Staff

Pastor

Rev. Scottie Burkhalter

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Pastor Scottie earned a BS in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina and a Master of Divinity from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, PA.  He is also a Board eligible ACPE Certified Chaplain after further education at Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System.  He has served as a hospital chaplain and also as a hospice chaplain.  Pastor Scottie has served in numerous community outreach ministries including his involvement with prison ministry since 1994.  Pastor Scottie served God on mission trips to El Salvador and Guatemala.  He served churches in New Sweden, ME, Maryville, TN, Greer, SC, and now in Kingsport, TN.  In addition to serving as pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (HTLC), he currently serves on the Kingsport Homeless Ministry Board.  In his spare time, he enjoys woodworking and trout fishing.  Pastor Scottie is married to Myra, his bride of over forty years.  They have five adult children, one daughter-in-law, three sons-in-law, one soon to be son-in-law, and five grandchildren.

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 “My personal mission is to love God by serving others with compassion, encouragement and enthusiasm.  God calls me to GO-BE-DO:  GO make disciples, BE the light of Christ and DO God’s will.

In my public role as a leader within the congregation, my approach, style and manner is characterized as loving God by serving others while also encouraging others to love God by serving others as well.  My style of ministry is a simple ministry of presence which includes being in the Word and with the people.  I believe being the hands and feet of Christ is an important witness.  Truly our ministry is about letting our light shine as we love God by serving others.  I am blessed that God has called me to the wonderful community of Kingsport, TN to serve as pastor of this amazing church family of dedicated servants of the Lord at HTLC.”  -- Pastor Scottie




Musician/Choir Director

Chris Neal

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Chris has more than 30 years of experience in liturgical and church music in the Roman Catholic Church and United Methodist Church. His skillset includes choral direction, directing from the organ console, handbell directing, children/youth choir and cantor coaching. Chris plays the organ and piano with experience from Baroque to more modern organ/piano works. Choral music is a specialty since holding his first Organist position in a small Methodist congregation in 1988. In addition to Chris’s musical talent and experience, he is well versed in the liturgical service and following the liturgical year. He has been serving at Saint Anne’s Catholic Church in Bristol, VA for the last 6 years and before that at Mountain View United Methodist Church in Kingsport. 




Admin. Assistant (on site)

E. Joseph Rhoten

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Joe and his wife Michelle have been members of HTLC since 2018. Joe grew up in Rockville, Md., graduating from Fishburne Military school. He was baptized in 1976 while attending Carson-Newman University. Joe’s professional background started in distribution management then into luxury retail management retiring from Bally of Switzerland in 2016.

Joe previously resided in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Nevada, and Northern Virginia before moving to Tennessee in 2017 to assist in the care of his parents. He has 3 adult daughters and 5 grandchildren living in California and Virginia. He enjoys many activities especially golf, travel, and reading.




Admin. Assistant (remote)

Lynda "Marie" Baker

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Marie is originally from Anderson, SC and has lived in Florida, Pirmasens, Germany, and Colorado Springs, Colorado, before moving to Tennessee. 

In addition to working at HTLC, Marie is employed at East Tennessee State University in the Department of Counseling and Community Outreach.  She has studied social work and healthcare administration at East Tennessee State University and Milligan College and has a background in business and banking. Marie has  also earned a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health, and a master’s in Addiction Counseling.  

favorite Bible verse(s):   Luke 8:45-47..




Faith Community Nurse

Carol Garland

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Carol grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, received an engineering degree from Auburn University, and moved to Kingsport to work at Eastman Chemical Company.  She retired from Eastman in 2014 and went back to school to get a BS in Nursing.  Carol worked at Indian Path Hospital, Holston Valley Medical Center and the Sullivan County Health Department.

She is married to Wayne Garland and they have three adult children living in Chicago, Paducah, and Knoxville.  They also have one grandson in Knoxville. Carol and her husband are members at First Broad Street UMC, where she serves on the congregational care team and sings in the choir.