About Us
Dr. Maxie D. Dunnam
Honorary Co-chairman
Dr. Maxie D. Dunnam was born in Deemer, Mississippi. He graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor of Science in 1955. Dr. Dunnam continued his education earning a Master of Theology from Emory University in 1958. He was awarded a Doctor of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary in 1977.
Dr. Maxie Dunnam was organizing pastor of three United Methodist churches: Aldersgate United Methodist in Georgia, Trinity United Methodist in Mississippi, and St. Andrews-by-the-Sea United Methodist in California. He served the West Anaheim United Methodist Church in the Southern California/Arizona Conference. For twelve years Dr. Dunnam was Senior Minister of Christ United Methodist Church, which grew from 2,000 to almost 6,000 members during his ministry. .
Dr. Dunnam was the World Editor of the Upper Room when The Upper Room Cursillo was established. It was through Dr. Dunnam’s leadership that the Rev. Robert Wood was brought to the staff of The Upper Room to direct the Cursillo/Emmaus Movement. Along with Rev. Wood and a small group, the Cursillo was given a Protestant expression, The Walk to Emmaus. Dr. Dunnam participated in shaping it with a unique Methodist flavor.
Dr. Dunnam is a highly published author with many books and workbooks to his name. He has also published a video/study program called "Bible Study for Christian Living." He has received a variety of awards and special honors including the following:.
In October 1989, Dr. Dunnam was inducted into Evangelism’s "Hall of Fame" by the Foundation for Evangelism as one of Forty Distinguished Evangelists of the Methodist world..
In 1991 he received the World Methodist Council Chair of Honor.
Dr. Dunnam received The Philip Award for Distinguished Service in Evangelism, presented by the National Association of United Methodist Evangelists in 1993.
Dr. Dunnam is a past president of the World Methodist Council and served for 20 years as chair of World Evangelism for the World Methodist Council.
Dr. Thomas Clark Oden
Honorary Co-chairman
Dr. Thomas Clark Oden was born on October 21, 1931 in Altus, Oklahoma. He attended the University of Oklahoma and graduated cum laude in 1953 with a Bachelor of Arts. In 1956, he graduated magna cum laude from Southern Methodist University, Perkins School of Theology, with a Bachelor of Divinity. He received a Master of Arts from Yale University in 1958, as well as a Ph.D. from Yale in 1960. Dr. Oden also holds honorary doctoral degrees from Asbury College, Nashotah House Theological Seminary, and Asbury Theological Seminary.
Dr. Oden has taught at Yale University, SMU’s Perkins School of Theology, The Graduate Seminary of Phillips University, Ruprecht-Karl Universitaet in Heidelberg, Germany, Ecumenical Institute in Bossey, Switzerland, Texas Med. School’s Institute of Religion, Drew University, Princeton Theological Seminary, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, School of Theology at Claremont, Moscow State University, Gregorian University, Rome, and General Theological Seminary, in New York. Dr. Tom Oden is the Henry Anson Buttz Professor Emeritus of Theology and Ethics at The Theological School and The Graduate School, Drew University.
Dr. Oden is a highly published author. His most recent works include The Rebirth of Orthodoxy: Signs of New Life in Christianity, How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind: The African Seedbed of Western Christianity, Classic Christianity: A Systematic Theology, The African Memory of Mark: Reassessing Early Church Tradition, and Early Libyan Christianity. He is the General Editor of the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (a 28 volume commentary on the Old and New Testament by Christian writers of the first eight centuries), Ancient Christian Doctrine series, Ancient Christian Devotional, and Ancient Christian Texts series with Gerald Bray. In addition Dr. Oden has completed a new four volume set on John Wesley’s Teachings.
Dr. Oden has served as the Senior Editor for Christianity Today and staffed the Editorial Boards of the following publications: Journal of Pastoral Care, Journal of Christian Counseling, Zondervan, Academic Books, and Pro. Ecclesia.
Since 2007 Dr. Oden has been Director of the Center for Early African Christianity at Eastern University in St. Davids, Pennsylvania. CEAC’s mission is to educate African leadership in the depth of African intellectual literary achievements, especially those from the Christian tradition of the first millennium.
Dr. Oden resides in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Rev. Gregory McGarvey
Gregory McGarvey is the Senior Pastor of Carmel United Methodist Church, Carmel, Indiana, north of Indianapolis. He has served there since 2001.
Greg is a graduate of DePauw University and Asbury Theological Seminary.
Spending his entire 40-year ministry in Indiana, Greg has served small rural churches, a downtown county-seat church, a small town church, and 3 urban/suburban churches. From 1983-88, Greg was Superintendent of the New Albany District.
He has served the Annual Conference as chairperson of the Administrative Council, member of the South Indiana Conference Executive Committee, and has been a 7-time delegate to General Conference.
Greg was a member of the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits and part of the international steering committee for The Central Conference Pension Initiative that raised $22 million to endow pensions for retirees in Africa and other Central Conferences.
Greg married Peggy Ann Drake on July 20, 1974. Peggy and Greg have two sons: Christopher and Joshua. Greg and Peggy have traveled extensively in mission in India, Nepal, Indonesia, People's Republic of China, Korea, and Haiti. Greg’s hobbies include planning exciting family vacations, sailing, and tennis.
Rev. Larry Baird
President
Larry will be the Senior Pastor of Trinity Grand Island United Methodist Church in Grand Island, NY beginning July 1, 2011. For the past eight years he has been the Cornerstone District Superintendent in the Western New York Conference, serving on Bishop Marcus Matthews cabinet.
He was ordained Deacon in 1972 and Elder in 1976. He received his B.A. from Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania in 1971, and the M.Div. from Colgate-Rochester Divinity School in 1974.
During his over thirty years in ministry, he has served as registrar for the Board of Ordained Ministry, director of continuing effectiveness, chair of the conference church growth and evangelism committee, and as chair of the conference committee on camps and conferences. Within the general church, he currently serves on the General Board of Discipleship, Curriculum Review Committee, New Church Starts, and Ethnic Minority Local Church Committee. He is also a member of the Northeast Jurisdiction Episcopacy Committee.
He is married to Brenda Kephart Baird. They have two adult sons.
Rev. Ryan Barnett
Rev. Ryan Barnett is a proud 7th generation Texan. After graduating from Friendswood High School in his hometown of Friendswood, Texas, Ryan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from the University of Texas at Austin. While in school, Ryan worked on a number of political campaigns and served as a Legislative Aide to a Texas Senator during the legislative session. Discerning a call to ministry, Ryan attended Asbury Theological Seminary, where he served as President of the Student Body and student representative to the Board of Trustees.Following his graduation in 2004, he was appointed to University United Methodist Church in San Antonio. He served as the Teaching Pastor at “The U” for seven years, growing the church dramatically, personally receiving over 1500 new people into the church, 500 of whom joined through a first time profession of faith.In June 2011, Ryan was appointed to serve as the 15th Senior Minister of St. John’s United Methodist Church (www.sjmethodist.com) in Corpus Christi, Texas. During his tenure attendance, membership, and generosity have all steadily increased and St. John’s is currently planting a second campus.Ryan is actively engaged in works of grace both at home and abroad. He has launched addition recovery ministry, serves among the homeless population, and provides accessible childcare for those living in poverty. Alongside Bishop Nathan Amooti of Cyangugu, Rwanda, Ryan has worked to build churches, schools, health clinics, and provide opportunity for the people of Central Africa. The Barnetts spent the Spring of 2011 living and serving in Rwanda’s capital city of Kigali where Ryan served in a cross cultural pastoral appointment in the Rwandan Anglican Church. He is also involved in supporting the Methodist Church in Costa Rica, working to build a children’s home and share the love of Christ with kids at the Methodist School of San Jose.Ryan is married to Kim Brooks Barnett, PA-C of McAllen, Texas. Kim is an accomplished Physician Assistant practicing emergency medicine at Corpus Christi Medical Center in Corpus Christi. The Barnetts have three dogs: Lexi, a black lab/blue heeler mix and; Latimer, a Great Dane; and Hallelujah, a Golden Doodle.Ryan is a frequent guest preacher – particularly investing his time sharing the Gospel with young people and in ways that promote church renewal. He is Chairman of the Southwest Texas Conference Council on Youth Ministry, and a member of the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, Nominations Committee, and Council on Ministry. Ryan also serves on the national Board of Directors of The Confessing Movement within The United Methodist Church.
Judy Graham
First Vice-President
Judy Graham is a dynamic and gifted speaker and teacher who enthusiastically shares the message of victorious living through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and an intimate knowledge of His word. In sharing her message of salvation and victorious living at meetings and retreats all over the country, Judy has helped many women to understand the power available to them through the Holy Spirit.
Raised in a small town in Oklahoma , Judy’s values were established early on by loving, Christian parents. One of Judy’s great joys as a child was playing the old pipe organ at First Methodist Church in her hometown of Pawnee. Judy later attended and graduated from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater , Oklahoma .
After teaching high school in Bartlesville , Oklahoma , Judy moved to Houston . It was there that she met and married her husband Geren Graham. Together they came to trust the Lord in every aspect of their lives: their marriage, their finances, their health, and the business they started and build together. Judy remains a director in the business with her husband.
