Meet the Congregational Engagement Team

Vice President of Congregational Engagement Staff and Engagement Representative for North Texas

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Rev. Carol Montgomery: Carol brings over 25 years of experience partnering with congregations, families, individuals, and organizations to TMF. She enjoys serving others in the areas of empowerment, advocacy, and discipleship. An ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, she has served the North Texas Conference in congregational and campus ministries. In addition to her life of ministry, Carol holds her License in Professional Counseling (LPC).

Beyond her role as a ministry partner, Carol enjoys facilitating the Holy Conversations visioning process, resourcing pastors, and congregations in areas of finance, leadership, and innovation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Oklahoma State University, earned an Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Texas Woman’s University and an Master of Divinity from Perkins School of Theology. She is the mother of two amazing adult daughters and a long-time resident of Dallas, currently living in the Richardson area.

Senior Engagement Representative and Resource Specialist

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Rev. Melvin Amerson is a member of the Texas Annual Conference and serves as a Resource Specialist and Engagement Representative at TMF. His experience and passion lie in encouraging and developing generous, faithful leaders and congregations.

Melvin is the author of Celebrating the Offering, Fruit for Celebrating the Offering, and Stewardship in African American Churches: A New Paradigm, as well as several articles covering topics from generosity, leadership, and visioning. He served as a board member of the Ecumenical Stewardship Center until it was dissolved in 2021 and is currently serving on the Texas Annual Conference Church Leadership Team. He is a nationally recognized generosity consultant known for his engaging presentations. Beyond strengthening congregational leaders, one of his favorite ways to use his skills is to empower Wesley Foundation staff to effectively fund their college ministries.

Melvin obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi, an Master of Divinity degree concentrating in Christian education from Gammon Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia, an Executive Leadership certificate from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and a certificate in Professional Fundraising from Boston University. Recently, he completed a fundraising certificate with the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.

Senior Engagement Representative for Northwest Texas

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 Richard brings diverse experience in the local church and beyond. He focuses on the financial stability of the church and helps churches build on that stability by creating an “owned stewardship” by members and participants.

After receiving his undergraduate degree in music from Texas Tech University, he received his Master of Theology from Perkins School of Theology.

Before being appointed Lubbock District Superintendent, Richard served as pastor of Booker UMC; FUMC, Olton; FUMC, Muleshoe; FUMC, Dumas, and Senior Pastor of St. Luke’s UMC, Midland.

Richard served the NWTX Conference on the Council for Finance and Administration, Board of Ordained Ministry, Committee on Insurance, Board of Higher Education, Committee on Worship; Ceta Canyon Board of Trustees; and Delegation to General and Jurisdictional Conference.

He currently serves as a trustee for McMurry University and on the Perkins School of Theology Executive Board.

Congregational Engagement Administrator and Event Manager

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Debbie’s career in event management began in the non-profit sector in the mid-1980s, just as the profession of event planning was becoming separate from the work of secretaries. She earned the designation of Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) in January 1994 for having met high standards of proficiency in event and meeting management and was one of the first Austin event planners to be awarded this designation. Debbie later went on to give back and teach classes for other planners studying to earn their CMP. Her career has included event management in not only the non-profit world but also large corporate events with budgets exceeding one million dollars. She has also worked in the tourism field in both Austin and San Antonio planning sightseeing tours and activities for groups. Debbie has planned events across the United States but has a special love for managing events in her home state of Texas.

Senior Engagement Representative for Central Texas

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After retiring from local church ministry in the United Methodist Church in 2017, Rev. John Mollet became our TMF Area Representative for the Central Texas Conference. He has served churches in the North Texas and Central Texas Conferences.

John’s greatest joy in ministry has been building relationships in the churches and communities he served as well as working internationally with people in three other continents.

Having experienced TMF through his local church ministry, John saw the importance of the TMF work in helping congregations develop cultures of purpose and generosity. As John explained, “I didn't retire to go back to work, but working for TMF was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”

John grew up in Dallas where his home church was University Park UMC. He graduated from Centenary College and Perkins School of Theology at SMU. He and his wife Erin have four children.

General Counsel and Senior Engagement Representative for Rio Texas

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Tom Stanton: Tom has worked in the inner-city and international ministry projects for more than 30 years. He served for 10 years as a Chancellor to a United Methodist Conference and now serves as General Counsel for TMF. Prior to coming to TMF, Tom practiced law with an emphasis on mediation, mental health, child welfare, and civil rights.

At TMF, Tom supports and encourages laity and clergy to see generosity and stewardship as the “gateway” to one’s growth in discipleship. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Theology and Economics from Georgetown University and a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law.

Senior Engagement Representative for Eastern Texas

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Mark was born and raised in Huntsville, Texas. He attended the University of Texas and Sam Houston State University, graduating with a degree in business administration. Following college, he enrolled at Iliff School of Theology, where he graduated with an Master of Divinity degree.

While his professional life has included banking and business ownership, he was called to ministry and served for over 30 years, first as a pastor to seven churches in the Texas Annual Conference and later as a staff member at Heartspring Methodist Foundation.

Mark now serves as an Area Representative for the Texas Conference. Mark brings a wealth of experience and expertise about churches, finances, and mission strategies to this position. He also brings a love for visiting with clergy and laity as they envision and plan their future.

Mark and his wife, Cindi, have two children. He is passionate about raising Boykin Spaniels, fly fishing, and golf.