Fifty Years of Faith: The John Thornburg Years
Northaven Remembers the Years
1991-2001
John
Thornburg will preach at Northaven on Sunday, June 11, to continue the
celebration of our 50th Anniversary and to remember his ministry
here. John came to Northaven in June 1991 and served as pastor until June
2001. His time at Northaven was filled with music and outreach to the local
community and to mission projects in El Salvador, Guatemala and
Africa.
John comes from a long line of Methodist ministers following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather and great-grandfather. After graduation from Perkins, he served as editor of the North Texas edition of the United Methodist Reporter and at several churches in the North Texas Conference before coming to Northaven.
Among the highlights of John’s ministry here, he considers the process to become a Reconciling Congregation as one of great importance, including the publication of Finishing the Journey, which he co-edited with Alicia Dean. The series of events which led to a congregational vote included a men’s group formed to help gay and straight men know each other, Dinners for Eight which offered personal testimony by gays and lesbians, adoption by the Leadership Council of a statement of inclusion, and the final almost unanimous vote to become a reconciling congregation in 1998.
John also worked with his staff, particularly Linda Brown, to develop a highly participatory worship style in the services. His well-known teamwork with Jane Marshall in writing hymns provided what he says was a wonderful discipline of working regularly with a trusted collaborator. Northaven benefits from hearing those hymns in our worship services.
“Stepping Out in Faith” was created during John’s tenure, raising almost $75,000 in support of Artspirit, Project Salud y Paz, Vision 2020 and A House in the City missions. This was in addition to a re-invigoration of the Human Development Fund over those years. Church members took mission trips to Guatemala and El Salvador, and another smaller trip was made to South Africa, opening a Northaven dialogue in that country.
While physical facilities, particularly the nursery in the education building, were upgraded during those years, a Vision Team was formed to explore the future of our congregation in program ministries and in our physical facilities. Congregational meetings helped shape the vision for our ministry in the 21st century, leading to the later decision to rebuild the sanctuary and education building.
In 2001, John decided to pursue a new calling by starting an itinerant ministry of song leading and worship consultation called “A Ministry of Congregational Singing.” He has published Dies Gratiae: Requiem Reflections, a large work with music by Craig Phillips, and is now working on a hymnal for the United Methodist Church in Cameroon. He has written over 100 hymns, anthems and vocal solos with Jane Marshall, as well as other musical writers.
John and his wife, Beth, live in Dallas. They recently celebrated the marriage of their daughter, Kate, at Northaven.
John comes from a long line of Methodist ministers following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather and great-grandfather. After graduation from Perkins, he served as editor of the North Texas edition of the United Methodist Reporter and at several churches in the North Texas Conference before coming to Northaven.
Among the highlights of John’s ministry here, he considers the process to become a Reconciling Congregation as one of great importance, including the publication of Finishing the Journey, which he co-edited with Alicia Dean. The series of events which led to a congregational vote included a men’s group formed to help gay and straight men know each other, Dinners for Eight which offered personal testimony by gays and lesbians, adoption by the Leadership Council of a statement of inclusion, and the final almost unanimous vote to become a reconciling congregation in 1998.
John also worked with his staff, particularly Linda Brown, to develop a highly participatory worship style in the services. His well-known teamwork with Jane Marshall in writing hymns provided what he says was a wonderful discipline of working regularly with a trusted collaborator. Northaven benefits from hearing those hymns in our worship services.
“Stepping Out in Faith” was created during John’s tenure, raising almost $75,000 in support of Artspirit, Project Salud y Paz, Vision 2020 and A House in the City missions. This was in addition to a re-invigoration of the Human Development Fund over those years. Church members took mission trips to Guatemala and El Salvador, and another smaller trip was made to South Africa, opening a Northaven dialogue in that country.
While physical facilities, particularly the nursery in the education building, were upgraded during those years, a Vision Team was formed to explore the future of our congregation in program ministries and in our physical facilities. Congregational meetings helped shape the vision for our ministry in the 21st century, leading to the later decision to rebuild the sanctuary and education building.
In 2001, John decided to pursue a new calling by starting an itinerant ministry of song leading and worship consultation called “A Ministry of Congregational Singing.” He has published Dies Gratiae: Requiem Reflections, a large work with music by Craig Phillips, and is now working on a hymnal for the United Methodist Church in Cameroon. He has written over 100 hymns, anthems and vocal solos with Jane Marshall, as well as other musical writers.
John and his wife, Beth, live in Dallas. They recently celebrated the marriage of their daughter, Kate, at Northaven.
Posted: Thursday - June 08, 2006 at 02:16 PM |
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Published On: May 05, 2008 04:54 PM
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Published On: May 05, 2008 04:54 PM