The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has expanded in the greater Chattanooga area, with three new congregations established in Collegedale, Ringgold and Ooltewah. A branch is a smaller congregation. A ward is a larger congregation. The congregations meet at the Church building, 3067 Ooltewah Ringgold Road.
James Cook serves as branch president for Collegedale, with Bob Cuthbertson and Colby Steffenhagen serving as counselors. The Collegedale branch meets from noon–2 p.m.
Bruce Tidwell serves as branch president for Ringgold, with C.
Kurt Johnson and Troy McGuire serving as counselors. The Ringgold branch meets from 9-11 a.m.
Randy Williams serves as bishop of the Ooltewah ward, with Phil McGrath and C. Darryl Wilkerson serving as counselors. The Ooltewah ward meets from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
A Hidden Lakes congregation made up of single adults also meets in the building, with Jerry Sink serving as branch president. Services for Hidden Lakes are from 1:30-3:30 p.m.
All are invited to worship. As is the practice with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, services are free, and all serve without pay.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also has wards and branches in Athens, Cleveland, Dalton, Rocky Face, Signal Mountain, Chattanooga, Chattanooga Valley, Hixson and Dayton. Boundaries affecting congregations in Hixson and Dayton have also changed, which has increased membership in those areas, officials said.