First United Methodist Church

Pastor Stuart was born and raised in Birminham, Alabama where he graduated from Homewood High School. In 1973 he was admitted to the School of Architecture at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and earned his B.Arch degree in 1978.  He remains a registered architect in the State of Alabama but only occasionally dabbles in that field today.  In 1981, he was admitted to Asbury Theological Seminary and earned his M.Div degree in 1985. He was ordained an elder in the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1987.

He has served the New Columbus and HInton UM Churches in the Kentucy Conference and Bethel, Clare Purcell and Oakland UM Churches in the North Alabama Conference.  He was appointed as the Pastor of Pigeon Forge-First UMC in July, 2018 and continues to serve today.  Previously he served churches in Townsend, Maryville, Jefferson City, Blountville and Greeneville- all in Tennessee and all in the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Pastor Stuart is married to Libby and they have two daughters- Elizabeth who works on the Archaeological Team in the Great Smoky Mountians National Park and Rachel who is a graduate student in the School of Architecture at the University of Tennessee.  The family has one cat, Oliver, who is , as cats often are, in charge of everyone.  

Scott Burnette is the Associate Pastor to Youth and Young Families at our church. Scott and his wife Samantha are originally from Asheville, NC. They have 5 children: Maddie, Lili, Nolan, Eleanor, and Evangeline.He graduated from C.D. Owen High school, and attended Montreat College in Montreat, NC.

Scott worked in media and television for about 10 years in Nashville, TN, before answering God's call to service in Children's and Youth ministries. At our church, Scott provides leadership in the Forge Community Church- our modern worship service that meets at 9:30 am on Sunday Morning.

Kim Brackins is a native of Sevier County and she began playing the piano for church services at 16. She is a graduate of Carson-Newman College with a degree in organ music, and has served as organist and choir director for our church for nearly 25 years. Her favorite musical genres include classical and praise and worship. She also enjoys teaching piano in her home.  In her words, “I truly enjoy participating in worship through music. Raised in church my entire life, my mother taught me not to stand on the sidelines, but to use the gifts God bestowed on each of us for His glory. I’m thankful for the opportunities He has provided me to share my love of music through this church.”