Our Staff Parish Relations Committee is delighted to announce that Amy Cooper has accepted our offer to become the Director of Children’s Ministries, Music, and Families. Amy is deeply rooted in Belmont and our ministry with children. Amy has a degree in Elementary Education with Music Minor from Belmont University. She first attended Belmont UMC in 1988 and became the Director of the Children’s Music ministry in 2005. For almost 20 years, Amy has led the team of lay volunteers that lead our children’s choral ministry helping integrate our children in worship and strengthen them as they progress into the Open Door Singers youth choir. Amy started the Parent and Child Music Group and collaborated with Christy Perkey to write and lead “The Truth About Ruth” children’s musical. Amy knows how to nurture children, create community, bless families, and strengthen lay volunteers.
When Rev. Kate Fields resigned in June, Amy reached out and asked to serve as our Interim Director of Children’s Ministries while continuing with her position in children’s music. As Amy served in this interim role, she discovered that these two ministries share many of the same goals including loving children, maintaining a strong theological foundation through scripture and song, and supporting families. In late fall, Amy applied and interviewed for the overall children’s and families position, expressing her desire to continue leading children’s choirs. The search committee and the SPRC unanimously endorsed Amy and agreed to hire a part time children’s ministry assistant so that Amy will have the time she needs to lead children and family ministry and our children’s choir. Amy has enthusiastically accepted this new position of Director of Children’s Ministries, Music, and Families. We plan to post the children’s ministry assistant position soon.
We recently celebrated Children’s Sabbath which was a beautiful reminder of how we integrate our children into the faith and worship life. Over 30 children led in our worship service by ringing handbells and all three children’s choirs sang two anthems, “Have Mercy on Me,” and “All Things Bright and Beautiful.” Our children’s Sunday school classes wrote our liturgy, and 14 children led some part of our worship from the welcome to the pastoral prayer. I am so excited to welcome Amy to our staff as a full-time leader. Amy is so committed, kind, organized, and equipped for this ministry. Let us all join together in welcoming Amy Cooper and upholding our children with our prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness.
