LEADERSHIP

Leadership: Team Members

Senior Pastor

Rev. Harden Hopper

Rev. Hopper was born in Atlanta and grew up in Cobb County, graduating from Campbell H.S., North Georgia College, The U.S. Army War College, Newburgh, and Asbury Theological Seminary.

As a officer in the U.S. Army, Rev. Hopper served 22 years in the Regular Army, National Guard, and Army Reserve, before retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. He also served concurrently with the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services, as a Region Program Manager for the counties of Northeast Georgia.

Rev. Hopper retired from both careers in 2005 to enter full-time ministry, serving as pastor for Cartecay UMC (Ellijay), then Bascomb UMC (Woodstock), before being appointed to Mt. Zion UMC in 2017.

He and his wife Karen have two adult daughters.

770-971-1465

harden.hopper@mtzionumc.org

Associate Pastor

Rev. Anne Cumings

Rev. Anne is a native Michigander who followed God’s call to the deep south, stopping in Chicago for a few years on the way. She has a Masters of Social Work from the University of Michigan and a Masters of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, she brings her previous experience as a mental health therapist to her ministry and loves bearing witness to God’s healing power in the context of relationship. She is a serial hobbyist, picking up a new hobby as soon as the excitement of the last has worn off. Which, much to the dismay of her husband Charlie, has resulted in an amassing of unused craft supplies. Her constant loves include curling up with a good book and laughing with her husband and two children, Hazel and Ike. She believes strongly in the power of the table and good food to create sacred community and is on a mission to spread the love of Jesus, one potluck at a time.

770-971-1465

anne.cumings@mtzionumc.org

Associate Pastor

Rev. Mike Shearon

Pastor Mike has served the United Methodist Church for over 25 years. He studied psychology at Georgia State University, holds a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory, and a Doctor of Ministry from Erskine School of Theology. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Mountain Top Boys Home, Bienestar Nicaragua, and our Conference Committees for Native American Ministries and Finance and Administration. Pastor Mike is married to Holly Shearon, and they have a married daughter, Heather Smith, who lives in Texas, and a son, Joel Shearon, who lives in Buckhead.

I would like to share some of Mike’s words, as he looks forward to joining us in ministry: “I believe that this is a divine appointment that will allow me to participate with other United Methodists to bring people closer to Christ. My greatest desire is that Christ will shine through my words and service to make better disciples for His Kingdom. My prayer is that I will be remembered at Mount Zion UMC as a blessing and not a burden, and a faithful servant to the Lamb of God.”

770-971-1465

mike.shearon@mtzionumc.org