Judy is also a co-founder and President of Celebration Women’s Ministry, Inc., a woman to woman ministry in the Texas Annual Conference. She has served as a officer and board member of several interdenominational Christian women’s organizations, as well as two terms as President of the President’s Advisors Guild of Houston Baptist University. Judy is also an active member of Chapelwood United Methodist Church .
Judy is an avid golfer, gardener and oil painter. You will be blessed as Judy shares her faith and insight into God's word.
David D. Jenkins
Secretary
Dave Jenkins, the son of a pioneering family from Ellis County, Oklahoma, is the current pastor of the Davis, Oklahoma First United Methodist Church, located in the heart of the Arbuckle Mountains of south central Oklahoma on I-35 eighty miles South of Oklahoma City. He was ordained elder in 1995, and is a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, with an Master of Divinity Degree. David is a current member of Board of Ordained Ministry in the Oklahoma Annual Conference.
David also holds the Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Sciences (’79) and the Master’s Degree in Agricultural Education (’83) from Oklahoma State University. Before the pastoral ministry, he served as Assistant Director of Student Services in the OSU Division of Agriculture, and was the Market Development Director of the Oklahoma Beef Council in Oklahoma City.
David’s ancestors came to Oklahoma & Indian Territories from Kentucky, Iowa, and Kansas. The Jenkins family in particular came to New York from Wales in the late 1700’s, and then to Kentucky in the early 1800’s, finally making the famous Oklahoma Land Run in 1893. His great-grandmother, Mary Emma Jenkins, experienced the saving grace of God with faithful Methodists in St. Louis, Missouri, during the 1880’s. Later in Oklahoma, she answered the call to pastoral ministry in 1921 and served passionately as a Methodist pastor in the West Oklahoma Conference for 45 years. In 1941, “Sister Emma” became the first woman ordained deacon in her conference.
David grew up on a ranch near Higgins, Texas, where his family is still today in the beef-production business. They have been for many years faithful members of the United Methodist Church, and it was through the many vibrant ministries and faithful Spirit-filled Christian people there that David’s life was first touched by the grace of God. The ministry of the Lay Witness Movement had a special impact upon him and his family.
David met Cindy Key through their common love of the violin. Cindy was on violin scholarship with the symphony at Oklahoma City University, and while David was a “fiddle-player” performing western swing music in bands across a five-state region. Today they continue their love of playing music for the glory of the Lord and in various family venues. Their family today includes son Will who is sixteen, and daughter Sarah who is twelve, both of whom are budding musicians as well. Cindy has been teaching violin for more than a decade, and David continues to sing and play violin, mandolin, and guitar in the life of the church and throughout the community.
While serving in the agriculture industry in public relations and marketing, David became a part of the ministry at the historic First United Methodist Church in downtown Oklahoma City. It was there, nurtured by the influence of the Walk to Emmaus, that David and Cindy experienced God’s call into the pastoral ministry. Together, they have served the Lord in very diverse ministry settings: on staff at 1st UMC downtown Oklahoma City; Gunn’s Chapel UMC in rural Garrard County Kentucky; St. Andrew’s UMC in suburban Claremore, Oklahoma; rural central western Oklahoma, in the communities of Leedey and Hammon; Mannford on Lake Keystone near Tulsa; and now Davis in the Arbuckle Mountains of south central Oklahoma on I-35.
David was in the founding leadership of the Confessing Movement in Oklahoma in 1996. He served on the UM Decision teams at the General Conferences of 2000 (Cleveland, OH), 2004 (Pittsburgh, PA), 2008 (Ft. Worth, TX), and 2012 in Tampa, FL. He is honored to be serving on the National Board of Directors of the Confessing Movement Within the United Methodist Church.
Joe Kilpatrick
Assistant Treasurer
Joe is a certified public accountant, self-employed, specializing in tax preparation for individuals and audits for small business and non-profit organizations. Joe does a substantial number of peer reviews for other firms of CPAs. He also co-founded Eldercare Connections, LLC a business providing case management and social services for senior citizens. His office is in the Chamblee-Dunwoody area of Atlanta , off I-285.
A management graduate of Georgia Tech, Joe also completed an MBA degree in night school at Georgia State . He is a resident of Tucker, Georgia.
An active layman in the United Methodist Church , North Georgia ’s laity elected him five times to serve on that denominations international legislative body, the General Conference.
Joe serves on the Board of Trustees of Asbury Theological Seminary, an interdenominational seminary with a Wesleyan heritage and about 1,000 students. It is located in Wilmore , Kentucky and Orlando , Florida with a virtual campus also.
Vitally interested in the renewal and growth of The United Methodist Church, Joe has actively supported The Confessing Movement within The United Methodist Church as a means of ensuring theology that is faithful to historic doctrinal standards. He serves as the secretary of the Board of Directors.
Joe completed a 12-year term on the Board of Directors of The United Methodist Publishing House. He chaired the finance committee and served the investment and audit committee of this $120 million enterprise.
He served two four year terms as president of United Methodist Men for the North Georgia Conference, one of the denomination’s most active men’s organizations. He received a life membership in that organization.
Joe has been a member of Tucker First UMC for about 30 years. He is a member of the Open Door Sunday School class.
Joe has two sons, and six grandchildren. His wife for 44 years, Carole, is school secretary at Fernbank Elementary School in DeKalb County , Georgia .
Turner Arant
Mr. Turner Arant was born in Blaine, Mississippi, on August 17, 1934. He graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science. Turner is married to the former Sybil Kirk. They have one son, Andy, two daughters, Carol and Kathryn Anne, and five grandchildren.
Turner's family has been active in farming in the Mississippi Delta since the early 1930's growing cotton, rice, soybeans, and wheat. In 1962 he was one of the first to begin the production of catfish in the Mississippi Delta. In 1982 he received the Farmer of the Year Award from the Catfish Farmers of America. He received the Mississippi State University Agribusiness Award in production agriculture. In 1987 he was recognized as Mississippi Farmer of the Year awarded by Mississippi Department of Agriculture and sponsored by Mississippi Satellite Network. He was recognized by Mississippi State University as Alumnus of the Year for Agriculture. He is a board member of Community Bank of Mississippi, Farmers Grain Terminal, and Delta Western Catfish Feed Mill. He served six years on the United States Department of Agriculture Research Board for Agriculture.
Turner is a member of First Methodist Church of Indianola, Mississippi, where he serves as Delegate to Annual Conference and a member of the Finance Committee. He was elected first as a lay delegate to 2000 and 2004 General Conference from the Mississippi Annual Conference. He served on General Council of Ministries from 2000 to 2004. Beginning in 2004, he is serving on the General Board of Global Ministries. He has served on the South Eastern Jurisdiction Episcopacy from 2000. He is a member of the Mississippi Methodist Foundation, Mississippi Home For Kids, Wood Institute, Mississippi Baddour Center. He serves as an assistant Sunday School teacher. He was instrumental in helping establish North Mississippi Emmaus Community and North Mississippi Christian Camp. He has been an active Gideon and Rotarian for 30 years.
Dr. James B. Buskirk
Dr. James B. Buskirk, recently retired, was Senior Minister at First United Methodist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma September 1984 - February 2001. More than 4700 persons accepted Christ and/or united with First United Methodist during Dr. Buskirk's ministry of twelve years. Under his leadership, the mission program exceeded $250,000 yearly and attracted more than 200 lay persons to short-term missions each year with more than 3300 lay persons doing lay ministries each week as an expression of their Christian discipleship. He has been a delegate to the last four jurisdictional conferences and the last three general conferences. He was a pastor of seventeen years prior to becoming the first professor of the Arthur J. Moore Chair of Evangelism at Candler School of Theology, Emory University, 1972-1976. Dr. Buskirk was the founding dean of the School of Theology at Oral Roberts University, 1976-1984. Dr. Buskirk is the originator of two local church programs in creative ministry called, "Motivation for Ministry" and "Affirmation Evangelism." He has contributed chapters to several books and written numerous articles.
Dr. Buskirk has been "Conference Preacher" at several annual conferences, spoken at jurisdictional conferences and at national conferences, and taught at several "Pastors' Schools" in annual conferences and at "Ministers' Week" in seminary settings. He has ministered in numerous churches in almost every state and preached and taught abroad. He was given the coveted Philip Award in 1979 from the National Association of United Methodist Evangelists. He received the Harry Denman Award in the Oklahoma United Methodist Conference in 1988. In 1992 he was named Distinguished Evangelist by The United Methodist Foundation for Evangelism.
Dr. Buskirk served over thirty years as a pastor. He served as the chair-person of the Oklahoma Conference Board of Evangelism for eight years. For four years he was on the Conference Board of Education. Other boards and agencies on which he has served are The South Central Jurisdiction Episcopacy Committee, Oklahoma Conference Episcopacy Committee, Frances Williard Home, Methodist Manor, Mount Sequoyah, Manna Ministries, Baddour Center, and is now Chair of the Board of Trustees Asbury Theological Seminary.
