Reverend Tyson Parks III began his duties as directing pastor at Bethel United Methodist Church on January 1, 2019; following the retirement of Pastor Florene Scott in December 2018.
Before coming to Peoria, Rev. Parks served for over 3 ½ years as a Compliance Officer with the Knox County State’s Attorney Office in Galesburg, Illinois. In addition, Rev. Parks has held multiple pastoral duties: Allen Chapel AME Church in Galesburg, IL (more than 7 ½ years); St. John AME Church in Burlington, IA (3 ½ years; St. James in Monmouth, IL (one year); and Bethel AME Church, Quincy, IL (4 months).
He received his MA in Applied Theology from Aidan University, in Jacksonville, FL; Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies from Illinois Baptist College; and became a Certified Chaplain through the American Chaplains Association, receiving his certificate of Chaplaincy from Logos University, in Jacksonville, FL.
Rev. Parks has been accepted as a Master of Divinity candidate from the historical Payne Theological Seminary in Xenia, Ohio. He has been married to his wife Colletta for 14 years; they have two sons and one grandson.
The Traveler Weekly 