David's Harp
In March moving companies across Missouri and the surrounding states – Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois – start getting inquiries from pastors preparing to move the last week in June. As one moving company noted to an inquiry – ‘you’re a part of that church where all the pastors move on the same day!’ The last two days of June were filled with many moves including several in the Southeast District. The first day of the 2010-2011 Appointive Year for United Methodist pastors in Missouri is July 1. We WELCOME pastors to new appointments:
--Benton: Virgil Bunch, a retired Associate member of our conference, will share ministry.
--Essex-Parma: This is a new charge alignment. Roy Sherfield, Local Pastor, who has been serving at Essex for five years, will lead this new charge.
--First: Chaffee/Grace: Rockview J. Michael Davis, Elder, retired at annual conference after serving at Milan/Green City in the Mark Twain District. He will serve part-time.
--First Dexter: W. Michael Woods, Elder, who served at Trinity (Piedmont) for eight years will become Senior Pastor.
--First New Madrid/Lilbourn/Kewanee: Jeff B. Long, Elder, will serve this new charge alignment. He served New Madrid/Kewanee last year. This will be his fourth year in our district.
--First Senath/Coldwater Chapel: Ron Dunavin, Elder, retired at annual conference after serving as a chaplain for Legacy Hospice. He will serve part-time.
--Hobbs Chapel Cape Girardeau/Wesley Fruitland: Debra Arvelo, Provisional Elder, returns to the Missouri Conference after serving in the Kansas West Conference.
--Malden/Holcomb: Pam Ekey, Provisional Elder, comes from Theodosia in the Ozarks South District where she served for four years.
--Maple, Cape Girardeau: Barron Willer, Provisional Elder, comes from Braymer-Breckenridge in the Heartland North District where he served for three years. He previously served at Campbell/Holcomb in our district.
--Marble Hill: Janet Hopkins, Local Pastor, moves from Hobbs Chapel (Cape Girardeau) after serving ten years.
--Marquand/Patton/Rhodes Chapel: Sarah Hamilton, Elder, moves from Byers Avenue (Joplin) in the Southwest District. She previously served Advance in our district.
--Neelyville: Almarie Reynolds, retired Associate member of the conference, returns to Neelyville after a year away dealing with health issues.
--New Salem: Doug McClellan continues to serve as a local pastor in this new charge. Old Salem closed at the end of June.
--Old Union: Steven Koerner, a member of Centenary United Methodist Church, will serve as lay supply.
--Perryville/York Chapel: Anne Saegesser, Local Pastor, comes from Washburn/Simsberry in the Southwest District where she served the past two years.
--Sedgewickville/Crossroads: Greg Dowler, Associate member of the conference, moves from Malden/Holcomb where he has served for the past three years.
--St. Luke’s Hayti: Karl Humes comes to serve this congregation from another denomination. He has been serving as supply at St. Luke’s.
--Trinity Piedmont: Ed Rhodes, Elder, comes from Arcadia Valley, Gateway Regional District, where he has served for the past eight years.
--Zion Gordonville: Joel Kidwell, Elder, comes from New Hope/Terrace Lake in the Heartland Central District where he has served for the past four years.
Congratulations to Jeffrey B. Long, New Madrid/Lilbourn/Kewanee, and Daniel Taylor, LaCroix, who were ordained Elder at this session of the annual conference. Congratulations to Andy Lambel, Bell City/Sadlers Chapel, and Jan Dillard, Wesley Memorial (Steele)/Cooter, who were commissioned as provisional elders, Jeremiah Reeve, Sikeston First, was granted a ‘leave of absence’ as he examines new ministry options. Congratulations to incoming pastors Sarah Hamilton and Joel Kidwell who were ordained Elder.
The month of July also marks the beginning a new appointive year for those pastors who continue to serve in our district. This includes your district superintendent who begins year six. Mary and I look forward to another year serving with and for you.
Praying with you and for you,
David Norbury
Southeast District Superintendent
