Bishop James Swanson has announced the projected appointment of the Rev. David Tabor for leadership of the Tazewell District, effective June 24.

Tabor, age 53, has served as pastor at Jones Memorial United Methodist Church in Chattanooga District since June 2006. He follows the Rev. Don Nation, who will retire as Tazewell District superintendent in June after serving on the Cabinet since 2004.

Tabor has previously served at:

• Grace UMC, Chattanooga District (2000-2006)
• McKendree UMC, Chattanooga District (1996-2000)
• Associate at First Oak Ridge UMC (1995-1996)
• St. Luke UMC, Kingsport District (1993-1995)
• St. James UMC, Chattanooga District (1991-1993)
• Wildwood-Whiteside UMC, Chattanooga District (1988-1991)
• Sneedville Circuit, Morristown District (1986-1988)

He graduated from Carson-Newman College in 1990 and from Gammon Theological Seminary in 1992. His childhood church is Cloud Springs Baptist in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.

"A Baptist professor at Carson-Newman told me I should go to the United Methodist Church, because I believed in open communion and that women should be ordained," he said.

He met his wife-to-be, Mary Lynn, at Panther Springs UMC in Morristown, Tenn. When Bishop Swanson called Tabor about the projected superintendent appointment, "I know I was silent for a while," the pastor said.

But when Swanson said he should discuss the Tazewell appointment with his wife, "I already knew what she would say. She looked at me and without hesitation said, 'I am a United Methodist minister's wife, and I itinerate.'"

The Tabors have three daughters and one six-month-old grandchild. Their youngest child, Gracie Ann, was born four weeks ago on Jan. 26, 2010.

See also:

• "First Broad Street pastor will become next Morristown D.S." (3/22/10)