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March 6, 2018

Bishop David W. Graves is pleased to announce two projected district appointments and two projected staff appointments. Rev. John Brooks, current Montgomery-Prattville District Superintendent, will be appointed as the Director of Multicultural Ministries in the conference office. Rev. Allen Newton, current Demopolis District Superintendent, will become the new Montgomery-Prattville District Superintendent. Rev. Alan Gantzhorn, current pastor at Jackson FUMC, will be appointed as the Demopolis District Superintendent. Rev. Bill Kierce, current pastor at Trinity UMC-Opelika, will be appointed to the conference staff as the Director of Congregational Development and Vitality. 

As Director of Multicultural Ministries, Rev. Brooks will focus on recruiting minority clergy, developing relationships in the appointment process and forming relationships with churches of other denominations and community leaders. Rev. Kierce will cultivate conference work in congregational vitality, Fresh Expressions of Ministry and new church starts as the Director of Congregational Development and Vitality.

“I am excited to announce these conference leadership changes,” said Bishop David Graves. "John will do an outstanding job of developing multicultural ministries in the conference and Bill has tremendous training and experience helping teams and organizations improve on all levels. Allen Newton has done a phenomenal job in the Demopolis District and for that I am most grateful. Alan Gantzorn will easily step into this role to provide fruitful leadership and be an outstanding asset to the cabinet. I look forward to these four servants leading us in the coming years.” 

Brooks and Kierce will join the Bishop’s extended cabinet in these new leadership positions. Also joining the extended cabinet are:
-Celeste Eubanks, AWF Director of Leadership Strategies;
-Susan Hunt, AWF Director of Mission & Advocacy;
-Martha Rovira, AWF Director of Hispanic Ministries.

To see the complete extended cabinet, click here

Graves continued by saying, “The more leadership voices and diversity we have at the table, the better we can serve our local churches. By expanding our extended cabinet, we have more representation for the numerous ministry areas in this conference, therefore, more people are heard.” 

All appointment changes are effective July 1, 2018, and other local church appointments will be announced at annual conference on June 6, 2018, at the sending forth service. Click here to see yesterday's announcement about the appointment process

 

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