Rev. George Freeman, Senior Minister

George is from Alexandria, Virginia. He received an A.S. in Music from Ferrum College, his B.A. in Religion and Philosophy from Greensboro College and his Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School. George was ordained a Deacon in the United Methodist Church, Western North Carolina Annual Conference in 1976 and was ordained an Elder in 1980. He completed his Internship in C.P.E. as a hospital Chaplain at North Carolina Baptist Hospital, 1981-1982. Then from 1983-1984 George completed his first year Residency in C.P.E. at North Carolina Memorial Hospital in Chapel Hill as the chaplain to Pediatrics, Neurosurgery, and Oncology. His second year Residency (1984-1985) was at Duke Medical Center, Durham, NC as the chaplain to the Duke Heart Team and to the Marriage and Family Counseling and Consultation Center, Durham, as a Resident Pastoral Counselor . George has served local parishes at Level-Cross UMC, Randleman; Mt. Tabor UMC in Salisbury; South Point UMC in Belmont; Providence UMC in Charlotte; Cullowhee UMC at Western Carolina University; Biltmore UMC in Asheville; Brevard First UMC; Oak Ridge UMC, Greensboro; and First UMC Hickory.

George has served on the Board of Directors at Givens Estates Retirement Community, Asheville; Board of Trustees at Brevard College; Board of Visitors at the United Methodist Children's Home, Winston-Salem; Board of Directors of Wesley Foundation at Western Carolina University; and the Board of Directors of the American Cancer Society at the Charlotte Chapter.

The hobbies that spark George's interest and occupy his time, include; golfing, woodworking, ocean kayaking and hiking.

George has been married to Donna Pierce for 31 years and they have three children: Mark, a graduate of Duke University; Beth a graduate of Emory University; and Megan, a rising eighth grader.
 

Dr. James Westmoreland, Minister of Education and Programs

Jim was born in Charlotte, N.C. He attended Charlotte schools and Dilworth Untied Methodist Church was his home church. He graduated from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte in 1968 with a B. S. degree in Political Science. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia in 1971. During seminary he served a student appointment of 8 churches on the Murphy Circuit in Cherokee County, N.C. Following graduation he entered the Western North Carolina Conference  and was  ordained an Elder in full connection in June, 1971. He was appointed and served as Minister of Youth and Education at Memorial United Church in Thomasville, N.C. for 16 years.

In 1981 Jim completed three years of study and received  his Doctor of Ministry degree from Drew University, Madison, New Jersey.  In August of 1987 he was appointed to First United Methodist Church, Gastonia as Minister of Education and continues in that position now as Minister of Programs.

In Gastonia he has served on the Aids Council as chair of the task force on Family and Community and President. He served on the House of Mercy Board for Holy Angels.  Jim is a member of the Gastonia Rotary Club and is a Paul Harris Fellow.

He is a certified Counselor with the Association of Pastoral Counseling and presently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Methodist Counseling Center.  He has expertise in small group facilitation, as well as pastoral counseling.  He enjoys clown ministry and working with children, youth and adults.

Jim is married to Barbara and they have 2 sons: Chris, who serves as Minister at Assurance United Methodist Church in Huntersville, and Andy who is a Commercial Sales agent for Watson Insurance in Gastonia. They have four grandchildren.

Rev. Angela D. Burris, Minister of Membership and Evangelism

Angela is a graduate of Catawba College and Duke Divinity School and brings a broad range of experience in the areas of Church Growth and Congregational Development  as well as expertise in the area of Stephen Ministries through Christ Care Group Ministries.  Angela has served at Providence United Methodist Church as Minister of Membership Cultivation and comes to us from Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church where she was Senior Minister.  She has a passion for teaching, small groups, creative worship design, medical ethics and relating to the unchurched and dechurched. 
 

Rev.  Saxon Scarborough, Minister of Music

Rev.  Sarah Watkins Davis, Minister of Children's Ministries