​Joel Liechty is a Director of Education and Clergy Development for The Wesleyan Church and has a great passion for the quality ministerial education and formation of local church leaders. He’s serves through advancing leadership, residencies, learning communities and experiential learning.  He currently oversees several educational and formational initiatives for pastors and leaders which are aimed primarily at simplifying credentialing in The Wesleyan Church and advancing competency-based ministry education and formation. Joel lives in Flagstaff, Arizona with his wife Stephanie and three boys Eli, Paxton & Wesley.

Director, Clergy Development

Associate Endorser, Military Chaplains

864-633-8994

Dr. Gary Carr is the new Associate Chaplain Endorser for the Wesleyan Church. Carr was a highly decorated military chaplain (COMMANDER, USN) endorsed by The Wesleyan Church. Originally from Lansing Faith Wesleyan Church, he pastored at Diamond Springs W. C. in Michigan, then embarked upon active duty military chaplain service in 1987 and retired from the Navy at the end of 2007.

• Carr’s service as a navy chaplain are marked by extrodinary achievements such as: Division Chaplain for 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, NC from 2004-2006, managed 22 ministry teams, serving 25,000 personnel plus their families.
• Senior Naval Officer for the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, coordinating crisis ministry during evacuation of 14,000 US Citizens from Beirut, Lebanon in 2006. President, Fleet Marine Force Qualification Board.
• Battle Force Chaplain of the 7th Fleet and Command Chaplain of USS KITTY HAWK from 2002-2004, supervising ministry to 8,000 personnel and families during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
• National Director of Navy Chaplain Corps Recruiting from 1999-2002. The successful strategic changes that were put in place then remain the practices today.
• Command Chaplain for the Naval Air Technical Training Center, Pensacola, FL from 1996-1999. Established new programs including the Core Values Academy providing spiritual readiness for 18,000 students per year. Also trained US Navy vocal team.
• Group Chaplain for the Navy Seals and the first chaplain ever assigned to the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (Seals). Trained with Seals in all aspects, except weaponry. Deployed in numerous covert operations globally, including austere environments. Established the Navy Special Warfare Critical Incident Stress Team.

Since then he has served with the International Bible Society and as Vice President at Southern Wesleyan University. His 20 years of service as a navy chaplain are marked by extraordinary achievement. Dr. Carr graduated from the University of Michigan with high distinction in English and comparative linguistics and was the James B. Angell scholar. He holds the M.Div. from Asbury Seminary, a Th.M. in preaching from Duke, and the Doctor in Ministry in leadership (with distinction) from Fuller Seminary. He has had numerous service-related publications and papers, and has also been an Adjunct Professor in World Religions for Central Texas College. Dr. Carr is married (wife, Karen) with three children. He enjoys scuba diving, guitar and piano, cycling, reading. His primary gift is developing leadership in others.

Dr. Gary Carr es el nuevo Capellán de La Iglesia Wesleyana que sea transferido. Carr fue un capellán militar altamente condecorado (Comandar, USN) endorsado por La Iglesia Wesleyana. Originalmente de Lansing Faith Wesleyan Church, pastoreó en Diamond Springs W.C. en Michigan, y luego se enroló en servicio como capellán militar activo hasta 1987 y se retiró de la Armada en los finales del 2007.

Associate Endorser, Military Chaplains

702-904-0730

USAF Chaplain, Lt Col (retired) Michael Rash serves The Wesleyan Church as an Associate Chaplain Endorser.  As a native of Lincolnton, North Carolina, he initially joined the United States Air Force in 1978 and completed a four-year enlistment as an E3-A AWACS Radio Operator.  In 1995, after graduation from college and seminary, he re-entered the air force as an active duty chaplain endorsed by The Wesleyan Church.  Culminating a 28-year military career, he retired from the air force in June, 2018.

Chaplain Rash and his wife, Kathy, ministered to air force families in North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Nevada, Colorado, England, Germany and Korea.  His education includes degrees from Southern Wesleyan University, Asbury Theological Seminary, Columbus State University, and the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences.  He is a board-certified counselor credentialed by the National Board for Certified Counselors.  Mike and Kathy have two adult daughters and enjoy the adventures of travel.

Thrive Financial Initiative

Dr. Rennaker has pastored for 3 decades and served as project director from 2007 to 2015 for The Wesleyan Church’s pilot project in Lilly Endowment’s initiative to address the economic challenges facing Indiana pastors. He led the denomination’s 2015 national research effort to learn about pastors’ economic challenges from ministers, their spouses, and key lay leaders. He is denominational director of the Thrive Financial Initiative, The Wesleyan Church’s Education and Clergy Development Division program in Lilly Endowment’s national initiative to address economic challenges facing pastoral leaders.

Ministerial Education and Formation

Michelle is an Indianapolis native. She is married with four children: ages ranging from 12 to 25. She loves rollerblading, reading, camping, traveling, time with her kids, and outdoor activities. 

Phone: 317-774-7939