Rev. Ben Wilcox has been appointed by the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church to serve as the Lead Pastor at Cornelia United Methodist Church in August 2020.   

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     Ben has a Bachelor of Science degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Management from Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, MI, a Master’s Degree in Forestry and Natural Resources from The University of Georgia, and a Master of Divinity degree from Candler School of Theology. Prior to serving at Cornelia UMC, Ben served as the Associate Pastor at Bethlehem First United Methodist Church from 2018-2020, was the Director of Children’s Ministry at Bethlehem First UMC from 2015-2018, and the Children’s Ministry Director at Princeton UMC in Athens from 2009-2015.

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     Ben grew up in Lapeer, MI and moved to Georgia in 2003 to work at The University of Georgia’s Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study.  Work there consisted mainly of catching wildlife to test for various diseases including West Nile Virus and Avian Influenza.  In 2013, Ben felt God calling him into ministry and he began to pursue ordination as an Elder in the United Methodist Church. 

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     Ben is married to Kristine (Suzor) Wilcox, and they have two sons, Wyatt and Kody.  Ben enjoys most sports including coaching baseball, bird-watching, walking, and reading.