Legendary CBS sports broadcaster Jim Nantz will be our special guest on Wednesday night at 6:15 to kick off our fall series “Faith, Values, and the Public Square.”  Jim and I will talk about his many accomplishments in sports broadcasting, his close relationship with President George H. W. Bush, September 11th, the need for civility, and how sports can unite a divided world.  If you have never heard Jim speak before, you should certainly come.  This will be a very special evening at Woodmont and one you don’t want to miss!  Jim......

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My undergraduate course at Vanderbilt this fall is titled “Moral Leadership, Virtue, and Character in American Life.” Human institutions and systems are unable to function effectively without formal leadership. However, if those chosen to lead do not have character and moral authority, then their leadership will prove to be problematic over time. This fall we are exploring the concept of moral leadership in our culture and how it always involves certain core pillars including finding a purpose, the ability to inspire and care for others, claiming personal values, and the willingness to......

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Homecoming Sunday was a great celebration. It was great to kick things off for the fall! Pew Research has been tracking religious trends in America for many decades. Some of the most recent data is very eye-opening if not alarming. In 2024, roughly 30% of Americans say that they attend church on a regular basis, loosely defined as once a month. Less than 50% of Americans now claim membership to any given church. These trends are much lower than just a few decades ago. Why have we seen such a rapid decline......

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My sabbatical is winding down and I will be back in the office next week. This time has been both restful and productive for me. Dr. Greg Jones, President of Belmont University and long time Dean of Duke Divinity School, will bring the final message this Sunday in our “What the World Needs Now…” series. I have thoroughly enjoyed hearing all of these messages this summer. I will begin a new sermon series on August 18th, Homecoming Sunday, titled “Jesus’ Parables & the Moral Life.” We will look at some of Jesus’......

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Greetings from my summer sabbatical. Everything is going well. I have been recharging, reading, writing, planning ahead, and spending some quality time in Sewanee with my family. Montgomery, now 14, and Wade (8) both celebrated birthdays at the Outer Banks earlier this month. I have also been enjoying the Sunday messages focusing on the important question “What Our World Needs Now.” I look forward to being back with all of you very soon! Homecoming Sunday and fall kickoff is just around the corner! A lot is happening in the world. History is......

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This Sunday, Woodmont will celebrate its 81st birthday (we just lost our oldest member – Terry Cheek who was 99 years old). Our church was “planted” in the summer of 1943, during World War II, by members of Vine St. Christian Church when it was located downtown. Woodmont has certainly grown, changed, and evolved throughout its history. The religious landscape in America is certainly very different than it was when Woodmont first opened its doors. We now find ourselves living in an age where many consider themselves “spiritual but not religious.” I......

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As I begin my summer sabbatical, here are my main priorities. First, to rest and recharge. Ministry can be taxing and I look forward to this designated period of rest and rejuvenation. Secondly, I want to spend quality time with Megan and my three children. Our kids are growing up very fast and I want to savor the time I have with them. Third, I plan to pray, read, and plan ahead for my fall sermons. The weekly routine of writing sermons is both spiritually rewarding and taxing. Somebody once said, “Sunday comes around often.” I will use this time......

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On Sunday, the congregation voted to approve the leadership slate and the proposed 2024-25 operating budget. This new budget reflects a year-over-year growth of 17.7% which is phenomenal! Thank you for making our mission and ministries possible! Please pray for the individuals who have accepted new leadership roles. Installation Sunday will be on June 30 at the 11:00 AM service. During the month of June, we are talking about “Authentic Leadership & Character.” Recently, I have had conversations with our staff and elders about John Maxwell’s 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership.  Some of these laws are more relevant......

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