Memphis Theological Seminary is pleased to announce that Rev. Dr. Jonathan L. Jeffords (Johnny), Director of the Center for Pastoral Wholeness and Chaplaincy Studies at MTS, has accepted the position of Director of The Methodist House of Studies as part of his overall work at MTS.
Dr. Jeffords joined MTS in 2022 after 33 years under pastoral appointment in the United Methodist Church, having entered the retired relationship with the legacy Memphis Conference in 2020. Johnny served in numerous leadership roles beyond his work as pastor, including 12 years on The Board of Ordained Ministry, six as chairperson. Johnny was appointed to churches primarily in the Memphis area during his tenure in ministry, including St. John’s United Methodist Church, where he served a total of 14 years. Before joining the faculty at MTS, he was adjunct at MTS teaching “The United Methodist Book of Worship,” “John Wesley and the Poor,” and “Accountability and Addiction: Wesley and Twelve Step Recovery.” Johnny was formally on the Advisory Board of The Methodist House of Studies for MTS.
Dr. Jeffords follows in the footsteps of Dr. Lee Ramsey and Dr. Michael Turner, both of whom have served as Director of the Methodist House of Studies and were instrumental in its founding.
The Methodist House of Studies will host its first event since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic on Tuesday, March 14th at 5:00pm on Zoom. To register, please email methodisthouse@memphisseminary.edu.