Description:
What if the best thing you can do for your church is to stop performing for it?
Brief description: Rev. James Williams is the Senior Pastor at Grace Resurrection Methodist Church in Marietta, Georgia.Before joining GRMC in October 2024, Rev. Williams served 7 years as Sr. Minister at Centenary, the largest Methodist church in Kentucky, and 10 years at Winchester First United Methodist. Rev. Williams has held multiple leadership positions in the Kentucky Conference, serving as the Lexington District Superintendent and Dean of the Cabinet. His service includes 12 years on the Board of Ordained Ministry, chairing the Lexington District Board of Trustees, and leading the Kentucky Conference Evangelism Team. He was also elected as a delegate to the General Conference and served on the Southeastern Jurisdiction Committee on Nominations. Rev. Williams and his wife Natalie have two children, John, who lives in Eugene, Oregon with his wife, Jordan, and Mary, a communications major and cheerleader at Asbury University.
Review Quotes:
My friend James has written a book that doesn't pretend, doesn't posture, and doesn't try to win. It bleeds a little. It tells the truth. And in doing so, it gives the rest of us permission to do the same. He has given us something rare: a book that doesn't just talk about grace but embodies it. -TULLIAN TCHIVIDJIAN, pastor, author of Carnage & Grace and grandson of Dr. Billy Graham
In a day when honest church talk is scarce, James Williams has broken the sound barrier by disclosing his heart as an American pastor through whom God is speaking truth in an hour of existential crisis. - DR. J. STEVEN O'MALLEY, John T. Seamands Professor of Methodist Holiness History, Asbury Theological Seminary
This book is a timely roadmap. - DR. ALVEDA KING, daughter of Rev. A.D. King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Founder of Alveda King Ministries
This book provides great lessons to both the clergy and lay leaders in transitioning from professionalism and performance to presence, surrender, restoration, and servanthood.
- DON HANCOCK, Chairperson of the Leadership Board of Grace Resurrection Methodist Church
Rev. Williams reminds us that pastors are real peoplewith their own pain, wounds, and spiritual needs. If you are a pastor or if you love and support a pastor, this book is especially for you. - DR. WAYNE LEWIS, President of Houghton University and an ex-officio member of the General Board of The Wesleyan Church
The Present Pastor "smells" like Jesus! - DR. STEVE BROWN, pastor, broadcaster, author of the bestselling 3 Free Sins: God's Not Mad at You! and President of Key Life Ministries (www.keylife.org)
The Present Pastor is a book about presence - the kind of authentic, grounded, vulnerable leadership that James argues the church desperately needs. - PASTOR CHRIS THOMPSON, Radiant Life Fellowship, Huntersville, NC
Pastors will resonate with James' struggles and triumph. Laity will gain insight into the life of their pastor. - BISHOP LINDSEY DAVIS, retired Bishop of The United Methodist Church
Even the most devoted Christ-follower can fall into the trap of prioritizing performance over simply being available and present. - JOHN BORDERS, MD
The Present Pastor invites readers back to the heart of authentic leadership at church, at home, or in business. - ERIK A. SIKORSKI CPCU, AIC