Servant Leadership Development Information
The Session has called a congregational meeting to be held Sunday, January 13, for the purpose of voting upon these candidates.
Office of Ruling Elder
Brent Jean - Ruling Elder
I grew up in Birmingham, AL and in 1980 God used a broken bone to reveal himself to me in a clear way. I submitted myself to his Lordship at the age of 14. My wife, Melissa, and I have been married for 22 years and started attending Christ Community Church as soon as we moved to Franklin in 1996. Along with our children Michael (20), Brandon (18) and Michelle (16) we have been involved with the middle school and high school ministries for several years. My desire is that all who attend Christ Community Church are connected in a variety of ways so that it feels like family. I want God to use me to build relationships and help meet the needs of our members while also encouraging them to use their God given gifts to minister to others.
Jere Jeter - Ruling Elder
I am a forester by profession and have a deep love and appreciation for the natural world gifted to us by our Creator. My wife, Maureen, and I have been married for forty-one years and have two children and six grandchildren. Our association with CCC goes all the way back to First Pres where Scotty Smith was on pastoral staff. I have been churched all my life and believed I was a Christian at a young age. It was not until my early twenties that I began to wrestle with the knowledge of having a saving faith and then it was later at CCC that I was confronted with the Gospel. It was then I realized the freedom of relying solely on the life and work of Jesus for my salvation and not on how good I was or how good I appeared to be. I have served as a deacon for the past six years or so and for the last twelve months as Chair of the Diaconate. I currently serve on the Transition Team and have been privileged to walk with eleven brothers for two years plus as we have learned together how important it is for brothers to have each other as friends and confidants. I believe God is calling me to serve our body to make this a haven for weary believers, a place of growth in the Gospel and a launching pad for those who share the love of Jesus next door and around the world.
Jay Mclemore - Ruling Elder
My story began in Macon, Georgia where I attended First Presbyterian Church and Presbyterian Day School. In high school, I came to know Christ. I came to Vanderbilt and attended Christ Community, along with Covenant Presbyterian. RUF at Vanderbilt profoundly impacted my life. Leaving Nashville to attend law school, I moved to Birmingham and then to Jackson, Mississippi. I lived in Jackson for 12 years and married Sue Hart in 2004. Following our marriage, my wife and I wrestled with our calling and my (then) current role with my former firm in Jackson. After looking, arguing and praying over opportunities in western North Carolina, the Lord called us here. In 2008, we moved to Franklin. We settled here at Christ Community due to gospel astonishment and the gospel focus. We have three children: Josh (6) and Seth and Ann Dossett (twins, almost 3). While in Mississippi for 12 years, I helped teach Sunday school and served in Neighborhood Christian Center and Habitat for Humanity, ministries to the urban poor. My wife and I are privileged to call Christ Community Church our home and community. I have enjoyed teaching Sunday school here over the past two years and my wife enjoys serving in the Children's Ministry and A Mom’s Heart. I am excited to see what God will do with us as a Church as we move forward during this time of transition.
Andy Oliver - Ruling Elder
My name is Andy Oliver and my family has been at Christ Community since August of 2004. My wife, Shelly, is involved heavily with the nursery and is a teacher at Mustard Seed Preschool. My two sons, Gray (8) and Tracy (6) attend school at Pearre Creek Elementary and love their respective Sunday School Classes. Shelly and I are part of the Back-to-Basics Sunday School and have a real sense of community in that group. I came to Christ as a child and really had the implications of the Gospel invade my heart when I was a teen. I have served at CCC on the worship team and nursery. I also serve with World Music Mission by helping other churches in our area with their worship services and have gone to Kenya to serve missionaries there. My inward call is to more deeply serve our church and be a defender of the Gospel alongside our Ruling and Teaching elders. It is a privilege to be part of such a loving and caring body and look forward to carrying forth the mission of our Christ locally and throughout the world.
Bram Pinkley - Ruling Elder
Bram Pinkley, married to Kelly Pinkley for 17 years. We have two children, North and Virginia. We have been members for around five years. I was converted as a college freshman through the ministry of RUF at Vanderbilt. I feel called to be an elder at CCC because I love being involved in the work of shepherding and teaching that the church is uniquely called to do. I believe our church is at a critical time when true servant leaders are vital. I am humbled and excited to accept this calling.
Chris Vissman - Ruling Elder
Married to Donna Vissman, children: Ian (13), Bennett (10), Chloe (8). Chris has been a member since 1991. When I was in 2nd grade I asked my mother many nights in a row what I need to do to accept Jesus. She probably thought I was trying to extend bedtime (I might have been). My mom told me this was the last time she was going to tell me. I knelt down next to my bed and my mom, and accepted Jesus one night before going to bed.