Dr. Buskirk earned a B. A. from Millsaps College, Jackson, Mississippi, a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, and a Doctor of Sacred Theology from Atlanta Theological Association through Candler School of Theology. He received Doctor of Divinity degrees from Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Kentucky and from Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Dr. Buskirk is married to the former Miss Nancy Merritt who is a graduate of Emory University. They have a son and a daughter, Christopher and Angela. Their son, Chris, is a graduate of Candler School of Theology and is the Associate Minister of Preaching at First United Methodist Church, Houston, Texas. Their daughter, Angela, is a graduate of Oklahoma City University with a major in psychology and has earned a Master Degree in Health Services Administration at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She and her husband reside in Houston, Texas.
Dr. Buskirk's experiences as a husband, father, pastor, evangelist, professor, dean of a seminary, and administrator all contribute to his effectiveness in ministry.
Robert Collins Jr.
Sam Daffin
Married to Mary A. Daffin, attorney at law (married 40 years)
Pamela Cormier and Maynard S. Daffin, II., both married
4 grandchildren
An Attorney at Law
Rotary International, Downtown Houston Club
Trustee, Asbury Theological Seminary
Trustee, Houston Christian High School
EDUCATION:
B.S., Alabama State University
J.D., Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:
Private Practice of Law, M. Samuel Daffin Law Office
Member of the State of Bar of Texas
CHURCH AFFILIATION:
First United Methodist Church , Houston , Texas (Past and present positions of service.)
-Member of the Administrative Board
-Staff : Parish Relations
-Chairman, Board of Directors of Wesley Academy
-Lay Member of Annual Conference
-Lay Leader/Lay Coach, Ministry Coordinating Council
-Member of the Finance Committee
-Committee on Nominations and Personnel
-Board of Directors Quillian Memorial Center
-College, Single and Senior Adult Sunday School Teacher
-Choir Member (26 years)
-Alternate to 2000 General Conference
-Delegate to 2004 General Conference
Beyond the Local Church
Trustee, Houston North District of the Texas Annual Conference
Mary Daffin
Mary Daffin is currently an attorney and partner at Barrett, Burke, Wilson, Castle, Daffin & Frappier, and Adjunct Professor of Law, Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University. She is also a former Assistant United States Attorney, United States Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, 1978-82.
She graduated from Alabama State University and earned her Juris Doctorat from Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University, 1975.
Mary Daffin is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the United States Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits; and the United States District Courts for the Southern, Northern, Western and Eastern District of Texas.
She is an author/speaker for south Texas College of Law, Bankruptcy, Course on Fundamentals, and for the State Dar of Texas Professional Development Program, Advanced Consumer Bankruptcy Law Course and Advanced Creditors’ rights seminar, and speaker for the U.S> Foreclosure Network National Default Servicing Seminar and Roundtable, Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights.
Her church membership is at First United Methodist Church of Houston, where she is the Chair of Pastor-Parish Relations Committee, member of the Administrative Board, and past member of the Board of Trustees. She and her husband, M. Samuel Daffin, Sr., attorney at law, have two children; Pamela D. Daffin-Cormier, RN at Texas Children’s Hospital and M. Samuel Daffin II, student.
Mickey Ellis
Asst. Secretary
Mickey Ellis is currently a member of Mission Bend United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas, the church she has loved and attended for the past 23 years.
She has been involved in implementing and coordinating various ministries within the local church such as the Prayer Ministry, Women’s Ministry, and Care Ministry. She has also served as MYF coordinator and counselor, Celebration Women’s Ministry vice-president, Purpose Driven Life campaign director, building relocation coordinator, lay representative at the Texas Annual Conference and SPRC chairperson.
She currently serves Mission Bend United Methodist Church as Care Ministry Coordinator, small group facilitator, high school Sunday school teacher, Prayer Ministry team member, leadership team member, and church CanCare representative.
Outside of church, Mickey has served on the board of directors of Families for
Early Autism Treatment (FEAT), as treasurer for the Star Chapter of the National
Charity League, and as a member of the Special Education Task Force in the
Katy Independent School District. She currently offers support to breast cancer
patients as a volunteer for CanCare.
Mickey attended Del Mar Junior College in Corpus Christi, Texas where she received top honors and graduated first in her class. She went on to work as a secretary and administrative assistant at Amoco Production Company where she met her husband, Mike Ellis, of 26 years. For a short time she worked as a Realtor in west Houston before becoming a stay-at-home mom to Chrissy and John, now teenagers.
Mickey has a great love for the Lord and for His church and enthusiastically shares her testimony with anyone who will listen. For enjoyment, she runs, writes, and is learning how to draw.
Dr. Ira Gallaway
Dr. Ira Gallaway is former General Secretary of the Board of Evangelism. From March 1974 until July 1989, Dr. Gallaway served as Directing Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Peoria, Illinois where his leadership helped bring renewed spiritual vitality and mission outreach to the congregation. In July of 1989, Dr. Gallaway took early retirement to devote his time to work in the mission field. He is serving as Minister of Leadership Development with the Four Corners Native American Ministry Located at Shiprock, New Mexico, and is working with the New Evangelical Seminary of the Evangelical Methodist Church in Costa Rica.
A Phi Beta Kappa graduate with an honor's degree in International Law and Political Science, he has served as a District Superintendent, as President of the National Council of Evangelism, and as the General Secretary of the General Board of Evangelism of the United Methodist Church. For fifteen years, he served as a member of the Executive Committee of the World Methodist Council and as member of the Bilateral Dialogue team with the Roman Catholic Church and the World Methodist Council. He served for six years as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Asbury Theological Seminary. The Chair of Leadership Development in Evangelism and World Mission at Asbury was recently endowed by a gift of $1,000,000.00 in honor of Dr. Gallaway.
He served as Chairman of the Board of the Mission Society for United Methodists for eight years, and continues as Chairman Emeritus.
In 1981, Dr. Gallaway served on a Citizen's Committee to study the crisis in El Salvador. The Committee was co-chaired by The Honorable Clark Kerr and Ambassador Angier Biddle Duke.
In March 1984, Dr. Gallaway was nominated by President Reagan to be a member of the official U.S. delegation to monitor the elections in El Salvador. He was also appointed by Congressman Robert Michel to the Special Congressional Committee to monitor U.S. aid to the Contras in the conflict in Nicaragua.
Dr. Gallaway was one of seven leading pastors form across the nation who called a meeting of concerned pastors in Houston, Texas in December, 1987 to affirm three central theological truths: the primacy of Scripture, the Trinitarian nature of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and the high and holy order of ordained ministry.
Dr. Gallaway is the author of a book, Drifted Astray, published by Abingdon Press in December 1982. In Drifted Astray, Dr. Gallaway addresses some of the critical issues facing the Church today. Dr. and Mrs. Gallaway have co-authored two study books for the Methodist Publishing House to be used as approved adult curriculum of The Church; The Kingdom Teachings of Jesus, and The Teaching of the Apostle Paul on Human Relationships.
Dr. Gallaway has four grown children Jerry, Cynthia, Craig and Tim. He also has twelve grandchildren
Dr. June Parker Goldman
Dr. June Parker Goldman is currently serving a third four-year term as Commissioner of Dickinson County. She is also a sought after public speaker for professional, educational church and service organizations throughout Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Kansas and South Dakota.
She is a graduate of Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass., 1947 with an honorary Doctor of Humanities from Morningside College, Sioux City Iowa, 1979
Dr. Goldman remains a United Methodist Church leader:
Elected lay delegate from Iowa for six General and jurisdictional Conferences (1976 - 1996).
Delegate to two World Methodist Conferences
Served on the General Commission on Religion and Race and on the General Commission on Church and Society
Lay member of the Iowa Annual Conference since 1975
Vice Chair of UMORE (United Methodists Organized for Renewal and Evangelism)
A member of the United Methodist Church in Spirit Lake, IA.
She is an author of two books, published by Abingdon Press: To Touch the Sky, 1969; and Search Every Corner, 1972.
Charles Kyker
Dr. John Ed Mathison
Dr. John Ed Mathison is the Senior Minister of the Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church in Montgomery, one of the fastest growing United Methodist Churches in America. Frazer has the largest Sunday School attendance for United Methodist Churches in America.
In 1986 the Church Leadership Institute cited Frazer as the fastest growing church of any denomination in Alabama. Frazer has an average worship attendance for the four Sunday services of over 4,500. Frazer's morning worship service is televised nationwide each week on Odyssey, INS, and AM NET, which reaches 80 million homes! The Frazer Family Hour is shown each Sunday in 22 countries in Europe reaching 167 million homes!
Frazer is committed to involving lay people in ministry. Eighty-three percent of the resident members are involved in a specific area of ministry. Frazer also has a strong commitment to missions. Thirty-five percent of the total budget is allocated to missions.
In 1994 Dr. Mathison was selected as the National Clergyman of the Year by The Religious Heritage Foundation.
He has written three books. Tried and True, published by Discipleship Resources, lists 11 church growth principles utilized by Frazer for designing and implementing its ministry. Every Member in Ministry tells Frazer's story of how to get lay people involved in meaningful ministry and how to avoid inactive members. Fishing for Birds is a collection of 122 bulletin-front messages from Dr. Mathison to the Frazer congregation. He has also written articles for Decision Magazine, The Circuit Rider, and other religious periodicals.
