffability. Whenever we try to create idols in our image, the doctrine of the Trinity prevents us.

3. Jesus: In what sense did Jesus die for our sins, and how does it impact your understanding of the Church’s mission?

By hanging on that tree, Christ bore our sins on His body. He suffered once for all and was put to death in the flesh. He who was righteous and knew no sin, was made by God to be sin, that we who were unrighteous and know only sin, could be made by God to be righteous. Therefore, the Church, as the Body of Christ in the world today, must offer ourselves in the same manner. The means of Christ’s death should become the defining characteristic of the mission of our shared life. We exist, now, as Christ did; for those who are far from God. It is, then, the role of the Church – both in our living and in our dying - to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ until He returns once more.

4. Holy Spirit: How does the ministry of the Holy Spirit relate to your understanding of the Church?

The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin, demonstrates to us our unrighteousness, and makes clear the judgement of all who are not in Christ Jesus our Lord. He, therefore, creates within us new and contrite hearts and bears upon us our need for repentance and reconciliation. For those who are reconciled to God through Christ, the Holy Spirit also serves as our comforter, sustainer, and is the power by which the faithful are guided to truth. Therefore, to understand the Church without the Holy Spirit is to try and understand a car without its engine. Without the Holy Spirit, we may have the form of religion but certainly not the power of it. Through Him all believers are united in power and purpose as one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.

5. Sanctification: Do you affirm the doctrine of entire sanctification, and how would you explain it to someone who has not encountered it before?

I affirm entire sanctification as the great hope of Christ’s gospel. This doctrine is the audacious belief that God truly is more powerful than sin. In dying and being raised, Jesus not only pays the wages of sin, but He also demonstrates His Lordship over sin and death. Entire sanctification takes this bold gospel claim seriously. God doesn’t just want to save us from the guilt of sin, but also the power. Entire sanctification has nothing to do with our work, and everything to do with the power of God. If we will stay near to the God who loves us, His love will cast out all fear, and we will be made perfect in His love. In simplest terms, entire sanctification means being empowered to fully and totally love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength; and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

6. Holiness: How do you understand holiness as it relates to human flourishing?

Our understanding of holiness must flow out of our understanding of God. God is holy; He is the one above and beyond all things He has made. His matchless glory, power, and purity are characteristics that define His holiness. Those who have been claimed and set a part by the Holy God are therefore called to lives of holiness. Even more so, the pursuit of holiness is not merely something we achieve, but it is something God does within us. As we are sanctified, God remakes us as He intended from the beginning. Our former state is one of brokenness, holiness is a restoration of wholeness. True human flourishing, therefore, only comes on the road to holiness. Holiness is not a robotic pursuit of legalism, but instead God’s restoration project wherein we can experience true peace and joy that comes from having our soul rightly aligned with God.

7. Sacraments: What is your understanding of the Sacraments and their role in the life of the Church?

The sacraments are means of grace wherein God uses outward and visible signs to convey an inward and spiritual grace. We affirm two sacraments: the Lord’s Supper and Baptism. Through the waters of Baptism and in partaking of the Bread and Cup, God opens these grand channels to convey His grace in a real and mysterious way. These are not the only means of grace that God offers, though they are unique, particularly in the life of the Church. As gifts of Christ given to His Church, they serve as unique identity markers of those in the family of God. Through baptism, we are buried with Christ that we might walk with Him in newness of life. Through Communion, we are bound together and proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes again. In doing so, God’s people are constituted as His visible Body empowered and strengthened to proclaim the gospel.

8. Scripture: What is your understanding of scripture’s inspiration, authority, truthfulness, and sufficiency?

Scripture is the divinely inspired word of God that is truthful in all things it states and stands as God’s divine revelation wherein all things necessary for salvation are therein contained. It is, therefore, the sufficient rule and authoritative guide for Christian faith and practice. Through it, God has revealed Himself to the world and made clear His character and nature as well as the way of salvation. While we understand God continues to speak into the world today, the Church has discerned and affirmed that God spoke in a particular way for a particular purpose through the 66 canonized books of scripture. We, therefore, do not interpret scripture through the lens of the present. Instead, scripture stands as the authoritative and primary rule by which we understand our lives, our world, and God.

