Dr. Eric McKinney to Retire as TMF Rep to CTC; Rev. John Mollet Announced as New Area Representative
The Texas Methodist Foundation (TMF) has announced the retirement of Dr. Eric McKinney from his eight-year tenure as senior area representative for the Central Texas Conference. Eric's retirement is effective July 1. An elder in the Central Texas Conference, Eric has served as pastor, district superintendent, interim Southwestern University chaplain and TMF clergy group facilitator before joining the TMF staff in 2009.“Eric’s passion for connecting congregations and individuals more closely with the dreams that God has for us and our world is at the very core of his work,” observed Tom Locke, TMF president. “Eric’s multi-faceted experience in the UMC has been enormously valuable in implementing TMF’s Holy Conversations process of helping clergy and lay leaders discern their purpose and create new or enhance existing ministries to align with that purpose. We wish him Godspeed in his well-deserved retirement.”
Bishop Lowry has announced that Dr. McKinney will serve as co-pastor of First UMC Georgetown, beginning in July.
With Dr. McKinney’s pending retirement, TMF also announced that Rev. John Mollet will be the new senior area representative for the Central Texas Conference. John will begin his duties on Sept. 1. Rev. Mollet will retire as senior pastor at First UMC Grapevine at the 2017 Central Texas Annual Conference.
John has served as FUMC Grapevine's senior pastor since 2011. Prior to that, he served as senior pastor at Stonebridge UMC in McKinney for eight years and at First UMC Lewisville, Chapel Hill UMC in Farmers Branch, First UMC Iowa Park and First UMC Denton.A graduate of Centenary College of Louisiana, Rev. Mollet received a Master of Theology degree from Perkins School of Theology in 1978. In his role as area representative, Mollet will connect Central Texas Conference constituents to resources relevant to their unique goals for missional growth in their congregations and communities.
“TMF has had a long relationship with John, first in the North Texas Conference and then the Central Texas Conference,” said Locke. “He brings a deep understanding of what it takes to create congregational cultures of purpose and generosity and an abiding love for the Church and what it can accomplish. We are thrilled to have someone as able and committed as he is to continue Eric’s legacy of excellence and look forward to his unique contributions to this important work.”