Leadership Team
Who We Are
Our Team & Leadership
Brad Stapleton
Senior Pastor
Greetings in the peace and love of Jesus Christ! My name is Brad Stapleton, and I am father to two incredible daughters, Felicity (age 13) and Paige (age 11). I am an ordained elder in the Global Methodist Church. I am 46 years old and am serving in my 20th year of pastoral ministry having previously serving as pastor of Kodak Church (Global Methodist) in Sevier County.
I was raised in a strong Christian household and began my relationship with Jesus when I was a small child. I have always been active in church, yet have been a member of only 2 churches my entire life prior to my own calling to ministry: East Stone Gap UMC, where I was a born and raised, where I attended from birth until I left for college, and Alcoa FUMC, from when I began college until I began a career in ministry. As a seminary student at Asbury and afterwards, I have often envisioned what it would be like to have the opportunity to implement what I had learned from my studies and from my experience in ministry to the churches in East Stone Gap and Alcoa. By the grace of God, I recently had the special opportunity to serve at East Stone Gap for 7 years. I would consider that also having the opportunity to return my home church to serve the people at Alcoa to be a beautiful gift from God.
I love Jesus, love ministry, and love people. I greatly enjoy preaching, missions and evangelism. I am fluent in Spanish and have led 9 international mission teams. I am enthusiastic to reach out both locally and to the ends of the earth. I am passionate about being actively involved with youth and children’s ministries, as well as serving in prison ministries. My greatest strengths are connecting with people, conflict resolution from a non-anxious presence, and restoring ministries which are struggling. I am seeking a long-term appointment where we can work together to introduce people to Jesus and lead them on their discipleship journeys. My vision is that the church would combine inward holiness through Bible study and worship with outward holiness by serving the least, the last and the lost in an effort to connect people with God.
I look forward to see the plans of the Holy Spirit unfold as we are obedient to his Word
Joe Green
Pastor Emeritus
Rev. Joe Green is a native of Appalachia, Virginia and for 46 years served in the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church. This included appointments in Georgia, Virginia and Tennessee, and as a District Superintendent. In 2018 Joe retired from full-time ministry after serving as Senior Pastor for First Broad Street UMC in Kingsport, Tennessee.
Joe was saved and then answered God’s call into pastoral ministry as a senior History major at King College in Bristol, Tennessee. In 1974 he earned his Master of Divinity at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky.
Joe spent 17 years of his ministry at First UMC, Alcoa. He is married to Beth, who is the Director of Music and Worship Coordinator at this church. They are the parents of a daughter, Hannah, who lives in Knoxville with her husband, James Slaughter, and their daughters Ophelia, and Azalea.
Beth Green
Music Director
Beth Green is a singer, songwriter, seamstress, artist, and comedian. Most important, she is a follower of Jesus. Since their marriage in 1974, Beth has worked with her husband, a United Methodist minister in the Holston Conference. After 47 years, Joe retired from full-time ministry in 2018, to move closer to their daughter, Hannah, who lives in Knoxville with her husband and two daughters. Both Joe and Beth are still active in ministry during their retirement. He is serving part-time as Pastor Emeritus and she is serving as Director of Music Ministries at Alcoa First Methodist Church (where he pastored 17 years). The Greens reside in Alcoa.
In 1979, Beth began working in the broadcasting field and spent the majority of her career as a morning radio personality at several stations in Chattanooga and Knoxville. Along with being a public speaker, she’s been a worship leader for various conferences, camps and retreats. Beth enjoys sharing her humor, since her favorite pastime is making people laugh.
Chris Reinbold
Youth Ministry Director
Chris has been with us since June 2022. He grew up in Alcoa, but moved to Memphis right after his freshmen year of High School. He has been a student ministries director for the past 31 years. He loves the Vols, Cowboys, Reds, and Grizzlies. He got his degree from the University of Memphis. He loves his job but is also proud to be called uncle by Andy and Jackson.
Elizabeth Scharschu
Children's Department Director
Elizabeth Scharschu has been a member at Alcoa First Methodist since 2015. Before becoming the Director of Children’s Ministry, she was a longtime volunteer in the Children’s Department, she served on the AFMC Executive committee as well as the Next Step Committee. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio Texas. She is married to Alton and mother to Gunnar and Griffin.
John Tate
Church Accountant