I am pleased to share some biographical reflections with those who visit the Charlotte District website and wish to know more about the person who provides administrative leadership for United Methodists in this extraordinary metropolitan region.
For approximately thirty-five years, I served as a pastor in the Western North Carolina. My passion
is, consequently, parish ministry. I consider the role of the pastor to be the most exciting and fulfilling function
in the life of the church. I have served small churches, including a three-point charge in Union County with one
congregation of twenty members. I have served churches adjacent to schools of higher education-Wingate and Boone UMC.
I was a rural church pastor at Shady Grove, now one of the premier congregations in the Lexington District. I have
served large, urban churches like Christ UMC of Greensboro and Providence UMC in the city of Charlotte. Each of these
has provided a context for developing close relationships among the members and opportunities for serving Christ in a
myriad of creative expressions.
My marital companion and spiritual encourager through these years is Pat Thompson, a delightful self-giving companion who shares my vision for ministry. We have always worked in concert and in mutually supportive ways. We are parents of Stephanie Vannoy, who lives in Greensboro with her husband, Aaron, and their son, Max.
I am the recipient of countless blessings; therefore, I believe that the primary posture for living every day is gratitude. Among my greatest blessings is the gift of a liberating and expanding education. In 1965 I matriculated from Pfeiffer College with a history major after studying under the influence of several inspiring scholars devoted to excellence in teaching. I am now expressing to God my gratitude for such a gift by serving as Chair of the Board of Trustees at Pfeiffer University.
I completed my formal theological education at Duke Divinity School where I gained a compelling interest in biblical studies, systematic theology, church history, and Christian ethics. There I received the tools for pursuing a life-long pursuit of a faith seeking understanding. Among those who molded my mind in those years are memorable scholars and practitioners of the faith like Mickey Efird, Robert Cushman, Moody Smith, W.D. Davies, Stuart Henry, Harmon Smith, and visiting professor Jurgen Moltmann.
The art of preaching remains a passion for me. I have always been more influenced by preachers who mount the pulpit at a local church than the ones who teach homiletics at the university. Each Sunday I try to hear at least two of the preachers in our district of seventy-nine churches. I find much inspiration in these experiences, even when the content and delivery is marginal. Preaching is not merely delivering a sermon; it is delivering a life. As I grow closer to my colleagues, I come to worship in order to experience God and to affirm God's pulpit servants. I also am a mentor and coach to those who are eager to receive the critique of a loving critic. For over a decade I was a contributing editor for Pulpit Digest and continue to learn from those who practice excellence in the communication of the gospel.
Some of my passions in ministry have found expression through opportunities afforded by the connectional church. I was a member of the WNC Conference Board of Ordained Ministry (1984 - 1992) and served as its Vice Chair. I was Chair of the WNC Conference Peace Committee (1980-84) and gave expression to my life-long focus upon matters related to the Middle East, lecturing in churches throughout the conference on various facets of this subject. I directed the Third World Exchange Ministries (1976-1980) with focus upon exchanges in India and Kenya. I have traveled, through the auspices of the church and mission teams to Mexico, Haiti, and Bolivia. I have participated in spiritual life pilgrimages to the lands of the Bible including Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Greece and Turkey. I have been to German for dialogue with theologians and pastors. I attended the World Methodist Conference in Singapore in 1991.
In each local church I have become intensely involved in programs of compassion and ministries with the poor. Tuesday was my day as a volunteer at the Greensboro Urban Ministry. In Waynesville I was chair of the community organization that ministered to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. I have been an active Rotarian since 1987 and before that a member of Lion's and Kiwanis.
I confess to being a recovering workaholic. Thus, my hobbies and passions are woven into my professional activities. I am an amateur photographer. In my spare time I just read more theology and biblical stuff. I dive into well written biographies and consider autobiography the purest form of fiction. I exercise five to six days per week and have done so for about thirty years. My proudest achievements are in receiving undeserved gifts: I am a good grandfather, a proud husband, and a follower of Jesus.
Grace and peace,
George Thompson