I feel called to serve the bride of Christ. My family and I have enjoyed feasting at the table that is Christ Community Church and now feel compelled to serve those who have for so long served us. The community of CCC has been instrumental in opening the door to the room of grace and helping me and my family understand depth of our depravity and the magnitude of God’s grace.
We are all called to serve the body of Christ based on the gifts God has given us. I am committed to use my gifts to serve Christ in the role of Elder. I make this commitment with fear and trembling knowing that above all it is a commitment to Christ.
Office of Deacon
Brook Bishop - Deacon
My wife, Stefanie, and I started visiting Christ Community Church a little more than two years ago and transferred our membership from another local PCA church shortly thereafter. My wife and I both grew up in the Nashville and Franklin area and have been married and lived in this community for 15 years. We have four children, Graham (10), Davis (8), Corinne (7) and Maggie (4) each of whom were graduates (or soon to be graduates) of Mustard Seed. I grew up in a Christian home, always knowing Christ as my savior but it was not until my young adult life that I deeply and personally felt God’s call in my life to serve Him more fully. We have had the pleasure to teach many of your children in the children’s ministry on Sunday mornings as we’ve volunteered in several of our children’s classes. I have been active in orphan ministries, with two adopted children of my own, helped establish and led Men’s ministries, and currently lead a Community Group here at Christ Community. I have a heart for finding ways to help my fellow Church members to plug in and grow in their walk with Christ and with other Christians. At our previous church home I was honored to be ordained and serve as a deacon and now look forward to serving Christ’s church at Christ Community.
Women's Leadership Team
Alicia Benson - Women's Leadership Team
My family and I have been at Christ Community Church for seven years. My husband, Matt and I have been married for 13 years and have two children, Alexandra 11, and Zach 8. I grew up in New Jersey in a churchless home. In 1991, my family and I relocated to South Florida. It was there, at the age of 27, that I first heard the gospel and understood that Jesus was my savior. My life has been so radically changed by the redemptive work of our God with the hope and knowledge that it will continue. Since coming to CCC, the gospel of grace has given me a better foundation of who God is and who I am in Him. I have served in children's ministry, A Mom's Heart Committee, several planning committees, and lead small groups. It is my deep desire to encourage and see others live their lives fully, joyful, and devoted to God, regardless of their past, present, or future circumstances. I am thankful for Christ Community Church and I am humbled to serve our church for God's Glory.
Judy Felts - Women's Leadership Team
My husband Mike and I have been married for 30 years and have been members of Christ community church for the past 11 years. We have 2 children who are both married and 1 grandson. I was raised in a Christian home and came to know the Lord when I was 9 years old. I understand that it is by grace that I am saved, not of works. It is the finished work of Christ and Christ alone. I have had a love for the gospel since I was a child and have loved studying the Bible. I have served in the church all of my life including being church pianist and playing for choirs since I was in Junior High School. I have served in many capacities in the church as well as ministries outside of the church. I have also participated in numerous mission trips to over 15 foreign countries. I am active in our church serving on the worship team, active in Sunday school and my husband and I lead a home fellowship group. I have been a volunteer at the TN Prison for women for the past 13 years and started a community women’s ministry called “Christian Women Connect” over 19 years ago. Sharing the gospel and serving the body of Christ is a privilege and an honor.
Judy Garner - Women's Leadership Team
Charles and I have been married for almost 47 years living in the same house in a racially, economically, and culturally diverse neighborhood in Columbia for over 35 years. We are blessed with three children Alice, Terry, and David as well as two granddaughters, Ella Claire and Lynnlee. Through the years our home has been and continues to be a place of extending hospitality to family and friends as well as groups such as Bible study, home education, foster parenting, SS classes, youth groups, scouting, neighborhood children...all the people God places in our path. God in His providence delivered me from the domain of darkness into His Light as a teenager and continues to grow me in His amazing grace through the transforming power of His Word by His Spirit. I am confident that He who began a good work in me will complete it. What hope I find in knowing it is He who is at work in and through me. He placed a desire in my heart to be part of the healing and growing process at CCC giving me an opportunity to do this through the WLT. My desire is that as I have received gifts they would be used to serve others as a good steward of God’s varied grace. “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory.” Romans 11:36
Marijean Green - Women's Leadership Team
My family and I have been members of CCC for over 22 years. Steve and I have been married for 34 years and traveled in concert ministry. We have 2 children. Summer is a family marriage counselor and married with 2 little girls. Josiah along with his wife, have been serving this year in Greece and will begin Covenant Seminary in the spring. Although I came to faith at a young age, and had a desire to serve Christ, it was through the ministry of CCC that the gospel began to take root in my heart. I love encouraging women in their journey of discovering the liberating good news of all that God has done for us in Christ Jesus. I have led small groups, been a member of the Women's Advisory Board, and taught Gospel Transformation.