Pastoral Development Ministry

06/02/2026

Congratulations to these ministers who are celebrating their ordination anniversary this month. We give thanks for their ministry - “Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.” (1 Thess. 5:12-13, NIV)
Robert Watkins - 6/1/1970 - 56 years
Phil Sumrall - 6/1/1975 - 51 years
Jim Butler - 6/1/1982 - 44 years
Rusty Rustenhaven - 6/1/1983 - 43 years
Jay Earheart-Brown - 6/1/1986 - 40 years
Bill James - 6/1/1986 - 40 years
Keith Lorick - 6/1/1988 - 38 years
Dwayne McDuff - 6/1/1988 - 38 years
Jeff Gehle - 6/1/1999 - 27 years
Alfredo Rincon - 6/1/2000 - 26 years
David Kurtz - 6/1/2006 - 20 years
Matthew Cunningham - 6/2/1990 - 36 years
Dwight Liles - 6/2/2002 - 24 years
T.J. Malinoski - 6/2/2002 - 24 years
Paul Earheart-Brown - 6/2/2018 - 8 years
Karen Linski - 6/2/2024 - 2 years
Douglas Lee - 6/3/2001 - 25 years
Christian Smith - 6/3/2007 - 19 years
Jason Chambers - 6/4/2005 - 21 years
Tim Smith - 6/4/2006 - 20 years
Aaron Craig - 6/4/2017 - 9 years
Cheyanne Davis - 6/4/2023 - 3 years
Lyle Reece - 6/5/1994 - 32 years
Glenn Watts - 6/5/2022 - 4 years
Gary Carlton - 6/6/1999 - 27 years
Hershel Akin - 6/7/1981 - 45 years
Stuart Dyer - 6/7/1987 - 39 years
Kevin Brantley - 6/7/1998 - 28 years
Isaac Gray - 6/8/2008 - 18 years
Sam Harwell - 6/8/2008 - 18 years
Garrett Burns - 6/8/2014 - 12 years
Thomas Clark - 6/9/2013 - 13 years
John Lowrance - 6/9/2019 - 7 years
Jonathan Siu - 6/10/2007 - 19 years
Mitch Boulton - 6/10/2012 - 14 years
William Winn - 6/11/1978 - 48 years
Mark Davenport - 6/12/1988 - 38 years
Duawn Mearns - 6/15/2003 - 23 years
Mary McCaskey - 6/15/2008 - 18 years
Gene Gough - 6/16/1985 - 41 years
Michael Reno - 6/16/2016 - 10 years
Charles McGee - 6/19/1983 - 43 years
Joey Edwards - 6/19/2005 - 21 years
Michael Walker - 6/20/2002 - 24 years
James Hamblin - 6/24/1989 - 37 years
Casey Nicholson - 6/25/2005 - 21 years
Tom Merchant - 6/25/2006 - 20 years
Edgar Straube - 6/25/2023 - 3 years
Earl West - 6/26/1972 - 54 years
Mary Kathryn Kirkpatrick - 6/26/2011 - 15 years
Thomas Lockhart - 6/27/2010 - 16 years
James Goodwill - 6/28/1981 - 45 years
Russell Little - 6/29/2003 - 23 years
Torres Gonzalo - 6/29/2025 - First Anniversary!
Doy Daniels - 6/30/2007 - 19 years
Laura Todd - 6/30/2013 - 13 years

06/01/2026

If you are coming to General Assembly in a couple of weeks, here is a way you can help serve our friends! We will have a representative there, so just look for our sign to drop off in-kind and monetary donations to keep the spark burning!
🔥

