Dr. Dennis Flaugher

Two associate pastors at First-Centenary United Methodist Church were appointed pastors at the Brainerd and Grace churches at the denomination's Holston Annual Conference earlier this week.

Dr. Dennis Flaugher, associate pastor for discipleship at First-Centenary since 2003, was appointed senior pastor at 1,100-member Brainerd UMC. The Rev. Clair Travis, associate pastor for young adults and youth since 2007, was appointed pastor of 200-member Grace UMC in Soddy-Daisy.

Prior to coming to First-Centenary, Dr. Flaugher had been a pastor in the denomination's South Indiana Conference. The appointment at First-Centenary was the first for the Rev. Travis.

Dr. Flaugher replaces the Rev. Dennie Humphreys, who will move to Keith Memorial UMC in Athens, Tenn.

"The opportunities I've had in my associate positions both at First-Centenary here in downtown Chattanooga and up at St. Luke's United Methodist in Indianapolis have taught me a lot about working with staff and the dynamics about how large churches operate," he said. "I feel like I've learned from that as well as from the senior pastors who've mentored me."

It earlier was announced that the Rev. Fred Dearing would be appointed superintendent of the denomination's Chattanooga District. He succeeds the retiring Dr. Albert J. Bowles, a former senior pastor at the Hixson and First-Centenary churches who has been district superintendent since 2001.

Other appointments within the Chattanooga District:

* Willard "Bill" Akers (Wauhatchie) -- He has been pastor at Beaver Ridge UMC in the Oak Ridge District since 2006. Locally, he served as associate pastor at Wesley Memorial in Cleveland from 1997 to 1999. He replaces the Rev. Steve Galyon, who moves to Vermont UMC in the Kingsport District.

* Annette Flynn (Signal Crest, associate) -- She has been on a leave of absence since 2001, but she has served churches as a pastor and associate pastor in the conference since 1990. This is her first appointment in the Chattanooga District. She replaces the Rev. Lewis Kizer, who was appointed to serve the Harden's Chapel and Mosheim churches in the Morristown District.

* Leon Fraley (Burks, associate) -- He has been on staff at the Hixson church since 2004 and presently serves as its director of discipleship. This is the first conference appointment for the longtime school teacher, principal and administrator.

* Terry Huffer (Forrest Avenue, associate) -- This is his first appointment.

* Curtis McKee (Wesley Memorial) -- A conference evangelist since 2006, he previously served locally as pastor of Jones Memorial in East Ridge from 2003 to 2006 and as associate pastor at Wesley Memorial in Cleveland from 1986 to 1991. He replaces the Rev. Ben Matherly, who retired.

* Elston McLain (Stanley) -- He comes to Chattanooga from Center Grove UMC in Huntsville, Ala., where he has been pastor since 2002. His other previous appointments also were in the North Alabama Conference. He replaces the Rev. Joe Stanley, who will return to his home in Nashville.

* Jeremy McMillian (First, Whitwell) -- A seminary student at Candler Theological Seminary at Emory University in Atlanta, he replaces the Rev. Jim Douthat, a Signal Mountain resident and retired pastor who has served the church since 2007.

* Ronald Ramsey (McKendree) -- He has been serving First UMC in Church Hill, Tenn., in the Kingsport District since 2000. This is his first appointment in the Chattanooga District. He replaces the Rev. Meg Taylor, who was previously announced as superintendent of the Wytheville, Va., District.

* Ken Sauer (East Ridge) -- He comes from Grace UMC, where he has served as pastor since 2007. He previously served Parkview UMC in Newport News, Va., in the Virginia Conference. He replaces the Rev. Sam Johnson, who was appointed to First UMC in Church Hill, Tenn., in the Kingsport District.

* Doug Silvers (Welch's Chapel-Stephens Chapel) -- He comes to the two churches in Dunlap from Jones Memorial UMC, where he served as director of youth ministries. He replaces Bill Cross, who is retiring.

* Edward Snodgrass (Highland Plaza) -- He has been serving the church as pastor since November following the death of pastor Charles Culbertson. He also has been a chaplain and teacher at McCallie School since 1985. Locally, he also served as minister of youth at First-Centenary UMC from 1979 to 1981 and as pastor at East Lake from 1981 to 1985.

* Lewis Trobaugh (Brooks Memorial) -- A certified local pastor, he has been serving the church as a local pastor since May 1.

* Michael Watson (Rising Fawn) -- He comes to the church from Orangeburg, S.C. He replaces Doug Armstrong, who now will serve Logan's Chapel in the Maryville District.

* Brian Williamson (Mount Crest) -- A part-time local pastor, he previously served the Riceville and Piney Grove churches in the Cleveland District from 2005 to 2007. He replaces Greg Bartley, who will serve in a different area of ministry.

Other appointments within the Cleveland District:

* R. Steven Brown (Trinity, Athens) -- He comes to the church from Gate City in the Big Stone Gap District. In the Cleveland District, he previously served Tasso from 1986 to 1992. In the Chattanooga District, he served the Pleasant Grove and Havron's Chapel churches from 1979 to 1980, Pleasant Grove from 1982 to 1983 and the Whitwell and Red Hill churches from 1983 to 1986.

* Joe Phillips (Benton) -- A seminary student at Asbury Theological Seminary, he moves from Brooks Memorial UMC in Chattanooga -- where he's served since 2007 -- to Benton UMC in April. He replaces Mathilda S. Merker, who is on leave.

* P. Aaron Pierce (Wesley Memorial, Etowah, and Pleasant Grove) -- He comes to the churches from Ketron Memorial in the Kingsport District.

* James H. Purser (Mountain View) -- He has served as associate pastor for the Mountain View and New Providence churches since 1993.

* Ramon D. Torres III (Ooltewah) -- He has served as pastor of Gray in the Johnson City District since 2004. This is his first appointment in the Cleveland District. He succeeds the Rev. David Graves, who was previously announced as superintendent of the Kingsport District.

* Robert O. Wallace (Black Fox) -- He is serving a church formerly on a two-point charge with South Cleveland UMC.

* D. Scott Wilks (Jones Chapel-Wesleyanna) -- He has served the Sweetwater Circuit since 2006. In the Cleveland District, he previously served Piney Grove from 2002 to 2003.