Scott Burnette is the Lead Pastor at The Forge Church. Scott and his wife Samantha are originally from Asheville, NC. Samantha is a part of the praise team and works in Pre-School Education for the church’s Parents Day Out. They have 6 children: Maddie, Lili, Nolan, Norie, Vannie, and Arabella. Scott graduated from C.D. Owen High school, and attended Montreat College in Montreat, NC.

Scott worked in media and television for about 10 years in Nashville, TN, before answering God's call to service in Children's and Youth ministries, transitioning to Associate Pastor, and then to Lead Pastor. Scott and Samantha have a deep desire to help build a church family that is sincere and passionate about following Christ and seeing Him praised, as well as loving each other and sharpening each other in the name of Jesus.

Although proud of their family, and service in the ministry. As Philippians 3:8 says "What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ"

Pastor Stuart was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama where he graduated from Homewood High School. In 1973 he was admitted to the School of Architecture at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and earned his B.Arch degree in 1978.  He remains a registered architect in the State of Alabama but only occasionally dabbles in that field today.  In 1981, he was admitted to Asbury Theological Seminary and earned his M.Div degree in 1985. He was ordained an elder in the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1987.

He has served the New Columbus and Hinton UM Churches in the Kentucky Conference and Bethel, Clare Purcell and Oakland UM Churches in the North Alabama Conference.  He was appointed as the Pastor of Pigeon Forge-First UMC in July, 2018 and continues to serve today.  Previously he served churches in Townsend, Maryville, Jefferson City, Blountville and Greeneville- all in Tennessee and all in the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church. After retiring in June 2023, Pastor Stuart became an elder in the Global Methodist Church and continues to serve the congregation now known as The Forge Church continuing with his preaching and teaching responsibilities.

Pastor Stuart is married to Libby and they have two daughters- Elizabeth who works on the Archaeological Team in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Rachel who is employed as an Architectural Intern at a firm in Knoxville.  The family has one cat, Oliver, who is, as cats often are, in charge of everyone.  

Kim Brackins is a native of Sevier County and she began playing the piano for church services at 16. She is a graduate of Carson-Newman College with a degree in organ music, and has served as organist and choir director for our church for nearly 25 years. Her favorite musical genres include classical and praise and worship. She also enjoys teaching piano in her home.  In her words, “I truly enjoy participating in worship through music. Raised in church my entire life, my mother taught me not to stand on the sidelines, but to use the gifts God bestowed on each of us for His glory. I’m thankful for the opportunities He has provided me to share my love of music through this church.”

●Teacher at an after school program. Has a passion for shaping young minds and hearts for Christ. Silly, loud, and loves all things messy. 

●Bible verse I try to live by. Joshua 1:7

●In my free time I enjoy spending time with family and friends, reading, baking, crafting, and playing with my dogs.