9. Human Sexuality: What is your understanding of human sexuality expressed in terms of human flourishing?

Sexuality is a gift from God. In Genesis, He created us male and female for one another and gave the command to be fruitful and multiply. Thus, the gift of sexuality is to be rightfully expressed through the covenantal union of one man and one woman. All forms of sexual behavior outside of God’s intended design further separates God and His people and promotes human suffering rather than human flourishing. God is grieved at all sexual behaviors beyond the bounds of His intentional design. This includes but is not limited to, sexual abuse, polygamy, homosexuality, pornography, etc. These acts deny in others the image of God within them and portray them as objects of personal satisfaction. The Church has a unique opportunity today to share God’s vision for sexuality and how the biblical understanding promotes a full vision of God’s design that leads to flourishing of body, mind, and spirit.

10. Human Beings: How does the biblical vision of human beings made in the image of God form your attitude toward the dignity of human life at every stage from conception to death?

The Bible is clear that humans are created in the image of God and as such are God’s representatives and image bearers in creation. Even when humanity was unfaithful to God, His love remained steadfast. In the fullness of time, Christ gave His own life that the unrighteous might be made righteous. Thus, scripture affirms the sanctity of life and asserts that every person, regardless of age, station, nationality, ability, is of infinite worth and dignity as bestowed upon them by their Creator. From the moment of conception to the moment of death, we are therefore called to protect and advocate for those unable to speak for themselves. As God is the only One who can give life, He is also the only One that can take it. Christians must accept the mantle of professing the holiness and sanctity of life at every stage.

11. Wesleyan/Methodist Contribution: What is the Wesleyan/Methodist contribution to the Church universal?

Theologically, the grand depositum and great contribution of the Wesleyan tradition is the doctrine of entire sanctification. This bold, audacious, and grand vision for the salvific work of God is a beautiful testament to the vastness of God’s power, grace, and mercy. Our emphasis on entire sanctification and the pursuit of holiness comes from the conviction that God truly is more powerful than all the powers and principalities that dominate the world. Additionally, in a practical sense, it would be an injustice to not also recognize the great hymnody of Charles Wesley as of significant import to the Church universal. For many, it is not Christmas without “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing.” It is through this hymn, and countless others, that the Wesleyan tradition has empowered the faith of the Church universal for generations, as we collectively come together lost in wonder, love, and praise.

12. Global Methodist Church: What is your vision for the GMC?

The GMC must reclaim our identity as disciples committed to Spirit, Discipline, and Truth. First, we must remain dependent upon the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. We should be known for being exultant in our worship and surrendered to the movement of God. The GMC will impact God’s Kingdom most when we usher people anew into the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Conversely, we must emphasize Discipline. By Discipline, I mean a commitment to spiritual disciplines and the means of grace. The GMC must re-adopt the Methodist ethos of demonstrating the power of structuring one’s life after the pursuit of Christ, both in word and deed. Lastly, we must continue to stand for truth. We are now the saints to whom the faith that was once delivered to all has been entrusted. Global Methodists must have an identity as those willing to contend for the faith.

13. Evangelism: What is evangelism and how have you practiced it effectively in your ministry?

Evangelism is our invitation to not just receive, but to participate in the saving work of God in the world. Through the clear and simple proclamation of the gospel, by both word and deed, we present to others the grace and mercy of our Savior. The goal of evangelism should be to point people to Jesus that they might come to have a saving faith in Him, be justified to God, and experience the New Birth. In this way, we imitate Christ and follow His command in Matthew 28. In my ministry, evangelism has been an individual and corporate practice. Individual conversations and evangelism opportunities have led to conversations about the power of God and ultimately a conversion to Christ. As Pastor, however, this call to evangelism is also corporate. This includes empowering the congregation to accept their calling as evangelists as well as creating resources to accomplish the task.

14. Discipleship: What is a disciple, and how have you effectively made disciples in your ministry?

A disciple is someone who has surrendered to the Lordship of Christ and exists to know Him more and make Him more known. A disciple lives a dual life of being and doing. Abiding in Christ must be the disciple’s reality and thus recognizes that apart from Him a disciple can do nothing. But true discipleship also compels a disciple to act. Just as Christ came to serve and not be served, so too does a disciple live a life committed to serving others that they may come to know the love of Christ. The most effective way I have found to make disciples in my ministry is to be a disciple. There is no discipleship strategy more compelling than a life wholeheartedly sold out for the mission of God. The fruit of abiding in the vine is more appealing than all the world has to offer.

15. Local Engagement: How have you led congregations to engage their local contexts with the gospel?

To engage a local context, one must understand it. In each appointment, I have asked, “Would our community miss us if we were gone?” After that, the question becomes, “what has God uniquely equipped us with that our community needs?” When churches can answer these questions, the road to local engagement is near. Most churches don’t need drastic changes to become effective at engaging their community with the gospel. Instead, most churches need to lean into the talents that have been entrusted to them. In one appointment, this meant recognizing the church’s own demographic and seeking to be a place where people in the twilight years of their life came to hear the gospel. In my most recent appointment, it meant recognizing our prime geographic location and embracing our identity as a church with multiple worship styles, to become a place where anyone could come to hear the gospel.

