When I was appointed as Embry Hill UMC’s pastor last June, I followed a long line of excellent preachers and pastors who helped the congregation grow and serve the community and throughout the world. Whatever success I have here will build on the work of my clergy brothers and sisters who came before me. I have served churches in all kinds of communities over the last 37 years—struggling ghetto churches, midtown, suburban, and campus congregations. For ten years I served as a clinical chaplain with substance abusers and the mentally ill. Over that thirty seven year period, our culture has changed a lot and so has how we do church. Generally, culture is more a determining factor in how the church behaves than the other way around. I believe that the church should set the example and lead the way for the culture to follow. I believe that every congregation can do a little better than it did the year before in terms of serving the least of God’s children, advocating for justice, and making disciples for the transformation of the world. I believe that members of any United Methodist church can do a little better than we did the year before in keeping our promise to be present in worship, to pray for church and world, to give of our wealth, and to share our time in ministry and mission. And we can always do better in terms of our promise to witness to the love of Christ in our life. A few years ago we adopted as our identity and our congregational witness the claim that we are an inclusive community of faith. Even Jesus’ disciples struggled with that notion but Jesus reminded them that that’s the way God planned it and that’s the way God wants it to be. I am proud to be the lead pastor of the Embry Hills congregation and I am proud of its claim. We hope that if you are looking for a church home you come visit us and make Embry Hills UMC your home. We have a dedicated and talented staff and a welcoming congregation and we want you to join us in continuing Jesus’ healing and reconciling work in the world. There’s a place for you here.
Blessings,

Lee Fullerton
Lead Pastor