The West Area Search Committee is pleased to announce that we have completed the search for our next West Area Minister.

Catherine (Cathy) Colton Hubbard is a native of Memphis, TN, the daughter of the late Judge John P. and Cleo Colton.  She is the youngest of five children.  Her sister, Mary Ann, passed away at the age of 42; her brothers live in Memphis and Jacksonville, FL.

Cathy was raised Roman Catholic and after attending her senior year of high school at a Church of Christ school where she studied Bible, her parents gave their blessing when she requested to leave the Catholic Church.

Cathy became self-supporting at the age of 17 and began putting herself through college.  She found a church home in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and was a member for five years until she left for New York City to continue her education.

In New York, Cathy worked in administrative positions while pursuing her studies at The New School for Social Research (now The New School University).  She obtained a B.A., Magna Cum Laude, and was an early admission candidate for an M.A. degree in Human Resources Management, also graduating Magna Cum Laude.  Simultaneously, she earned specialist certification from the New School in Organizational Development and Diagnostics. 

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce employed Cathy as a Compensation Analyst with responsibilities for five metro cities and executive compensation.  Cathy returned home to Memphis when she learned of her mother’s failing health.

In Memphis, Cathy worked as an Employee Relations Specialist with Holiday Inns.  In this capacity she audited properties regarding their Human Resources policies and procedures and their state and federal employment compliance.  She was promoted to Human Resources Manager of the Salt Lake City Reservations Center where she was instrumental in starting up the call center.  Cathy interviewed and employed 700 bi-lingual reservation agents and a complete support staff.  In collaboration with her Human Resources staff of 10 and the home office in Memphis, Cathy designed and implemented all Human Resources policies, procedures and programs.  Upon hearing that Bass PLC Ltd. was in negotiations to acquire Holiday Inns and eliminate reservations centers, Cathy returned to Memphis where she was employed by Advanced Services Limited, a subsidiary of General Electric.

Once again, Cathy was involved in a “start-up” operation interviewing and employing over 400 in-bound call agents.  Working with G.E. corporate headquarters in Louisville, KY, Cathy developed policies for the new call center and had sole responsibility for Human Resources.  Responsibilities also included providing Human Resources support to G.E.’s parts warehouse in Lexington, KY.

During her last year of graduate school, Cathy felt a gentle call into ministry.  When she returned from New York to Memphis, she returned to the church she left but it had grown from a 400 average worship attendance church to a mega-church of over 5,000. Cathy sought another church and visited Lindenwood Christian Church.

After six months’ attendance and studying Disciples theology and history, Cathy knew she found her denomination and faith for life.  She became a Disciple in 1988 and contrary to popular practice, because she was so moved by her spirit, she asked her pastor to “re-baptize” her into her new found faith.

Still doubtful about her call into ministry, praying for clarification, Cathy answered God’s call while attending the “Walk to Emmaus”.  Once answered, the call was no longer a pressing spiritual question but a journey in faith.

Cathy attended Memphis Theological Seminary with a focus on Pastoral Counseling and Ethics. The early years of her studies were part time while she worked for Advanced Services Inc.  After two years, she was called as the part time Director of Children’s ministries at Lindenwood Christian Church and began her studies full time.  She also served part time as the minister of Christian Education at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church.

Cathy has served Lindenwood Christian Church, Memphis, TN; Collierville Christian Church, Collierville, TN; University Christian Church, Memphis, TN; First Christian Church, Winamac, IN, August Christian Church, Indianapolis, IN; Howard Regional Health Center, Kokomo, IN; Clayton Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis, IN and most recently Regional Minister of Canada for the last three-and-one-half years.