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Greg Smith

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Brentwood United Methodist Church

Marketing a Mainline Congregation (#0443)

2011/08/02 By Greg

Martin Thielen, Senior Pastor of the 7,600-member Brentwood United Methodist Church, wrote the cover story for the July 26 (2011) edition of the Christian Century about his experience marketing his previous parish.  Initially a Southern Baptist, he left that denomination when it took a fundamentalist turn to become a United Methodist pastor. In the article he shares what he learned while Senior Pastor of  Lebanon First United Methodist Church in Read More …

What Is Required to be a Christian? Less than Expected (#0304)

2011/03/17 By Greg

What's the Least I Can Believe and Still Be a Christian? is both an important question and the title of a popular new book by Martin Thielen.  According to Bob Smietana's March 13 article in The Tennessean the book was released in January and "has become a surprise hit, with a second printing on the way." Thielen is a former Southern Baptist who left the denomination when it took a fundamentalist turn.  He is now an ordained United Methodist pastor who serves as the Pastor of Lebanon Read More …

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Greg Smith

Greg is a follower of the Way of Jesus who strives to make the world a better place for all people. Currently, he serves as Chief Executive Officer of White Rock Center of Hope in Dallas and as Interim Senior Minister of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Fort Worth. He has served eleven congregations, taught religion to undergraduates for eight years, and helped three organizations provide quality healthcare to underserved populations. (Read More)

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