Alumni Groups
Alumni Groups
Birmingham Faith and Money
Birmingham Faith & Money peer group began its work in the winter of 2007 with an immersion trip to Wall Street, and concluded its study in the Fall of 2010, on another continent, in another world financial capital, but on the other side of the most serious financial contraction of our lifetimes. The backdrop of world events that provided the stage for study of this topic has been seismic in the magnitude of its shift. It has given us the opportunity to study economic phenomenon and attitudes before and after the most significant financial event of our lives. Shown on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, left to right: David Megginnis, Episcopalian; Mark Lacey, United Methodist; Warren Nash, United Methodist; Rich Webster, Episcopalian; Glenda Curry, Episcopalian; Drew Henry, Presbyterian; Cary Speaker, Presbyterian; Maria Campbell, Resource Person; Keith Elder, United Methodist and Bill Morgan, Facilitator
The Elite 8
The Elite 8 discovered exciting new ways to become more effective in conveying the love of Christ through worship and preaching. On the front row, left to right, is John Herndon, Presbyterian Church, USA; Lynne Herring, Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America; Endia Scruggs, Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America; Mitchell Walker, Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America. On the back row, left to right is Harry Johnson, Cumberland Presbyterian Church; Wayne Snodgrass, Missionary Baptist Church; Edward Robinson, Missionary Baptist Church; Bill Montague, Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America; David Carboni, United Methodist, Facilitator.
The Atlanta Artisans
The Atlanta Artisans completed their project in 2010. The artist model distinctly shaped the focus of learning for them. They shared a common desire to expressively break out of a stagnation that has culturally and socially bound the church in the arena of preaching and worship. They studied excellence at The Disney Institute, the art of Storytelling with Jay O’Callahan, the art of Video Editing, how to mobilize congregations and forming effective worship in San Francisco, and indigenous churches on the Amazon. Shown from left to right, back row, is Rob Lanford, United Methodist; Bob Winstead, United Methodist; Phil Schroeder, United Methodist. Standing on the front row, left to right, is Tom Elliott, United Methodist; Alice Rogers, United Methodist; Dave Benson, United Methodist; Amy Morgan, United Methodist; John Merk, United Methodist.
The Emmanuel Group
The Emmanuel Group closed out in 2009. Their Preaching and Worship experience encompassed study in Israel and Greece, where they were discovering fresh ways to proclaim the Gospel of Christ. Shown from left to right, front row, is Pastor Brandon Watkins, Apostolic New Testament Church; Jim Stringfellow, United Methodist, Facilitator; Pastor Derrick Flanagan, Apostolic New Testament Church. Shown on the back row, left to right, is Bishop Sam Rice, Apostolic New Testament Church; Apostle Maurice Write, United Christian Church; Apostle Karokas Watkins, Apostolic New Testament Church; Pastor Kirk Arnold, Eternal Word Ministry; Pastor Thomas Davis, Apostolic New Testament Church; and Elder Pete Pierce, United Christian Church.
Decatur Bait and Tackle
The Decatur Bait and Tackle group completed their studies in 2009. Their Preaching and Worship study sought to cultivate leadership skills that would allow them to share Jesus in a way that invites diversity and builds communities of faith that represent God’s love in the world. Shown from left to right on the front row is Carol Cavin-Dillon, United Methodist; Byron Vance, United Methodist; Charlie Hayes, United Methodist, Facilitator; Emily Penfield, United Methodist; Eric Bagwell, United Methodist. Shown on the back row, left to right, is Diane Housler, United Methodist; Stephanie Arnold, United Methodist; Wade Griffith, United Methodist; Bryan Sisson, United Methodist.
All Saints Group
The All Saints Group closed out in 2008. The sought to discover and implement new resources and styles for preaching the Gospel story for leading worship that results in spiritual growth, both for themselves and their congregations. Shown left to right, Bob Alford, United Methodist, Facilitator; Vicki Cater, United Methodist; Margaret Scalise, Episcopal; Charles Durham, Presbyterian, PCUSA; Kenneth Fields, Episcopal; Sandra Felkins, United Methodist; Deborah Braden, Episcopal; Gregory Bently, Presbyterian, PCUSA. Kneeling is Scott Thayer, First Christian Church of Tuscaloosa.
