Commissioned on Elder Track
Written: 5/29/2009
June 8, 7:00 p.m. at Custer Road UMC, Plano
John Dixon Baldwin
John is a 1985 graduate of Southwestern University, Georgetown, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy, and a 2009 graduate of Perkins School of Theology, SMU, with a Master of Divinity degree. His home church is First UMC, Allen, and his present membership is at Custer Road UMC, Plano,
where he serves as a staff member. John and wife, Julie Ann, have a young son, Cameron.
Abril Celeste Goforth
Abril is a 2003 graduate of Texas Woman’s University, Denton, with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and philosophy, and a 2007 graduate of Perkins School of Theology, SMU, with a Master of Divinity degree. Her home church is First UMC, Frisco, and she presently serves as pastor of Blue Mound UMC, Denton. Abril is single and understands pastoral ministry as her special calling.
Alan Edward Hitt
Alan is a 1989 graduate of University of North Texas, Denton, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history, and a 1992 graduate of Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University, with a Master of Theological Studies degree. He completed the Conference Course of Study program at Perkins School of Theology, SMU,in 2008. He presently serves as an associate pastor at First UMC, Carrollton. He and his wife, Kelly, are parents of five
children, James, Emily, Mary,Jodi and Dylan.
Arthur Dyatt Jones
Arthur is a 2006 graduate of University of Kansas (KU), Lawrence, KA, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies, and 2009 graduate of Duke Divinity School, Durham, NC,with a Master of Divinity. His home church is Trietsch Memorial UMC, Flower Mound, and prior to graduation from Duke, he served as a Duke intern on the staff of Center UMC, Snow Camp, NC. Arthur is married to Erin Collins.
Elizabeth Linnea Kolander LaBella
Elizabeth is a 2006 graduate of the University of Texas at Dallas, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology, and will graduate from Perkins School of Theology, SMU, in 2010 with a Master of Divinity degree. Her local church is Kessler Park UMC, Dallas, where served as an intern through May of 2009. Elizabeth is a widow with a teenage daughter, Elise.
Walter Arne Lunde, Jr.
Walter is a 1969 graduate of the University of Wisconsin,Madison, WI, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history, and a 2008 graduate of Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University, with a Master of Divinity degree. He also earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Amber University, Dallas, in 1987. He serves on the staff of Lovers Lane UMC, Dallas. He is married to Carol Ann (Cissy) Lunde.
John Scott Melton
John Scott is a 1991 graduate of Texas A&M University, with a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering, and a 2006 graduate of Brite Divinity
School, Texas Christian University, with a Master of Divinity degree. He currently serves as the pastor of First UMC, Bowie. He is married to Lisa, and the Meltons have two young children, Macy and Mallory.
Monty Lyn Moore
Monty is a 1990 graduate of West Texas State University, Canyon, with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in finance and accounting, and a 2009 graduate of Perkins School of Theology, SMU, with a Master of Divinity degree. He holds a Master of Arts in mathematics from the University of North Texas, Denton. He serves on the staff of St. Andrew UMC, Plano. Monty is married to Kim Moore and they have two young children, Meredith and Alex.
Cheryl Bromwich Murphy
Cheryl is a 1982 graduate of Denison College, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and religion, and a 2008 graduate of Perkins School of Theology, SMU, with a Master of Divinity degree. Her local church is Suncreek UMC, Allen, and she is serving as director of evangelism at Spring Valley UMC, Dallas. She is married to Jeffrey T. Murphy, and they have three children, Andrew, Sean and James.
Nancy Ann Wilson Sherman
Nancy is a 1982 graduate of Texas Tech University, Lubbock, with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting, and a 2008 graduate of Perkins School of Theology, SMU, with a Master of Divinity degree. She is pastor of Cooper Creek UMC, Denton, and has also worked as a chaplain at Parkland Health and Hospital System, Dallas. She has two teenage children, Scott and Amanda.
Edilson De Assis Volfe
Edilson is a 1999 graduate of the Universidade Metodista de Sao Paulo (UMESP), Brazil, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in theology, a 2007 graduate of Perkins School of Theology, SMU, with a Master of Church Ministries degree in Christian Education, and also holds a Master of Education degree in education and politics from UMESP. He served as a CPE resident chaplain at Parkland Health and Hospital System, Dallas, in 2007-2008, and as an assistant pastor at Munger Place UMC, Dallas. He is married to Daniele Volfe, and the couple have two small children, Isabelle and Stephanie.
Preston Weaver
Preston is a 1966 graduate of Huston-Tillotson University, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in health and physical education, and a 2004 graduate of Perkins School of Theology, SMU, with a CMM degree in urban ministry. He serves with Central Dallas Ministries and is a member of St. Paul UMC, Dallas. Preston is married to Barbara Jean Weaver.
Jessica Kay Wright
Jessica is a 2001 graduate of the University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, and a 2009 graduate of Perkins School of Theology, SMU, with a Master of Divinity degree. Her home church is First UMC, Denton. She was active in the Denton Wesley Foundation, where she served as an intern. She is a chaplain candidate in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. She is married to Andy Wright.