Publications

"Beginnings" Website

Spiritual Autobiography

Summary:

Andy Langford is a leading expert in evangelism, worship, and reforms in The United Methodist Church.  Born and raised in North Carolina, Andy was educated at Davidson College, Duke Divinity School, and Emory University.  From 1985-1992, Andy was responsible for the worship, music, and preaching programs of The United Methodist Church.  Having returned to the local church in 1992, Andy is now involved in reaching out to new generations with the Gospel.  Since 1995, Andy has also become an advocate of major structural changes in The United Methodist Church. 

Andy's latest books are in a new program of the Church entitled Beginnings: An Introduction to the Christian Faith, which he conceived and is the architect of four books in this program of outreach ministry to inquirers into Christianity (Abingdon, 2003).  In addition to being the General Editor of The United Methodist Book of Worship, Andy has written the following:   Transitions in Worship: Moving from Traditional to Contemporary Worship, A New Connection: Reforming The United Methodist Church, Christian Weddings: Resources to Make Your Ceremony Unique, and Blueprints for Worship: A User's Guide for United Methodist Congregations, plus three other books on United Methodist worship, two collections of contemporary songs and choruses, and over one hundred articles.  He has also edited and provided liturgical resources for African Americans, Hmongs, Korean Americans, Native Americans, and Hispanics within our denomination.  Andy also served as a staff consultant to The United Methodist Hymnal and chaired the international committee that created The Revised Common Lectionary.  

Andy has led workshops and preached from Westminster Abby in London to small native congregations in Panama to the Upper Room Chapel in Nashville to Duke Chapel in Durham, and throughout the United States and in Israel, England, Malaysia, Singapore, Mexico, Panama, and Guatemala.  He has designed and led worship for the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, the National Council of Churches, the Consultation on Church Union, and the World Methodist Council.  He has been on a number of mission teams in the United States and in Panama, Costa Rica, and Guatemala.  Andy is now a popular speaker on evangelism, contemporary worship, and structural issues facing The United Methodist Church.

Office:  
               30 Union Street, North
                Concord, NC  28025
                (704) 786-4109
                (704) 786-4110 (FAX)
                email:  andy@concordcentral.org

 Home:  
                801 Rothmoor Drive
                Concord, NC  28025
                (704) 701-2778

 Education:
             Emory University (Atlanta, Georgia)
            Graduate School of Arts and Science
            Degree:  Master of Arts in Religion (July 1982)
            Concentration:  Worship and American Methodist Church History
            Honors:  University Fellow

            Duke University (Durham, North Carolina)
            The Divinity School
            Degree:  Master of Divinity (May 1978)
            Honors:  Junior Scholar, Magna Cum Laude
 

             Davidson College (Davidson, North Carolina)
            Degree:  Bachelor of Arts (May 1975)
            Major: Religion
            Honors:  North Carolina Fellow 

Pastoral Experience:

             July 2003 to Present            Central United Methodist Church
                                                            Concord, North Carolina
                                                            Senior Pastor  
                                                            700 members, county-seat first church

            July 1999 to June 2003        St. Stephen United Methodist Church
                                                            Charlotte, North Carolina
                                                            Senior Co-pastor with Sally Langford
                                                            1400 members, suburban church 

            July 1992 to June1999            First United Methodist Church
                                                            China Grove, North Carolina
                                                            Co-pastor with Sally Langford
                                                            775 member, small-town church

            October 1985 to June 1992     Assistant General Secretary
                                                             Section on Worship
                                                             General Board of Discipleship
                                                              The United Methodist Church
                                                              Nashville, Tennessee
Administrator of denomination's programs in worship, music, and preaching; supervision of seven professional staff 

            June 1982 to September 1985    Avery United Methodist Parish
    Newland, North Carolina
    Parish Director
A  seven-church cooperative parish in the mountains of North Carolina

             June 1978 to June 1980             Royal Oaks United Methodist Church
                                                               Kannapolis, North Carolina
                                                               Pastor
                                                               Pastor of 225 member mill congregation

             June 1975 to June 1978             Duke University Divinity School
                                                                Student pastor
                                                                Served a variety of congregations throughout North Carolina

 Conference Relationships:
            WNCC Nominee for Episcopal Office, 2004
            Secretary, General Council on Ministries (UMC), 2000-2004
            Delegate to General and Jurisdictional Conferences 1996, 2000
            Elder, Western North Carolina Conference, 1979
            Deacon, Western North Carolina Conference, 1976
            Member of Conference boards and agencies since 1982

 Organizational Relationships:

             Lily Endowment Denominational Study (1994-1996):
                        United Methodism and American Culture
            North American Academy of Liturgy: Full Member
            Consultation on Common Texts (1985-1992):
                        Chair, Task Force on the Common Lectionary
            Lake Junaluska Associate: Life Member
            Consultation on Church Union:
                        Worship Committee Official Observer (1986-1988)
            National Council of Churches
                        Worship and the Arts Commission (1988-1992)
            World Methodist Conference:
                        Worship and Liturgy Consultation Coordinator (Singapore, 1991)     
                        Standing Consultant (1991-1996)
            Academy for Spiritual Formation Faculty (area: worship and spirituality)

Areas of Interest/Expertise:

            Future of The United Methodist Church
            Worship and Music
            Preaching
            Evangelism
            The Daily Office
            The Sacraments
            Marriage Liturgies
            Revised Common Lectionary

             Have led workshops in international, national, conference, district, and local congregations throughout The United Methodist Church.  Workshops have been held worldwide and in over forty Annual Conferences.

Personal Data:
Age 53; born in Charlotte, North Carolina; raised in Durham, North Carolina; late father (Tom) was United Methodist systematic theologian at Duke University; mother (Ann Marie lives in Durham and Lake Junaluska); married to The Reverend Sally Overby Langford (from Gainesville, Georgia; currently Salisbury District Superintendent); two children: Ann Green (student at Boston University School of Theology) and Sarah Overby (student at Centre College in Kentucky).  Hobbies: cooking, running, reading, writing, and golf.