Nashville, Tenn.—Two United Methodist pastors with roots in the local area have received new assignments: Rev. Dr. Rob Martin, former pastor at the First United Methodist Church in Paris; and Rev. Ben Boone, formerly of Union City, Benton and Paris First United Methodist.
Rev. Dr. Rob Martin, currently serving as the Superintendent of the Purchase District of the Memphis Conference, will be appointed as the Assistant to the Bishop of the Nashville Episcopal Area which includes both the Memphis and Tennessee Conferences.
Martin will follow Lynn Taylor who will be retiring after serving the last four years as the Director of Missional Alignment, which also encompassed the responsibilities of the Assistant to the Bishop. Bishop William T. McAlilly of the Nashville Episcopal Area announced today his intention to make the following several cabinet appointments effective July 1, 2020.
Martin’s prior appointments include: St. John’s UMC, St. Luke’s UMC, and Faith UMC. Martin currently serves as a delegate to the General Conference, and the Co-Chair of the Guide Team assisting in the formation of the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference, and the cabinet representative to the Board of Ordained Ministry, the Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry, and Lakeshore UMA.
Martin is married to Rev. Amy Martin (Minister of Music and Discipleship at Reidland UMC) and they have two adult daughters, Brittany and Ashley.
Rev. Dr. Ben Boone will be appointed as the Interim District Superintendent of the Purchase District of the Memphis Conference, based in Brewers, KY. Boone, a retired elder since 2014, will serve for one conference year. He will replace Rev. Dr. Rob Martin who has served as the Purchase District Superintendent since 2017.
A graduate of Candler School of Theology, Lambuth College, and 2 Year Academy for Spiritual Formation, Boone’s last full-time appointment before retirement was at Lone Oak United Methodist Church. Prior to his retirement, Boone served at Union City First UMC, Munford UMC, Georgian Hills UMC, Arlington UMC (Shelby County), Benton First, Paris First, Lone Oak, Murray State University (Campus Ministry), and as the Jackson District Superintendent. Since retirement, he has served interim part-time at Arcadia UMC, Grace (Ballard County) UMC and Reidland UMC.
In addition, Boone served on Council for Finance and Administration, Board of Ordained Ministry, General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns and as a delegate to both General and Jurisdictional Conference. He also has served as an educational mentor for students (grades 1-12), supporting Boy Scouts, and as a hospice chaplain.
Boone currently serves with the Paducah Cooperative Ministries Board, Abrahamic Interfaith Council of Paducah, Emmaus, Chrysalis, Face to Face and Kairos ministries.
He is married to Ann Boone and they enjoy sharing life with their adult children, grandchildren, and step-grandchildren. The Boones are active at Trinity UMC in the Purchase District.
Bishop William T. McAlilly of the Nashville Episcopal Area announced today his intention to make the following several cabinet appointments effective July 1, 2020.