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Dr. John Ed Mathison
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Dr. John Ed Mathison has been senior minister of Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, one of the fastest growing United Methodist churches in America, for the past 35 years. Under his leadership, Frazer has grown from 400 members to more than 8,700 members, and has the largest Sunday School attendance for United Methodist churches in America.
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Rev. Dr. Barry Carpenter
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The Rev. Dr. Barry Carpenter, the lead pastor at Immanuel United Methodist Church in Lakeside Park, KY, will succeed John Ed when he retires in June 2008, according to an announcement at the recent Board of Stewards meeting. Barry will come to Montgomery in June to spend a year at Frazer before he officially starts his new position.
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Dr. John Ed Mathison has been senior minister of Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, one of the fastest growing United Methodist churches in America, for the past 35 years. Under his leadership, Frazer has grown from 400 members to more than 8,700 members, and has the largest Sunday School attendance for United Methodist churches in America.
The son of a United Methodist minister, Dr. Mathison graduated from Opelika High School and attended Young Harris Junior College. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Huntingdon College, a bachelor of divinity degree from Candler School of Theology, a master’s degree from Princeton University, and the Doctor of Ministry Degree from Candler School of Theology.
He served as associate minister at Capitol Heights Methodist Church in Montgomery, as minister at South Brookley Methodist Church in Mobile, and as minister at Trinity United Methodist Church in Phenix City before coming to Frazer Memorial in 1972.
An outstanding college athlete, Dr. Mathison was an All-State Basketball Player for three years in high school and was captain and leading scorer for Huntingdon College. He is consistently ranked number one in his age division in tennis in Alabama and has been ranked number three in the South. He has won seven state racquetball championships.
He is a nationally known and sought-after speaker. For several years Dr. Mathison has served as platform speaker for the National Conference of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and platform speaker for the National Hi-Y Tri-Hi-Y Conference at Black Mountain, NC. He is a seminar speaker at the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove.
He was selected as “Man of the Year” in Montgomery for 1978 and Citizen of the Year in 2006. He serves on the board of directors of Colonial Bank and Colonial Bancgroup, on the board of directors of the Montgomery YMCA, and on the board of Trustees of Birmingham Southern College and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
In 1994, Dr. Mathison was selected as the National Clergyman of the Year by The Religious Heritage of America, joining the ranks of such nationally known figures as Billy Graham who have received the honor.
He has written five books and numerous articles including:
- Tried & True lists 11 church-growth principles utilized by Frazer for designing and implementing its ministry.
- Every Member in Ministry tells Frazer’s story of how to get lay people involved in meaningful ministry.
- Fishing for Birds and Extra Effort are collections of 129 bulletin-front messages from Dr. Mathison to the Frazer congregation.
- Treasures of the Transformed Life is a 40-day spiritual growth study.
- He has also written articles for Decision Magazine, The Circuit Rider, and other religious periodicals.
He and his wife, Lynn, have three daughters, Vicki, Lauren, and Clay, and one son, Si. They are also the proud grandparents of eight grandsons, Eddie, Robert, John, David, Will, Thomas, Mat, John Thomas and two granddaughters, Catherine and Margaret Healey.
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The Rev. Dr. Barry Carpenter, the lead pastor at Immanuel United Methodist Church in Lakeside Park, KY, will succeed John Ed when he retires in June 2008, according to an announcement at the recent Board of Stewards meeting. Barry will come to Montgomery in June to spend a year at Frazer before he officially starts his new position..
The 53-year-old pastor and his wife Janet have two grown children, who live in Indiana and Kentucky, and three grandchildren. He is interested in technology, loves to read and plays a little bit of golf. He is an avid collector of fountain pens, other writing instruments and crosses and loves to visit antique shops when he travels.
Barry had just finished enjoying some Cincinnati-style pizza with a church member celebrating her seventh birthday when he spoke with Mac McClellan for the Frazer Family News. Below this interview there is a more formal listing of information about Barry.
FFN: You have been a part of the Kentucky Conference since 1982. How do you and your wife feel about moving to Alabama?
Barry: We’re excited about the prospect of moving to Alabama and the warmer weather. There is quite a difference between the average temperature in Montgomery and wintertime in the Cincinnati area. It will also be nice because I have a brother who lives in Eufaula who is a retired army chaplain and it will be good to be closer to him.
FFN: What are your thoughts about the one-year transition period before you actually assume your new position?
Barry: The one-year transition period, which I understand has never been done before, is a great opportunity. It is a model of how I think pastors should work together instead of one walking out and one walking in. This way we get to work together and then pass the torch so to speak. I have a lot of respect for John Ed and John Schmidt, and it will be great to learn from them, observe their leadership and the vision that they have had and led for many years.
FFN: Your church is very active in multi-site development. Do you plan to continue multi-site development after your arrival at Frazer?
