First United Methodist Church
of Salisbury
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First United Methodist Church
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Meet our FUMC Ministry Team
Thomas L. Griffis e-mail: thomas@fumcsalisbury.org Thomas was born December 16, 1948 in Denton, NC. He graduated from Denton High School in 1967, UNC-Chapel Hill in 1973 with a BA in Psychology, Emory University in 1976 with a M. Div. and Wake Forest University in 1986 with an M.A. in Religion (Pastoral Care and Counseling Major). Thomas received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary in May of 2004. Thomas has served the following appointments: Etowah UMC - 1976-1978; Central UMC in Asheville (Associate) - 1976-1981; Grace and Hiatt Memorial UM Churches -1981-1983; Wake Forest University student and Clinical Pastoral Education resident (NC Baptist Hospital) - 1981-1983; Yadkinville UMC - 1983-1988; Jefferson UMC - 1988-1995; First UMC in Franklin - 1985-1999; First UMC in Salisbury - 1999- present. Thomas has also served various agencies over the years, most recently the Western North Carolina Conference Board of Ordained Ministry (12 years), the North Wilkesboro and Salisbury Districts Committee on Ordained Ministry, the Western North Carolina Board of Church and Society; President and Vice-President of the Salisbury-Rowan Ministerial Association; the President of three District Clergy Associations; a member and current President of the Children's Home Board of Trustees. Thomas has been married to Susan for 26 years (June 23, 1979) and they have two daughters, Emma (23) and Anna (19). He enjoys snow and water skiing, playing the guitar, running (he has run 5 marathons since January 2002, including the New York and Boston Marathons), and backpacking.
To quote
Thomas, "I love serving
Christ and the church and have as much or more energy and enthusiasm for this
call as I did 28 years ago. Furthermore, I would enjoy serving this
congregation for years to come...until you say finally, "We've had enough of him
and are ready for fresh blood...," but then I figure we're in this thing called
ministry together and we have to refresh one another's blood by God's good
grace."
e-mail: adam@fumcsalisbury.org Adam Micah Ward has served as the Choirmaster and Organist at First United Methodist Church of Salisbury for six years (February 1, 2004). Adam directs eight choirs of all ages who lead in worship regularly. In addition to his duties at the church, Adam also conducts the Concert Choir, Inc. of Salisbury. Receiving the Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Organ Performance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Adam also studied piano, harpsichord, voice and choral conducting at the University. Adam is currently pursuing the Doctor of Musical Arts in Organ Performance at UNC-G. Adam is currently the Sub-dean of the Greater Greensboro Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Performing throughout North Carolina, the Southeast United States and throughout Europe, Adam’s most recent engagements have been recitals in Italy in 2003 and a performance at the Washington National Cathedral in May of 2004. Adam
has been married to Emily Russell Ward since October of 1998, and they have
lived in China Grove since then. Emily gave birth to their first child, Benjamin
Michael, on January 4, 2005. The Wards were already parents to their three dogs Haley, Scruffy and Jasper.
e-mail: pam@fumcsalisbury.org Pam was born in Charleston, WV but grew up mainly in Bevercreek, Ohio and Sarasota, FL. She graduated from Riverview High School in Sarasota and from Catawba College in Salisbury with a degree in Business Administration. She has also completed 80 hours of study at Candler School of Theology in Church Business Administration, 40 hours of study at Union Theological Seminary in Advanced Church Business Administration and 50 hours of training to become a Stephen Leader. She has over seventeen years of experience in not-for-profit accounting, administration and management. Pam is a member of the National Association of Church Business Administrators, the United Methodist Church Business Administrators and Vice-President of the Western North Carolina United Methodist Business Administrators. Pam joined the staff of FUMC in July of 1998. She and her husband, John, have two sons, John, Jr. and Scott. John, Jr. is presently serving in the U. S. Army and Scott is presently serving in the U.S. Air Force. They also have one granddaughter, Haley. John and Pam have all been active members of First Baptist Church of Salisbury for the past 13 years. John and Pam are both ordained lay deacons and have served on the Deacon Board. Pam is also an Associate Member of First United Methodist Church of Salisbury and worships with FUMC on the Sundays that John has to work. Pam presently directs the business and financial affairs of the church, working closely with both the Board of Trustees and the Finance Ministry Team. Pam also directs the Stephen Ministry program (Stephen Ministry) and is the staff liaison for the care ministries of FUMC.