16. Unreached People Groups: How do you understand the mission of the GMC in relation to unreached and unengaged people groups?

Praise God that when we were far from him, and in the fullness of time, God sent His Son to bring us near through the blood of Christ. From then on, God appointed the Church for the task of telling the world this story. Therefore, if we are to be serious about making disciples and spreading scriptural holiness across the globe, we must also take seriously the task of sharing the gospel to unreached and unengaged people groups. Scripture is clear that God’s desire is for none to perish. Is that our desire also? We cannot claim the mantle of scriptural holiness without a burden for those who don’t know Christ. We won’t fulfill our mission unless we have the same mind of Christ and are moved with compassion to go into all the world until every knee bows and every tongue confesses Jesus Christ as Lord.

17. Global Missions: What is the local church’s role in global missions? How will you equip local churches for that role?

Global missions are not optional for local churches. Right before Jesus ascended to the Father, He commanded His Church, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to witness to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. Local churches cannot fully understand the depth of the gospel without participation in the larger community of faith. Likewise, when local churches deprioritize global missions, the worldwide community is denied access to the gifts given to that local congregation. In other words, your church needs the globe, and the globe needs your church! Bishops are uniquely placed and equipped to encourage local church participation in global missions. As global itinerants, bishops carry the stories of God’s movement across the globe. As a bishop, I would be the connecting witness between the world and our churches. Through sharing these stories, congregations are encouraged to see the impact of their participation in global missions.

18. Christian Unity: What is your understanding of Christian unity? How will you lead the Church toward greater unity in Christ and the Spirit both within the GMC and in relation to other ecclesial bodies?

In His high priestly prayer, Jesus demonstrates His desire for unity amongst His disciples. In it, Jesus reveals that when His followers are united in Christ we participate in and imitate the triune relationship of God through which we declare the work of God in the world. Unity in Christ is, therefore, of utmost importance to the body of Christ. In this, we mean agreement on the essential doctrines of faith. While Christians may differ on matters of opinion like styles of worship, forms of governance, or other non-essential theological positions, Christian unity is predicated on the truth that Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. A bishop is tasked with promoting this unity, both within the GMC and in relation to other faith traditions. Rightly done, this is accomplished by preaching and defending those truths which are essential and exercising charity in those things which are not.

19. Bishop's Work: What is your understanding of the work of a bishop?

The BODD rightly states that bishops are primarily called to lead and oversee the church by guarding, transmitting, teaching, and proclaiming the apostolic faith as revealed in scripture and understood in the Wesleyan tradition. While bishops, as those called out of the Order of Elders, have responsibilities to order the life of the church (presiding over Annual and General Conferences, appointing Conference Superintendents, fixing appointments, and ordaining clergy), they are uniquely consecrated for the task of leading the Church through communication of the faith. Bishops serve as champions of the Church-at-large, and through the historic teaching office, seek to empower, equip, and inspire laity and clergy to proclaim the faith in their own churches and communities. In this way, bishops serve in both truth and humility; they stand in the trenches to defend the faith entrusted to the Church, while simultaneously existing as chief servants of Christ and His people.

20. Your Qualifications: What qualifies you for the office of bishop?

By the grace of God, I fulfill the qualifications outlined in 1 Timothy 3 for those who are called to serve as overseers in the life of the Church. I pray that God will continue to guard my heart and, through the power of the Holy Spirit, renew within me the image of God. If then, I am qualified for the office of bishop, it is only through what God has done in me. In turn, I stand in humble surrender to my Lord and my God. If it is His desire for me to serve in this office, I trust that He will use the discernment of the General Conference to make that clear. Should that be the case, I stand in belief that God will equip, guide, and direct my path. Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!

21. Assembly of Bishops: What do you see as the role of the Assembly of Bishops?

All people need a group of persons who watch over one another in love. This extends to even those who are called to the office of bishop. Therefore, the Assembly of Bishops stands as a body built on sacred covenant and shared calling for the purpose of ensuring that episcopal leaders are enabled to perform the responsibilities asked of the office. However, this collegial relationship should not simply be affirming. Watching over one another in love recognizes the need for direct accountability. Through the deep and sincere relationships that must be held among episcopal colleagues, this body serves as the mechanism by which bishops are able to speak truth in love to one another. The Assembly of Bishops is not primarily, then, a structure of power within the denomination. Instead, it is a body designed for mutual benefit and shared responsibility for those tasked with leading the Church.

