The Rev. Jenny Jackson-Adams was appointed senior pastor of Perry United Methodist Church in June of 2003. Prior to this time she had served as senior pastor of Richmond Hill UMC   (a fast growing 1250+ member church on the outskirts of Savannah). Under Rev Jackson-Adams’ leadership, the church added over 400 new members and attendance increased from 200 to nearly 550. This remarkable growth distinguished it as the church with the largest net gain in the Savannah District two out of the last three years (1999, 2001) and “Church of the Year” for the largest Net Gain in the South Georgia Conference (of 658 churches) for 2001.

The Rev. Jackson-Adams was born in Georgia and grew up in Texas. Her father, grandfather and great grandfather were all Methodist ministers. She earned her bachelor of arts in history from Georgia State University and a master of arts, summa cum laude, from Ball State University. She then earned a master of divinity, summa cum laude, at Drew University where she was an Ezra Squier Tipple Scholar, Carl Michalson Fellow, and Delaplaine McDaniel Fellow. She completed clinical pastoral education at Overlook Hospital in Summit, New Jersey, in acute care and drug/alcohol recovery. Serving as Senior Chaplain of Drew University and ex officio on the Drew Theological School faculty, the Rev. Jackson-Adams left in 1987 to answer a call to local church ministry. She became pastor of St. John’s Church (United Methodist) in southern New Jersey where the church soon became recognized for its increased attendance and membership.

In 1989 she returned to Georgia to serve a s pastor of Morningside UMC in Americus, Georgia (1989-94). During that period, membership increased 300% and the operating budget tripled. Morningside Church was named “Church of the Year” in 1990. President Jimmy Carter, in his book, Living Faith, (Random House, 1996) devotes a good part of pages 194-195, (Chapter 8 “Crossing Barriers”) to describe Rev. Jackson-Adams’ ministry with the Morningside Church.

Rev. Jackson-Adams is a featured speaker nationally, She addressed the Kansas East Conference (United Methodist) Church; preached at the National Evangelism Workshop –NEW– in St. Lewis (Disciples of Christ/The Christian Church); First Church Houston Texas (United Methodist), as well as the South Georgia Annual Conference. She was Conference Preacher, Virginia Conference in 2000.

Rev. Jackson-Adams has served as a teacher and preacher with the nationally prestigious Evangelism Leaders Academy (Portland and Los Angeles, 1992; Orlando and Harrisburg, 1993; Manchester College, Indiana, 1995). She gave a keynote address at Annual Conference, Wichita, Kansas, 1994. She was the 1991 Welborn-Payne Lecturer at First UMC in Lubbock, Texas. Her teaching assignments have included workshops for Vision 2000 in Western North Carolina, Kansas East and South Georgia. In 1996 she keynoted the East Ohio Conference (United Methodist) at the University of Akron. She preached at Duke University Chapel in 1997. Some of her seminars for pastors have focused on the role of pastoral leadership in “sparking” vital growing congregations through preaching.

She is a Harry Denman Award recipient by the Southeastern Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church for outstanding performance in ministry.

Rev. Jackson-Adams serves on several national boards including: The Rosalynn Carter Institute, The Andrew Center for Evangelism and Congregational Growth, and is national President of the Carl Michalson Society. She has always remained active in community affairs, was in Americus Rotary, Richmond Hill Rotary, and the Richmond Hill Lions Club.

Prior to entering the ministry, she taught history and anthropology, worked for a time in radio and television advertising, broadcasting news, interviewing, and was co-anchor of a daily talk show. As minister, her radio and TV messages have been used in Georgia and in other states.

The Rev. Jackson-Adams is an ordained elder, South Georgia Annual Conference, and currently serves on the Conference Board of Trustees.

E-Mail Jenny Jackson-Adams: jenny@perryumc.org