Clergy
Rev. Corey J. Burns
Senior Pastor
Rev. Corey J. Burns serves as our Senior Pastor. He was appointed to Scottsboro First United Methodist Church in August of 2023 from Union, The Church at Chelsea Park UMC in Chelsea, Alabama. Prior to serving Union, he served at Jacksonville First United Methodist Church as Youth Minister and Pastoral Assistant from 2018-2021.
Pastor Corey is a native of Nances Creek, Alabama in the Appalachian foothills of northeast Calhoun County where he graduated from White Plains High School. He is a 2012 graduate (Summa Cum Laude) of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia (A.A. & B.S.) and 2015 graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky (M.Div.) where he studied as a Kern Foundation Scholar Pastor. He continues to study as a post-graduate enrichment student at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. He became a Licensed Local Pastor in the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church in 2021 and commissioned as a Provisional Elder in 2025.
Corey is husband to his wife, Billie Jo, and dad to his daughters, Bailey, Emma, Olivia, and Sophia Kate. He's a sports junkie, Disney zealot, music lover, technology geek, theology nerd, amateur philosopher, professional daydreamer, consumer of fine barbecue, diligent observer of the cosmos, aspiring Jedi, Indiana Jones pupil and self-proclaimed movie buff.
Pastor Corey is a native of Nances Creek, Alabama in the Appalachian foothills of northeast Calhoun County where he graduated from White Plains High School. He is a 2012 graduate (Summa Cum Laude) of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia (A.A. & B.S.) and 2015 graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky (M.Div.) where he studied as a Kern Foundation Scholar Pastor. He continues to study as a post-graduate enrichment student at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. He became a Licensed Local Pastor in the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church in 2021 and commissioned as a Provisional Elder in 2025.
Corey is husband to his wife, Billie Jo, and dad to his daughters, Bailey, Emma, Olivia, and Sophia Kate. He's a sports junkie, Disney zealot, music lover, technology geek, theology nerd, amateur philosopher, professional daydreamer, consumer of fine barbecue, diligent observer of the cosmos, aspiring Jedi, Indiana Jones pupil and self-proclaimed movie buff.
Rev. Dr. Steven A. Screws
Pastor Emeritus
Rev. Dr. Steven A. Screws serves as our Pastor Emeritus, an honor he was bestowed in 2025 in recognition of his long-standing service to the United Methodist Church and the Scottsboro community.
Pastor Steve served as an Elder in full connection to the North Alabama Conference for 52 years, 16 of which were spent here at Scottsboro First, where he retired from full-time ministry in 2023. In his career, he served as a Pastor to the local church and a District Superintendent to the North Alabama Conference. He holds and Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Emory University's Candler School of Theology.
Pastor Steve and his wife, Karen, are wonderful assets to our church and community, sharing their gifts and graces with Scottsboro in several civic organizations and initiatives.
Pastor Steve served as an Elder in full connection to the North Alabama Conference for 52 years, 16 of which were spent here at Scottsboro First, where he retired from full-time ministry in 2023. In his career, he served as a Pastor to the local church and a District Superintendent to the North Alabama Conference. He holds and Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Emory University's Candler School of Theology.
Pastor Steve and his wife, Karen, are wonderful assets to our church and community, sharing their gifts and graces with Scottsboro in several civic organizations and initiatives.