Meet the Pastor Search Committee
Amanda Abernathy
This is what Amanda Abernathy says about her willingness to serve on the Pastor Search Committee, “I’m excited about and hopeful for the future of SMBC.”
Amanda works on the Employee Experience team at Norton Healthcare and manages social media for Abernathy K9, her family dog training business. She is a Deacon and serves on the Denominational Relations Committee. Amanda been part of the SMBC faith family since birth as the daughter of Doug and Debbie Cotton. She and her husband, Michael, have a son, Micah (1).
Debbie Bannon – Secretary
Here’s what Debbie Bannon says about her willingness to be nominated for the Pastor Search Committee, “Having served with Kentucky Baptist Convention for 35 years, I feel that my work in the ministry and with pastors gives me some insight that would be helpful to the committee.”
Debbie retiring from her work at the KBC in 2018. She first joined SMBC shortly after college in about 1980 and met her husband, John, in the Singles Sunday School class. After being away for a few years, they returned as members in about 2000. Debbie is a choir member and currently serves on the Denominational Relations Committee. Debbie and John have a daughter,
Kimberly.
Pam Boyd
This is what Pam Boyd says about her willingness to serve on the Pastor Search Committee, “Scripture promises that God will give us hope and a future and I believe SMBC is poised to lean into that promise. I want to be a part of that!”
Pam is an accountant by trade and spent most of her career at PNC Bank. She has been a
member of SMBC for 38 years. She has served on SMBC’s Finance and Personnel Committees, as well as the Women’s Ministry Team, and was a member of the Sound Team. She and her husband, Ron, have a son, Jeff, and a daughter, Kristen, along with three grandchildren.
Howard Bynum – Chair
Here’s what Howard Bynum says about his willingness to be nominated for the Pastor Search Committee, “I feel God has a specific vision and plan for our church going forward and am excited to be a part.”
Howard was baptized at SMBC 43 years ago. He is a Deacon and a Sunday School teacher, and he was in the initial class of the SMBC Pilgrim’s Journey discipleship experience. Howard works for Ford Motor Co. He and his wife, Michele, have three sons: Zachary, Joshua, and Quintin.
Jennifer Hannah – Vice Chair
This is what Jennifer Hannah says about her willingness to serve on the Pastor Search Committee, “The next phase of pastoral leadership of SMBC is important to me as someone who grew up in SMBC and who greatly desires for my own children to have a similar experience and strong foundation for their Christian faith.”
Jennifer has worked in areas of public relations, marketing, and sales for The Filson Historical Society and Baylor University. She grew up in SMBC with her parents, Don and Nancy Reiss. Upon returning home to Louisville last summer upon the retirement of her husband, Ed, from the Army, they made SMBC their church home with daughters, Elizabeth (9) and Kathryn (5).
John Locke
Here’s what John Locke says about his willingness to be nominated for the Pastor Search Committee, “I have agreed to serve on the Pastor Search Committee out of concern for the direction our Church takes in the future.”
John retired from Jefferson County Schools where he was a teacher, counselor, and secondary school administrator for almost 50 years. He has been a member at SMBC since 1971. He and his wife, Debbie, raised their two daughters, Kristen and Whitney, at SMBC. John is a Deacon. He and Debbie taught third grade Sunday School for 13 years and have since volunteered in various positions.
Mike Melloy
This is what Mike Melloy says about his willingness to serve on the Pastor
Search Committee, “I’m passionate for prayer, God’s heart for the nations, and His love for all people. I love this church and am humbled to help discover the pastor that God has been preparing for years to lead us into our next chapter.”
Mike works as a financial planner. He grew up at SMBC from the late 1960s through the early 1980s. He and his wife, Suzanne, returned in 2017 when they moved into the neighborhood. He is a Deacon, currently serves on the Finance Committee, and has been an SMBC representative with the St. Matthews Chamber of Commerce. Mike’s mother is Rosemary Melloy.
Pam Rice
Here’s what Pam says about her willingness to be nominated for the Pastor Search Committee, “I am grateful for all our church has given to me, and I want to be a part of giving to our church as well. I’ve appreciated the richness of who St. Matthews has been, and I’m excited about the future of what our church can be for our community.”
Pam’s ministry career has been in leadership at Maryhurst and the Neighborhood House in the Portland neighborhood. She has been a member of SMBC for 22 years. She is a Deacon, has served on the Personnel Committee, and been a part of the preschool program.
Allison Rodgers
This is what Allison Rodgers says about her willingness to serve on the Pastor Search Committee, “I hope to bring insight as a minister and represent the type of influence this congregation has had on my life and others as we seek someone to join our community and walk along with us as our story continues to unfold.”
She serves as a Staff Chaplain at Hardin Memorial Hospital in Elizabethtown. She has been an SMBC member for 26 years. Allison was ordained to the gospel ministry in 2019 by SMBC. Since returning to Kentucky, she has led the 3rd and 4th grade Sunday School class at SMBC and coached Upward Basketball for a season. She is the daughter of Barry and Linda Rodgers and the sister of Dr. Laura Rodgers Levens.
Jody Rogers
Here’s what Jody Rogers says about his willingness to be nominated for the Pastor Search Committee, “I agreed to serve in this role because I believe in Jesus, and I believe in SMBC.”
Jody is a Registered Nurse and serves as the Senior Vice President of Clinical Services for
KYPPEC, Inc., which is often known as The Kidz Club, providing innovative and comprehensive community pediatric health care services. He has been an SMBC member since 2007. Jody is a Deacon and has served as a Trustee, on the Personnel Committee and Administrative Council, and in the Royal Ambassadors program. He and his wife, Whitney, are the parents of Grant (12), Clayton (9), and Bennett (7). Jody is the son-in-law of Keene and Diane Taylor.
Logan Stone
This is what Logan Stone says about his willingness to serve on the Pastor Search Committee, “I am about to begin my junior year at U of L’s Speed School of Engineering and I agreed to serve in this role because I felt like I could represent the youth and college age profile well in determining a pastor that will fulfill the needs of my age group.”
Logan is a student at the University of Louisville. He has been an SMBC member for just under nine years. Logan has been an active part of our youth program. His parents are Marsha and Don Stone. His sister is Samantha, and his grandparents are Tom and Pat Larimore.