e-mail: samantha@fumcsalisbury.org Samantha began her ministry with us on April 1, 2005. She feels called and blessed to First United Methodist as she shares her gifts and talents with the children and the congregation. Samantha grew up in Brevard, NC and has lived in Rowan County for 8 years. She is a graduate of The University of North Carolina at Asheville with a B.A. in History, and a graduate of Louisville Theological Presbyterian Seminary with a Masters of Divinity Degree with an emphasis in Christian Education. Samantha also received her certification as a Christian Educator through the Presbyterian Church (USA). For 20 years Samantha has been involved in all aspects of Christian Education and church work with all ages. Currently she serves on the Board of Directors of the Rowan County Habitat for Humanity, and is a member of the Association of Presbyterian Church Christian Educations and is involved in many local and overseas mission work.
Elaine Hewitt e-mail: elaine@fumcsalisbury.org My spiritual journey has its roots in a small, rural church, Elmwood United Methodist Church, where I still attend United Methodist Women. My husband and I had the opportunity to be part of several Methodist churches as the military moved us, and we feel very fortunate to be part of the FUMC Salisbury church family. It nurtures us and challenges us. Not long after graduating from Wake Forest University, I began a 20-year career as an Air Force communications-computer systems officer. While in the service, I completed a Masters in Business Administration from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. I enjoyed a wide variety of jobs in the military such as program manager for satellite ground stations, base communications maintenance officer, inspector general, and squadron commander. After retiring, I was the primary care giver for my mother. While in the military, I met and married "Butch" Clements. I became an instant Mom to our two older children, Christopher and Tammy. Chris and his family live in Illinois where he serves in the Air Force. Our daughter Tammy is the youth director in a large Methodist church in Indiana, where she lives with her family. Our youngest son, Matt, is a freshman at Carolina where he intends to major in English and minor in music. Butch and I enjoy being involved in church. I am an usher, Sunday school teacher, and I take Communion to homebound members. I have served on the Evangelism Committee and helped organize our Wellness Fair. Butch and I are also active in the Cleveland Lions Club whose mission is to help the visually impaired and support our local community. I'm also involved with Rowan Master Gardeners and Rowan Partners for Education. I look forward to this opportunity for ministry with FUMC.
Amanda Gillespie Howard e-mail: amanda@fumcsalisbury.org Amanda was born in Salisbury and graduated from West Rowan High. She also attended Rowan-Cabarrus Community College for two years. Amanda and her husband, Matthew, have two daughters. Brianna is in sixth grade and Ciera is a first grader. Amanda is an active member of Salem Lutheran Church where she serves as a youth advisor for Middle School Youth.
Murl was born and reared in China Grove on a 105 acre farm on Webb Road. He attended China Grove Elementary School for eight years and graduated from China Grove High School. He drove a school bus the last two years of high school. He married Patricia Olsen in 1966 and they have three daughters and six grandchildren. Murl worked for the A & P for twenty years as Produce Manager and left to start his own cleaning business in 1978. The Leazers moved to Hendersonville in 1983 and left there in 1988 when Murl went to work for the Hartland Institute in Virginia, where his daughters attended college. While at the college, he was grounds superintendent and operated heavy equipment such as dozer, backhoe, track hoe, road grader, dump truck and tractors. Pat and Murl moved back to Salisbury in 1997. Murl was hired by First Methodist in early 1998 as Building Superintendent. |
Adam M. Ward
Pamela Whitlatch Gillespie
Samantha Wesley
Murl Leazer