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Mailing Address General Board of Higher Education and Ministry |
Street Address General Board of Higher Education and Ministry |
Our Staff
Neil Blair
Phone:
615/340-7334
Executive director of Institutional Advancement. Responsible for developing, implementing, and directing a comprehensive fundraising program for GBHEM. Blair will work to build a donor prospect list and will support existing programs such as the Rev. Dr. Karen Layman Gift of Hope Scholarship, Africa University, and the Black College Fund.
Kim Cape
Office of the General Secretary
Phone:
615/340-7356
General Secretary. Responsible for selection of program/management staff, supervision of all staff, policy implementation, planning, and overall financial oversight and administration for GBHEM. Represents the board in national and international arenas related to higher education and ministry, including serving as director/trustee of several policymaking boards. Interprets the mission of the board to the public sector through speaking and writing and carries out the work of the GBHEM as mandated by General Conference.
William "Tom" Carter
Division of Ordained Ministry
Phone:
615/340-7411
Director of Endorsement, United Methodist Endorsing Agency. Carter coordinates and manages the endorsing process for chaplains and pastoral counselors. He oversees policies and procedures to provide Ecclesiastical endorsement for associate members, deacons, and elders under appointment to ministries of chaplaincy, and pastoral care where endorsement is required. He serves as the liaison with the endorsing networks and employers, especially the military branches.
Allyson Collinsworth
Office of Loans and Scholarships
Phone:
615/340-7342
Executive Director. Collinsworth is responsible for overall administration of the agency's scholarship and loan programs and collections processes which include scholarship and loan programs for some local churches, annual conferences, and other church agencies.
Bruce Fenner
Division of Ordained Ministry
Phone:
615/340-7411
Director of Extension Ministry and Pastoral Care, United Methodist Endorsing Agency. Fenner is the contact person for extension ministry policy and information and works with professional pastoral care organizations, employers, and endorsing networks to ensure standards for professional certification are followed and fit within the United Methodist understanding of ministry. He provides pastoral care including oversight of the Volunteer Visitation program, and coordination and leadership in continuing education programs specifically designed for the needs of chaplains and pastoral counselors.
Terri J. Hiers
Office of Interpretation
Phone:
615/340-7382
Executive Director. Hiers directs GBHEM's communications and public relations programs and manages the editorial and production operations of the office. She works with all divisions, offices, and sections to ensure GBHEM's programs and policies are communicated with consistency and in a professional manner. She oversees all print, video production, and GBHEM's Web site and is the editor of Orientation magazine, Colleague, and Africa University Today.
Cynthia Bond Hopson
Division of Higher Education
Phone:
615/340-7378
Assistant General Secretary, Black College Fund and Ethnic Concerns. Hopson is responsible for promotion and interpretation of The United Methodist Church’s historically Black colleges and universities, the Black College Fund, and related community and church issues. She also manages and distributes the Black College Fund to participating schools, coordinates institutional on-site reviews for the University Senate and the Commission on Black Colleges, oversees the Black College Fund initiatives such as the Lina H. McCord Summer Intern Program, and presents and writes proposals for the Ethnic Concerns Committee.
Meg Lassiat
Division of Ordained Ministry
Phone:
615/340-7372
Director of Candidacy, Mentoring, and Conference Relations. Lassiat is responsible for the candidacy program for licensing and ordination, including the Online Candidacy Application System, the assessment process, and candidacy mentoring. She provides leadership training and develops resources for registrars, mentors, district committees, boards of ordained ministry, and district superintendents in these processes. She also provides interpretation and consultation relating to conference relations procedures and the clergy mentoring program.
John Lesesne
Office of Administration
Phone:
615/340-7359
Treasurer/CFO. Prepares and administers GBHEM's budget, is responsible for human resources, employee benefits, and information technology functions. Serves as staff liaison to the Personnel Policies Committee and the Investment Committee, and votes all GBHEM investment portfolio stock proxies. Reviews and administers all GBHEM contracts, buildings, property, and insurance matters. Serves as GBHEM financial staff liaison to GBHEM's external auditors, the Africa University Board of Directors, and GCFA for periodic financial and agency evaluation reports.
Gerald Lord
Division of Higher Education
Phone:
615/340-7399
Associate General Secretary of the Division of Higher Education. Lord has responsibility for the offices within the Division of Higher Education, including Schools, Colleges and Universities; Black College Fund and Ethnic Concerns; and Campus Ministry and Annual Conference Relations. In addition, he is the Executive Secretary of the University Senate that evaluates all educational institutions approved for listing as United Methodist-related institutions. He is also Executive Secretary of the National Association of Schools and Colleges of the United Methodist Church (NASCUMC) and the International Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges, and Universities (IAMSCU).
