Bishop Watson Announces Three Appointments

Bishop B. Michael Watson has announced three cabinet-level appointments. The appointments will be effective in June 2016 along with other clergy appointments. 

• Rev. Herzen Andone will be appointed Director of Connectional Ministries. Andone is currently serving as District Superintendent of the Northwest District. He follows Rev. Mike Selleck who will retire after Annual Conference.
• Rev. John Pinson will be appointed District Superintendent of the Northwest District. Pinson is currently pastor of Douglasvile First UMC. 
• Rev. Dr. Terry Walton will be appointed District Superintendent of the Atlanta-Marietta District. He currently serves as pastor of Gainesville First UMC. Walton follows Rev. Jim Lowery who has announced his retirement. 

The three clergy have a long history of leadership in the North Georgia Conference. Read more about each of them and their families:

Rev. Herzen Andone was born in the Philippines and grew up in a US Navy family. His father's tours of duty took the family from California and Hawaii to the Philippines and Saudi Arabia. Eventually the family settled in Florida. Herzen earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and after hearing and clarifying his call to ministry at his home church, Asbury UMC in Orange Park, Florida, he earned his master’s degree from Candler School of Theology.

Herzen was ordained in 1990 and has served on staff at Lithonia UMC, Canton UMC, and Duluth First UMC. For eleven years he served as the senior pastor of Hickory Flat UMC in Canton and then served three years as the senior pastor of Peachtree City UMC. Currently, he is in his sixth year as District Superintendent of the Northwest District.

Herzen has been married to Rev. Jennifer Andone for 26 years. Jennifer serves as the senior pastor of Elizabeth Lee UMC in Chickamauga. They have two sons: Dakin, who is a senior at Georgia State University, and Dylan, who is a freshman at the University of Georgia.

Rev. John W. Pinson attended Philadelphia College of Bible, earning the Bachelor of Science in biblical studies and pastoral ministry. John later enrolled at Candler School of Theology, Emory University earning the Master of Divinity in 1979. 

While in seminary, John worked with the Atlanta Police Department as a chaplain, and he was active in youth and Boy Scout programs at Grace United Methodist Church. Since his ordination, John has served Douglasville First UMC, Aldersgate UMC in Augusta, Boynton UMC, West Rome UMC, Pine Log UMC, Christ UMC, South Broad UMC, Stripling Chapel UMC, Grantville UMC, and Newnan First UMC as associate pastor. 

John has two children, Mary Frances, who teaches first grade in Glynn County, Georgia, and Mathew who is assistant dean of development and alumni relations at Candler School of Theology and serves as the North Georgia Conference lay leader. Mathew is married to Susan Pinson, daughter of the Rev. Jim and Carol Moore. Susan is the minister of children and older adults at Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church on the campus of Emory University. Mathew and Susan have a two-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, who refers to John as Pop Pop.  

Rev. Dr. Terry Walton was born in Atlanta and grew up in Griffin, Georgia. He received Bachelor of Arts degree from Berry College, and later attended Candler School of Theology at Emory University where he received Masters of Divinity. He earned a Doctor of Ministry Degree from McCormick Theological Seminary at the University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois.

He began his ministry career as a student serving as assistant pastor/youth minister of West Rome United Methodist Church. Since he has served Ravenna United Methodist Church in Ravenna, Kentucky, Mount Zion United Methodist Church in Mt. Zion, Ebenezer United Methodist Church in Conyers, Acworth United Methodist Church,  W. R. Cannon United Methodist Church in Snellville and since 2004 he has served Gainesville First United Methodist Church.

Terry is married to Sharon Raley. They have three children. Their son Benji is head women’s soccer coach at Kennesaw State University. Son Chris is a National Trainer with Pultie Homes in Atlanta. Chris is married to Becky. Their daughter Terilyn works at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and is married to Eric. Terry and Sharon have four grandchildren: Caroline, Luke, Brooks and Camryn.

Clergy appointments will be fixed at Annual Conference 2016 in Athens. Move day will be Wednesday, June 16.