| Meet our Ministry and Program Staff |
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Senior Pastor walterweikel@abingdonumc.org Walter Weikel grew up in the Tri-Cities area of East Tennessee. He also spent part of his teenage years in Radford Virginia. He is a graduate of Science Hill High School and Emory and Henry College. Walter was in graduate school at the University of Tennessee when he received the call into ministry. He feels it was one of God’s great practical jokes that he lacked only one semester completing his graduate degree when he sensed the call. Rev. Weikel completed seminary at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Walter is married to the former Lisa Coulthard who also graduated from Emory & Henry. They have three sons: Jackson, Mark and Sam. Some of Walter’s hobbies include bicycling, hiking and tennis. Rev. Weikel has served Abingdon United Methodist Church since 2006. For him, the most satisfying parts of his ministry include preaching, teaching, working with youth and having opportunities to meet with people one on one. Please contact Walter if you have any questions for him or about the church at 276-628-2321. |
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Associate Pastor lizhamilton@abingdonumc.org Elizabeth (Liz) Scott Hamilton is from Greeneville, Tennessee. She grew up in Greeneville where her parents ran her father’s dental practice. She graduated from Greeneville High and later graduated from ETSU with her bachelor’s degree. While following her call to ministry she enrolled at Asbury Theological Seminary where she spent four wonderful years completing her Masters in Divinity, graduating in May 2010. While in seminary she met her husband Matt Hamilton, also a graduate of Asbury Seminary, and adopted her two Labrador puppies, Wallace and Gromit. She and her husband love dogs, enjoy reading, movies, good food, and great music. They also love hiking and camping. Liz feels that serving at Abingdon UMC is the place God has called her to be and is excited for all the ministry opportunities ahead of her. She is most excited about getting know the people in the congregation and in Abingdon to serve them and serve alongside them. |
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Music Director glennpatterson@abingdonumc.org Glenn Patterson grew up in the itinerant system of the Holston Conference while his father was a pastor. He and his family lived in Sevierville, Hixson Tennessee, Chattanooga, Bristol and Norton in his pre-college years. He attended Emory & Henry and the University of Mississippi. He is currently residing in Bristol, Virginia. He has two children, Sean and Jamie. Sean attends ETSU and Jamie attends Virginia High School. In addition to music, Glenn enjoys teaching, whitewater rafting and reading. |
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Program Director suzannerankin@abingdonumc.org Suzanne Rankin was born and raised in Bristol, Virginia. She is the oldest of two children and has grown up in the Methodist Church. She is a graduate of Virginia High School and earned her BA in Communications from East Tennessee State University in 1994. As a child growing up, Suzanne always felt a sense of peace when she came to church. Because of that God has always been a central part of her life, whether it has been singing in the choir as a child, attending youth events as a teenager and later serving as a Youth Director while in college. It was no surprise when a church came calling asking her to consider being part of their staff. Suzanne has been with Abingdon UMC for the last ten years as Program Director. Suzanne is married to Mike Rankin. They have a daughter, Katie and a dog named Cocoa. They are currently residing in Bristol. |
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Contemporary Worship Leader bpgibson96@embarqmail.com Bill Gibson grew up in the Castlewood area of Southwest Virginia. He is a graduate of Castlewood High School and has earned his BS Degree from East Tennessee State University in Sociology. He has been employed with the Virginia Department of Corrections for the last 23 years. Bill became the Music leader for the Contemporary Worship Service at AUMC when the Contemporary Service was formed over one year ago and put together the band that is now playing each week. Bill has a love for music, having played the drums in several rock 'n roll bands and two years at Pleasant View UMC for their Contemporary Worship Service. He has recently taken up playing the Bass Guitar for our worship service. Bill stays busy being a referee for wrestling and a member of the Abingdon Fire Department. He also enjoys skiing, golfing and running. He has been married to Paige for the last 13 years and has two children, Mattie and Luke. |
101 East Main Street ~ Abingdon, VA 24210 ~ Telephone: (276) 628-2321 ~ Message line: (276) 676-1258 ~ Fax: (276) 676-0383
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