THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, January 30, 1997            TAG: 9701290196
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 19   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY TRUDY CUTHRELL, CORRESPONDENT
                                            LENGTH:   46 lines

METHODIST BISHOP IS ALSO TEACHER

The Rev. Joe E. Pennel Jr., Bishop of the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church, met with the ministers of the Portsmouth District of the United Methodist Church on Monday at Suffolk's Main Street United Methodist Church. The meeting began at 9 a.m. with a teaching session.

Main Street UMC pastor, Dr. Alan R. Felumleesaid, one of Pennel's goals as Virginia's new Bishop is to ``rekindle the teaching role of the bishop.'' Pennel plans to begin this emphasis by leading teaching sessions for each of Virginia's 18 UMC conferences. This week's meeting with Portsmouth District ministers was the first in that series.

``I was definitely impressed by Monday's presentation,'' Felumlee said. Pennel addressed three themes: worship in the Wesley tradition both past and present, the preaching styles and techniques of sermon preparation and pastoral leadership styles.

``Bishop Pennel spoke about how worship is the most important task of a minister's calling,'' Felumlee explained. ``It should be well planned, thought out and have a clear purpose.''

Pennel used examples from his own personal experiences as a pastor. In his last pastorate of eight years at Brentwood UMC in Nashville, Tenn., the congregation grew from 3,100 to 4,500 members.

Pennel is a graduate of Lambuth University and also earned his master of divinity and doctorate of ministry degrees from Vanderbilt University. In addition, Pennel has completed post-graduate work at Union Theological Seminary in New York and the College of Preachers in Washington, D.C.

Pennel began his role as resident bishop of the Virginia Conference in September.

Following Monday's teaching session, Pennel and about 50 participating ministers and their wives enjoyed a luncheon provided by the Main Street United Methodist Women. MEMO: Main Street UMC is at 202 N. Main St. in downtown Suffolk. For

additional information about the ministries of the church, call

539-8751. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER

Bishop Joe E. Pennel Jr. visits with Main Street United Methodist

Church pastor Dr. Alan R. Felumlee.