Our Regular Teachers

Dr. Steve Bond, left, a former member of the US Air Force, received his BA degree from the University of Tennessee in Philosophy and German in 1967 and his Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University in Philosophy in 1976. In 2017 Steve retired from Lifeway Christian Resources, having served in both editorial and marketing positions, most recently as editor of Bibles and Bible Reference Books. Married in 1966, Steve and his wife, Kay, have two children and four grandchildren. Steve usually teaches one or two Sundays a month in the Joyful Noise Class.

Bishop Joe E. Pennel, Jr., center, is a former Senior Pastor of Brentwood UMC and retired Bishop of the UMC for the Virginia Conference. He received his Doctorate from the Vanderbilt Divinity School in 1977. From 2004 through 2022 Bishop Pennel served as Professor of the Practice of Leadership in the Vanderbilt Divinity School. Author of numerous books and articles, he has been chair of several committees of the Council of Bishops, a member of the World Methodist Council, and on the Board of Trustees of seven colleges and universities. Bishop Pennel and his wife, Janene, have been married sixty years and are the parents of two daughters. He enjoys hiking, reading, clock collecting, and traveling with Janene. Bishop Pennel usually teaches the Joyful Noise Class every fourth Sunday.

Dr. Robert (Bob) Stammer, Jr., right, a teacher of the Joyful Noise Class for over twenty-five years and a Sunday School teacher at BUMC since 1981, served as Professor of Civil Engineering with a special emphasis in Traffic Engineering and Transportation at Vanderbilt University until becoming Professor Emeritus in 2015. He is also President of Stammer Transportation Engineering, Inc., of Brentwood, TN. Bob received his Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee in 1982. A former Captain in the US Army Reserve, Corps of Engineers, Bob is also an Eagle Scout and recipient of the Chancellor's Cup at Vanderbilt, as well as numerous other professional honors and awards. Bob and his wife, Jane, are the parents of two sons and five grandchildren. Bob usually teaches the Joyful Noise Class two or three Sundays a month.