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GIFFORD LONG, Senior
Pastor (Gifford@fumcgp.org)
FAMILY
BACKGROUND:
Born
in Falfurrias, Texas, November
14, 1953, I was raised in the United Methodist Church
by
parents that
have always been faithful members. My
father was a band director who later went into school administration. My mother was an elementary
school
teacher. They retired
in the 80's to
begin an antique and collectibles business. My
father died in June of 1991 and my mother
still lives in Cleburne,
Texas,
where she operates a crystal matching service. My
formative years were spent in United Methodist churches in Rogers, Palacious, Austwell and Cleburne Texas. My family moved to Cleburne
in 1964. I have
always been active in the church. I
have an older sister and brother who live
in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area.
I
married Cathy Chester Long in
1976. We have a daughter,
Emily, age 20,
and a son, William, age 15. Emily
is a
junior at SMU in Civil Engineering and William is a sophomore at South Grand Prairie High
School. He is in the
band, plays basketball
and
soccer, and is an honor student.Cathy
is an RN who is presently working at Whitt Elementary in the GPISD. She is the daughter of the Rev.
Eldon and
Bobbie Chester.The Chesters
are retired and living in McKinney. Eldon retired from the United
Methodist
ministry in January of 1993. Cathy
also
grew up in the United
Methodist Church. Her
formative years were
spent as a member of
Waples UMC Denison and First UMC Wichita Falls. Cathy
takes her church membership seriously and has been active in the
ministry of each church we have served.
EDUCATION
Cleburne High School
University
of Texas
at Arlington
- Degree in political science
Divinity School
at Duke University
- Master of Divinity degree
MINISTERIAL SERVICE
1977-79 Calvary UMC, Durham, NC
Student
Associate
1979-81
Park/Clearview UMCs,
Dallas,
Senior
Pastor
1981-84
St. Marks UMC, Wichita
Falls,
Senior
Pastor
1984-87
First UMC, Nocona, TX
Senior
Pastor
1987-93
Lake
Dallas UMC.
Senior
Pastor
1993-2001
Calvary UMC, Paris, TX
Senior
Pastor
2001-06 First UMC
Sulphur Springs, TX
Senior Pastor
June 06-
First
UMC Grand
Prairie, TX
Senior Pastor
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