22. Fellow Bishops: How do you envision working together with fellow bishops?

Bishops serve a unique role in the Church by serving specific Annual Conferences as well as being called to steward, guide, and lead the denomination at large. For this reason, bishops must work together to faithfully fulfill the task for which they are consecrated. After General Conference, only 8 people will actively carry and understand the burden of episcopal leadership. I would cherish the relationships built among those called by God and the church to the same purpose and envision working closely with them. As those tasked with promoting the unity of the Church, working together would not only be personally beneficial but also ecclesiastically necessary. I envision working with other bishops to create applicable teaching documents as well as relevant digital resources for use across the connection. Though we would serve in varied contexts, we are tasked with teaching and defending the same faith. Doing this effectively requires collaboration.

23. Conference Superintendents: How do you envision working together with and supervising conference superintendents?

Conference superintendents share alongside bishops the collegial task of ordering the church. As a bishop, I envision providing pastoral and strategic support for conference superintendents. To do this, and even as the conference superintendent is evaluated annually by a process approved by the bishop, I would intentionally work to develop a relationship that is built on mutual trust and genuine desire for partnership. This sort of connection is necessary so the relationship can also become one of accountability. I would strive to build the relationship such that conference superintendents would feel comfortable sharing with me, in appropriate ways, disagreements and concerns. In the same way, I would strive to build the relationship such that conference superintendents would receive the same from me. In the system of polity that the GMC has adopted, bishops cannot do their role fully without the support of conference superintendents and vice versa.

24. Handling Concerns: If laity or clergy bring concerns directly to you bypassing their presiding elders and/or conference superintendent, would you include the applicable conference superintendent and/or presiding elder in the conversation? If so, how would you empower your conference superintendents and/or presiding elders in the discussion?

Bishops and conference superintendents, and by association presiding elders, must maintain a healthy relationship with regular and honest communication. Should someone bring concerns to me and bypass their presiding elder and/or conference superintendent, I would immediately speak with the person in question. If necessary, I would then loop in the applicable person for a follow-up conversation. The exception would be in instances of legitimate complaints wherein I would refer the aggrieved to the appropriate body, likely the committee on investigation and/or superintendency committee, with necessary transparency. Within the collegial relationship of bishops and conference superintendents, there is no room for triangulation. Supporting conference superintendents requires entrusting to them the job for which they have been called. This means making clear in these conversations that the conference superintendent and/or presiding elders have been appointed to oversee each annual conference. Our polity will only be fruitful when communication and order are maintained.

25. Laity Leadership: How do you envision incorporating laity into the leadership of the church and into your leadership team?

Laity are the lifeblood and heart of the Church. To exclude laity from leadership is to exclude the very body of Christ itself! As clergy, my job is not to be the person to which ministry has been outsourced. Instead, God has called me to order the life of the church in such a way that the church is empowered to go and serve. In creating my leadership team, laity must be a vital part. While clergy have certain gifts, there are many needed skills that a lay person would better bring to the table. I also operate with the idea of “champions.” In my ministry, I find that initiatives, events, or ministries are most impactful and lasting when there is a lay person assigned as the “champion.” My job, then, is to empower the champion to lead. As a bishop, I would operate in the same way.

26. GMC Challenges: What do you see as the top three challenges facing the GMC today? How would you address them?

1. Disciple-making culture – It is simple, without reclaiming our heritage of discipleship we will repeat the mistakes of our past. Throughout the connection, I would seek to inspire individuals and conferences to take seriously our tradition of discipleship and make them a focus, not just a historical reality.

2. Global Nature –The blessing of our global church brings logistical challenges for our polity. Humans pursue that which benefits them. As bishop, I would highlight our global reality and invite people to live sacrificially by adopting a what is best for all mindset.

3. Growing Young – Empowering our emerging generations will be critical over the next decade as many wonderful laity and clergy transition from the church militant to the church triumphant. I feel uniquely called and equipped to be a bridge in our connection to honor the legacy of our past while encouraging the leaders of our future.

27. Devotional Life: How would you characterize your devotional life?

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.” – Psalm 42:1

Here the Psalmist describes his longing for the presence of the living God. As a deer pants for water, so too does he pant for a taste of his Lord. As I read these words, I cannot help but think of the long days of ministry that can lead one to a point of exhaustion, not just physically, but spiritually. Devotional time with God is the time in which the deep recesses of my soul, which long for and need the presence of God, can drink from the deep well of living water. I pray that God continues to call me to a deep dependence on Him, and I know that when I go to Him, the well will not run dry.

