Andy Miller III Named Seminary President
Dr. Andy Miller III (D.Min. ’12) was named President of Wesley Biblical Seminary (WBS) in Ridgeland, MS, on July 1. Previously he served as the seminary’ s Dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs. Miller is the ninth permanent president to lead the seminary, now in its 50th year. Prior to joining WBS in 2021, Dr. Miller had an extensive ministry in the Salvation Army, serving as a pastor, leader, and administrator as a Corps Officer and Area Commander. In addition to his D. Min. from Perkins, he is completing a Ph.D. in historical theology with Nazarene Theological College (University of Manchester). He is also an alumnus of Asbury Theological Seminary and Asbury University. Dr. Miller is an ordained elder in the Global Methodist Church and a delegate to its Convening General Conference. Read the WBS announcement here.
New Director at Turtle Creek Chorale
The Turtle Creek Chorale (TCC) Board of Directors announced Dr. Dawson B. Taylor (M.T.S. ’06) as the Executive Director of the Turtle Creek Chorale beginning November 1. Taylor previously serving as Designated Minister of Westmoreland Congregational United Church of Christ in Bethesda, MD and sings as baritone in the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C. He also served as the sixth Senior Minister (2016-2022) and Associate Minister (2013-2015) of Naples United Church of Christ in Naples, FL. Prior to moving to Florida, he served as Executive Minister of Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ in Dallas. In additions to his Perkins degree, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Centenary College of Louisiana, and his Doctor of Ministry from Chicago Theological Seminary.
New Project Transformation CEO
Casey Mellody (M.T.S. ‘09) is the new Chief Executive Officer of Project Transformation National, as of August 27. Prior to this position, she served the National organization more than eight years as the VP of Programs and as Interim CEO for two months. Additionally, Casey served as the Director of Programming & Leadership Development for Project Transformation North Texas. Casey is an alum of Project Transformation North Texas as she began her service while an undergraduate at Southern Methodist University as a reading tutor for PT’s after-school program and as a summer intern in 2002. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies and English (Creative Writing) from SMU.
Stephanie Bohan wins Nonprofit Award
Stephanie Bohan (M.A.M. ’23) was selected as the winner of Leadership Excellence in a Midsize Nonprofit at D CEO seventh annual Nonprofit and Corporate Citizenship Awards program, presented in partnership with the Communities Foundation of Texas. The winners were announced at an awards event in July; the finalists were featured in D CEO’s August issue. Bohan is CEO of Hope Cottage, a nonprofit organization that “nurtures the strong families and relationships that communities are built on,” according to its mission statement. Under her leadership, Hope Cottage has expanded its community partnerships, expanded its parenting program, and coordinated the opening of CeCe’s Place, which provides healthcare for pregnant individuals. Another Perkins alum, Ally Stokes (M.Div. ‘23) serves as Hope Cottage’s Director of Development.
Seungli You Joins Campus Ministry
Seungli You (M.Div. ‘19) recently shared on Facebook, “I am thrilled to join the ministry at Southwestern College, serving as pastoral staff for the 2024-2025 school year. My prayer is that Christ’s love will touch the lives of our college students, providing them with a firm foundation rooted in God.” Southwestern College is a United Methodist-affiliated college in Winfield, Kansas.
Maia Co-authors Book
Filipe Fernandes R. Maia (M.T.S. ‘11) is co-author of a recently published book, Methodism and American Empire (Abingdon Press, 2024). The book “investigates historical trajectories and theological developments that connect American imperialism since World War II to the Methodist tradition as a global movement.” Maia is an assistant professor of theology at the Boston University School of Theology and an instructor for the Portuguese Course of Study for the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM). In addition to his degree from Perkins, he earned a Doctor of Theology degree from Harvard Divinity School.
Audible Book Released
Keva Green (M.Div. ’05, D.Min. ‘12) reports that an audio version of her book, Where Have You Seen God? Was recently released, as was the Where Have You Seen God? Daily Life Journal in February. “I pray that they might be an encouragement so that others may recognize the Lord moving in their lives,” she said in a Facebook post. Both are available on Amazon and Audible or her website, kevagreen.com.
Ministry After the Storm
Just after attending May graduation at Perkins, the Rev. Amy Castro (M.Div. ‘24) drove home to a community devastated by a tornado. The tornado, along with straight-line winds, struck the southern portion of the campus of her church, Westlake United Methodist in Westlake, La. Windows were shattered, a shed was blown across the property into a nearby field, and several structures were destroyed.
Despite the widespread destruction, the church sanctuary remained intact. “The south end of the campus may be a disaster area, but the sanctuary was saved,” Castro said. “Thank God we had a place to worship on Sunday, which was a huge blessing; it could have been so much worse.” Members of the community banded together to support each other. “The body of Christ truly came together,” she said in an email. “That was just so beautiful to me, right here in the midst of this destruction.” Churches, including First Baptist Church, First Pentecostal, Sulphur United Pentecostal Church, and Bellview Baptist Church, joined Westlake United Methodist Church in their efforts to recover and rebuild.
Read the story and listen to a Louisiana Conference podcast interview with Castro here.