Dr. Mathison graduated from Opelika High School, attended Young Harris Junior College, received a BA Degree from Huntingdon College, BD Degree from Candler School of Theology, a Th.M. Degree from Princeton University, and the Doctor of Ministry Degree from Candler School of Theology.
Dr. Mathison was All-State Basketball Player for three years in high school and was captain and leading scorer for Huntingdon College, He is consistently ranked number one in his age division in tennis in Alabama and recently was ranked number three in the South. He has won 7 state racquetball championships.
For several years Dr. Mathison has served as Platform Speaker for the National Conference of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Platform Speaker for the National Hi-Y Tri-Hi-Y Conference at Black Mountain, North Carolina. Twice he has been the Platform Speaker for the Protestant Retreat at the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs.
He was selected as "Man of the Year" in Montgomery for 1978 and received the Distinguished Service Award from the Jaycees in 1979. In August 1988 he was awarded the Paul Grist Memorial Award for Service to Youth during the YMCA High School Values Conference at Blue Ridge, North Carolina. He serves on the Board of Directors of Colonial Bank and Colonial Bancgroup, Board of Directors of the Montgomery YMCA, and the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness.
He has a wife, Lynn, and they have three daughters, Vicki, Lauren, and Clay, and one son, Si.
Dan Moore
Mr. Dan Moore is President and Chief Executive Officer of Home Bank, Martinsville. He has been with the bank since 1978. Moore is a graduate of Indiana State University. He holds a Master of Science in Management from Indiana Wesleyan University. Moore is a graduate of the School of Executive Development. He has also served as an Adjunct Instructor in the Business School at the University of Indianapolis. He serves the community as a board member of the Morgan Hospital Foundation; board member of the Morgan County Economic Corp.; Chairman of the Building Committee of the First United Methodist Church and past Chairman of the Barbara Jordan YMCA. On a national level Moore serves on the Mutual Institutions Advisory Board of the ICBA.
Rev Joy J. Moore
Rev. Joy J. Moore is the new Director of Student Life at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. Joy’s first responsibilities at the seminary were to facilitate the seminary’s relating of theological disciplines to the life and faith experiences of all people. As the Director of Ethnic Ministries, Joy established the Center for American Cultural Diversity which will expand the seminary’s commitment to sustaining and strengthening the diverse church and foster an anti-racism learning environment. As Director of Women’s Ministries, Rev. Moore worked to provide models and encouragement , for both male and female members of the Seminary community, to develop a scriptural theology of women in ministry. As Student Life Director, Joy’s responsibilities include programming student activities, residence life, discipline, and counseling at ATS.
A native of Chicago, Illinois, Rev. Moore’s desire to teach led her to study at the National College of Education in Evanston, Illinois, from which she received a Bachelor of Arts in Education and Mathematics. She holds a Master of Divinity from Garrett-Evangelical Seminary. A full clergymember of the United Methodist Church, Joy was the first African American female ordained elder in the West Michigan Annual Conference, where she serves on the Board of Ordained Ministry. In addition to having served as chairperson of both the Conference Racial/Ethnic Local Church Committee and the Conference Council on Ministries, Joy was an elected delegate to the 1996 General Conference.
She has served as chaplain and director of church relations at Adrian College, a church-related liberal arts college in Michigan and served as pastor in rural, urban, and suburban congregations.
Rev. Moore has contributed to Essential Truths (Bristol Books, 1997) and Unity, Liberty, and Charity (Abingdon Press, 1996). She was named a Christian Woman Role Model for 1998 by The Ecumenical Coalition on Women and Society.
Joy serves on the National Steering Committee of the "Confessing Movement" and the "Connection of Evangelical Clergywomen" within the United Methodist Church. Joy has served the denomination at the general, jurisdictional and annual conference level. In addition she has served on a number of issue-oriented task forces and community boards related to adoption, racial accord and substance abuse.
Donna Schlitt
- Widow Two Children Three Grandchildren Retired Church Business Administrator Owner/Operator Custom Drapery Business Telephone: 281-596-9094 donnaschlitt@sbcglobal.net
- Vice President L.C. Orrick Outreach, Inc./KQLC Christian Radio, Sealy, Texas Texas Conference Confessing Movement Board Resident Advisory Council, Eagle’s Trace Retirement Community, Houston, Texas General Conference Delegate 2012
- Lay Leader The Foundry United Methodist Church, Houston, Texas, Various local church positions Jurisdictional Conference Delegate 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 General Conference Delegate 2008 Chairperson Texas Conference Division of Missions Vice Chairperson Texas Conference Board of Pensions Secretary Texas Conference Insurance Committee Chairperson Room to Grow Program Chairperson Houston Districts Board of Missions
David M. Stanley
David M. Stanley is founder, Chairman, and CEO of Pearl Mutual Funds, an investment company that includes two mutual funds.
A lifelong Methodist, Dave has taught an adult Sunday School class for 46 years at Wesley United Methodist Church, Muscatine, Iowa. He was a delegate to the 1992 United Methodist General Conference, has been a Lay Member of the UMC Iowa Annual Conference for 27 years, and served as its Associate Lay Leader for Stewardship.
He is active in the church reform and renewal movement and serves as a Director of the Confessing Movement within The United Methodist Church and a Steering Committee member of the Coalition for United Methodist Accountability. He is also a Director of the Institute on Religion and Democracy and chairs its United Methodist Action committee. He is Co-Chair of the Methodist Laity Reform Movement in Iowa.
Dave and his wife, Jean Leu Stanley ("Jeanie"), are past International Executive Couple of United Marriage Encounter, a Christian ministry; they continue serving as officers and Board members. They have helped present more than 100 Marriage Encounter Weekends in seven countries and many states.
He is Chairman of National Taxpayers Union, the largest U. S. taxpayers' organization. He is co-founder and Chairman of Iowans for Tax Relief, the nonpartisan Iowa taxpayers' organization with 51,000 members. He serves on the World Taxpayers Association Board. Dave and Jeanie are co-speakers for taxpayer meetings -- more than 400 to date.
He is a Trustee of Iowa Wesleyan College and Chairman of Public Interest Institute, an independent think tank at the college.
Dave served in the Iowa Legislature for 12 years and was House Ways and Means Committee Chairman and Senate Majority Leader.
He co-founded the law firm that is now Stanley, Lande and Hunter. He is retired from law practice but maintains an "of counsel" relationship with the firm.
He received B.A. and J.D. degrees from the University of Iowa and is an Honorary Lifetime Director of the University of Iowa Foundation.
Dave and Jeanie Stanley live in Muscatine, Iowa. They have four married children and eight grandchildren.
Rev. Gregory D. Stover
Rev. Gregory D. Stover is currently District Superintendent of the Cincinnati District in Ohio.
He is a graduate of Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, KY, and United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio.
He is a member, General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns Taskforce on Theological Divinity, Confessing Movement Board Member, Good News Board of Directors (A Forum for Scriptural Christianity within the UMC) West Ohio Conference Board of Pensions (Chairperson, Health Care Cornmittee) Evangelical Fellowship of West Ohio (Board Member) West Ohio Conference Preachers Relief Society (Member, Board of Directors) Cincinnati District Committee on Ordained Ministry Cincinnati District Missions Committee Sharonville Ministerial Association Princeton Community Baccalaureate Committee
Before his current appointment he served as pastor of Sharonville United Methodist Church in Ohio from 1989-1999. Rev. Gregory Stover has been a Delegate, 1996 General Conference of the United Methodist Church Delegate, 1996 Jurisdictional Conference of the United Methodist Church, North Central Jurisdictional Committee on Elections (1992-1996), Cincinnati District Committee on Pastoral Care, Cincinnati District Anti-Casino Gambling Effort (Co-Director), Princeton High School Parents Athletic Advisory Council, Board of Directors and Executive Committee of Good News (A Forum for Scriptural Christianity within the United Methodist Church) 1982-1988, 1989-1995, Delegate to North Central Jurisdictional Conference of the UMC - 1988, 1992, West Ohio Conference Division on Evangelism (Vice Chair) - 1984-1992, Director of Evangelism, Toledo District - 1984-1992, Toledo District Council on Ministries , Toledo District Committee on Ordained Ministry, Dayton North District Education Committee, and Dayton North District Cablevision Committee.
Jeff Switzer
Jeff Switzer, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Senatobia, MS, is a native of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1991 with a B.S. in speech communication. He married Cindy Bass and attended Asbury Theological Seminary receiving a Master’s of Divinity in 1995. Rev. Switzer received his Doctorate of Ministry from Trinity Theological Seminary in 2006, with emphases in biblical studies and pulpit communication.
He served as pastor in Tupelo, MS for seven years before moving to Sandtown UMC in Philadelphia, MS, where he also served for seven years..
Rev. Switzer is the former president of the Mississippi Fellowship of United Methodist Evangelicals, a renewal group within the Mississippi Annual Conference, in association with the Confessing Movement..
Jeff and Cindy, now married for 22 years, have three children – Hannah, 19; Timothy, 18; Jonathan, 14.
