2020 Course of Study Graduates
November 18, 2020
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary is pleased to announce the Course of Study School Class of 2020! We are extremely proud of the COS Class of 2020 and all they have accomplished. The Course of Study School prepares pastoral leaders for local church ministry through a 5-year, 20-course curriculum established by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of The United Methodist Church.
On behalf of everyone at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, congratulations COS Class of 2020!
2020 Course of Study Graduates
Melody Adams
I’m appointed as Associate Pastor to a 2,200 member church in Kearney, Nebraska, which is in the Great Plains Annual Conference. I have been at Kearney First UMC for four and a half years. Course of Study started for me at Garrett in 2012 while serving at my first appointment. I’ve continued my journey solely at Garrett and just finished my last classes in Summer 2020.
Rev. Dr. Susan Elaine Gum Catlett
Licensed Local Pastor; Licensed Professional Counselor, Approved Clinical Supervisor, Board Certified Professional Christian Counselor. Studies include Doctoral in Grief Counseling; Masters of Education in Counseling Psychology; Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Course of Study at Wesley Theological Seminary and Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. Published work: The Symbolism of the Butterfly, Processing the Experience of Loss & Change.
Wife, Mother, Stepmother, Foster Mother, Grandmother, Daughter, Sister & Friend, Child of God, Humbled and Grateful to serve with brothers and sisters in ministry for Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior; Called to share the message of Hope for all people. Currently serving Brucetown United Methodist Church in the Winchester District of the Virginia Conference.
Rigoberto Felico
I was born in Cuba and I got married to Saine Rivas and we have two young men. We were pastors in Cuba for 14 years, we also served with the Methodist Church in Ecuador, now we are serving in the Florida Methodist Conference since 5 years. Nowadays I serve in the First Hispanic United Methodist Church of West Palm Beach. It captivates me to preach the word of God, evangelize and teach about Jesus Christ. I am thankful to God for the opportunity to study in Garrett, something that has been an extraordinary experience that has enlarged my theological knowledge. I give thanks to my family for all the unconditional support, to my local church and the Florida Methodist Conference for their support. I offer the love of Christ.
John Hancock
John Hancock was born and raised in Montana and taught music in Canada until returning to Montana and became a UMC pastor in December of 1987. I began as pastor of a UMC church and started the Course of Study at Claremont School of Theology in 1992. I was appointed to another UMC church in 1995 and in 1998, after my wife died of cancer, I asked not to be reappointed and returned to my original career of orchestral horn playing and music composition. In 2015, I was appointed to another church in Montana and continued COS at Garrett, completing my COS studies this year. I am now currently residing in Evanston with my wife, Jennifer, and my son John.
Joshua Michael Manning
My name is Joshua Manning and I am currently serving at Lake Ann UMC right outside of Traverse City, Michigan. In my 20 years of ministry, I have served the UMC in Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, Indiana, Florida, and Alabama. During my time in ministry I have also served outside of the UMC in the Nazarene and Quaker Churches. My wife’s name is Leah and we have been married 15 years and have 3 children; Paeton, my daughter, is 20, Judah, my son, is 14, and Henri, my other son, is 8. What drives my faith is an understanding that the people of God came up with very early in the shared history of humanity and that is that to be in right relationship with God we must be in right relationship with people; these two things are not independent of each other, but instead dependent on one another; you cannot do one without the other.
Troy Merseal
Pastor of First Washington UMC in Washington, MO. Married to Catherine for 27 years. They have 2 daughters, Megan (22) and Faith (20). Troy enjoys spending time with his family, travel, the St Louis Blues and Cardinals, and collecting sports memorabilia. He also loves bringing the message of Jesus to this world.
Carlos Sandoval
Nací en Arecibo, Puerto Rico. Un pueblo al norte de la isla. Soy una persona entregado al llamado y a las labores que Dios ha puesto en mi caminar. Pastoreo hace tres años en la hermosa ciudad de Watertown WI en el ministerio Restauración, un ministerio que Dios me ha dado el privilegió de sembrar. Comencé en el curso de Estudio en el año 2012, ha sido una larga jornada, pero como dice la canción “al fin llegué”. Estoy agradecido con todos los profesores que han dejado una huella de su enseñanza en mi vida. Como plantador de iglesia todos los recursos obtenidos tanto en el aula de clase como afuera del mismo han sido útiles en mi proceso. Dios me llamo a servir, a anunciar las buenas nuevas de salvación a una comunidad en necesidad espiritual y el curso de estudio ha sido fundamental para comunicar el mensaje de Dios. Dios los bendiga a todos los profesores, compañeros y empleados de Garrett. Me llevo buenos recuerdos y experiencias.
Bendiciones del Altísimo
Procopio Arellano Vega
Nací en Mexico DF donde viví 53 años. Mi esposa es Cristina Vazquez, desde hace 47 años, Dios nos dio cuatro hijos, tres varones y una mujer de: 43,40,39 y 35 años respectivamente.
Formación Académica: realice estudios de primaria, secundaria y en la Vocacional #7 del IPN, además estudié en el Seminario Bíblico de Caleo del Concilio de Damasco en México por tres años.
En la iglesia en México mi esposa y yo servimos por 27 años, como líderes laicos.
En el año 1998 uno de mis hermanos, y dos de mis hijos emigraron para los Estados Unidos, el resto de mi familia emigró en el año 2000.
A partir de ese año nos hicimos miembros, en el ministerio Hispano Vida Abundante en Delavan WI, UMC. En el 2012 Dios confirmó mi llamado al pastorado e inicie mi proceso.
Estoy sirviendo desde el 2013 en el Ministerio Hispano Casa de Oración en Reedsburg, en la Conferencia de Wisconsin en el distrito SW.
Mi pasión es buscar a las familias que necesitan conocer a Jesucristo. En nuestra comunidad tenemos, familias de Nicaragua, Puerto Rico y México.
Actualmente toda mi familia y mis 15 nietos servimos en la Iglesia UMC.