As is the custom on the last Sunday of each March, the pastoral appointments for the coming year were announced from the pulpits across the Annual Conference on March 30.
We are pleased to welcome Rev. Tim Robinson as our new pastor, starting this July. Tim is joined by his wife, Nicole, and their two young sons, Noah and Jonah.
Tim comes to us from Trinity UMC in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, where he has served since 2021. He graduated with a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary and was ordained as an Elder at the 2024 Holston Annual Conference.
In other appointment news, Adam will be serving at Hixson UMC in Hixson, Tennessee, just north of Chattanooga. Jason will continue his appointment at Pactolus UMC and will also serve at Arcadia UMC.
We will soon announce plans to celebrate Adam and Jason’s service to Mafair and St. Mark.
Please keep Tim, Adam, Jason, and their families in your prayers during this time of transition.
Our new District Superintendent will be Rev. Scott Spence. Born in Saltville, Virginia, and raised as the youngest of six children, Scott Spence grew up on a family farm that has now served five generations. The values learned in those fields—teamwork, responsibility, and perseverance—became the foundation for his life and ministry.
An ordained elder, Scott currently serves as the District Associate for the Clinch Mountain and New River Districts. He is also serving pastor of Reynolds Memorial UMC in Bristol, VA, where he helps lead a creative cooperative ministry model called HUB (Hope, Unity, and Blessings) alongside four other pastors. This model brings together multiple congregations in a spirit of unity and shared mission. Prior to Reynolds Memorial, Scott served at Beech Grove UMC, leading the church through a season of growth in attendance, financial stability, and facility improvements. His earlier appointment at North Keywood Circuit, a two-point charge, saw remarkable transformation—moving from a struggling part-time ministry to a full-time appointment with new energy, resources, and community impact.
Scott holds a Bachelor of Arts from Emory & Henry College (Religion major, History minor) and a Master of Divinity from Hood Theological Seminary, where he was honored with the George Clayton Tharrington Memorial Award for preaching. His ministry is shaped not only by his education but also by personal adversity. In 1993, Scott survived an industrial accident, suffering life-threatening burns. Though he was given only a 5% chance of survival, Scott says God’s grace carried him through and gave him a powerful testimony of hope, healing, and faith.
He and his wife, Diane, will celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary this year. They have two daughters, Autumn (AJ) and Dianna. When he’s not preaching or leading, you might find Scott tending to the garden, working on the family farm, or cheering on his favorite sports teams.
Rev. Jeff Lambert will be returning to full-time local church ministry as Pastor at Christ UMC in Chattanooga following his time as District Superintendent in the Three Rivers and Appalachian Districts. Jeff has served with grace and dedication, and we are thankful for his continued ministry within Holston.
Rev. Richie Hayes is projected to be appointed as Pastor of Jonesborough UMC. He has served the last two years as District Associate in the Three Rivers and Appalachian Districts in addition to preaching at the Ross Campground and Cameron Churches.