MEET OUR STAFF

Pastor

Reverend Carolyn Pittman

Reverend Pittman was appointed as pastor of Bethel United Methodist Church on June 26, 2022. From June 2018 to June 2022, Reverend Pittman served as pastor for Henson Chapel and Evans Chapel United Methodist churches in Gonzales, Texas. She is a Licensed Local Pastor having completed United Methodist Church Pastors’ School in 2018.

Reverend Pittman graduated in 2009 from the International Seminary in Plymouth, Florida with a Ph.D. in Christian Education. She also graduated from Boston University, with a Master of Education (Ed.M.) degree, and Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education (B.S.E.). On June 3, 2022, she graduated from the IIliff School of Theology with a Master of Divinity (M. Div.) degree.

Reverend Pittman, also retired from the United States Army Reserve as a Lieutenant Colonel. In addition, she served as a Department of Army Civilian as a Supervisory Instructional Systems Specialist until she retired in 2018.

Reverend Pittman’s hobbies include reading and board games.

Beth has been working diligently at Bethel United Methodist Church since August of 2023. She holds her Bachelor of Business Administration from Western Michigan University with her major in Business Management.

Every day she brings a smile and her positive attitude in working together with the pastor, the leadership team and congregation to make Bethel a warm and inviting place to attend. She is blessed to also be able to help with the seniors at our onsite Bethel Nutrition Program.

In her free time she enjoys crafting, travel and time with her family.

Assistant to the Pastor & Office Administrator

Beth Lackey

Music Director

Gary W. Givens

Gary W. Givens joined Bethel United Methodist Church as Minister of Music on March 30, 2024. An ordained minister of music, he is a native of Palestine, Texas. He has had a distinguished, nationally recognized music ministry spanning 40 years, as an anointed keyboardist and choral director. He has served in many major congregations and denomination in the San Antonio and the Greater Randolph Area. He has also served as Minister of Music at the Mount Carmel Baptist Church, in Atlanta, Georgia.

He attended James Whitcomb Riley Elementary and Middle School (now Martin Luther King Jr. Academy) and George W. Brackenridge High School. He attended Our Lady of the Lake University, Nesbit Conservatory of Music, and Trinity Baptist Church Conservatory of Music. The Guadalupe Baptist Theological Seminary conferred an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Music upon Givens in recognition of his musical contributions to the San Antonio religious community.

Givens’ ministry of music has blessed many singers, choirs and churches throughout the city as he shares his God-given gift of reaching and teaching. His ministry is one of basic simplicity, yet its influence is significant as he seeks to provide spiritual, inspirational, and practical help to choirs, singers, musicians and those who desire to serve God, the church and the community with excellence and the anointing in music ministry.

Givens enjoys reading and taking walks in nature to observe God’s magnificent creation.