At the 199th meeting of Holston Conference June 2022, I received an appointment from the bishop to First UMC in Elizabethton. I want to say how happy and pleased I am to be appointed to this church and I want to take the opportunity to introduce myself.
I am a lifelong United Methodist, having grown up in Bristol VA at Reynolds Memorial UMC. After graduating high school (Virginia High School), I obtained a BA from Emory & Henry College (Mathematics), and, having completed the candidacy process, I entered and finished a M.Div. from the Divinity School of Duke University, one of our official UMC seminaries. I completed my formal education by earning a D.Min. degree from Emmanuel School of Religion (now Emmanuel Christian Seminary of Milligan University) in 1999. I have served churches in Holston Conference since 1985, from Knoxville to Rural Retreat, VA. In 1988, I was married to Carla Wininger of Blountville TN—after a blind date!
Carla is also a lifelong United Methodist, having grown up in the Blountville UMC. She is currently a preschool teacher, but has experience in Sullivan County, Knox County and Bristol TN school systems. Carla earned her degree from ETSU and has a Master’s degree in Education from Tusculum College and she also is a Mary Kay Cosmetics consultant. Carla has been active in the UMW and loves to play hand bells. We have two children: Amanda and Jacob.
The Countiss Family, during a Memorial Day Celebration at their home.
Pictured 1st row (left to right) - grandson Gabriel Carla Rev. Robert daughter, Amanda with baby Ellie Marie
2nd row (left to right) - daughter-in-law, Sarah son, Jacob son-in-law, Nick