Rev. Phil Thrailkill
Rev. Phil Thrailkill was born July 26, 1953, in Florence, South Carolina. His father is a retired Family Doctor and his mother is a homemaker and a nurse. He is the oldest of three brothers and one sister. A lifelong United Methodist, He married Lori Furches, his college sweetheart, on August 7, 1976. Lori is a Master's level and Nationally Board Certified second grade teacher with sixteen years experience. They have two adult children, Daniel and Ellen.
Rev. Thrailkill received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Wake Forest University in 1975 and his Masters of Divinity from Candler School of Theology, Emory University, 1979/84, both with honors. He became an Ordained Deacon in June 1977 and an Ordained Elder in June 1984, both in the South Carolina Annual Conference.
He has served in the following pastorate position: Youth Minister at Chamblee First United Methodist Church, Atlanta, GA, 1977-1979; Pastor of the Fairfield Circuit, Winnsboro, SC, 1979-1984; Founding Pastor of Northeast United Methodist Church, Columbia, SC, 1984-1994; Pastor of Saint Mark United Methodist Church, Charleston, SC, 1994-1998; and Pastor of Duncan Memorial UMC, Georgetown, SC, 1998 to present. He was elected as delegate to Southeastern Jurisdiction Conference in 2000 as an alternate and in 2004 as a full delegate.
Rev. Thrailkill also serves in many ministries beyond the local church. He currently serves as the Chaplain for the City of Georgetown Police and Fire and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. He also serves on the Ecumenical Advisory Board for Episcopal Spiritual Directors Training Program and the Chairman of the Georgetown Ministers Association.
Rev. Thrailkill is also very involved in foreign missions including currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Mission Society for United Methodists. He served as the Chairman of the Board from May 2001 until December 2004. Duncan United Methodist Church has a yearly foreign missions conference and has sent teams to Honduras, Costa Rica, and Peru. Rev. Thrailkill has numerous professional certifications, awards and special achievements including being the Co-founder of Trinity Prison Ministries which won both governmental and church awards for effectiveness. He is a highly sought after speaker and teacher at the church and conference level and beyond.
Rev. Thrailkill list the following as mentors and key influencers in his life:
Dr. J.C. Thrailkill, small-town doctor, who taught me about serving people, rich and poor.
Dr. Charles Talbert, New Testament scholar, who taught me to study the Scripture and ask good questions.
Dr. Betty Talbert, Spiritual Director, who taught me that every pastor needs a pastor.
Dr. George Morris, Candler Evangelism Professor, who taught me to do evangelism with integrity.
Dr. Don Saliers, Candler Worship Professor, who introduced me to riches of Christian worship.
Pastor John Wimber, Vineyard Churches, who taught me to pray for the sick and expect spiritual gifts.
Dr. Thomas Oden, Professor at Drew Seminary, who rooted me in the classic early Christian consensus.
Dr. Billy Abraham, Outler Professor at SMU, who believes that classical faith can be taught in local churches.
Danny Morris, Upper Room, who taught me that consensus is a possibility for local church decision making.
Dr. Al Vom Steeg, Mission Society for United Methodists, who keeps my passion for world missions alive.
Rev. Rob Dewey, Police Chaplain, who gave me a heart for the streets and for those who work there.
Dr. Ira Galloway, who takes delight in mentoring younger Christian leaders.
Dr. Stephen Wende
Dr. Steve Wende is Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church of Houston, Texas.
A native Texan, Dr. Wende graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1973 with high honors. In 1976 he received a Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School, and in 1992 his Doctor of Ministry degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. He is married to Karin Susan Wende and they have two children, Michelle and Meredith.
After serving churches in south Texas and San Antonio, Dr. Wende was appointed to his present position in July 2001.
Dr. Wende is a noted speaker and serves as contributing editor for Preaching Magazine. He has received many awards for his work in the areas of church growth, evangelism, and mission outreach. In addition, he has served in numerous leadership positions in the United Methodist Church: including the Board of Ordained Ministry, the Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry, the Task Force on Evangelism, and election to the last four United Methodist General and Jurisdictional Conferences.
In addition to his service on the Board of the Confessing Movement, Dr. Wende serves as a Director of the Methodist Hospital of Houston, a Director of the Texas Methodist Foundation, a Trustee of Huston-Tillotson University and a Trustee of Houston Christian High School. Along with involvement in many organizations relating to medical and civic programs, Dr. Wende has been a Commissioner of the Methodist Home of Waco and Trustee of Texas Wesleyan College.
At First Methodist of Houston, Dr. Wende serves a church where the past and future intersect. First Methodist’s history dates to 1839. The first church building was constructed on Texas Avenue at the current site of the Houston Chronicle Building. In 1910, the congregation moved to the corner of Main and Clay streets. Then, in 1993, the church added a second campus on the west side of the city, which offers additional worship opportunities, a school, and a recreational center complete with swimming pools and softball fields. Additionally, over the years the church has founded Wesley Community Center, Clarewood House Retirement Home, First Choice Media Ministry, and Christian Alliance Ministry to better serve the larger Houston area. Dr. Wende, the forty-seventh pastor of First Methodist, continues to lead the congregation in its strong tradition of spiritual formation, civic leadership, and community outreach.
Rev Steve Wood
The Rev. Steve Wood, and his wife of twenty-seven years, LeAnne have three daughters and a son: Lauren, Lacey, Layne, and Steven, Jr. Their family resides in North Metro Atlanta, and they enjoy water sports, golf, gardening, snow skiing, baseball, basketball, fishing, and bike-riding.
After receiving God's call into the ordained ministry, Steve enrolled in Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky in September 1983. While there, he served as a chaplain at the V.A. Medical Center in Lexington and later as the Youth Pastor of the First UMC of Georgetown, KY.
He received the Master of Divinity degree graduating in May 1986. Five days later, he was appointed as the pastor-in-charge of the Red Oak United Methodist Church (UMC) in College Park, Georgia where he served for 3 years. Under his leadership, the Red Oak became a multi-racial congregation and was recognized as the Conference Small Membership Church of the Year in 1989.
In June 1989, he was appointed to plant a new church in Douglas County, which is now the New Covenant UMC. Starting with just 16 people, the church grew to over 600 members in just seven years. In addition, the congregation built a multipurpose facility and added an activity center complete with gymnasium. The church was recognized as the fastest growing congregation in the Southeastern Jurisdiction in 1991.
Steve was appointed to the Sugar Hill UMC in Gwinnett County on January 1, 1997 as the Senior Pastor where he served for 10 years. Under his leadership, membership more than doubled, eventually surpassing 2000. Sugar Hill UMC was distinguished by one of the highest worship attendance/membership ratios in all of Methodism at 70%, with the majority of new members joining by profession of faith in Christ, rather than transfer from other churches.
In June 2007, Steve was appointed to Mount Pisgah UMC in Johns Creek, one of the largest churches by membership in the entire denomination where he currently serves as Senior Pastor. Mount Pisgah has become one of the premier teaching centers of multi-generational, multi-ethnic models of worship and discipling, and shared leadership. Mount Pisgah will host the nationwide Large Church Initiative in April 2014 with Mark Batterson, Laura Story, Chip Ingram and others for training in the multi-gen, multi-ethnic models of ministry.
He also serves as Chair of the North Georgia Conference Council on Finance and Administration, The General Council on Finance and Administration of the worldwide UMC, the Executive Committee of the Leading Edge Pastors Gathering of the largest UMC’s in the country, and was one of 14 clergy delegates elected to the world gathering of the General Conference of the United Methodist Church representing the North Georgia Conference in 2008 and in 2012.
Steve served for 7 years as the Community Spiritual Director for the Northwest Georgia Walk to Emmaus movement. Overseas, Steve has preached in and led mission trips to Israel, Jordan, Haiti, Brazil, Nigeria, Costa Rica, South Africa, and Mexico. In 1994, Steve was chosen to be the launching Community Spiritual Director for the Tres Dias movement in Moscow, Russia. He has a passion for making disciples of Jesus Christ and growing and cultivating Christian leaders for global impact through a life on life teaching method. In addition to his pastoral role, Steve serves on the boards of Mount Pisgah Christian School, the Summit Counseling Center, and The Beacon of Hope Women’s Center, The Confessing Movement, and as incoming President of the Asbury Seminary Alumni Board.
Steve was born and raised in Sandy Springs, Georgia in Fulton County. He attended Sandy Springs High School and graduated from Ridgeview High School in 1976. Steve is an alumnus of the University of Georgia having graduated in 1980 with a BBA in Finance. He then began a career in the office products industry before answering a call into ministry in September of 1983. He received the Masters of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary in 1986 and was ordained a Deacon in the North Georgia UMC Conference in 1985 and ordained an Elder in 1988.
Rev. Kristen Allen
Rev. Kimberly D. Reisman
Kimberly D. Reisman serves as Conference approved Evangelist for the Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church, Executive Director of Next Step Evangelism Ministries, and Editor of A Wesleyan Accent.com. Kim’s focus of ministry is empowering others to take the next step of faith on their spiritual journey. She provides faith shaping ministries through her writing and in the context of retreats, seminars, workshops and revivals both nationally and internationally.
Born in Gulfport, Mississippi, Kim lived in California, Tennessee, Georgia, and Connecticut before moving to Indiana in 1993 with her husband, John, and three (now adult) children, Nathan, Maggie and Hannah. She is ordained in the United Methodist Church, has a Bachelor’s Degree from Emory University, a Masters of Divinity from Yale Divinity School, and a PhD in theology from Durham University in the United Kingdom. .