Atlanta Plus
The Atlanta Plus group worked on ways to develop bridge building skills that enhance the preaching and worship leadership of the pastor and worship leaders. From left to right Walter Butler, Missionary Baptist; Marvin Morgan, Interdenominational Theological Center; Kathi Chavous, Missionary Baptist Church; Willie Boldern, Missionary Baptist Church; Georgianna Bolden, Missionary Baptist Church; Betty Jones, United Methodist; Paula Christian-Stallworth, The Potter’s House, Clinton Hubbard, Jr., United Methodist, Facilitator; Evaleen Litman Sargent, Baptist.
Round Table Group
The mission statement of the Round Table Group is: Our interfaith study group seeks to acquire more effective worship and preaching skills in order to help people in our diverse culture worship so that they may be transformed through a meaningful connection with the divine and be challenged by the demands of faith. From left to right on the back row is Rabbi Jeffrey Ballon, Reformed Jewish; Sherill Clontz, United Methodist; James Roberts, Presbyterian; Mitchell Williams, United Methodist, Facilitator. Front row, left to right is Robert B. Hurst, United Church of Christ; Robin Palmer, Presbyterian; David Freeman, Baptist; Alice Syltie, The Unitarian Universalist Church.
The Transformer Group
The Transformer Group’s goal was to pursue Excellence in preaching and leading worship by developing their skils for preaching, ministry and leading, furthering their personal spiritual formation and they aspire to more faithful worship. Shown left to right Brent McDougal, Cooperative Baptist; Melissa Saccucci, United Methodist; Michael Carver, United Methodist; Sara Cameron, United Methodist; Richard Patsios, United Methodist; Dorothy Scott, United Methodist, Facilitator; Howard Wayne Johnson, United Methodist; John E. Briscoe, Jr., United Methodist and not shown David W. Duncan, Full Gospel Churches International.
The NICE Group
The Nashville Institute for Clergy Excellence Group goal was to enhance their overall call to ministry by participating in a structured program of study with fellow clergy of various denominations looking particularly at preaching and models of ministry. Shown left to right, Michael O’Bannon, United Methodist; Ken Dunivant, United Methodist, Facilitator; Sandra Randleman, Presbyterian; Harriet Bryan-Harris, United Methodist; Richard K. Gross, Roman Catholic; Gene Manning, Episcopal; Judy D. Cummings, National Baptist; Carol Tate, Presbyterian; Victor Singletary, Baptist.
The Pensacola Group
The Pensacola Group sought the answer to the question, “How do we become authentic leaders of transformational worship experiences?” They considered the heart of worship — the pastor’s interior life and spiritual preparation for worship leadership; the context of worship and the fundamental elements of Worship. Shown from left to right is Carl Dickerson, United Methodist; Gorman Houston, United Methodist; Mack Strange, United Methodist; Ed Glaize, United Methodist; Bill Elwell, United Methodist; Henry Roberts, United Methodist; Michael Collins, Interdenominational; Michael Stewart, United Methodist, Facilitator and Tonya Elmore, not pictured.
The Macaroni Group
The Macaroni Group sought to develop a greater understanding of self, our world, our community of faith, and our solemn task of leading worship and preaching. Shown left to right is Bob Murray, United Methodist; Stella Moore, Presbyterian; Steve Reding, United Methodist; Bart Bowlin, United Methodist; Deborah Timmons-Toney, United Methodist; Kobee Fitzgerald, Missionary Baptist Church; Dale Cohen, United Methodist, Facilitator; Mike Butler, United Methodist; and Mark Pucket, United Methodist.
The Asbury Group
The Learning Goals of the Asbury Group were to grow in understanding of self, church, and community so that they could more effectively communicate the gospel through preaching and worship leadership. Pictured left to right is Keith Pugh, Southern Baptist; Roland Brown, Southern Baptist; Bo Lloyd, United Methodist; Paula Jones, United Methodist; Jeff Armbrester, United Methodist; Todd Henderson, United Methodist; Jonathan Todd, United Methodist; Mark Lacey, United Methodist, Facilitator.
