Regional Elders

In Service To
First Christian Church Tullahoma, First Christian Church Shelbyville, First Christian Church Waynesboro, Central Ave. Christian Church Humboldt, First Christian Church Bells, First Christian Church Halls

About Connie
Connie Green grew up in Columbia, Tennessee and graduated from Central High School. Graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Arts. I did a Dietetic Internship at St. Louis University where I worked on my Maters. I obtained an MBA from Southern Illinois University. Received my Masters of Divinity from Eden Theological Seminary and was ordained by the Disciples of Christ Christian Church of Mid America. I received my Doctorate of Ministry in Preaching from Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis. My thesis was a study in transforming churches while preaching to 4 generations. I served churches in Illinois for over 20 years.

I have served my ordaining congregation as Board Chair and for many years as an Elder. I served two Regions as an officer, and six years on Regional Finance Committee. I have worked as a Dietitian, a Hospital Food Service Director, an Assistant Director of Finance for a city, a caterer, and Senior Pastor. I was active in Girl Scouting for over 20 years. I am a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, the Middle Tennessee Alpha Delta Pi Alumnae, the Tennessee DAR. I am currently filling pulpits for the Disciples and Presbyterians.

In Service To
Alameda Christian Church, Eastwood Christian Church, Open Table, Central Christian Church Springfield, First Christian Church Tullahoma, First Christian Church Dover

In Service To

Ashland Terrace Christian Church, First Christian Church Chattanooga, First Christian Oak Ridge, First Christian Rockwood, First Christian Sparta

Zoe grew up in Texas attending a Southern Baptist Church. As an adult, she began seeking a church that better fit her understandings of God and found the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She had felt the call to ministry since she was 16 and shared that with her pastor who referred her to Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University where she received her M.Div.

Most of her 25 years in ministry have been bi-vocational. She worked in public education for 30 years. She served small churches and school systems in both Texas and Tennessee, and has been in Tennessee since 1999. Besides the pastorate, she has served as Choir director and/or organist, as well as Sunday School Teacher in several churches. Her most recent ministerial position was as Interim Minister at First Christian Church, Cleveland, TN, where she served for 4 years.

Zoe and her husband, Dave, live in Cleveland which puts them close to both of their families. They enjoy being out in nature, kayaking and bike riding when the weather is nice. Like most retirees, they are busy, and wonder how they worked and got everything done.

In Service To
First Christian Church Livingston, Northside Christian Church, First Christian Church Sparta, First Christian Church Oak Ridge,  First Christian Church Rockwood, Millers Chapel

About Wanda

Rev. Sue Knipp, as she likes to be called is an ordained minister in the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, and currently serves with her husband as part of the Unit Ministry Team, in Crossville, TN

Sue graduated from Boyd County High School, Boyd County Kentucky in 1964.  She is a graduate of Clover Park Technical College and worked as a Medical Technologist for 15 years.  In 2004 she received a B. A. in Philosophy and Religion from Marry Baldwin University, Staunton, VA.  In 2007 she earned a Master of Divinity from Baptist Theological Seminary in Richmond, VA.

Sue’s honors include being selected as a Kentucky Colonel, Who’s Who in Religion, the Helping Hand Award from Hanau, Germany in 1987, and numerous letters of appreciation throughout the United States and Europe.

Sue has been married to Rev. Virgil R. Knipp for 59 years.  They have 4 children, 10 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren.  Sue loves the Lord and counts life as a blessing best lived in the ministry of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

About Virgil

Virgil was born in 1945 in Russell, KY.  He graduated from Russell High School in 1964.  In 1972 he received a B. A. in History and Psychology from the University of Pikeville, Pikeville, KY. In 1975 he earned a Master of Divinity in Pastoral Care and Counseling from Lexington Theological Seminary, Lexington, KY.  And in 1988, Virgil earned his Master of Science in Family Life Education and Consultation from Kansas State University.  Virgil has done postgraduate work at the University of Kentucky in the area of Financial Management Work in the Local Church, Princeton Theological Seminary in Homiletics, and Virginia Commonwealth University in Mandatory Child Abuse Reporting. Virgil is a qualified Marriage and Family Therapist, a Mediation counselor, and a certified Prepare/Enrich counselor.

In addition to his civilian education, Virgil is a retired Army Chaplain, serving 29 ½ years. Virgil preached his first sermon as a youth at the age of 16 and, was married on December 26. 1964 to Wanda Sue Grayson and together began serving their first congregation at the age of 20.  Together they spend the following 55 years pastoring congregations.  His wife, Sue, is also an ordained Disciples of Christ minister.  They are celebrating 59 years of marital bliss.

Virgil and Sue have served congregations in Kentucky, New Jersey, Washington state, Hanau, the Federal Republic of Germany, Kansas, Virginia Illinois, and Tennessee.

In Service To
The Healing Cathedral Christian, Freedom’s Chapel Christian, Anointed Temple of Praise Christian, Collierville Christian, Mississippi Blvd. Christian, New Direction Christian

About Stella
I do not have an impressive “Bio”. In fact, I have a one-word Bio and that is “REDEEMED”. I realize that degrees, titles and positions may evoke interest in me, but my desire is to stimulate interest in Jesus Christ. A little bit about me below.

As Trainer/Auditor I retired from Aetna Insurance Company in 2000. I worked several jobs after that with the last being in 2011 as an instructor at Remington College. I mention Remington College because that is the door God opened for me to teach on the College level without a degree. Since 2011 I have volunteered at New Direction Christian Church, pastored by Stacy L. Spencer. I currently serve as Lay Pastor and Director of Ministries. For 20 plus years I have been a volunteer Chaplain with the Memphis Criminal Justice System. I am affiliated with the Tennessee Disciples of Christ Committee for Racial Reconciliation and Memphis Interfaith Coalition for Action and Hope.

In Service To
Freedom’s Chapel, Kingsway Christian Church, Riverview Christian, Saving Station

About Kenneth

He is a native of Memphis Tennessee, born June 14, 1955.

He graduated from Hamilton High in 1974. Afterwards, pursued a degree at State Technical Institute in Memphis, where he was an Honors graduate and received an associate degree in mechanical technology, in 1976.

He later graduated from Southwest Tennessee Community College of Memphis, where he received an Associate of Science degree in Psychology. He continued his education and graduated from Crichton College of Memphis, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Biblical Studies and minored in Psychology. A year later he continued his educational pursuits and graduated Cum Laude from Memphis Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity.

He is a regionally licensed and Ordained Disciples of Christ associate lay minister at Lindenwood Christian Church in Memphis, where he serves in various ministry abilities. He has served as regional Elder since 2019 aiding seven churches in the West Tennessee area. He also has served as a Spiritual Care volunteer for Methodist Hospital for the last thirteen years.

He retired from Buckman Laboratories for thirty-two years which during that time he worked as an industrial Craftsman Mechanic and manager, US department of Labor certified Industrial Mechanic and a licensed first-class steam engineer. He lives in the Epping Forest community of Raleigh in Memphis. He is married to Crystal W. Brown, and together they have six children and eighteen grandchildren. He is a York Rite and Scottish Rite 33° Prince Hall mason and serves in various roles of state Grand and National Offices.

He enjoys traveling during retirement and his hobbies of woodwork, metal craft welding and just being a jack of all trades in his spare time.