Meet Rev. David Lay, New Pastor for First United Methodist Church

Reverend David Lay was recently appointed at Hohenwald First United Methodist Church as their new Pastor.

He comes to Hohenwald First UMC with 23 years of experience in pastoral ministry. He has served United Methodist churches all around Middle Tennessee as a part of the Tennessee Conference, moving from First United Methodist in Crossville, TN, this past June. Pastor Lay was commissioned as a Deacon in 1998 and an Elder in Full Connection in 2003.

Pastor Lay is originally from Savannah, TN, in Hardin County. He has worked with children and youth in treatment facilities for behavioral problems. He received his degree in Psychology at Middle Tennessee State University, and his Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

Pastor Lay is married to Penny Sevier, originally from Lawrenceburg, and has one 15-year-old stepdaughter, Aubrey Ruth Jennings, who goes by the name Ruth. They have been a family for four years as of July 3, 2021. Penny works at Tennessee College of Applied Technology Hohenwald, and Ruth is a Sophomore at LCHS.