LAY DEDICATION of the 2006 Tennessee Conference Journal--Mary Jane Motlow
If you look up Methodist in the dictionary, there is sure to be a picture of Mary Jane Motlow. There is hardly an area of service in the United Methodist Church that has not benefited from her discipleship. Her dedication and devotion to Lynchburg First United Methodist, the Murfreesboro District, the Tennessee Conference and the United Methodist Global Ministries raises the bar for all of us. While some might approach these tasks as burdensome, Mary Jane has accepted each new challenge with the joy of a devoted disciple who feels privileged to serve.
It is a daunting task to enumerate Mary Jane’s many offices and areas of service. She and her
husband moved to Lynchburg in 1956 and transferred their memberships to the First United
Methodist. Since that day, her love and support of our local church has been unfaltering. She served as Lay Member to Annual Conference for over 20 years. She has been Chairperson of the Administrative Council, a member of the Vision 2000 Task Force and is a Member Emeritus of the Endowment Committee. She is a certified Lay Speaker and has been the church organist since 1971.
Mary Jane is not a person to be satisfied with the status quo. She is quick to get on board and
enthusiastically support positive changes and growth producing activities.
In the Murfreesboro District Council on Ministries, Mary Jane has served as Chairperson of the
Stewardship Committee. She has also been a member of the Committee on Superintendency.
At the Tennessee Conference level, Mary Jane was a Trustee of McKendree Village for 11 years.
She was Vice-Chairperson of the Equitable Salaries Committee for 8 years. She was a member of the Lay Advisory Committee to the late Bishop Earl Hunt from 1976 to 1980. She was also a member of the Conference Council on Ministries.
Mary Jane has been an able representative of the Tennessee Conference and the United
Methodist Church on a global level. She was the Tennessee Conference delegate to the World
Methodist Conference in Honolulu in 1981 and Nairobi in 1986. She served as a Director of the
General Board of Global Ministries for two Quadrennials, 1988-1996. During that time she served in the National Division as Chairperson of the Finance Committee. In the Mission Personnel Resources Program Department, she served as Chairperson of the Mission Resource Center Section. She attended the Global Gathering in Indianapolis in 1992 and in Kansas City in 1996.
Of great significance to Methodist women has been Mary Jane’s leadership at all levels in the
UMW. She has been a longtime member of her local UMW, where she has held all offices. She served as District President for three years, as well as Secretary and Vice-President. She has been a member of the District Nominating Committee and Chairperson of the Conference Nominating Committee.
As Dean of the Conference School of Christian Missions, in 1984 and 1985, she provided a
beautiful experience that is fondly remembered by the participants. Mary Jane has attended UMW Assemblies in Philadelphia, Anaheim and Cincinnati.
Mary Jane has carried her Christian witness into the community, where she is obviously an
outstanding representative of The United Methodist church. She was elected a Director of Farmers Bank in Lynchburg in 1974 to fulfill her deceased husband’s position. She was later elected Chairperson of the Board of Directors. She has been Chairperson of the Moore County Health Council and a member of South Central Regional Health Council.
Mary Jane Thayer was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on August 20, 1921. She was confirmed at age 12 at the Methodist Episcopal Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin.
Wed in Savanna, Illinois, to Jack D. Motlow, Jr., they were married from 1944 until his death in
1973. Their only child, Jack D., is physically and mentally handicapped and resides in a nursing home in Lynchburg. Mary Jane is an avid bridge player and loves to read and travel.
Throughout her almost 85 years, Mary Jane has led an active, interesting life. She has been a
joyful giver of her time, her talents and her resources. When asked what she is most proud of, she responded without hesitation, “That I have been a lifelong Methodist!” It is difficult to imagine that any member of the Methodist laity could be more deserving of the honor of the 2006 Journal Dedication.
Nominated by Gerry Fanning & June Pugh
It is a daunting task to enumerate Mary Jane’s many offices and areas of service. She and her
husband moved to Lynchburg in 1956 and transferred their memberships to the First United
Methodist. Since that day, her love and support of our local church has been unfaltering. She served as Lay Member to Annual Conference for over 20 years. She has been Chairperson of the Administrative Council, a member of the Vision 2000 Task Force and is a Member Emeritus of the Endowment Committee. She is a certified Lay Speaker and has been the church organist since 1971.
Mary Jane is not a person to be satisfied with the status quo. She is quick to get on board and
enthusiastically support positive changes and growth producing activities.
In the Murfreesboro District Council on Ministries, Mary Jane has served as Chairperson of the
Stewardship Committee. She has also been a member of the Committee on Superintendency.
At the Tennessee Conference level, Mary Jane was a Trustee of McKendree Village for 11 years.
She was Vice-Chairperson of the Equitable Salaries Committee for 8 years. She was a member of the Lay Advisory Committee to the late Bishop Earl Hunt from 1976 to 1980. She was also a member of the Conference Council on Ministries.
Mary Jane has been an able representative of the Tennessee Conference and the United
Methodist Church on a global level. She was the Tennessee Conference delegate to the World
Methodist Conference in Honolulu in 1981 and Nairobi in 1986. She served as a Director of the
General Board of Global Ministries for two Quadrennials, 1988-1996. During that time she served in the National Division as Chairperson of the Finance Committee. In the Mission Personnel Resources Program Department, she served as Chairperson of the Mission Resource Center Section. She attended the Global Gathering in Indianapolis in 1992 and in Kansas City in 1996.
Of great significance to Methodist women has been Mary Jane’s leadership at all levels in the
UMW. She has been a longtime member of her local UMW, where she has held all offices. She served as District President for three years, as well as Secretary and Vice-President. She has been a member of the District Nominating Committee and Chairperson of the Conference Nominating Committee.
As Dean of the Conference School of Christian Missions, in 1984 and 1985, she provided a
beautiful experience that is fondly remembered by the participants. Mary Jane has attended UMW Assemblies in Philadelphia, Anaheim and Cincinnati.
Mary Jane has carried her Christian witness into the community, where she is obviously an
outstanding representative of The United Methodist church. She was elected a Director of Farmers Bank in Lynchburg in 1974 to fulfill her deceased husband’s position. She was later elected Chairperson of the Board of Directors. She has been Chairperson of the Moore County Health Council and a member of South Central Regional Health Council.
Mary Jane Thayer was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on August 20, 1921. She was confirmed at age 12 at the Methodist Episcopal Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin.
Wed in Savanna, Illinois, to Jack D. Motlow, Jr., they were married from 1944 until his death in
1973. Their only child, Jack D., is physically and mentally handicapped and resides in a nursing home in Lynchburg. Mary Jane is an avid bridge player and loves to read and travel.
Throughout her almost 85 years, Mary Jane has led an active, interesting life. She has been a
joyful giver of her time, her talents and her resources. When asked what she is most proud of, she responded without hesitation, “That I have been a lifelong Methodist!” It is difficult to imagine that any member of the Methodist laity could be more deserving of the honor of the 2006 Journal Dedication.
Nominated by Gerry Fanning & June Pugh
