Tuesday, Jun. 16, 2009
Former Macon resident returns to serve as Methodist senior pastor
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closeJimmy Towson practiced law in Macon for two decades before answering the call to the ministry.
Now, after three years as pastor in Metter — and mission trips to such places as Uganda and Costa Rica — Towson is coming home. At last week’s annual South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church, officials announced his appointment as senior pastor at Forest Hills UMC.
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Who is new?
New appointments in the South Georgia Conference involve more than 20 changes in Middle Georgia. They include:
MACON DISTRICT
• District Superintendent — F. Thomas Mason
• Baldwin County Circuit — George Wilmot
• Forest Hills — James V. Towson
• Irwinton/Toomsboro/Salem — Judd Drake
• Liberty — Bob Shell
• Martha Bowman — Jay W. Harris
• Northview — Kary B. Shumate
• Reynolds/Crowell — J. Wesley Jones
• Shurlington — Eugene C. Cochran
• Twiggs County Circuit — Sam Collins
DUBLIN DISTRICT
• Adrian — Mark Hardin
• First UMC Dublin — Robert F. Williams (associate pastor)
• Dudley/Montrose — Robert W. Wood
• Mitchell (Tennille) — Mary Griswell
• Mount Moriah (Ailey) — Kevin Palmore
• Sandersville — Mark Carter
• Tennille — Jeff Cook
• First UMC Wrightsville — Tyler Plaxico
AMERICUS DISTRICT
• Cordele First — Dwight Bishop
• Eastman/Friendship — James Aycock
• McRae — Edwin Willis
• Milan/Midway/Mount Zion — Gordon Goodwill
“My last law office was at the corner of Forest Hill Road and Wimbish Road,” Towson said by phone Monday while packing for the move. “I never would have thought I would be serving the church down the street.”
Towson, 52, a Dublin native and son of a Superior Court judge, began calling Macon home after graduating from Mercer University’s law school.
While a lay member at Vineville United Methodist, he began feeling led to preach.
“Through studying as well as listening, I understood that (God) wanted me to be a full-time minister.”
Towson served as an associate pastor at Mulberry Street United Methodist before his appointment as senior pastor of Metter United Methodist.
“We’re excited about coming to Macon. That’s home,” said Towson. “We had no idea we’d be coming back so soon. Metter’s been great. It’s a great little town, good people, but there’s something about home.
“That’s the hardest part of the ministry, leaving a congregation you love, but you know you’re going to be loved and welcomed by the new congregation.”
Towson and his wife, Debbie, had to interrupt their packing two weekends ago for the wedding of their son, Jim. He and his wife, Gina, plan to enter the ministry to do mission work.
“They really loved Africa,” Towson said. “Of course, we’d love them a little closer to home.”
Towson replaces the Rev. Shane Green, who was appointed the new district superintendent of the Columbus District.
The new appointments were announced during the annual meeting in Columbus. One of the pastors on the move is former Martha Bowman United Methodist pastor Bob Moon, who will take over at First United Methodist in Valdosta. Moon served as senior pastor at Martha Bowman for eight years.
The Rev, Jay Harris will take his place. Harris was senior pastor at College Place United Methodist Church in Brunswick.
To contact writer Rodney Manley, call 744-4623.
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