e The Rev. Dr. William (Bill) Buchanan has been serving in parish ministry since 1990 and was a certified public accountant prior to entering the ministry. He has served as chair of the Committee on Spiritual Formation for the Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church and is a member of the Arkansas Conference Board of Discipleship. He graduated from the University of Mississippi with a double major in English and political science, with minors in sociology and music. He has earned the Master of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, holds the Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Leadership with Specialization in Spiritual Formation from Phillips Theological Seminary, has done post-graduate work at Memphis Theological Seminary and St. Paul School of Theology, holds a certification in spiritual direction from Perkins School of Theology (SMU), and is a member of Spiritual Directors International. He has been active as a curriculum writer, spiritual retreat leader, teacher of courses for ministers in training, spiritual director, and mentor for ministry candidates.
Family
Dr. Bill has two grown children and six grandchildren: Matt is 35 and lives in Little Rock with his wife Melanie and their three beautiful daughters. Matt works for Bank of the Ozarks and Melanie teaches at Little Rock Christian. Elizabeth Buchanan Soard is 31 and is married to Eric Soard. Liz and Eric are both commissioned United Methodist missionaries in Tanzania, East Africa where they live with their three sons and have worked for the past eight years. 
Interests/Activities/Hobbies/Religious or Civic Affiliations: 
Interests include hunting, fishing, traditional archery and sailing. Civic Affiliations include Rotary Club and local ministerial alliance, as well as serving on the board of the Tanzania Wesley Education Foundation.  
has served as chair