05/27/2026

People experiencing mental health concerns often turn first to a faith leader.
That’s a sacred responsibility—and a heavy one.
Are you prepared to care for others and yourself when that moment comes?
This guide from the American Psychiatric Association offers practical ways to respond with compassion, awareness, and wisdom:
👉https://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Psychiatrists/Cultural-Competency/faith-mentalhealth-guide.pdf
A few takeaways:
• Faith leaders are often “first responders” in mental health situations
• Noticing early signs and starting conversations matters
• You don’t have to have all the answers—connecting people to professional help is key
• Your own mental health matters too—burnout and compassion fatigue are real
You are not meant to carry this alone.
What’s one thing from this guide you could put into practice in your ministry or daily life? 💚

05/25/2026

Calling all clergy! 💚
How have you cared for your mental health today—or this week?
Whether it’s taking a walk, setting a boundary, reaching out to a friend, or simply pausing to breathe… it all counts.
If you’re looking for extra support or tools, the Employee Assistance Program is here for you—offering confidential counseling and helpful resources:
👉 https://cpcmc.org/pdmt-employee-assistance-program/
You don’t have to do this alone. What’s one thing that’s helped you this week?

05/23/2026

Take a few minutes to read this article on clergy mental health from Columbia Theological Seminary:
👉 https://www.ctsnet.edu/addressing-clergy-mental-health/
A few things that stood out to us:
• Clergy often work 40–60+ hours a week, wearing many roles at once
• Rates of stress, burnout, and depression are higher than the general population
• Isolation—even from peers—is a common experience
• And yet, many pastors face real barriers to getting help (time, cost, confidentiality concerns)
One line that sticks with us: clergy are often caring for everyone else while ignoring their own warning signs.
What about you—what stood out in this reading? 💚

05/22/2026

If your summer travels take you near Dickson, stop in and worship.

Summer worship begins this Sunday, May 24, at the Birthplace Shrine Chapel at Montgomery Bell State Park!

Out first service falls on Pentecost Sunday, when we remember the coming of the Holy Spirit among the people of God

Join us this sunday, or another sunday this summer, for worship filled with music, prayer, Scripture, and community in a unique and historical setting .

✔️Birthplace Shrine Chapel at Montgomery Bell State Park
✔️Sunday, May 24
✔️Worship begins at 9:00am

Come as you are. Bring a friend. Bring your pet. Let’s begin the summer together in worship. ✌️❤️

05/20/2026

Want to make sure ministers always have access to the Employee Assistance Program? 💚
You can help make that possible.
By giving to the Clergy Mental Health Endowment, you’re investing in long-term, sustainable support for those serving in ministry. Once this endowment reaches its $250,000 goal, it will provide funds to keep the program running—without cost to ministers or presbyteries.
That means ongoing access to care, counseling, and support when it’s needed most.
👉 Give here: https://cpcmc.org/donations/
Your gift helps ensure clergy are supported not just today, but for years to come.

05/19/2026

Research shows that pastoral leaders often experience higher levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and loneliness than the general population.
Does that sound familiar?
You have options—and you don’t have to navigate it alone. You can reach out anonymously to trained professionals through the Employee Assistance Program for support, guidance, and care.
👉 Learn more here: https://cpcmc.org/pdmt-employee-assistance-program/
Taking that first step can make a difference. 💚

05/15/2026

There are so many ways to care for your mental health—and sometimes the hardest part is knowing where to start.
Check out this great resource: https://clergyhealth.duke.edu/list-recommended-well-being-practices-clergy
What about you—how do you keep a handle on your mental health? What practices, rhythms, or small habits help you stay grounded?
Let’s learn from one another. 💚

05/13/2026

Have you been thinking you might need someone to talk to—or wishing you had a few more tools to support your mental health?
The Pastoral Development Ministry Team provides access to an Employee Assistance Program, offering confidential counseling and helpful resources for wherever you are right now. You don’t have to navigate this alone.
👉 Check out these resources here: https://cpcmc.org/pdmt-employee-assistance-program/
Do you care about a clergy member and want to make sure support like this continues? Consider giving to the Mental Health Endowment—helping sustain healthy, supported, and effective ministry for the long haul. https://cpcmc.org/donations/
Together, we can care for those who care for others. 💚