Kim is an Adjunct Professor at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, serves on the World Methodist Council Steering Committee and regularly partners with World Methodist Evangelism and the World Methodist Evangelism Institute, teaching and preaching in their evangelism seminars worldwide. Additionally, she provides faith sharing training for congregations both nationally and internationally and is the North American Coordinator and Herald for the Cornerstone Celebration ministry. Kim has blogged regularly on the Next Step website (www.nextstepevangelism.org), writes for A Wesleyan Accent.com (launching, Fall 2013) and has also written several books: .
The Workbook on the Seven Deadly Sins
The Workbook on Virtues and Fruits of the Spirit
The Christ-Centered Woman: Finding Balance in a World of Extremes
Knowing God: Making God the Main Thing in Your Life
The Workbook on the Ten Commandments
The Workbook on the Beatitudes
Following at a Distance
44 Sermons to Serve the Present Age (co-editor and contributor)
Making Disciples in a World Parish: Global Perspectives on Mission/Evangelism (contributor; Paul Chilcote, editor)
The Christ-Centered Woman: Finding Balance in a World of Extremes – A Bible Study based on Ephesians 3 (publication pending, August 2013).
In all her work, Kim seeks to serve God by awakening, strengthening and enlivening the faith commitment of individuals as well as empowering communities of faith to become visible witnesses to the love of Christ for the world. Kim lives with her husband in West Lafayette, Indiana where she enjoys sports, reading, jewelry making, music and participating in the activities of her family.
Dr. Edwin M. "Buddy" Cooper Jr.
Dr. Edwin M. “Buddy” Cooper, Jr. is the Senior Minister at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Columbus, Georgia. He has an Associate degree from Middle Georgia College, B.S. in Math from Georgia Southern University, and Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Candler School of Theology, Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. He serves on the Board of Directors for the following institutions: Wesley Glen Ministries and Biblical Gardens of Callaway Gardens with Jim Fleming. Dr. Cooper has been a part of the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church for 33 years. He is an Elder of the United Methodist Church and has served in the South Georgia Conference as the Chairperson of the Committee on Evangelism and as Registrar of the Board of Ordained Ministry. He is currently the Chairperson of the Peed Scholarship Committee. He served as Delegate to SEJ Conference in 2000 and 2004. He and his wife, Sheila Diane Davis Cooper, have been married since 1975. They have a son, Edwin M. Cooper III (25) and a daughter, Charlotte Diane Cooper (22). His hobbies include writing and golf.
Dr. William J. Abraham
Dr. William J. Abraham was born in Northern Ireland in 1947. He is currently teaching at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University in Dallas Texas. Educated at Portora Royal School, Enniskillen and Queen's University, Belfast, Abraham went on to receive a Master of Divinity Degree from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky and a doctorate in Philosophy of Religion from the University of Oxford, England.
He has served as a Methodist minister in Ireland and held the post of Associate Professor of Theology and Philosophy at Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, Washington. From 1985 to 1995 he was the McCreless Professor of Evangelism and Professor of Philosophy of Religion at Perkins School of Theology, S.M.U. In 1995 he was appointed to the Albert Cook Outler Professor of Wesley Studies at Perkins, working as a philosophical and systematic theologian in the Wesleyan tradition. In 2003 he was appointed as University Distinguished Teacher at Southern Methodist University.
Professor Abraham has authored numerous articles in philosophy, theology, and evangelism. In 1991 he wrote a major review article on "The State of Christian Theology in North America" for the Encyclopedia Britannica's Great Ideas Today. His books include: The Divine Inspiration of Holy Scripture (Oxford, 1981), Divine Revelation and the Limits of Historical Criticism (Oxford, 1982), The Coming Great Revival: Recovering the Full Evangelical Tradition (Harper and Row, 1984), An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion (Prentice-Hall, 1985), The Logic of Evangelism (Eerdmans, 1989), The Art of Evangelism: Evangelism Carefully Crafted into the Life of the Local Church (Cliff College Publishing Co., 1993), Waking from Doctrinal Amnesia (Abingdon, 1995), Canon and Criterion in Christian Theology (Oxford: Clarendon, 1997), Logic of Renewal (SPCK/Eerdmans, 2003), John Wesley For Armchair Theologians (Westminster/John Knox, 2005) and Crossing the Threshold of Divine Revelation (Eerdmans, 2006).
Beyond his academic endeavors and achievements, Abraham has in conjunction with First United Methodist Church, Uvalde, Texas, developed a catechumenate entitled Basic Christianity for use in local churches to provide a means of initiating new Christians and seekers into the Christian faith.
Abraham regularly accepts invitations as lecturer and preacher and is in demand throughout the United States, Great Britain, Ireland, and Australia.
Abraham and his wife of 29 years, Muriel, have three children, Timothy, Siobhan, and Shaun. They live in Dallas, Texas, and attend Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas.
Frank Algeria
Family: Spouse: Edna R. Alegria
(BSN, RN; Harris County Hospital District)
Daughter: Paula C. Alegria (junior, Lamar University)
Sons: Francisco (Frankie) (5th grade) &
Stephen C. Alegria (3rd Grade)
Education:
•Stephen F. Austin State University, Bachelor of Science, Nacogdoches, Texas, 1976
• Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, Master of Divinity, Dallas, Texas, 1988
• The Theological School, Drew University, Doctor of Ministry, Madison, NJ, 1997
Church Involvement: Previously served:
• National Committee on Hispanic Ministries, (‘92-’96)
• Conference Committee on Hispanic Ministries
• Conference Committee on Religion and Race
• Episcopal Committee
• Trustee, United Methodist Foundation
• Wesley Community Center, Board of Directors
• Houston Board of Missions
• Jurisdictional Conference Delegate, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004
• General Conference Delegate, 2000, 2004
• Conference Board of Ministry, (1 992-2004)
• Currently Serving:
• Golden Cross Committee, Texas Annual Conference
• Regional Director, Foundation for Evangelism, Lake Junaluska, NC
• Beaumont District, Board of Ministry, Chairperson
• Board of Directors, Wesley Foundation, Lamar University
• Board of Directors, Lakeview Conference Center
• Advisory Trustee, United Methodist Foundation, Texas Annual Conference
Community Involvement:
• Beaumont Founders Chapter, Lion Club International
• Downtown Area Clergy Group
• Beaumont Club, Rotary International
• Board of Directors, Boys Haven
• Community Development Commission, City of Beaumont, Appointed by the Mayor (2005-2007)
• Secretary, SE Texas Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance
Churches Served: as Senior Pastor
• St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, Houston, Texas, 1988-1992
• Reid Memorial United Methodist Church, Houston, Texas, 1992-1997
• First United Methodist Church, Brazoria, Texas, 1997- December 31, 2003
• First United Methodist Church, Beaumont, Texas, December31, 2003 to Present
Hobbies: Horticulture, Computer, Reading, Woodwork, Calligraphy
Thomas R. Dyer
Thomas R. Dyer is an attorney with emphasis in the areas of banking, business transactions, commercial real estate and commercial litigation
He is Co-Chair of the Firm's Financial Institutions Subgroup and is a member of the General Corporate and Real Estate & Lending Practice Groups. He concentrates his practice in the areas of banking, business transactions, commercial real estate and commercial litigation. He is the former Managing Partner of McDonnell Dyer and is on the Executive Committee of Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs. He has written articles for legal and financial institution trade publications and has lectured at educational seminars on lender liability, the responsibility of officers and directors and financial institution topics. Mr. Dyer serves on the Board of Directors of The Dixon Gallery and Gardens and The Hope Foundation. He is a member, and serves as Chairman, of the Boys' Club Foundation, member of the Tennessee Bar Foundation, Tennessee Young Lawyers Foundation, Memphis and American Bar Associations and Committee on the Banking Law Section of the American Bar Association, and the American College of Mortgage Attorneys. He is a former President of the Tennessee Young Lawyers, former member of the Board of Governors of the Tennessee Bar Association and House of Delegates, former member of the University of Tennessee College Alumni Association and served as a delegate to the Tennessee Constitutional Convention (1970-71), where he served as Chairman of the Intangible Tax Committee. He received his B.A. degree in 1963 and his J.D. degree in 1966 from the University of Tennessee.
Edgar S. Goins Sr.
Chap. Herbert L. Griffin Jr.
Chaplain Herbert L. Griffin, Jr. is one of four clergy persons serving as Chaplain Corps recruiter for the United States Navy. Chaplain Griffin is a subject matter expert on issues of accessions, requirements, and standards as they pertain to the Corps. As Chaplain Corps Recruiter, Chaplain Griffin will impact the makeup of the Navy’s Spiritual leadership for the next thirty years.
A Military "Brat", Chaplain Griffin grew up all over the world and calls home wherever he and his family reside. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Military Science from Grand Rapids Baptist College (now Corner Stone University), Grand Rapids, Michigan. He holds a Masters of Arts Degree in Biblical Literature from the Assembly of God Theological Seminary, Springfield, Missouri and a Master of Divinity from Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. A full clergy member of the West Michigan Annual conference, Herb was the first African American to matriculate from Candidate to Elder in the conference.
