Reverend Vernon Sansom is the Director of Operations at Oak Ridge Memorial Park (ORMP) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He joined the team in 2020 as a Family Service Counselor after retiring from 40 years of service in Pastoral Ministry. Vernon was promoted to Director of Operations at ORMP in 2022. Vernon holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Bethel University and a Master of Divinity from Memphis Theological Seminary. Before his career at Oak Ridge Memorial Park, Vernon entered full-time ministry in 1980 and was ordained in 1987. He has previously pastored First Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, as well as churches in Ovilla, Texas, Ft. Worth, Texas, Bolivar Tennessee and served on staff in Longview, Texas. Reverend Sansom served as the Stated Clerk of Red River Presbytery for 10 years and the Engrossing Clerk of The General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for 9 years. Vernon serves as a Chaplain for the Oak Ridge Police Department and earned Basic Certification through the International Conference of Police Chaplains (ICPC). He also serves as the Chaplain for TN II Chapter of the Blue Knights, International. Vernon’s wife, Tina, is a retired Registered Nurse. They have three grown children and nine grandchildren.

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Debbie Hayes is a wife, mother of two, Mimi [grandmother], pastor’s wife and an administrative assistant for a school district. She is a former paralegal who has also served as a Boy Scout Leader, Girl Scout Leader, and school volunteer. Debbie is a member of the Unity Cumberland Presbyterian Church and currently serves as the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination’s Ministry Council President. She also is currently a member of the Board of Mission for Covenant Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Debbie is the former secretary and former president of the Covenant Region Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry and former secretary of the Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry Convention. She loves working with Vacation Bible School, Christmas plays and musicals and other programs in the church. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, baking, making crafts, singing in the community choir, writing and planning events such as parties, showers and receptions.

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Pastor Emeritus William H. (Bill) Montague served Mt. Tabor Church Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America from the spring of 2002 until the September Presbytery of 2011 where he asked to be relieved of duties because of an on-going illness. He was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina in 1943 and came to Tennessee in 1961 to attend Knoxville College (PCUSA). From birth to 1969 he was a member of Haymount United Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville, NC. He completed high school at Boggs Academy in Keysville, Georgia which was owned and operated by the Presbyterian Church United States of America. While enrolled at Knoxville College he served as a lay-minister to New Market Presbyterian Church. Upon graduation from college in 1966, he chose to delay seminary and went to work as an Assistant District Scout Executive for Boy Scouts of America-New York City. After 6 months he was drafted into the United States Army and served as an Instructor for Special Purpose Equipment and Vehicles at Fort Lee, VA until deployment to Vietnam in 1969. Upon returning from Vietnam, he came to Jackson, TN as a Police Officer, later joining Mother Liberty C.M.E. Church and answered the “call” to the ministry. In 1973 he was ordained and assigned churches in Hardeman County.TN. By 1976 he had completed graduate school and was assigned to churches across the state until 2002 when he asked to go on “Leave of Absence” status to come to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America as Pastor at Mt Tabor. Pastor Montague had a dual career as a bio-vocational minister along with 30+ years of duty as a Correctional Professional (teacher, Principal, Deputy Warden, Jail Administrator, and Prison Operations Administrator). He was married to Jacque Carolyn Cole until her death. They have five children. He has been married to Deborah Montague since 1996. In 2005 he completed Seminary at Memphis Theological Seminary with a Master’s of Divinity degree.

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Reverend Mark Hester is in his 9th year serving as the Pastor of Loudon Cumberland Presbyterian Church in the Presbytery of East Tennessee. He had a long career as a bi-vocational minister serving often as an Interim, Stated Supply and Pulpit Supply. Before his retirement from full-time secular work in 2021, he was a Registered Investment Advisor and Certified as a Financial Planner. In his 43 years in the financial world, he managed wealth for clients in 27 states and specialized in taking care of ministers and their families. Mark studied Communications at the University of Tennessee, Religion and Arts at Lambuth University (University of Memphis), Finance and Estate planning from Michigan State University and The American College and Theology from Southern Seminary and Memphis Theological Seminary. He is a Program of Alternate Studies graduate and beginning a final year in a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Therapy program from Memphis Theological Seminary. He is the Chair of his Presbytery’s Committee on the Ministry – Clergy Care and has served on various boards and agencies at all judicatory levels. He is a former member of the Board of Trustees at Bethel University. He has been an Instructor for Program of Alternate Studies and Memphis Theological Seminary in minister’s finance. Mark is at least a 4th generation Cumberland Presbyterian and a Cumberland Presbyterian “preacher’s kid”. He is a native Tennessean and he and his wife live happily ever after in Farragut, Tennessee.

