FIRST-CENTENARY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- ABIDE Respite Ministry Director
Job Titles:
- Communications Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Children 's Ministry Director
Job Titles:
- ABIDE Respite Ministry Director
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant / Ministry Support
Job Titles:
- Worship and Music Ministry Director
Will joined the clergy staff of First-Centenary UMC in 2015 and has been in ministry since 2010. He is married to Christina and they have a son, Luke Avett, and an old black Lab named Belle.
Will grew up in Johnson City, TN and graduated from Emory and Henry College in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion and a minor in Chemistry. Having felt a call to pastoral ministry, Will continued his education in North Carolina where he graduated from Duke Divinity School in 2010 with a Masters of Divinity. In 2021 he received a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. and a certificate of Study from the Wesley House in Cambridge, UK.
Job Titles:
- Children 's Enrichment Center Assistant Director
Job Titles:
- Contemporary Worship Director
Job Titles:
- the Centenary Assistant Director
Job Titles:
- Minister of Mustard Tree Ministry & Outreach
- Minister of Outreach Director of Mustard Tree Ministries
Barry joined the clergy staff of First-Centenary UMC in 2015 and has over 40 years of pastoral experience. While in college Barry met his wife, Diana, at Lee University. They graduated on May 7 of 1983 and got married on May 14! They are parents to 3 children, David, Kathleen, and Zak. Barry and his family love the outdoors, hiking, fishing and rafting/canoeing. Diana is a Big Orange fan, the rest of the family are LSU Tigers!
Barry graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary in 1988 and became an Elder in Full Connection in 1991. In June of 2004, he was called to Forrest Avenue UMC. This is where Mustard Tree Ministry (please note it is tree, not seed, for a reason) became a reality. Forrest Avenue was closed sometime around June of 2010. During that season they worshiped under the Walnut Street Bridge for a while on Sunday mornings. Barry has a passion for the forgotten people of Eastern Europe (the Roma). Please ask how you can get involved in this ministry.
Job Titles:
- Senior Pastor
- Senior Minister
Bishop Dr. Debra Wallace-Padgett has appointed Jason Gattis to be the senior pastor at First-Centenary. Jason will assume his appointment on July 1st with July 2nd being his first Sunday. Rev. Jason N. Gattis is in his twenty-first year of ministry as an ordained elder in the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church, currently serving as the District Superintendent of the Smoky Mountain District. Previous appointments are Seymour UMC in Seymour, TN; Cokesbury UMC in Knoxville, TN; Keith Memorial UMC in Athens, TN; and Apison UMC in Apison, TN. Jason is a 1996 graduate of Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, AL with a major in Business Administration-Finance and a 2004 graduate of Emory University Candler School of Theology with a Master of Divinity. Before entering full-time ministry he spent 5 years in the banking industry as a branch manager and officer for AmSouth Bank in Birmingham, AL.
Jason currently serves on the Board of Directors for Hiwassee College, Camp Wesley Woods, Wesley Foundation UTK, and the Holston Foundation. In addition to his role as District Superintendent in the Holston Conference, he is a member of the Conference Council on Finance and Administration, Commission on Equitable Compensation, and Board of Pensions and Health. He has formerly been chair for the Conference Communications Advisory Council, team leader for Divine Rhythm (young adult Holston Conference retreat weekend), and Board of Director for Camp Lookout and Holston Methodist Federal Credit Union.
Jason is married to Amy Whedbee Gattis and they have two surviving children: Mary Haisten, age 19, and Nick, age 17, and a deceased son, Bradley.
Job Titles:
- Minister of Congregational Care
Reverend Michelle Hunter is from Tuscaloosa, Alabama and graduated from Memphis Theological Seminary. She is an ordained Deacon experienced in pastoral care and hospice ministry. Her grown son, Drew, lives in Auburn, Alabama. Her other child, Hamilton, is a 13 year old Shih Tzu. She is always happy to share photos and stories of either child.
Job Titles:
- Children 's Enrichment Center Director
Job Titles:
- Facilities & Technology Manager