Meet the Minister
The Rev. Rick L. Cornwell started serving the Florida
Conference at Port Tampa UM Church after graduating from Candler School of
Theology, Emory University. Although he had a technical degree from Georgia
Institute of Technology, several years of work in the private sector enabled
him to be more in touch with the congregations he served. He has been in the
ministry for 27 years and has served six congregations. His personality is
laid back, humorus, and very sharp. He hardly ever stays in the pulpit,
walking the isle and he often ends his sermons with illustrations of the
garden where he talks to tomatoes. He is what some would call a Social
Gospeler and is very mission minded. He has served as Chair of Church and
Society for the Conference and is presently the Conference Disaster
Coordinator.
He and his wife, Kay have seven children and
six grandchildren. He is very active and enjoys the outdoors. Although white
haired, he is only 58 years old. (Premature hair failure.)
He is very happy serving the congregation of Calvary United
Methodist Church and hopes to spend many enjoyable years here.
His greatest asset is his wife Kay who keeps him on his toes
both at home and at church. They make a lovely couple and are often kidding
each other right in church. He says it is very apparent how much they love
each other and how much love from God they have to share.
Come meet Rick, up close and personal, any day of the week
(except Fridays and Saturdays, his days off). He is especially charming on
Sunday mornings.