On Friday, August 3, six Alabama-West Florida pastors graduated from the Emory Course of Study School in Atlanta. Five of these graduated from the Basic Course of Study: Dunford Cole, pastor of the Thomaston Charge (Demopolis District); David Hendrix, pastor of Beulah UMC (Montgomery-Opelika District); Ruth Knights, associate pastor of Gulf Breeze UMC (Pensacola District); Joel Wasson, Jr., pastor of Fairview UMC (Montgomery-Prattville District); and Bobby D. Williams, associate pastor of Christ UMC (Mobile District). Robert (Bob) Brown, recently retired, graduated from the Advanced Course of Study School.
Rev. Fred Grady, Chair of the Fellowship of Local Pastors for the AWF Board of Ordained Ministry and Rev. June Jernigan, Director of the Office of Ministerial Services and Assistant to the Bishop, represented the Alabama-West Florida Conference at the graduation ceremony in Cannon Chapel at Candler School of Theology.
The Course of Study School educates and trains local pastors in The United Methodist Church. To be admitted, students must be certified candidates for ordained ministry, have completed the requirements for license as a local pastor, and received endorsement of the annual conference Board of Ordained Ministry.
The five-year Course of Study School is conducted in two, two-week modules each summer for part- and full-time pastors. Successful completion of both modules fulfills one year of study. After completion of this program, students are eligible for the advanced Course of Study School. Candler also offers a Saturday Course of Study program for part-time local pastors.
The Course of Study School at Emory is sponsored by The United Methodist Church Board of Higher Education and Ministry, the Southeastern Jurisdictional Administrative Council, and Candler School of Theology.
{Pictured left to right: David Hendrix, Dunford Cole, Joel Wasson,
Bob Brown, Ruth Knights. Bobby Williams not present}