Mark is working on a doctoral research project on clergy care for Cumberland Presbyterian ministers. The purpose is to better serve ministers involving self-care and continuing education. If you are Cumberland Presbyterian minister, click the link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7T3RTYF. The survey is point and click and takes approximately five minutes.

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Greg Bowen writes, "Hello, I’m Greg Bowen, and I have the incredible privilege of serving as the full-time pastor of Liberty Cumberland Presbyterian Church in McMinnville, Tennessee. Sharing the gospel and helping others grow in their faith is my passion, and I love seeing lives transformed by God’s truth. I’ve been married to my wonderful wife, Sue, for 38 years, and together we have been blessed with a beautiful family. Our daughter, Keri, and her husband, Ryan, live in Glasgow, Kentucky, and they have given us the joy of being grandparents to our sweet granddaughter, Blakely, who is 11. Our son, Grant, and his wife, Brittany, also live in Glasgow and have blessed us with our energetic grandson, Gatlin, who is 2. Before stepping into full-time ministry, I spent over 17 years in the broadcasting media industry. While that was an exciting chapter of my life, God had bigger plans, leading me to serve Him and His people in a new way. Now, my heart is focused on preaching, teaching, and helping

others experience the love and grace of Jesus Christ. I love connecting with people, whether through worship, Bible study, or just a good conversation about faith and life. I believe God’s Word is powerful and relevant, and I’m excited to share this journey with you!"

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Originally from Cali, Colombia, Juan Manuel Cabezas Torres is a husband and father who loves God and believes that everyone can contribute to God’s kingdom uniquely. He graduated from Colegio Americano, a school founded by the Cumberland Presbyterian Mission in Colombia. Then, he earned his degree as Dentist from University Santiago de Cali. Juan and his wife later made Memphis, Tennessee their home. Juan has been an active member of Faith Cumberland Presbyterian Church for years, sharing his musical talents as a drummer in the worship praise band. His journey of faith led him to pursue ministry, earning his Master of Divinity from Memphis Theological Seminary in 2024. In early 2025, he officially joined Faith Church as Associate Pastor, working in a supportive role alongside Pastor Rev. Dr. Andy McClung. With a heart for service, connection, and spiritual growth, Juan is committed to boosting his congregation and supporting our community meaningfully.

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Reverend Jamie Adams is a Cumberland Presbyterian minister, a school teacher, and entrepreneur. To learn more about The Record Shop, click the link below to the December 2024 issue of The Cumberland Presbyterian magazine.
https://www.calameo.com/cppubarc/read/007729667ca6ed8a20773?authid=BgFycxxQ1Esp

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Reverend Brian Gibson writes:
"My name is Brian Gibson. I am sixty years old and have been married to Michelle for 32 years. We met on July 4th of 1992 and were married on September 12th of 1992. We have three children Adam, Kevin, and Annalise. We also have four grandchildren Haley, Hagen, Gabby, and Amelia.

My daughter, Annalise, was the catalyst in my wife and I returning to church. She was friends with Drew Edwards, son of Joey Edwards, and asked if we could go to her dad’s church. We attended on that Sunday and our faith journey began.
I began seminary at the age of fifty. My first professor, Steve Parrish walked in with long hair and sandals and a notebook the size of two Bibles. Introduction to the Old Testament was begun.
During my spiritual walk, my wife lost her mother and I lost my brother and mother. I also lost a great deal of my eyesight to a disease known as optic neuritos. Those stumbling blocks led me to almost end my faith walk. If it had not been for Tiffany McClung, Barry Anderson, and Courteney Pace, I would have closed the book on the calling God has told me to take. I am also grateful the strength my family gave me and continues to give me to this very day."

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