28. Theological Resources: What are the top five authors or theological resources to which you turn for research and learning and why?

1. Athanasius of Alexandria, particularly On the Incarnation. At a pivotal time in the church, Athanasius defended the nature of Christ and articulated the importance of proper Christology. In doing so, he helped shape orthodox theology.

2. John Wesley. As a Methodist by birth, it was in reading through the sermons of Wesley that I became a Methodist by choice. The Wesleyan understanding of salvation articulated in his writings is the clearest presentation of the gospel I have found.

3. Kevin Watson. In seminary, he connected the history of Wesleyan discipleship with its transformational nature. His writings continue to compel me on its importance.

4. Wes Huff. While we disagree in some areas (he comes from the reformed tradition), he does a masterful job of presenting apologetic arguments in an easily digestible manner.

5. C.S Lewis. Lewis thinks deeply about important matters of faith in an intelligible and winsome manner.

29. Failures: Describe one time you failed; what did you learn from that failure?

In my first appointment, the Administrative Council was discussing a community event. Everyone, including myself, had the same opinion about the event, except for one. We spent the meeting discussing the event after which it was determined we would not participate. Words were, at times, contentious. Since I agreed with the majority, I offered little commentary. Out of nowhere, the lone supporter burst into tears and ran out of the meeting. I went after her to offer comfort. She remarked about how alone she felt in her own church. My (in)actions were a failure of leadership. I learned that a good shepherd must always be mindful of their sheep. I do not regret opposing the event. I do regret not speaking up to remind everyone that our faith in Christ was bigger than any other disagreement we had. This is a lesson I carry into every meeting I lead.

30. Leadership Style: How would you describe your leadership style?

From a foundationally Christian perspective, I strive to be a servant leader. If Christ, the Word of God, is willing to wash the feet of the man who would betray Him and die on the cross for those who would deny Him, so too am I called to give of myself fully and totally for the sake of the gospel. Going hand in hand with servant leadership, I have learned and adopted the mindset that leadership must be sacrificial and incarnational. I seek to never ask of someone something that I would not (and have not) done myself. I do not strive to lead from a distance. Instead, I strive to lead from the front lines. Whether we are to fail or succeed, we will do so together. Ultimately, true leaders don’t ask for people to follow. Instead, they lead in such a compelling way that people want to follow.

31. Decision Making: Give an example of a time when you had to make a difficult decision as a leader and how you made that decision.

In one church I served, there was a long-standing tradition of Lenten lunches. These were a collaborative event with multiple churches in the area participating. In my second year, it was clear that the leadership of the other participating churches were not in alignment with orthodox biblical interpretation. After much thought and prayer, and after talking with key lay leadership, I made the decision to stop our participation in these lunches. While the fellowship was nice, I felt it necessary to draw important boundaries. There were some in the church that did not fully understand the decision, as I did not think it was edifying to publicly state all the reasons that went into it. Even though this led to questions and slight ostracization from the pastors of these other churches, I believe I made the right decision to prioritize biblical truth over a beloved custom.

32. Confrontation: Give an example of a time when you had to confront an employee or colleague over behavior or beliefs contrary to those agreed upon and how you handled it.

In one church I served, someone who helped lead in worship was arrested for a DUI. Upon learning, I asked the person to refrain from helping to lead in worship until we had a chance to talk. In consultation with my lay leadership, I sat down with this person, our Associate Pastor, and their direct ministry leader, to discuss a path to healing and restoration, both individually and collectively. This included refraining from helping to lead worship for a season as well as regular check-ins for accountability. While it was a difficult conversation, it was a needed one. I saw the need to balance the fine line between holding this person accountable and maintaining the integrity of the church, while also seeking the best for the individual. Ultimately, I think being direct, honest, and setting clear boundaries and expectations with the goal of restoration was the appropriate path forward.

33. Teaching: What experience do you have in a teaching role? How has your teaching style evolved during your ministry?

Teaching is one of the parts of ministry that gives me the most life. I regularly teach Bible Studies and other classes within the church. Currently, I am teaching a large Wednesday Night Study on a survey of apologetics. I have had the privilege of being a theologian-in-residence and teaching at a youth confirmation retreat as well as teaching a workshop at our Convening Annual Conference in North Georgia. With my involvement with General Conference, I have also had the opportunity to travel to other churches to teach and share about our Methodist way of conferencing. Over the years, I have learned that people yearn for more depth. Early in ministry, I tried to focus on subjects that would interest a large multitude. But, in today’s world of a mile wide and an inch deep, I have come to see the value in plumbing the deep depths of our faith.