New Lay Leader
Monique Jones (M.A.M. ‘24) was elected the new Lay Leader for the Missouri Annual Conference and as a delegate to the South Central Jurisdictional Conference. See a brief video of Jones announcing the appointment of fellow Perkins grad Bob Farr (M.Div., 1985) as Bishop of the Missouri Annual Conference here.
Sean McDonald Featured in Voyage Dallas
Voyage Dallas recently interviewed Sean McDonald (M.Div. ‘22), who is Youth Director and Associate Pastor at Munger Place Church, the East Dallas campus of Highland Park United Methodist Church. “I believe that this generation of students is hungrier for community and genuine connection than any generation before them,” McDonald said in the interview. “This is also a generation that heavily believes in serving. Our youth ministry needs to reflect that.” Read the interview here.
Mara Richards Bim at Baptist News Global
Mara Richards Bim (M.Div. ‘24) is serving as a Clemons Fellow with Baptist News Global, a reader-supported, independent news organization covering American religion and culture from a perspective “that is Baptist in heritage and ecumenical in spirit.” Bim recently wrote an analysis of Project 2025, “Want to know who’s behind Project 2025? Follow the money through the swamp.” That was followed by an opinion piece, “We can no longer ignore the toxic forms of ‘evangelism.’” She writes, “It’s time we begin a community conversation about the impact the Great Commission has had on a more faithful witness to Jesus and the harms this toxic form of “evangelism” has had in the world.”
Steve Moss Profiled in Odessa
The Rev. Steve Moss (M.Div. ’19) was recently profiled in The Odessa-American as the new pastor of First Methodist Church in Odessa, Texas. Moss was a pastor in Corsicana, China Springs and Granbury till arriving three months ago at the First Methodist Church. , His wife Cynthia (M.Div. ’13) is also a pastor. The First Methodist Church of Odessa is part of the Lubbock-based West Plains Conference of the Global Methodist Church. Read the news story here.
Obituary: Rev. William Arthur Holmes
William Arthur Holmes (Th.M. ’54) died on Aug. 9, 2024, eight days before his 95th birthday, in Frederick, Md. He earned a B.A. from Hendrix College and a Master’s degree from Perkins School of Theology. He then attended Union Theological Seminary in New York, studying Homiletics with nationally known preachers, and theology with Paul Tillich & Reinhold Niebuhr. Later, he received two honorary doctorates, wrote periodicals for Christian Century, Havard Divinity School, and others; authored four books: Tomorrow’s Church, Mature Christianity, The God Mask, and Religious Renegades; and hosted the TV program, “Perspective.” Holmes was a United Methodist minister for 46 years, serving churches in Arkansas and Texas before his last appointment in 1974 as senior minister at Metropolitan Memorial UMC, the national Methodist church, in Washington, D.C. In 1963, while a minister at Northaven UMC in Dallas, he preached a sermon the Sunday after President Kennedy’s assassination calling for a new civility in Dallas to counter recent events there that included spitting on certain government officials and school children cheering when told of the assassination. Excerpts from that sermon were carried on the CBS evening news with Walter Cronkite two days later, which immediately resulted in bomb threats to the TV station and the Holmes family. Donations in Holmes’ memory can be made to: National United Methodist Church, 3401 Nebraska Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20016; or Hartley House 326 W. Patrick St., Frederick, MD 21701. Read his obituary here.
Obituary: Rev. Robert Galatas
Rev. Robert Ingram Galatas (Th.M. ’55) died on August 11. 2024 at the age of 94. Over the course of his 38-year career, he served 14 churches throughout the United Methodist Church Louisiana Conference. After his retirement, Rev. Galatas served on the pastoral staff at First United Methodist Church, Clearwater FL, where he had married his wife, Shirley Ann Harris Galatas on July 19, 1957. In his spare time, Bob meticulously repaired and restored furniture for family and friends. Some of his pieces will live on in the Clearwater Historical Society Plumb House Museum. According to his obituary, Galatas “loved watching NFL football and due to his brevity in the pulpit, his members were afforded the same opportunity!” A memorial service was held on August 17. in lieu of flowers, family requests donations be made to First United Methodist Church’s Music Fund at 411 Turner Street, Clearwater, Fl 33756. Read his obituary here.
Obituary: Dr. Jerard Mosley
Dr. Jerard R. Mosley Sr. (M.T.S. ’02) passed away at the age of 50 on Friday, Aug. 9. He served as the leader of North Star Missionary Baptist Church of Tyler, Texas, since 2015. He first accepted the call to ministry in June 1993. He later preached his first sermon and became licensed in September of the same year, according to information from a speaking engagement at a Jarvis Christian College chapel service in 2018. Mosley earned a doctorate from Houston Graduate School of Theology in Ministry in 2007. See the CBS19 report on is passing here. Funeral arrangements are pending.
Obituary: Dr. Frank Wolford Wright, Jr.
Dr. Frank Wolford Wright Jr. (ThM. ’61) died on July 27 at the age of 89 in Lubbock, Texas with his family by his side. He served as a Methodist minister for 12 years, serving churches in Lake Dallas, Texas and Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas. He was an Assistant Professor of Religion at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and assistant to the president at Texas Wesleyan College in Fort Worth, Texas. He went on to spent more than 20 years serving as an educational administrator in community colleges in Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Kansas, and Florida. Services were held July 30. Read his obituary in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal here.