St. Timothy's United Methodist Church
to be Christ in the community...teaching, caring, growing
|
St. Timothy's United Methodist Church to be Christ in the community...teaching, caring, growing
|
|
|
About Dr. BJ Hightower
Dr. Bettie Jo Tennon Hightower has served several churches in the Texas Annual Conference. She was a part of a team of pastors who served Jasper Circuit in 1987-88 during a mid-year transition. In that appointment, Dr. Hightower served as the administrative pastor for the circuit and preached at the principal worship services at Holmes Chapel and Zion Hill. She served as pastor of Asbury Memorial United Methodist Church in South Houston. There the church had a revival of ministry with Baby Boomers, Generation X'ers, Youth and acquisition of property. Dr. Hightower served as associate pastor at Disciples United Methodist Church in Houston. There she preached on a rotating basis with the senior pastor, taught Disciple Bible Study and did pastoral care. She completed the Master of Divinity degree from Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology in Dallas, Texas and the Doctor of Ministry Degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. with a concentration on Lebh Shomea: A 21st Century Journey Toward Spiritual Leadership from the Perspective of a Discerning Heart. Dr. Hightower focused on enriching the prayer lives of Baby Boomers and Generation X'ers. She served as facilitator for Spiritual Formation for Perkins South students for four years. Dr. Hightower served the Methodist Health Care System in Houston for five years as resident chaplain for one year and staff chaplain for four years. In the hospital setting, Dr. Hightower served the cardiovascular intensive care, obstetrics and other acute care medical-surgical units. She served St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Houston for four years as associate pastor. There she was responsible for Women’s Ministry for two and one half years and Prayer Ministry for four years. Under her leadership, the Prayer Ministry transitioned into Christian Spiritual Formation, which included Prayer Classes, Days of Prayer, Prayer Vigils, and Advent and Lenten Journals for the congregation. Dr. Hightower was elected as a delegate to the 2004 and 2008 General and Jurisdictional Conferences. She is a member of the Central South District Board of Ordained Ministry and previously served, on the former Houston Southwest District Board of Ordained Ministry, the Division of Health and Welfare, as member and chair of Spiritual Formation, and member of Board of Global Ministries. She serves the Annual Conference on the Clergy Excellence Committee on Clergy Development and Spiritual Formation Team, the Sexual Ethics Committee in the Texas Conference, and the Sexual Ethics Response Team. Dr. Hightower comes from a small community in Texas. Both parents are still living. She has three brothers, one of whom died in a motor vehicle accident and three sisters, all of whom live in San Antonio. She has been married to Jesse Hightower for 35 years. The Hightowers have two sons, Jesse James Jr. who is married to Sarah and Jason Christopher. Her greatest claim to fame is that she is the “Granna” of Marion Grace, daughter of Jesse Jr. and Sarah.She is a deeply committed servant leader whose prayer is to be a biblically sound, Christ-centered, Spirit-filled preacher/teacher, a distinguished pastor with an excellent spirit, and a keen administrator with a discerning heart. Those who know her best would say that she is a blend of strong pastoral identity, keen pastoral insights, acute pastoral instincts and deep pastoral integrity. |