Barry: We’ve talked about multi-site development, and that is some visioning that we will do together. Frazer is very interested in this and it is certainly a passion of mine. I believe that it is a great tool for the 21st century church. I look forward to exploring these ministry options at Frazer.
FFN: What do you feel is your greatest challenge coming into a church like Frazer?
Barry: Listening is my first order of business. Listening to the congregation, the staff and the lay leaders to learn who they are, what their needs are and what their vision is. I’m not coming to bring my own vision. It’s God’s vision for Frazer, and we will discern that together. I am grateful and honored to serve with John Ed for the next year. I expect we’ll be working together for many years to come.
Barry Kirk Carpenter
Family
Barry Carpenter grew up in Hampton, Virginia the third of four children. He has two older brothers and a younger sister. Barry’s parents, William and June, became followers of Christ when he was very young. As a result of their discipleship all four children entered the Christian ministry and have served or are serving as a United States Army Chaplain, pastors, and a ministry leader.
Barry "learned church" early and was formed by powerful role models of Christian faithfulness. His father was a mentor in the Christian di
sciplines. Barry is married to Janet Sue Carpenter from Winchester, KY. Janet holds a degree in business and is currently a Human Resource Administrator. Their family includes two adult children, Michelle and Barry Jr. and three grandchildren, Noah (12), Lauren (10), and Olyvia (8).
On Coming to Frazer:
I consider my appointment to Frazer from God. I am first and foremost a person under divine appointment. However, I am also grateful to Bishop Goodpaster for the confidence he has placed in me to serve the people of Frazer and the Alabama-West Florida Conference. I take that trust as a high and sacred honor.
It is a humbling experience to succeed John Ed Mathison. I count it an incredible responsibility, privilege and gift. I respect the achievements of this outstanding leader and relish the time we will work together in the next few months. Frazer is one of America’s most influential congregations because of the leadership of John Ed. I am also excited to serve with such outstanding leaders as John Schmidt and the other pastors and staff.
We are eager to make new friends and develop new partnerships with you, the Frazer Family. Janet and I wish we could sit down and get to know every individual. Please know what a joy and honor we feel to be linked with you in the global mandate to Win, Disciple, and Serve.
My Vision
To lead fulcrum leaders who bring renewal of God shaped possibilities to the United Methodist Church.
I will do this by:
- Maintaining intimacy with God
- Developing authenticity in a synthesis of character and competence
- Becoming an excellent catalyst and strategist for developing leaders through reproducible systems for multiplication
- Modeling the inclusiveness of Jesus
- Building a high performing, creative and effective team that experiences adventure and achievement
- Embodying a pioneering spirit for the Gospel
Pastoral Priorities
- Development of effective servant leadership
Mobilization of laity in ministry
- Creating awareness and connection to people outside the church
- Practice of authentic Christian community
- Collaboration with Kingdom partners for a Christ like world
Learning
- B.A. Southern Wesleyan University
- Graduate of the Ministerial Course of Study School @ Duke Divinity School
- M.Div. Lexington Theological Seminary
- Ordained Elder of The United Methodist Church
- Ed.D. conferred by Union College
- Robert Schuller Institute for Church Leadership
- Natural Church Development Coach
- A leader and a participant in the L3 Incubator
Service
Barry comes to Frazer from the position of Senior Pastor of Immanuel United Methodist Church in Northern Kentucky, a church that is now a multi-site congregation, which includes an inner city, and 2 urban campuses that led the Kentucky Annual Conference in 2006 in the number of professions of faith.
- Leader of National Strategy Team sponsored by the Network of United Methodist Church Developers
- Member of the organizing Strategy Task Force that is now Path One, a comprehensive new church strategy of the denomination.
- Former Director of New Church and Congregational Development for the Kentucky Conference.
- Leadership coach
- 2004 Jurisdictional Conference Delegate
- Consultant with several Annual Conferences in leadership and church development
- Former member of the Bishops’ Extended Cabinet, the Primary Task Team, the Board of Ordained Ministry for Kentucky Conference
- Former Chair of the Development Committee of the Board of Trustees of Union College, a United Methodist liberal arts college
- Past President of the Cumberland River Valley Habitat for Humanity
- Led the visioning and development of a leadership formation system for church planters, plateaued churches and turn around churches, i.e. First Starts, Fresh Starts, ReStarts,
- Guest Lecturer at Asbury Theological Seminary, Bethel College, the School of Congregational Development, The Leadership Institute at The Church of the Resurrection, Kansas City.
- Author of The Vital Church Leadership Handbook for the Kentucky Conference of the United Methodist Church
- Co-author and architect of the L3 Incubator, a leadership forum for spiritual and strategic development of clergy and laity. Published by Discipleship Resources.
- Speaker at the National Korean Leaders Conference in Chicago, April 2007
- The Leadership Incubator: Presentation on Incubating Passion.
Websites that give information about the L3 Incubator: