SAVANNAH, GA – August 27, 2025 –Asbury Memorial Church announces the appointment of the Rev. August Alderman to their team as the independent church’s new Associate Minister. Rev. Alderman was recently ordained at Asbury Memorial, the first ordination of a new minister since Asbury Memorial disaffiliated from the United Methodist Church in 2020 due to its unequal treatment of LGBTQ people. Rev. Alderman will work alongside Rev. Billy Hester and the team at Asbury Memorial, as well as at sister church, Wesley Oak, to provide leadership with ministries at the church and in the community.
“This appointment is a full circle moment for me,” said Alderman. “I am the first openly gay minister to be appointed to Asbury Memorial and being welcomed and accepted by church members when I first came here in 2018 changed my life. This role gives me the opportunity to be a pastor to our people and our wider community, which is the realization of my dreams.”
Rev. August Alderman is a Savannah native, who was raised in Richmond Hill. Prior to being called to ministry he was a successful cosmetologist who ran The Color Geek Salon for ten years on Wilmington Island. With this appointment to Asbury Memorial, Rev. Alderman is also a member of the preaching team at Wesley Oak. He earned his Master of Divinity at Chicago Theological Seminary. He served Clinical Pastoral Education at Hospice Savannah and completed Field Placement with Asbury Memorial as Ministerial Intern.
Located at 1008 Henry Street, Asbury Memorial Church welcomes all people, no matter their age, gender, race, sexual orientation, economic status, or any other demographic. Asbury Memorial is a place where all people can develop their spirituality, use their talents, and grow in faith as they seek to love, serve, and celebrate God, each other, and our community. Sunday worship services begin at 11:15 a.m. For more information, please visit www.asburymemorial.org or call (912) 233-4351.
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For media inquiries, please contact Kristyn Beasley at kristyn@lesleyfrancispr.com or 229-393-6457, or Lesley Francis at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-429-3950, or the team at 912-417-LFPR (5377).