Fellows Class of 2012/2013

Jeff Babajtis
Pastor, Benson UMC — Raleigh
Since his appointment in June 2010, Jeff has been the Associate Pastor at Benson United Methodist Church in Raleigh, NC. Jeff enjoys playing music and running. Through the Leadership Fellows Program, Jeff hopes to learn how to be a better “equipper and delegator”.

Robert Boone
Laity, Benson UMC — Raleigh
Robert has been a member of Benson Memorial United Methodist Church, Raleigh, NC for 34 years! He is a retired Real Estate Broker. He enjoys Bible studies, working with the youth through the United Methodist Youth Fellowship program, biking, yoga and basketball. Bob hopes to gain an understanding of how he might continue to contribute to God’s Kingdom at this point in his life.

Tim Catlett
Pastor, Apex UMC-Peak Campus- Apex
Tim Catlett has been the Pastor at Peak United Methodist Church in Apex, NC for the past four years. Tim and his wife Erin have two children; son, Coleman, age 5 and daughter Campbell, age 3. Tim enjoys playing and coaching sports with his two children, eating well with friends and anything “Apple”. Tim hopes to gain from the program an “intentional set apart time built into his schedule for personal leadership and church development. He also hopes this program provides connection with other pastors and lay leaders striving to make disciples well across our conference and around the world.”

Claudia Dwight
Laity, Ellerbe Charge - Ellerbe
Claudia has been a member of Ellerbe First United Methodist Church for 40 years. She is a retired teacher and the mother of three children and grandmother of a grandson named Abel! Claudia enjoys traveling, gardening, music and is very active in the children’s choir and worship programs at Ellerbe First UMC, Ellerbe, NC. Claudia is very excited about opportunity the Academy offers and the challenges of transforming the readings and discussions into the Spirit-filled imaginative ways to serve both of the Ellerbe Churches and also in the Ellerbe community.

Joseph Franklin III
Pastor, First UMC — Morehead City
Joseph has been the Associate Pastor at First United Methodist Church in Morehead City, Morehead City, NC since his appointment in May 2009. Joseph and his wife, Tiffany, have been married for 7 years and have two children, Gabriel, age 5 and Danielle, age 1. He enjoys running, biking, swimming and playing video games! Joseph hopes the Fellows program will teach him better leadership skills that he can apply to his ministry and to his life.

Sheila Greeson
Laity, Salem UMC — Haw River
Sheila has been a member of Salem United Methodist Church in Haw River, NC for 8 years. She is one of 8 children raised as a Southern Baptist in a Christian home. She has been married for 40 years and has two children and four grandchildren. She has four generations living in her home! Sheila enjoys sending cards to the seniors in her community, playing piano, and reading. What she hopes to gain from the program is, "education that can be lived out to love God and love others in furthering the Lord’s Kingdom!"

Jared Hanson
Pastor, Pine Valley UMC — Wilmington
Jared has been the Associate Pastor at Pine Valley United Methodist Church in Wilmington, NC since his appointment in 2009. Jared has been married to his wife for the past 9 years and they have three children; Parker, age 6, Henry, age 4 and Emily, 4 months old. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his dog Max and the cinema. He hopes to gain from the Fellows program a “greater understanding of who he is as a servant leader of Christ’s disciple.”

Cathy Hoyle
Pastor, Salem UMC — Haw River
Cathy has served as Pastor of Salem United Methodist Church in Haw River, NC since her appointment in July of 2007. She and her husband, Dennis, have been married for 27 years and have one daughter, Amelia. Cathy enjoys exercising and gardening in her free time. She believes the Fellows program will help her develop her leadership strengths so she can more effectively lead her congregation in accomplishing God’s mission.

Joe Kirk
Laity, First UMC — Morehead
Joe has been a member of First United Methodist Church in Morehead City, NC for the past three years. He served 21 years as an Army officer and an additional 19 in the Department of Defense. He is now retired and enjoying his seven grandchildren. Joe and his wife enjoy traveling. Joe also enjoys golf, volunteering, beach life and working out.

Greg Knott
Laity, Wendell UMC — Wendell
Gregory is a member of Wendell United Methodist Church in Wendell, NC. He is a Portrait Photographer and business owner. Gregory enjoys spending time with his wife, Pam, and two young sons Hayden, age 9 and Landon, age 6. He has a great love of the mountains and enjoys gardening. He hopes to gain better leadership skills from the Fellows program.

Trip Lowery
Pastor, Wendell UMC — Wendell
Trip has been the Pastor at Wendell United Methodist Church in Wendell, NC since his appointment in July 2011. He has been married for 12 years to his wife, Eileen, and has two young girls Savannah, age 7 and Katelynn, age 3. His hobbies include soccer, surfing, golf and staying out of trouble with his wife! Trip hopes to gain a more fully developed understanding of Christian leadership in the local church setting.

