New Senior Pastor Appointed
Today we’re excited to announce the appointment of our new Senior Pastor!
In September 2021, Pastor Shane Stanford announced his departure from Christ Church after 11 years of faithful service, at which point we formed an official Pastoral Search Committee to seek out a new Senior Pastor. This committee has faithfully spent its time seeking a servant-hearted, Christ-centered, Spirit-led Senior Pastor who prayerfully and effectively preaches the inspired word of God and models and develops spiritual leadership among the staff and congregation as a present and caring leader.
To find this leader, the committee spent 23 weeks collaboratively researching a total of 29 potential candidates from around the country. In order to make every effort to remain faithful and dependent on the Lord, all 10 committee members spent significant time in prayer and fasting throughout the search period to align themselves with the Spirit’s leading. We are so grateful for the work of the Pastoral Search Committee and the support of Bishop Bill McAlilly throughout the process.
Today, we couldn’t be more excited to announce the culmination of these last 23 weeks and the incredible time and effort our search committee has spent—to celebrate God’s grace and faithfulness through the official appointment of a new Senior Pastor: Reverend Paul Lawler of Christ Church Birmingham.
Paul and his wife Missy have served the church in Birmingham for 15 years with their four adult children: Luke, Wes, Laura, and Stewart. Paul is a graduate of Asbury Seminary and currently serves as both the President of the North Alabama Conference Wesleyan Covenant Association and as Chairperson of the Global Missional Partnership Team for the future Global Methodist Church.
After meeting and spending time with Paul both remotely and in person, we are confident in this choice of Senior Pastor due to his gracious and humble spirit, his servant heart, his mission-mindedness, his effectiveness, and his extensive experience in Kingdom-driven disciple-making efforts. We truly believe he is the Lord’s clear choice for Christ Church Memphis.
Rev. Dr. Chris Carter
Interim Senior Pastor
Lauren Robinson
Head of Pastoral Search Committee
