Meet Our Clergy
Rev. Catherine Clark Nance
Senior Pastor
cnance@churchstreetumc.org
865.521.0260

Rev. Catherine Clark Nance
Senior Pastor
Rev. Nance is the 42nd Senior Pastor at Church Street; Church Street is her seventh appointment. She earned a B.S. in Political Science from the University of TN Chattanooga and her M.Div. from Duke Divinity School. She and husband Brad have been married for 36 years and have two adult sons, James and Steven. Catherine enjoys riding her bicycle, walking, and black coffee, and she is the older sister of former CSUMC Associate Pastor Barbara Clark. Catherine shares, “I am so thankful for the talented staff at Church Street. Church Street UMC is known for its far-reaching ministry and inspiring worship; I am humbled to have the opportunity to be a part of this community.”
Rev. Timothy Best
Senior Associate Pastor
tbest@churchstreetumc.org
865.521.0279

Rev. Timothy Best
Senior Associate Pastor
Rev. Best serves as the Senior Associate Pastor at Church Street, and Church Street is his third appointment in the Holston Conference. Tim graduated with a B.A. in History and Religion from Emory & Henry College, followed by his M.Div. from Duke Divinity School. Tim likes black coffee, canoeing, BBQ, and reading. He is married to Christina, an education specialist, and they have two young children, Athan and Kate. Tim shares, “I am excited to serve God with the faith family at Church Street UMC.”
Rev. Palmer Cantler
Associate Pastor
pcantler@churchstreetumc.org
865.521.0298

Rev. Palmer Cantler
Associate Pastor
I grew up in Johnson City, TN, a cradle Methodist. My mom was on staff at our home church, and so I grew up running around the church. In the summer before I started 7th grade, I was attending a Holston Conference Youth event and went to sign up for an afternoon workshop. As I was walking down the hall, I felt my feet stop in front of a lime green sign that read “So you want to go into ministry?” I laughed it off, because I knew how hard ministry is. But I found myself signing my name and really began praying and discerning where God was leading me. I had wonderful mentors who cultivated and encouraged my call.
I attended Wofford College, class of 2015, with a BA with high honors in Religion. I completed Duke University Divinity School in 2018 with my Masters of Divinity and also earned a Certificate of Leadership in Non-Profit Organizations from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
Church Street is my first church in which I can make an impact in a leadership position! Wooh!
My favorite hymn is It is Well with My Soul.
Program and Administrative Staff
To reach a member of our program or administrative staff listed below, dial 865-521 and 0+ the extension listed. The main Church Office number is 865-524-3048, and the office is open Monday-Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm. The Pastor On-Call number is 865-320-9100.
Tim Ward, Director of Music Ministries: ext. 276
Edie Johnson, Music Associate/Organist: ext. 277
Jenny Cross, Director of Youth/College Ministries: ext. 287
Katryn Bancroft, Director of Children’s Ministries: ext. 282
Beth Cooper-Libby, Director of Preschool: 865-524-3511
Katie Vesser Strangis, Director of Communications: ext. 299
Kate Spencer, Church Administrator: ext. 268
Kelly Woods, Administrative Assistant to the Senior Pastor: ext. 262
Doris Lively, Executive Secretary: ext. 271
Lara Toepke Receptionist: 865-524-3048
Eileen Weber, Part-time Secretary: ext. 278
Kylie Hubbard, Digital Media Specialist
Keith Bailey, Maintenance Supervisor: ext. 295
Scott Murdoch, Head Custodian: ext. 274
Custodians: Robin Crain, Jacob Jenne, Jimmy Roberts