Mary Ruth Marshall
Laity, Wesleyan Chapel UMC — Wilmington
Mary Ruth has been a member of Wesleyan Chapel United Methodist Church in Wilmington, NC for 22 years. She is a dentist and a proud mother of three daughters and a son. Mary Ruth loves to sing harmony and even sings in a Bluegrass group with one of her daughters and friend! She is learning to play the violin. Her other hobbies include; playing the piano, singing in the church choir and a local chorale. She hopes to gain more insight into working with volunteers through the Leadership Fellows Program.

Greg Moore
Pastor, All Saints — Raleigh

Ed New
Pastor, Wakefield UMC — Raleigh
Ed has been a Pastor at Wakefield United Methodist Church in Raleigh, NC since his appointment in July 2007. He has a three year old son, Riley, and he and his wife, Judi, are expecting a baby in March 2012. Ed hopes to gain depth, perspective, professional relationships and new ideas from the Fellows program.

Tommy Nunalee
Laity, Pine Valley UMC — Wilmington
Tommy has been a member of Pine Valley United Methodist Church in Wilmington, NC for the past 39 years. He is an attorney by profession. He is married to his wife, Carmen, and has two cats! He enjoys golf and tinkering with electronics. Tommy hopes to gain “creative ways to move a vision to tangible implementation” through the Fellows Program.

Elizabeth Polk
Pastor, Ellerbe Charge — Ellerbe
Elizabeth has been the Pastor at Ellerbe Charge in Ellerbe, NC since her appointment in July 2011. She has two grown sons, Jonathan and Stephen. Elizabeth enjoys golf, music and reading. She desires to become not just an effective leader but a transformational one. She prays to be the best channel of God’s grace for the congregations she serves that she can be.

Ed Priestaf
Pastor, Ebenezer UMC — Raleigh
Since his appointment in June 2010, Ed has been the Pastor at Ebenezer United Methodist Church.  Ed is married and has three children ages 12, 11 and 7.  His hobbies include camping and being outdoors.  Ed also enjoys music.  Ebenezer UMC is transitioning from a rural church to an urban church.  Through the Leadership Fellows Program, Ed hopes to increase his effectiveness as a leader.

Donna Rhoden
Laity, Wakefield UMC — Raleigh
Donna is a Mathematics Instructor at Louisburg College. She has been a member of Wakefield United Methodist Church, Raleigh NC, for the past two years. She and her husband, Joe, have been married for 30 years and have two grown sons. She enjoys gardening, reading and traveling. Through the Leadership Fellows program, Donna hopes to grow personally and to develop effective leadership skills to share with her young and growing church.

Liz Roberts
Pastor, Windborne UMC — Raleigh
Liz Roberts has been the Pastor at Windborne United Methodist Church since her appointment in May 2002. She and her husband Aaron Muscle are the proud parents of two children Libby, 3 and Wesley, born in October 2011. She enjoys traveling, music and college basketball. Liz hopes to gain and maintain focus on her strengths as a leader in her particular congregational setting. Liz strives to obtain a balance between ministry and family life. She wants to gain the skills to be at her best in both areas by working on skills that come out of leadership.

 Daniel Roy
Laity, Apex UMC/Peak Campus —Apex
Daniel has been a member of Peak United Methodist Church in Apex, NC for three years. He is a Marketing Manager. He and his wife, Lauren, have a one year old son, Camden. Daniel enjoys traveling and photography. He hopes to gain a better understanding of leadership development and how to apply this knowledge to his church involvement.

Kevin Seymour
Laity, Windborne UMC — Raleigh
Kevin is a Business System Analyst of the NC Department of Commerce. He has been a member of Windborne United Methodist Church in Raleigh, NC for the past 2 years. Kevin is very proud of his son, Sean, who is pursuing a degree at the University of Michigan. His wife, Manuela, is a native of Pisa, Italy! Kevin currently serves as the Stewardship Chair at Windborne UMC. He also serves on the NC Conference Camp and Retreat Ministries board. Kevin hopes to gain the tools and relationships to nurture Windborne’s faith community to equip other leaders and to share Windborne’s story in the community.

Pam Watson
Laity, Ebenezer UMC —Raleigh
Pam is the Director of Children and Youth at Ebenezer United Methodist Church in Raleigh, NC. She has been a member of Ebenezer for the past 6 years. Pam is married and has a 15 year old daughter. Pam hopes to gain from the Fellows program “enhanced leadership skills to further meet demands of ministering to children and youth of this generation and to equip them to make a global impact for Christ.”

Andi Woodhouse
Pastor, Wesleyan UMC — Wilmington
Andi has been the Pastor at Weslyan Chapel United Methodist Church in Wilmington, NC, since her appointment in June 2008. Her husband, Doug, is a Pastor at Weslyan Chapel as well! They have two daughters, Lindsay and Taylor. Andi enjoys the outdoors and is an avid exerciser. Andi hopes to be a more effective leader and servant so the church she serves can be a Christ-like witness to the community and the world.