Our Elders

Grace is led by a plurality of elders who are considered to be true equals. Each elder is a pastor with varied shepherding responsibilities within the body. The elders direct the affairs of the church through prayer, study and teaching of the Word, and careful communication with the congregation.

Chris Riser

Pastor/Teacher
Chris came to GCC in 2004 after graduating from the Master’s Seminary in Sun Valley, CA with an M.Div and a master’s degree in Biblical Counseling (MABC). While in seminary, Chris had the privilege of working as a pastoral intern at Grace Community Church (pastured by John MacArthur) in overseeing the children’s Sunday School program. Before attending seminary Chris was involved in youth work for fifteen years, nine of which he served as pastor to Jr. and Sr. High youth at Cape Bible Chapel in Cape Girardeau, MO.

Chris’ great passion is to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to be a godly husband and father, and to shepherd the local body of believers at Grace with passion, grace, and truth.

Chris is married to Alisa (since 1989) and has two children, a son, Josiah, who was born in 1995 and a daughter, Johanna, who was born in 2003.

Chris’ life verse is Hebrews 12:1-4 "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart. You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;"

His favorite quote (currently) is: "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot

Rick McClellan

Rick and his wife, Barb, have been married for 39 years. They have two married children and six wonderful grandchildren ranging in age from 1 year to 8 years old. Rick is a former educator in Christian education and now work as a self-employed finish trim carpenter while Barb enjoys her job as a kindergarten teacher at Maryville Christian School. Rick’s hobbies include golf and flying as a private pilot.

It has been their joy to be a part of Grace Community Church since 1994 when it was a home fellowship. Rick has been an elder since 2003. Beginning each day by reading God’s word gives them encouragement and direction to meet the "light and momentary’s" that are sure to come our way.

His life verse is Hebrews 10:24-25: "Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more, as you see the day drawing near."

Andy Smith

Andy and his wife Margaret have attended Grace Community Church since 2001 when they moved to Maryville from Florida (having grown up in upstate New York). Andy has been privileged to serve as an elder since 2003. He is also a Family Physician working with a group of Christian physicians at Trinity Medical Associates in Farragut. Another GCC member, Tom Webb, serves as a Christian counselor for their practice.

Margaret and Andy recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. The Lord is good! The Lord blessed them with seven children whom they are home-schooling. The verse that has defined their family for several years has been 3 John 1:4 “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”

Andy enjoys writing and has written three booklets which he uses in his medical practice. One conveys the gospel wrapped around patient stories (A Second Opinion…From the Great Physician), and the other two take a Christian view of depression and anxiety. Otherwise, he enjoys hanging out with his family, hiking, and getting pounded in racquetball by Pastor Chris (a ministry to keep Andy humble). Margaret enjoys (usually) trying to juggle the nine lives that revolve around her, while educating the children, and serving as a magnet to draw them all home.

I cannot end this description without noting (to quote a character from the classic book, Cry the Beloved Country), that the bottom line is “I am a sinful man who the Lord has chosen to use.” It is completely by His grace that we stand. A much-loved verse that encourages our hearts while giving credit where it should be is Jude 24-25:

24: Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Ken Taggart

Ken Taggart is a retired Northwest Airlines captain and former U.S. Marine Corps Naval Aviator, U.S. Navy Flight Instructor, and Vietnam veteran. He has been married to his wife, Gail, for 36 years. Together, they have 4 daughters: Keri Rhodes, Kelley Housley, Rachel Horton, and Deborah Taggart. In addition, the Lord has blessed them with 8 grandchildren!

After serving for many years with Northwest airlines, Ken and Gail were able to move back to east Tennessee in 1984. They had a burden for the preaching and teaching of the "whole council of God", (Acts 20:27), in Blount and surrounding counties. In the early and mid 1980's this was almost non existent in spite of Maryville's location on the "Buckle of the Bible belt". Grace Community Church is one of two local congregations that the Lord raised up from gatherings in their home.

In 2003, Grace Community Church sent out Ken and Gail's daughter Kelley and son-in-law Bill Housley to Papua New Guinea and the Grace Community Church is now supporting that church plant work to the Inapang tribal people in the jungles/swamps of Papua New Guinea who have never had a written language.

The spreading of the God's Word in it's entirety in Maryville and to the ends of the earth and seeing God strengthening and equipping the saints of His Son's Church to the praise of His glory is Ken's passion. By God's grace, the Biblical prayers of Habakkuk 3:2 and Ephesians 3:14-21 are the prayer burdens of his heart here in Jerusalem, in Judea, in Samaria and to the ends of the earth.

After the reading of the Word and the fellowship of family and friends, Ken enjoys reading the Puritans. His favorites are Bunyon and Edwards and he considers Spurgeon, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones and John Piper to be the last of the Puritans.

Ken does daily mountain biking and roller blading for meditation and exercise.

Traveling to the swamps of Itutang, Papua New Guinea to visit the work there is their favorite vacation, (five trips).

Gail has taught Children's Bible Studies, Women's Bible Studies and has been active on the Women's Ministry Team. She is presently Chaplain for the Women at the Blount County Jail and involved in mentoring young women. She is also the stateside secretary for the Inapang Mission Team in Papua New Guinea and her passion is the Lord Jesus Chris and sharing Him with others.

They praise God from whom all blessings flow for His goodness and faithfulness to this part of the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ at Grace Community Church of East Tennessee.