OUR TEAM

The group that oversees all functions of the church is called The Session. The Session is composed of six Elders and the 2022 leaders are listed below.  To contact one of the Elders please leave a message at  the office.  

Robert Rooks 

Tom Anderson 

Brenda Cain 

Betsy Reed 

Alice McClanahan

 John King

Joe received his Bachelors degree from the University of Tennessee, his Master's degree from Murray State University, and his Ph.D. from the University of Memphis. He has been a college Dean and professor of Leadership and Management.  In 2007, following a calling, Joe left his consulting firm and along with his friend, Kyle Rote, Jr., began national In The Zone Ministries.  The ministry  presented many national and regional conferences and  featured some of the most successful men in America as they have shared their faith and journey. In 2021 Joe and his wife Trudy moved to Brownsville, Tennessee, and he accepted the position as Pastor of Brownsville First Presbyterian Church.

Shelia is the office administrator. She was blessed to grow up in a Christian home in West Virginia, as her father is a retired minister.  She is acquainted with church activities and enjoys being a part of the team to pull it all together.   She has been married to husband Nelson for 45 years, and they have a daughter and a son, Casie and Cory, and 4 grandchildren.

Alice plays the marimba for our worship services. She was certainly blessed growing up in a musical home. She started taking piano at the age of 5.  Her teacher noticed her having a natural ear for music and started her playing the marimba at 7 years old.  Alice was fortunate to be able to have a marimba in her home growing up.  Her mother was the church pianist and organist all her active life.  Alice lives on their farm with her beloved husband Ed of 58 years, and they have 4 daughters and 6 grandchildren.   Alice is an Elder in our church and stays very busy serving on various committees and organizations.  She only worked 48 ½ years at INSOUTH Bank before retiring. 

Mary Jane plays the piano and also leads congregational music. She is a graduate of Haywood High School. She attended the University of Mississippi and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in music education from Lambuth College in 1973. She taught music and English at Tennessee Academy from 1973 – 1976. She resumed her teaching career in 1987at Haywood Junior High where she taught 7th and 8th grade English until 2012. She is currently serving as an Instructional Facilitator at Haywood Middle School. 

Mary Jane was married to the late Wayne Williams. Together they led the music program at Allen Baptist Church from 1973 until his death in 2009. They have three children and six grandchildren. 

Music has been a part of Allan’s life forever. Piano lessons were a rite of passage, and although Allan will say that his ability was quite average, his enthusiasm was unmatched. During most of his youth, his father directed the choir at the Methodist Church in Senath, Missouri. Allan was always excited about the hymns in church as a small child, having certain favorites from the old Cokesbury hymnal. As he matured, he learned to love the body of European hymns that dates to the 16th through 18th centuries, containing the beautiful poetry of the Psalms and other Scriptures. Allan loves hearing the congregation sing the hymns accompanied by the instruments that we are blessed to have at our church.  As the church's organist he is honored to be able to glorify God in this way.