Herb has served as Staff Chaplain at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, Group Chaplain to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Wing Support Group 17, Okinawa, Japan, and as Command Chaplain to the crew of Guided Missile Cruiser, USS LONGBEACH (CGN-9), San Diego, California. Rev. Griffin served as intern, associate pastor, and director in urban ministry settings.
Chaplain Griffin is the grateful husband of the former Ellainia D. Vicks and the "godly" proud father of Porsche M. Griffin and Alexandria M. Griffin.
Gail Harrelson
Dr. Gail Harrelson is an ordained Elder serving in the United Methodist Texas Annual Conference. In 1976, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Practical Theology from Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas and in 1978 she received a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Dr. Harrelson continued her education with an internship, from 1983 to 1984, at Memorial Southwest Hospital in Houston, Texas focusing on Clinical Pastoral Education and in 1990 she earned a Doctor of Ministry at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois.
From 1984 to 1986, Dr. Harrelson served as associate pastor of Memorial Drive United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas, and from 1986 to 1987 at First United Methodist in Pearland, Texas. She pastored at Asbury United Methodist Church in Tyler, Texas, from 1987-1990, at First United Methodist Church in Brazoria, Texas, from 1990 to 1994, at First United Methodist Church in Pittsburg, Texas, from 1994 to 1996, and at Glenbrook United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas, from 1996 to 2001. Dr. Harrelson is currently serving at First United Methodist Church in Giddings, Texas.
Dr. Harrelson is the associate secretary of the Texas Annual Conference and a trustee of the United Methodist Foundation. She also serves as vice-chairperson of the Rules and Structure Committee and is a district representative for the Commission of the Status and Role of Women. In addition, she is a co-coordinator for The Confessing Movement in the Texas Annual Conference and has been elected as an alternate delegate for General Conference 2000.
Diane Komp
Evelyn Laycock
Dr. Les Longden
Dr. Longden is currently an Associate Professor of Evangelism and Discipleship at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary with a B.A. in philosophy from Lewis and Clark College, a B.D. from Union Theological Seminary in New York, and a M.Phil. and Ph.D. in historical theology from Drew University.
"Evangelism has often been relegated by scholars to a minor place in the discipline of practical theology and by local churches to a mere committee on methods for adding members. My experience as a pastor and scholar has led me to see evangelism as an action of the church where theological and practical concerns must be kept in vital conversation and interaction. Theologically, evangelism requires fundamental reflection on the apostolic identity and mission of the church. Practically, it includes not only the proclamation of the Gospel which announces the kingdom of God but also the ecclesial practices by which people are initially formed as disciples of Jesus Christ. In the increasingly pluralistic contexts of the twenty-first century, pastors and congregations need a revitalized evangelism that announces Jesus as the Savior of the world and depends on the agency of the Holy Spirit as the chief teacher and energizer of the Church."
A Canadian who lives as a permanent alien resident in the United States, Les Longden has been a pastor in a small rural church, and a Minister of Education and Senior Pastor in two large churches. His ecumenical experience includes teaching assignments in an Episcopal Preparatory School, a Roman Catholic college and diocese, and two United Methodist universities. As an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church, Dr. Longden has served as a delegate to the General Conference, a columnist for the United Methodist News Service, and a participant in several national dialogues sponsored by the United Methodist General Commission on Church Unity and Inter-religious Concerns.
In addition to reviews and articles published in Catalyst, Circuit Rider, Methodist History, and The Michigan Christian Advocate, Dr. Longden has edited two volumes: The Wesleyan Theological Heritage: Essays of Albert C. Outler (co-edited with Thomas C. Oden) and Albert C. Outler Ecumenical Theologian. Future writing and research interests include an intellectual biography of Albert Outler, an historical study of Wesleyan practices of evangelism and catechesis with practical suggestions for local churches, and the exploration of the possibilities for evangelization as an ecumenical activity.
Dr. C Karen Covey Mooore
Dr. C Karen Covey Moore is the mother of three and the grandmother of five. In 1987 she earned her Masters of Divinity, and in 1998 her Doctor of Ministry from Wesley Theological Seminary.
Since Jesus Christ become real and central in Dr. Moore’s life in 1974, she has claimed as her life verse: "For me to live is Christ, and die is gain." Philippians 1:21. She has sought to live in faithful fulfillment of the calling as a wife, mother, grandmother, nurse, and now as an ordained minister of Jesus Christ in The United Methodist Church.
Dr. Moore was ordained Deacon in 1985 and Elder in 1989 and has served under pastoral appointment in the Peninsula-Delaware Conference since 1984. Her appointments have been in the Dover, Wilmington and Salisbury Districts and have included an appointment as Pediatric Chaplain at the Medical Center of Delaware, where she directed the development of the Volunteer Lay Chaplains program. She is currently serving the Wilmington District as the pastor of Peniel United Methodist Church in Newport, Delaware.
On the Conference and District levels she has served as the Chairperson of the Conference Board of Higher Education, where she was privileged to establish a Wesley Foundation at Salisbury State University in Salisbury, Maryland. Dr. Moore has enjoyed being the mentor for ten persons going through the Candidacy for Ordained Ministry and serving on the District Committee of Ordained Ministry. She has especially enjoyed teaching in the Lay Academies of the Salisbury, Dover and Wilmington Districts and providing teacher training for the South Carolina Conference Lay Academy. Currently, she serves as Clergy Advisor for Wilmington District Lay Speakers Committee, president of her Conference Wesley Seminary Graduates Association, and vice president of the Board of Directors of Delaware Ecumenical Agency.
A strong sense of the importance of the need for an informed and active laity in the Church and a love for our Wesleyan heritage were motivating factors in developing the course and study guide, Faith and Order: Exploring The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church. These same factors have lead her to be involved in The Confessing Movement within The United Methodist Church, serving as the Northeastern Jurisdictional Coordinator.
Rev. Elizabeth Moreau
Rev. Elizabeth Moreau was born in Fort Worth, Texas. She is the mother of Paul D. Moreau and the grandmother of four. Rev. Moreau received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1985 and a Masters of Divinity from Perkins School of Theology, SMU, Texas.
Rev. Moreau has been an ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church since June of 1994 and an Elder since 1996. From August 1993 to May 1994, Rev. Moreau served as an intern at Westbury United Methodist Church. She then ministered at Bradfield Chapel, Jenkins United Methodist Church, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and Markham United Methodist Church in Bay City, Texas. Rev. Moreau has served on a variety of committees and boards. When health issues necessitated leaving the local church, she used the time to respond to one of the greatest needs in the local church today: the need for laity to be taught the content of the faith and to come to see the world through the eyes of Christ - in short, to love God with all of their minds. Over a decade of service in the local church convinced Rev. Moreau that the laity desire the deeper things of God. She currently teaches through Servants' Feast Christian Ministry and lives in Friendswood, Texas.
Jeffery R. Spiller
Jeffery R. (Jeff) Spiller was born September 2, 1954. He and his wife, Norma Borland Spiller have a daughter, Melinda, who is twenty-three years old, a son, Adam, who is thirteen years old and a four-year-old grandson, Joseph. Jeff’s educational background includes a B.A. from Huntingdon College (1976) Montgomery, AL; and Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology, Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia (1979). In 1980, he was ordained an Elder in The United Methodist Church.
Jeff has served as Senior Pastor of Christ United Methodist Church for 26 years. In 1979, he and 12 missioner families founded Christ United Methodist Church which has become the fastest growing Methodist church in the Alabama/West Florida Conference under Jeff’s leadership. Christ Church has a membership of more than 4,400 members. Christ Church’s average worship attendance is about 2,200.
In May 1985 the Denman Evangelism Award was presented to Jeff at the annual meeting of The Alabama/West Florida Conference. The Foundation presented this award for Evangelism, The United Methodist Church, Nashville, Tennessee. Jeff has served as delegate to both the General Conference and Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference of The United Methodist Church.
He currently serves as Chair of the Clergy Council of the Beeson Institute for Preaching and Leadership, Asbury Seminary, Wilmore, Kentucky and as a Trustee for Huntingdon College as well as being on the faculty of “The Order of the Flame” with World Evangelism, World Methodist Church. He has led national seminars for Pastors Starting New Congregations sponsored by the General Board of Global Ministries and The General Board of Discipleship. He currently leads seminars on church growth, vision, and leadership development. He also conducts consultations with congregations nationwide.
Jeff has written three books, Building a Regional Church…From The Ground Up! (Christ United Methodist Church, 1994) and Perceptions: Observations of Everyday Life Vol. I (Durham Inc. 2002) and Perceptions: Observations of Everyday Life Vol. II (Durham Inc. 2004)
Rev. Budd L. Sprague
The Rev. Budd L. Sprague is a retired pastor in the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church following 44 years of service. He lives at 5200 Parkhaven Ave. NE, Canton, Ohio 44705; 330/493-6400.
Since receiving his first appointment in 1956, Budd has served churches in a variety of settings from rural multi- church charges to suburban and inner-city churches as well as pastor of the Lakeside church on the Conference Grounds and served as Chaplain during the summer Chautauqua program where he met and introduced the leading preachers and religious leaders of that period during the daily chapel hour.
