Center for Ministry Staff

Becky Youngblood brings 26 years of experience in ministry to the Center for Ministry, where she began her tenure as director in February 2005. She is an elder in the Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church and has served as a pastor, a district superintendent, and in many leadership roles at the general church level.

Immediately prior to joining the CFM staff as Associate Director in September 2004, Becky spent three years as director of The Iliff Institute for Continuing Education at Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado. She is a graduate of Millsaps College (B.A. in sociology) and Candler School of Theology, Emory University (M.Div., 1979). She has pursued further training in family systems theory at the Center for Family Process in Bethesda, Maryland, and in Appreciative Inquiry.

"One of my abiding interests in ministry is the nature of leadership. How is leadership defined in religious communities? How is it encouraged and developed? In what contexts does leadership flourish; where does it flounder? How are leadership and stewardship related, in that we are called to be stewards of the various gifts God bestows on each of us? The work of the Center for Ministry-lifelong learning for clergy and laity, spiritual formation, and sustaining pastoral excellence-allows for both the creative exploration and disciplined practice of effective leadership. It is work best done in a diverse community of peers and best realized when the whole person-heart and mind and soul and strength-is engaged. It is work that expresses and stretches my own call and I count it as privilege to be part of the Center's staff."

An avid reader of fiction, Becky also enjoys cooking and gardening. She is currently investigating the art and science of permaculture for home landscapes. On Sunday mornings, she attends Galloway UMC in Jackson. You may reach her at rebecca@centerforministry.com.

Betty Wheat is the Center's Program Coordinator, managing myriad details for the Course of Study School, Continuing Education events, and overall office administration. She is the voice of hospitality at 601-974-1488.

A graduate of Mississippi University for Women with a B.S. in speech pathology and a minor in psychology, Betty is a lifelong United Methodist. She and her husband Gerald have been members of St. Mark's UMC at the Reservoir since 1981. Prior to joining the staff of the CFM in 2001, Betty was employed for 20 years with Ear, Nose, and Throat Surgical Group. She has two children and one grandson and enjoys reading mysteries.

You can reach Betty at wheatbc@millsaps.edu.

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