A Letter from the Pastoral Search Steering Committee
It is with great joy and excitement that we announce the appointment of Rev. Jeremy Auvil as the next Senior Pastor of Christ Methodist Church!
For the past seven and a half months, our Pastor Search Committee (see below for full team members) has faithfully and prayerfully sought God's direction for the future of our church. This extensive process included evaluating 136 potential pastors, reviewing more than 350 sermons, holding conversations with 15 potential candidates, and conducting interviews with three final candidates. Throughout the search, a dedicated 24-person prayer team surrounded the committee and its work with daily prayer and fasting.
From the beginning, our prayer was simple: that God would make His choice for our next Senior Pastor unmistakably clear. We believe He has faithfully answered that prayer.
Throughout this journey, we witnessed the Holy Spirit at work, by opening and closing doors, bringing unity to important decisions, and continually affirming the path forward. That guidance became especially evident as we began conversations with Jeremy.
In the months leading up to those conversations, Jeremy sensed through personal prayer that God was preparing him for a new calling. Trusted friends and spiritual confidants independently shared similar convictions with him. As our conversations continued, Jeremy and his wife, Jenny, joined us in prayerfully discerning God's direction. What emerged was a shared sense of calling and a growing confidence that God was bringing Jeremy and Christ Methodist together for this next season of ministry.
Jeremy's commitment to biblical teaching first drew our attention, but his heart for people and his relational approach to leadership affirmed what we believe our church needs in this season. His emphasis on building authentic community and deep commitment to prayer, missions, and spiritual growth aligns closely with Christ Methodist's mission and our desire to deepen discipleship throughout our congregation.
We are deeply grateful for the wisdom and guidance of our bishop, conference superintendent, and presiding elder throughout this process. We are especially thankful for Bishop Paul Lawler's steadfast encouragement and involvement. His insight, recommendations, and personal conversations with candidates proved invaluable. Having known Jeremy for many years, Bishop Paul and Missy enthusiastically affirm his calling to serve as our next Senior Pastor.
Jeremy will officially begin his appointment in June 2027, following his youngest son's high school graduation. In the months ahead, he will have opportunities to join us in worship and begin getting to know our church family. We look forward to welcoming him on Sunday, December 6, when he will share the homily during our Festival of Lessons and Carols.
As we look toward this exciting new chapter, we do so with gratitude for God's faithfulness, confidence in His continued guidance, and great anticipation for all that lies ahead.
Please join us in welcoming Jeremy, Jenny, and their family to Christ Methodist Church!
Blessings,
Robert Wilson (SPRC Chair) | Tom Marino (Lay Leader) | Robert Montague (Council Chair) | Laura Whitsitt (Project Lead)
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Robert Montague, Council Chair
Laura Whitsitt, Project Lead
Robert Wilson, SPRC Chair
Tom Marino, Lay Leader
Randy Wade, SPRC Vice Chair
David Montague
David Carter
Kristie Lotz
Page Boden
John Webster
Kristy Dorman
Lauren Robinson
Betty Moore
Who is Pastor Jeremy Auvil?
Jeremy Auvil has more than 20 years of ministry experience serving in multiple Methodist churches in the Birmingham area. He currently serves as the Lead Pastor of Clearbranch Methodist (GMC) in Trussville, Alabama, where he has served for more than nine years, first as an Associate Pastor and now as Lead Pastor.
An ordained Deacon and Elder in the Global Methodist Church, the heart of Jeremy's ministry is a passion for preaching and helping people grow in authentic relationships with God and one another. That commitment to nurturing faith and building community also extends to Clearbranch's Bible-based preschool, which he oversees as a ministry to local families.
Jeremy’s other ministries include mission work in his local community, particularly through a longstanding partnership with Pinson Valley High School. Since 2017, Clearbranch has provided more than 150,000 meals to students facing food insecurity, an effort that began with student athletes and expanded to serve any student in need.
Additional ministry efforts include long-term partnerships with Mega Missions in Ciudad Victoria, Mexico, which supports growing congregations through church construction, and Gospel Trumpets in Hyderabad, India, which provides education, food, clothing, and the gospel to more than 600 children. These partnerships have been ongoing since 2009 and 2017, respectively.
Jeremy's previous ministry experience includes more than a decade in student ministry and pastoring Crosshaven, a house church he and his wife, Jenny, founded to build community and reach those who had become disconnected from the church. Early in his career, he served as a bivocational pastor, while also working in management roles in the automotive manufacturing industry.
Jeremy grew up in Montgomery and Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He is a graduate of The University of Alabama and Asbury Theological Seminary. He has been married to Jenny for 24 years, and they have two sons, James and John.