Rev. Sprague has served on District and Conference committees in the areas of Discipleship, Evangelism, Missions, Church and Society, Personnel, and Ministry -many of which he served as chairman.
Budd has led evangelistic services and workshops for over 30 years both individually and as a National Missioner with the Department of Evangelism, the Board of Discipleship, Nashville, Tennessee; was trained to conduct New Life Missions and Key Events as assigned by the General Board and has led these services in several states as well as being a part of the " Awake Australia" Mission in 1983. He has had training in Evangelism Explosion under Dr. D. James Kennedy and has developed an effective visitation ministry for use in local churches, and led in the development of two evangelistic youth ministries within the East Ohio Conference which have continued for nearly 30 years and seen countless young men and women enter into many areas of Christian ministry as pastors, missionaries, evangelists, and musicians.
He has been actively involved in renewal efforts within the United Methodist Church as one of the founders of the East Ohio Evangelical Fellowship, as a member of the Good News Board of Directors, and as chairman of the Consultation on the Future of the United Methodist Church which met in Atlanta, Ga. in the spring of 1994 and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Confessing Movement Within the United Methodist Church which was founded as a result of that meeting.
Personal: Born in Beverly, Ohio, 1935; Married, Carole L. Snyder, They have 7 children.
Education: Graduated Beverly High School, 1953~ attended Ohio University, 1953-54~ Ohio Northern University, 1955- 56~ Graduated Marietta College, 1960~ Graduated The Methodist Theological School in Ohio, 1963
Honors: Elected Phi Beta Kappa, graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Philosophy and Psychology, 1960; M. Div. Methesco, 1963; received the Denman Evangelism Award from the East Ohio Conference, 1989.
Ministry: Received License to Preach, 1956 - Ordained Deacon, June 1961 - Elder, June 1963 - Served 7 years as student pastor, West Ohio Conference - And in Full Connection in East Ohio since 1963 - Retired, June 2000.
Travel: 1973 Travel and personal research in England.
1974 World Methodist Convocation on Evangelism, Jerusalem.
1977 Led a travel seminar to Israel.
1982 Led a travel seminar to Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Greece.
1983 Participant in "Awake Australia" Mission.
1989 Personal travel to England, Scotland and Wales.
1998 Study Leave, Tyndall House, Cambridge University, Cambridge, England.
2005 Led a travel seminar of Paul’s 4th Missionary Journey to Greece and Italy
Rev Harry Wood
The Reverend Harry Wood was born in Atlanta, Georgia on August 17, 1940. Rev. Wood is married to Ruth and has two children, Harry Lee III and Robin, as well as two granddaughters, Catherine and Hannah.
Rev. Wood attended Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1962 and a Bachelor of Divinity in 1965. He then began his ministry as Associate Pastor of First Methodist Church Decatur, Georgia. From 1967-1978 he served as pastor of Sierra Vista United Methodist Church in Fresno, California and Wesley United Methodist Church in Palo Alto, California. He is currently serving as pastor of Visalia United Methodist Church in Visalia, California.
Rev. Harry Wood has served on Mill Creek Hospital’s Community Advisory Board and chaired Cooperacion for the California-Nevada United Methodist Mission for Bolivia. Rev. Wood is a past chairman of Evangelical Renewal Fellowship in the California-Nevada Conference and serves on the Ethics Committee of Kaweah Delta Health Care District. He is also a member of the Visalia Rotary Club and was named "Man of the Year" by Visalia Chamber of Commerce in 1997. Rev. Wood helped form a city-wide anti-gang task force, Pro Youth Visalia, in 1995 and currently serves on its Board of Directors. Rev. Wood is an alternate delegate for the 2000 General Conference of the United Methodist Church and is a delegate to the Western Jurisdictional Conference.
Patricia L. Miller
Executive Director
Pat and her husband, Ken, are members of Old Bethel United Methodist Church in Indianapolis. Pat currently serves on the South Indiana and Indiana Area Episcopacy committees, is the Chair of the Indianapolis East District Committee on the Superintendency, and serves on the Yeshua Society Advisory Board.
Pat has served as the Executive Director of the Confessing Movement within the United Methodist Church since January 1997. She also serves on the Executive Committee of the World Methodist Council.
In the past, Pat has served as President of the Southeast District United Methodist Women, and was President of the Southeast District Council on Ministries.
Previous positions held in the South Indiana Conference include Chair of the Conference Division on Health and Welfare, Conference Chair of the Lay Empowerment Committee, and Conference Chair of the Capital Funds and Allocations Committee, and she has served on the Conference Finance and Administration Committee.
Pat has been a member of the South Indiana Annual Conference since 1977. She was elected as a delegate to General Conference in 1992, 1996, and 2000. She was a delegate to Jurisdictional Conference in 1988, 1992, 1996, and 2000.
From 1996 – 2000, Pat served on the North Central Jurisdiction Committee on Programs and Arrangements. In 2000, she served on the North Central Jurisdiction Nominations Committee.
Elected to the Indiana House of Representatives in 1982, Pat has also served as a member of the Indiana State Senate since 1983. Senator Miller serves as Chair of the Indiana Senate Health and Provider Services Committee, and is a member of the following Senate committees: Finance, Education, and Election. She has received numerous distinctions and awards, including the highest award given by the American Medical Association, the Nathan Davis Award, which she received in 2002.
A Registered Nurse, Pat is a graduate of Methodist Hospital School of Nursing and has a Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University. Pat and Ken, a dentist, have two children, Tamara and Matthew. They have one grandson, Randall, and three granddaughters, Rachel, Maren, and Emma.
Dr. William R. Bouknight
Associate Director
Dr. William R. (Bill) Bouknight was born in Greenville, SC, June 20, 1941, son of the Rev. and Mrs. W.R. Bouknight, Jr. He was reared in Methodist parsonages all over South Carolina. His undergraduate and most of his seminary education were received at Duke University, with the final year of the Masters of Divinity work completed at the University of Edinburgh (Scotland). Afterward, Bill completed the Sacred Theology Masters (STM) degree at Yale Divinity School. In 1988, Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC conferred upon him the honorary D.D. degree.
Bill served five churches in South Carolina from 1966 until 1994. His longest tenure was twelve years as Senior Minister of Trenholm Road UMC in Columbia, SC. In 1994, he was appointed Senior Minister of Christ UMC, Memphis, TN. During Bill’s thirteen years in that position, over 4000 new members joined the church. Over one-third of them joined by profession of faith. In cooperation with a large African-American church in that city, Christ Church sponsored an annual interdenominational service in the Pyramid of Memphis early on Easter mornings that attracted an average of over 15,000 worshippers. Those services were credited by city leaders as making a significant improvement in race relations. In June 2007, Bill retired, having served 41 years in full-time ordained ministry, and moved back home to Columbia, SC.
Bill served twice as a delegate to United Methodism’s General Conference. Currently he serves of the Executive Committee of the United Methodist Congress on Evangelism. He is a recipient of the Harry Denman Evangelism Award, and a former chairman of The Confessing Movement within the United Methodist Church. In January 2008, at the United Methodist Congress on Evangelism, he received the Philip Award for distinguished service in evangelism, given by the National Association of United Methodist Evangelists.
Bill served as a Chaplain in the Army National Guard for 27 years, retiring in 1994 with the rank of Brigadier General.
He has written several books. The three latest ones are The Authoritative Word, Preaching Trust in a Skeptical Age, Should Christians Always Oppose War, and 11 Other Questions Believers Ask, and If Disciples Grew Like Kudzu.
Bill has been married to Gloria Pardee Bouknight for 40 years. They have two sons, Brad and Aaron. They reside at 10 Oakman Lane, Columbia, SC 29209. Bill’s hobbies are golf, turkey and quail hunting, reading, visiting historical sites, and dancing with Gloria.
Dr. Riley Case
Associate Director
Riley B. Case is currently one of two Associate Directors of The Confessing Movement within The United Methodist Church. He is a retired United Methodist pastor and lives in Kokomo, Indiana.
Riley grew up in LaGrange, Indiana and graduated from LaGrange High School, Taylor University, and Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, with an additional M.A. from Northwestern University. He also received the honorary doctorate from Taylor University in 1986. For forty-three years he served United Methodist Churches in North Indiana. He served for six years as the district superintendent of the Marion District. He was a General Conference delegate on five occasions from 1986 to 2000. He has been actively involved in the evangelical renewals movements of the church. He served on the Good News Board since 1973 and is an emeritus member of that board. He has also served on the Advisory Board of UMAction, part of the Institute of Religion and Democracy.
Betty Grubaugh
Secretary
Bette Grubaugh began working for The Confessing Movement as a volunteer in 1998. She was brought on staff in 1999 as a Secretary. Bette is originally from Maryland but has lived in Indiana since 1955 where she has five children and five grandchildren. In 2007 Bette and her husband Glen celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
Heather Catlow
Secretary
Heather Catlow, Secretary, grew up in Texas, attending The Woodlands United Methodist Church in Houston. She attended Auburn University and has two years of coursework towards a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. Heather is active in worship and creative arts as well as community theater. She and her husband, John, have four children.
