Our Pastor

Pastor Terryl James is a native Chattanoogan. Upon graduating from Riverside High School, she attended Tennessee State University and completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Education at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.  She started post graduate work in Public Administration at the same university.

Pastor James was appointed to the Washington Hills United Methodist Church in June 2018. Prior to her appointment, she served Hurst United Methodist Church as Lay Speaker, Lay Minister, Education Director, Sunday School Superintendent, and choir member. Pastor James officially accepted her call to ministry in 2011 and completed the Interdenominational Theology Center (ITC) Certificate Program in 2012.  She completed Local Pastor’s Licensing School in 2017.

At the district level of the United Methodist Church, Pastor James serves as Chairman of the Superintendent’s Committee and on the Personnel Committee at Conference level. She is secretary of the Executive Board for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga. She is active in service and civic organizations.

She retired from the State of Tennessee in The Chancery Court of Hamilton County.

Pastor James is supported in ministry by her husband of 42 years, Gary.  They are the proud parents of Terrance and Erick (deceased); grandparents of Ericka, Erin, D’Ondra, D’Nitra, Maddux Daniel; and great-grandparents of Jayce, Trinity and Asir Robinson.