Staff

Our Staff
~What is unique about our staff?~
~Words from our staff expressing their sense of calling~

Full-Time
Amanda W. Ragland, D.Min.,LMFT, Executive Director
Jack Ragland, D.Min., LMFT
James Norris, M.Div.,LMFT
Kim Gillespie, M.A., ALC, NCC
Part-Time
Mickey D. Jett, D.Min., NCC
James McClurkan, D.Min.
Deb Brunner, LCSW,LISW-CP
Jaina Anderson, D.Min. (candidate)

Administrative Assistant

Elizabeth Tubbs

Ministry Assistants

 Debbie Burn

~What is unique about our staff?~

Our staff are uniquely equipped with both secular and ecclesiastical credentials.

All seven of our staff, theologically trained with six being ordained clergy

  • 3 certified pastoral counselors by the American Association of Pastoral Counselors
  • 1 Diplomate, 1 of 3 in state, only 1 in North Alabama;
  • 2 Fellows, 2 of 11 in state, 2 of 3 in  North Alabama
  • 2 Approved Supervisors of AAMFT, 2 of 3 in North Alabama
  • 2 Approved Supervisors of MFT, 2 of 4 in North Alabama
  • 2 Licensed Supervisors of Supervision of MFT, 2 of 20 in state, 2 of 3 in North Alabama


Amanda W. Ragland, D.Min., LMFT

-    Doctor of Ministry in Marriage and Family Therapy from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
-    Master of Divinity from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
-    Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Approved Supervisor and Licensed Supervisor of Supervision by the Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy
-    Clinical Member and Approved Supervisor of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
-    Diplomate of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors
-    Ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament by the Presbyterian Church (USA)

Jack Ragland, D.Min., LMFT

-    Doctor of Ministry in Marriage and Family Therapy from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
-    Master of Divinity from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
-    Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist,  Approved Supervisor and Licensed Supervisor of Supervision by the Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy
-    Clinical Member and Approved Supervisor of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
-    Fellow of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors
-    Ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament by the Presbyterian Church (USA)

James M. (Jim) Norris, M.Div., LMFT

- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist by the Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy
- Clinical Member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
- Fellow of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors
- Certificate in Spiritual Direction from Stillpoint; a two-year residency in Spiritual Direction and Contemplative Prayer
- 22 years of pastoral experience as an ordained clergy, United Church of Christ

Kim Gillespie, M.A., NCC

- M.A. in Community Counseling, with honors, Denver Seminary
- National Certified Counselor
- B.S. degree, with honors, The University of Alabama
- James Beck Counseling Award, for excellence in the counseling program and anticipated future potential in the counseling field.
- 10 years of pastoral experience working with adolescents, Young Life
- Associate Licensed Counselor by the State of Alabama under the supervision of Byrom O. Goodwin, ED. S.   She is also under the clinical supervision of Amanda Ragland, D.Min., LMFT, Approved Supervisor of MFTs by the State of Alabama.

Mickey D. Jett, D.Min., NCC

- Certified Pastoral Counselor with AAPC and Fellow
- D.Min. in Pastoral Ministry, Erskine Theological Seminary (Due West, SC)
- M.Div., Church of God Theological Seminary (Cleveland, TN)
- M.S. Counseling, Columbus State University (Columbus, GA)
- Army Chaplain (Retired), LTC, 19 years (Deployments to Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan)
- Ordained Minister Pastoral Ministry and Word by the Church of God (Cleveland, TN)
- 2 years Hospital Chaplain
- Church Planter and Pastor ChristWay Church, Huntsville
- Director of Family Life Counseling Center, SHAPE, Belgium (2002-2004)

James McClurkan, D.Min.

- D.Min. in Pastoral Ministry, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
- Master of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
- Pastoral ministry for 18 years

Deb Brunner, LCSW,LISW-CP

- Licensed Certified Social Worker by the Alabama Board of Examiners in Social Work
- Licensed Independent Social Worker
- Clinical Practice by the South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker by the North Carolina Board of Clinical Social Workers
- Clinical Member of the National Association of Social Workers
- Military Family Life Consultant, CONUS and OCONUS
- Hospice Bereavement Grief Group Leader
- Experience with Suicide Survivor Support Groups and Suicide Prevention

Jaina Anderson, D.Min. (candidate)

- D.Min. in Pastoral Counseling (Candidate), Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
- M.Div., Columbia Theological Seminary
- Ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church, USA
- Associate Minister, First Presbyterian Church in Athens
- Pastoral Counseling Intern, under the clinical supervision of Amanda W. Ragland, D.Min., LMFT

Words from our staff expressing their sense of calling:

When asked “why do you do what you do?”  the staff members of The Vine responded with words reflecting their calling.

“I have been blessed so much in my life by the love and grace of Jesus Christ, and God has gifted me with the ability to listen, with gifts of healing.   I want to make God’s love known more and more in the world’” Amanda reflected. ”I do it for the thrill of seeing the Lord at work, and I am excited to be a part of it.   Every time a person heals, God’s love is known that much more in the world, and that person is then equipped to pass that love on further.    There is no energy quite so contagious as a person newly healed and newly free”.

Jack said, “When sitting with a client who has  a moment of clarity, of healing, of experiencing God’s message to them, it is to experience God through the work of Christ and the Holy Spirit, and it is truly a Holy moment”.

“For me it is experiencing and making known the incarnational presence of Jesus Christ” says Jim.  “People wonder how I am able to listen so much.   For me it is not a burden.   Buechner said that your calling is where your deep joy meets the worlds great need.   Listening is a gift.   I think of it as sacramental listening.   I seek to embody Christ.”

Kim Gillespie, our newest full-time therapist, said “For me counseling is bringing in the Kingdom of God more fully”.