TALLADEGA – The Rev. Ted Peterson is the new face at Talladega First United Methodist Church, but he is no stranger to the United Methodist Church’s North Alabama Conference.He has been a pastor in the conference for the past 37 years, serving most recently at churches in Florence and Fairfield. He started his appointment at Talladega FUMC in mid-June and says he’s loved it so far. He arrives with his wife, Joyce, and they have raised four grown children.
“I said to the congregation on my first Sunday (this church) has had a long, illustrious history, and there’s a list of pictures of clergy on the wall of people I’ve admired for a long time, and they intimidate me,” Peterson said.
“I pointed out to my granddaughter my picture will go right here one of these days. I’m flattered to be a part of that line of splendor.”
Now, Peterson is ready to roll up his sleeves and make his impression on the historic church.
“One of the questions I asked the church a week ago was, ‘What was the golden age of the church?’ and we talked some about what it looked like in the 1950s, but then we started thinking what a new golden age would look like? Not what it used to be but what would a new one look like, and how do we get to that point?” Peterson said.
One of those goals is to modify the 9 a.m. contemporary service.
“In many Methodist churches, the early contemporary service is the doorway to the church,” Peterson said. “This is where people are coming in, and I’ve not experienced that here.”
He also wants to continue to support and strengthen the church’s programs of ministering to the community. He hopes to meet city officials soon to find ways to get involved with helping the city and reaching out to its citizens.
One of the changes parishioners likely have noticed already is his use of projecting images on the sanctuary’s two large screens during his sermons. He said he feels the pictures add more depth to his sermons, and he typically shows 15 to 20 slides throughout the sermon.
Pastors in the United Methodist Church are known for relocating every few years when they receive new appointments, but it is a lifestyle Peterson has grown accustomed to.
“I sometimes define myself as the branch manager of a local franchise of an international company,” Peterson joked.
He said he takes comfort in a sense of collegiality he has developed with his fellow clergy because there is a sense of connection among all the North Alabama Conference churches.
“In the good times, it ends up being much more than a bureaucracy and becomes a very supportive and life-giving connection,” Peterson said.
Another one of his goals is to bring together the pastors of United Methodist churches in north Talladega County every so often just for fellowship, encouragement, worship and prayer activities.
“It’s a challenge to be in ministry this day and age,” Peterson said. “I hear a lot of people say we’ve got so many churches in Talladega, and there are a lot of churches, but my assumption is the demographics of Talladega are no different than there are any place else, and that half of the population of Talladega is not in church in any place.”
Peterson said churches have to adapt from the ways of the past to remain viable, but one aspect of Christianity remains constant.
“My conviction is people need Jesus. People need the Lord. How we say that may be different in the 21st century than it was in the 20th century,” Peterson said.
Talladega First United Methodist Church is located at 400 East St. S. and meets every Sunday. It has a contemporary service at 9 a.m., Sunday school at 10 a.m. and a traditional service at 11 a.m.
