Rev. Howard “Rusty” Hedges was born and raised in the Dallas area. He graduated from Highland Park High School in 1967 and SMU with a BFA in communications. He later received a Masters of Theology in 1981 and a Doctorate of Ministry in 1995, both from Perkins School of Theology at SMU.

He married Elizabeth “Betsy” Pharr, also from Dallas, in 1971 and they have three sons, Blair and twins named Nathan and Jared. In 1981, they took in a young woman named Angela who has become a member of their family and fills the role of daughter and sister. Blair and his wife live in Jacksonville, Florida. Jared lives in Los Angeles and works as a free lance screen writer and animator. His twin brother, Nathan, is working toward a PhD in Anthropology at the University of Virginia. Angela lives and works in Dallas and aspires to be a writer.

Rusty has served churches in Wichita Falls, Decatur, Dallas, Richardson, Rowlett, Irving and Paris, Texas. He has served in a variety of roles on the district and conference level.

He and Betsy are enthusiastic SMU fans, season tickets holders for football and active in other alumni activities. He is also an avid reader with an interest in history as well as a coin collector.

Associate Pastor, Music and Youth Ministries

A native of West Virginia, Debbie came to Dallas in 1984.  At First United Methodist Church in Plano, she began her journey to be a professional Music Minister.  Debbie graduated with honors from Texas Woman’s University with a degree in Vocal Performance.  She came to Holy Covenant in September 1998 and graduated with a Masters Degree in Sacred Music from SMU in December of 2001.  She was ordained a Deacon in June of 2002.  

Debbie’s husband Paul is retired from the U.S. Government and works for Z Inc, a government contractor.  They have two adult children, and two grandchildren.

Visit the Music Ministry page to learn more about our music programs.

E-mail:  dchapman@hcumc.org
Office Phone:  972-492-2432

Young Adult Minister

Jana joined the staff of Holy Covenant in November of 2003.  She is originally from Carlsbad, New Mexico, where she grew up in the Methodist church.  She graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in Business and Accounting.  During college, she was a member of the Texas Tech Wesley Foundation and served on their leadership team.  Jana is also involved in the Emmaus community.  She was a member of the New Mexico Southeastern Region Chrysalis Board for three years.  Chrysalis is a youth version of the Walk to Emmaus.  In addition to these activities, Jana was the co-leader of a girls' youth group for three years at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Lubbock, Texas.

Jana enjoys spending time reading, playing golf, and is a fan of Texas Tech Red Raider football. She also loves hanging out with her little nephew Ethan!

Jana is excited to serve as the Lead Pastor for The Well, our Saturday night contemporary worship community. She looks forward to watching this community grow in their faith and make new disciples of Jesus Christ. She has a passion for helping people find their spiritual gifts and live them out in service to those in our church and surrounding community.

E-mail: jjones@hcumc.org
Office Phone: 972-492-2432

Children's Minister

Tonya, a Texas native, comes to Holy Covenant from First United Methodist Church in McAlester, OK. Tonya has been on staff as the Children's Director at First McAlester for the last year and considers her move to Holy Covenant as a homecoming. Tonya was born in Dallas and lived many places around the metroplex growing up. She attended middle school and high school in Carrollton and graduated from R.L Turner High School in 1994.

Tonya attended the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS and received a BA in Communications in 1997. She returned to Dallas shortly after college and worked in the corporate world as a Public Relations professional until moving to Tulsa, OK in 2003. Tonya's oldest child Kylie was born in 2004 and she took on a new role as a stay-at-home mom. Her youngest child Garrett was born in 2006. Tonya was a very active volunteer in church and for her children in school. She was an active and dedicated Sunday school teacher, VBS leader, MOPS publicity coordinator and Parent Support Group leader and chairperson. During those 8 years as a stay-at-home mom and volunteer she had several part-time jobs working with children. She taught ballet, tap and tumbling lessons to children ranging in age from 2 -10 years old and worked in weekday church education programs as a two year old teacher, music and movement teacher and as an assistant director.

Tonya has a heart for children and believes that a child's first experiences in church build a foundation  that lasts a lifetime.

Visit our Children's Ministries pages for more information about our programs.

Spiritual Formation Minister

Cassie joined the staff in August 2011 as a ministry intern.  She now serves Holy Covenant as Minister of Spiritual Formation.  She has lived in Carrollton since 1986 and received her Bachelor of Arts from University of Texas at Dallas in May 1994.  A long time member of Christ United Methodist Church, she experienced a spiritual nudge that lead her to accept God’s call into full-time pastoral ministry in 2009.  Currently a student at Perkins School of Theology, SMU, she plans to receive her Master of Divinity degree in 2013.  Concurrently she is a candidate for ordained Elder.

Cassie has been married to Kelly for over 30 years and together they have two married daughters and two grandchildren.  Amber & Art live in Lewisville, and Tori & Justin live in Huntington, West Virginia with their two children (Jonathan and Sophia).  Cassie has a passion for “making disciples for Jesus Christ.”  She gets a charge out of watching people discover the many surprises that God has in store for their lives.  She is responsible for adult education and small group ministries at Holy Covenant.

Bookkeeper

Carol, a Dallas native, joined Holy Covenant with her family in July 2000 and became church bookkeeper in November 2000.

She studied business and bookkeeping at Brookhaven Community College, and has worked as a bookkeeper and office manager for several Dallas area businesses.

Carol's hobbies include arts and crafts, needlework and her volunteer work with the Boy Scouts & Girl Scouts.  Carol especially enjoys jewelry making, painting, printing and clay--art mediums she was introduced to as a high school student at the Booker T. Washington Arts Magnet School.

Carol has been married to her wonderful husband Doug since 1984.  They have three children; twins Bill and Sarah, and their younger sister Rebecca.

Life with her family is never boring.  She has been a leader in her children's Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops for many years, and loves working with children.

E-mail: cjones@hcumc.org
Office Phone: 972-492-2432

Director, Early Childhood Development Program

Born in Guthrie, Oklahoma, Sheryl has lived in the Dallas area since she was in the fifth grade. She graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School and Texas Tech University.

Sheryl and her husband Larry joined Holy Covenant in 1978.  She began teaching in the preschool in 1983, and became director in 1985.  Both of their daughters, Tiffany and Tatum, were raised, confirmed, and baptized in this congregation.  Tiffany is married to Jerry Davidson, and they have a daughter named Reagan.  Tatum is married to Scott Curry.  Sheryl says that her family has been truly blessed by being associated with this church.  She adds that she is personally blessed to work with the teachers, parents, and especially the children of the Early Childhood Development Program.

E-mail:   stoney@hcumc.org
Phone: (972) 492-1371 Ext. 26