Summerville First 
 United Methodist Church
Radical Hospitality, Christian Community, Extravagant Generosity

 

Wes is a product of his time. Born in Waco, Texas while his father was serving in the Air Force, Wes has spent most of his life in Georgia, graduating from high school in Fairburn, Georgia in 1975. Dossie was born in Syracuse, New York and grew up near Miami, Florida. Wesley Privett “Wes” and his wife Dossie have been married for 36 years. Wes and Dossie met at a hotel dance in Tucker, Georgia in 1985. Dossie was dragged to the dance by her friend and Wes was coerced into going by his friends. Neither of them had ever been to a hotel dance before and neither of them have been to a dance since. Between them, they have four daughters, 10 grandchildren (five boys and five girls) and 4 1/2 great grandchildren to date.

 

Wes and Dossie have served in the North Georgia conference of the United Methodist Church for 23 years. Wes has been appointed across the North Georgia conference with Epworth by Tennessee being his first appointment. Eliam, in Elberton, was the first full time appointment followed by appointments in Forsyth, Greensboro and Covington before coming to Summerville First in July of 2022. 

 

Pastor Wes graduated from Toccoa Falls college with a degree in Pastoral Studies. He received his Masters Degree from Erskine Theological Seminary in Due West, South Carolina. He was one class and a dissertation short of his Doctoral Degree before coronavirus derailed the process.

 

Passions and hobbies include motorcycle riding, fishing, community theater and scuba diving. Wes is a member of the Christian Motorcycle Association (CMA) that meets in Lafayette, Georgia. Motorcycles and motorcycle ministry offer an opportunity to touch the lives of people who may never walk inside the doors of the church building. It gives an opportunity to reach people for Christ in a very unique way. Wes has often said that riding is spiritual, because while riding, there is nothing to do other than commune with God. Dossie enjoys riding when the weather permits. Wes loves fishing and will go fishing in almost any kind of weather. He has been fishing in the snow and on the hottest day of the year. Scuba is a warm water passion for Wes. Dossie encourages these passions and hobbies, but prefers to watch from the safety of the shore. 

 

Wes enjoys community theater and has had roles in “To Kill a Mockingbird”, “Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus” among several others.  Theater, like motorcycle riding, exposes the church to a different group of people and allows people to see Christians having fun. 

 

Outside of his role as pastor, Wes enjoys prison ministry, serving along side the brothers and sisters in Kairos Prison Ministries, sharing God’s love in Washington State, Burruss, Walker and Riverbend State prisons. While it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, the men in prison are children of God and need to know God loves them, even in prison. It is also important to note that most men in prison will eventually get out. The church should be their best resource as they transition back into civilian life.

 

One of Wes' newest activities is being Santa Claus. The original Saint Nicholas was a Christian monk near the area and we know as Turkey today. Wes says that Saint Nick was a servant of the King of Kings and he enjoys seeing little children’s faces light up when they meet Santa.

 

With the name, John Wesley Privett, it seems fitting that Wes is an Ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church. Wes embraces Wesleyan theology, trying to live into Wesley’s “Three Simple Rules”: Do no harm, do good, stay in love with God.