Pastoral Staff

Darren comes to St. Paul after serving seven years as Senior Pastor of Settle Memorial United Methodist Church in Owensboro, KY. He has also enjoyed serving United Methodist churches in Franklin, Berea, and Bardstown, as well as spending four years as a District Superintendent. Darren is a graduate of Belmont University and Vanderbilt University Divinity School. Darren and his wife Lori both grew up in Middle Tennessee. Abby, the youngest of their two daughters, is a student at Murray State University and will be doing her student teaching in Louisville this fall. Dea, their elder daughter, is a recent graduate of Memphis Theological Seminary with an emphasis in youth ministry. She and her husband, David, have a son, Davis, born in the spring of 2017. Dea is a recent graduate of Memphis Theological Seminary with an emphasis in youth ministry. In their free time Darren and Lori like to spend their free time at the family farm hammering away on projects. You might also see Darren riding his bike to work, playing a round of golf, or trying out a new restaurant. Darren and Lori are excited to live and serve in the Highlands.  

 Dustin Woods from Paintsville, Kentucky, is our new Associate Minister. He graduated from Georgetown College and received his Masters in Divinity from Asbury this spring. He served a church in Scott County during his ministry training.  Dustin spent six years as a middle school Social Studies teacher and academic coach prior to answering the call to ministry.  His wife, Emily, is from Buckner in Oldham County and has been a middle and high school math teacher. They have four sons ages 7…