Cross Point Retreat is operated by Cross Point Ministries, Inc. which is a not-for-profit corporation run by two volunteers, Monty and Elizabeth Walton.

Monty Walton is a native of Knoxville, Tennessee with over fifteen years experience in volunteer youth ministry. Monty is an attorney by profession and practiced law in Knoxville from 1987 to 2005. Presently, he is Vice President of a Knoxville electrical contractor, Action Electrical Company, Inc.

Elizabeth Hillmer Walton is also a native Knoxvillian with more than ten years experience in volunteer youth ministry. Elizabeth is a teacher by profession and worked for many years with special needs children in the Knox County School System before retiring to become a stay at home mom.

Since their marriage in 1999, Monty and Elizabeth have taught the senior high Sunday school class and served as volunteers in the youth program at Fountain City Presbyterian Church. Both have also served as church officers. Growing up in Knoxville, Monty was a member at Valley Grove Baptist Church, and Elizabeth was a member at Church of the Ascension Episcopal Church.

To insure accountability in this ministry, an Advisory Board has been established with the goal of providing spiritual and financial oversight. The Board is intentionally diverse, including men and women from different denominational backgrounds and with unique talents. Some are religious leaders while others are civic or business leaders. As a group they are faithfully committed to the stated mission of Cross Point Retreat and to insure that Cross Point Ministries is working in accordance with that mission.

The Board meets four times each year to receive a report from Cross Point Ministries as to its (1) fund-raising, (2) expenditures, (3) current activities, and (4) future plans. The Board is consulted for advice regarding methods of fund-raising, wise expenditure of assets, appropriate uses of property, clarifying the scope of this ministry, the appropriateness of any study materials offered for use by guests, future building plans and any other issue upon which the officers of Cross Point Ministries might seek approval or guidance.

Current and former Board Members are identified below along with contact information. You are welcomed and encouraged to contact any or all of them to discuss the operations of Cross Point Ministries.

Clyde and Gwyn Baker (2003 - present)

Clyde & Gwyn are both native Knoxvillians. As a husband and wife team, they have been involved in local youth ministry for over 30 years. For the last 15 years, Gwyn has served as the Youth Ministry Director at Lake Forest Presbyterian Church in South Knoxville. Clyde is the owner of Baker Construction Company. Previously, the Bakers served ten years as directors of Camp John Knox and as the Presbytery Youth Ministry Team for the Knoxville Presbytery. Gwyn is a certified Christian Educator in Presbyterian Church U.S.A., and she works in leadership for many area youth ministries.

Samuel E. Beall (2003 - present)

Sam Beall is a retired Knoxville businessman who has been active in local civic and religious organizations for decades. His community involvement includes serving the Boy Scouts of America as a Scoutmaster, as a member of the Helen Ross McNabb Board of Directors, and as a member of the Pellissippi Technical School Foundation. Sam is a long-time member of Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church where he has served as Sunday school teacher, deacon and elder.

James L. Branch (2003 - present)

Jim Branch is a native of Knoxville and has been on staff with Young Life for 11 years where he presently is responsible for overseeing Young Life's work in the north, south and east parts of Knoxville. Jim's formal education includes a degree in marketing from the University of Tennessee and a master's degree in theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. Before taking his present position with Young Life, Jim spent ten years working in the Student Ministries department at Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church.

Honorable Charles Cerny (2003 - present)

Chuck Cerny is one of Knox County's Sessions Court Judges. He brings to our Board three years of experience as the Community Lay Director for the Smoky Mountain Emmaus Community. In that role he generally oversaw and assisted with multiple annual presentations of the Walk to Emmaus which is a 72 hour spiritual retreat experience associated with the Methodist Church. Chuck has taught youth Sunday School classes and served in lay leadership roles at Middlebrook Pike United Methodist Church where he and his family are members. Chuck is busy in community activities ranging from Judicial Committees to coaching girl's basketball.

Richard R. Dunn, PhD (2003 - present)

Rick Dunn is Senior Pastor of Fellowship Evangelical Free Church. Rick has a PhD in educational ministries and over twenty years of ministry leadership in schools, camps, mission organizations and churches. He spent eleven years teaching theology, spiritual formation and leadership at Trinity College and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Rick's training and teaching reflect a focus on student ministries, and he has written award-winning books on that subject. Rick was born in Sweetwater, Tennessee, and has spent many years in ministry in East Tennessee.

William B. Kennedy, Jr.

Bill Kennedy is President of the Knoxville firm of Christopoulos & Kennedy Construction, Inc. which is engaged in a wide variety of commercial construction. Bill and his family live in Maryville but attend Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church in Knoxville. Bill is presently a discussion leader with the interdenominational Bible Study Fellowship program.

Sharon Galgay Ketcham (2003 - present)

Sharon Ketcham served for ten years as Director of Youth Ministries at Second Presbyterian Church, Knoxville, Tennessee before returning to her alma mater, Gordon College, where she teaches aspiring youth ministers. Sharon has a Masters in Theological Studies. In addition to her work with Second Presbyterian, Sharon was very active in the local Presbytery as a speaker, planner and director at camps and conferences and she has been a speaker at national youth worker conferences.

J. Daniel Pressley, CPA (2003 - present)

Danny Pressley is a Principal in the accounting firm of Lattimore, Cain & Black's Knoxville office. He is a past President of the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants and has served on the Governing Council of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Danny is also active throughout the Knoxville community having served on the board of directors for the National Kidney Foundation of East Tennessee, Downtown Sertoma Club, Knoxville City Ballet, and Westside YMCA. He is the Treasurer of the East Tennessee Foundation and a graduate of the Leadership Knoxville program. Danny and his family are members of Messiah Lutheran Church where they are active in many lay leadership roles.