Trip Lowery
Division of Ordained Ministry
Phone:
615/340-7405
Director of Young Adult Ministry Discernment and Enlistment. Lowery will provide leadership in the development of networks, programs, and training for vocational discernment, enlistment, and leadership formation with young adults considering ordained ministry in The United Methodist Church. He will direct Exploration 2013, maintain the explorecalling.org Web site, and develop related social media networks. He serves as a staff consultant to the Young Clergy Initiative and will staff the networks of the Association of United Methodist Theological Schools Admissions Staff, and the vocational discernment coordinators with annual conference boards of ordained ministry.
Beth Ludlum
Division of Higher Education
Phone:
615/340-7570
Director of Student Faith and Leadership Formation. Ludlum provides leadership in development of curricula, training, and resources to form faithful student leaders. To this end, she will utilize technology, social media, and national events to connect students to UM collegiate ministries, institutions, and resources. The vision is to create a culture in which students, through the ministries of the church, integrate their giftedness, education, and faith into Christian identity, action and meaningful vocation.
Michael McCord
Division of Higher Education
Phone:
615/340-7404
Director of Campus Ministry Resources and Training. McCord oversees the development of a comprehensive program for resource development and training of campus ministers and chaplains and continuing formation of campus ministry professionals. He develops materials for both print and electronic publication for campus ministers and chaplains, as well as annual conference Boards of Higher Education and Campus Ministry. He works with national and international student movements to promote their effectiveness and develop resources that are relevant in multicultural settings across our global church.
Melanie Overton
Phone:
615/340-7368
Assistant General Secretary for Schools, Colleges, and Universities. Overton relates to and supports United Methodist-related educational institutions and presidents. She provides technical assistance in governance, administration, academic program and faculty, institutional development and advancement, and other areas. She also administers a comprehensive database of United Methodist-related educational institutions. Overton advocates, promotes, and interprets United Methodist education within the United Methodist Church and general public.
HiRho Y. Park
Phone:
615/340-7391
Director of Clergy Lifelong Learning. Park gives leadership to the continuing education and spiritual formation of pastoral leaders for continuing leadership development. She also provides support and resources for United Methodist women, racial, and ethnic pastors in areas of scholarship and professional development. She coordinates the Women of Color Scholarship program with the Office of Loans and Scholarships, and the Georgia Harkness Scholarship program; and works with a Division team to give direction to the development of the Orders for ministry.
Gwen Purushotham
Phone:
615/340-7417
Associate General Secretary, Division of Ordained Ministry. Purushotham is responsible for the overall administration of the work and programs of the Division of Ordained Ministry (DOM)-enlistment, candidacy, theological education, formation, endorsement, supervision and support. She has oversight of the Ministerial Education Fund (MEF), the Association of United Methodist Theological Schools (AUMTS), and the Commission on Theological Education (CTE). She serves as liaison with United Methodist seminaries and serves ex-officio on the University Senate.
Victoria Rebeck
Phone:
615/340-7371
Director of Provisional Member and Deacon Ministry Development. Rebeck provides support and resources for deacons and provisional members. She offers leadership and consultation to annual conference Boards of Ordained Ministry for the provisional process. She provides consultation, support, and guidance for education and training programs for deacons and for certification programs in specialized ministries; and also leads the division in exploring emerging needs for new forms of deacon ministries of service. She works with a Division team to give direction to the development of the Orders for ministry.
Myron Wingfield
Phone:
615/340-7365
Assistant General Secretary, Superintendency, Endorsement, Accountability and Support. Wingfield oversees development of resources, training, and consultation for superintendency within the structures of the UMC, as well as development of resources for assessment of clergy effectiveness, evaluation, and support systems. He provides consultative services for church leaders regarding pastoral supervision, clergy support systems, and development of the Orders for Ministry. Wingfield also supervises the Division offices of: Endorsement and Extension Ministries, United Methodist Endorsing Agency; Continuing Education and Formation; and Provisional Member and Deacon Ministry Development.
Rena Yocom
Phone:
615/340-7388
Assistant General Secretary, Ministry Discernment, Candidacy, and Theological Education. Yocom carries responsibility for managing and resourcing United Methodist theological education work throughout the Church on behalf of the Division, including the development of global theological education programs and resources. She administers the Course of Study and the United Methodist studies programs. Yocom also supervises the offices of: Young Adult Ministry Discernment and Enlistment, Candidacy, Mentoring, and Conference Relations, and Specialized Programs of Theological Education
Bridgette Young Ross
Phone:
615/340-7404
Assistant General Secretary for Campus Ministry and College Chaplaincy, Division of Higher Education. Ross works with campus ministers and college chaplains providing support, resources, networking, and continuing education. She trains annual conference Boards of Higher Education and Campus Ministry, and serves as a consultant to annual conferences, local churches and campus ministry groups. Ross is liaison to the United Methodist Campus Ministry Association, the National Association of College and University Chaplains, and the Ecumenical Campus Ministry Team. She also advocates across the wider church for support of ministry in higher education.
Preparing a New Generation of Christian Leaders
