About Us

Connection United Methodist Church is the product of the merging of two churches: Andrew Price Memorial United Methodist Church and Hickory Bend United Methodist Church. After a year of conversation and discernment, the churches passed the vote to merge in December of 2019.

As the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020, it took a toll on much of our planning, dreaming, and relationship-building with each other and our community. We have slowly started to emerge again, prayerfully walking with faith to discern what the Holy Spirit might do here at Connection UMC.

Melisa Derseweh has served as an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church for 15 years. She received her Master of Divinity degree from The University of the South (Sewanee). Her undergraduate degree is from Lipscomb. As senior pastor, Melisa preaches during Sunday worship, provides pastoral care, and engages community spiritual formation and development.

As new grandparents, Melisa and her husband (the Rev. John Wesley Vaughan) enjoy playing toddler games, gardening, and travel (outside of a pandemic!).