Our Staff

Zawdie Abiade
Division of Ordained Ministry

Phone: 615/340-7397
E-mail

Director of educational administration and coordination. Abiade assists in administering the work of the Commission on Theological Education and works with the commission to increase the effectiveness of partnerships with non-United Methodist seminaries. He manages the certification program for specialized ministry and works with seminaries and Boards of Ordained Ministry to establish and maintain standards for certification, review the educational credentials for those seeking certification, and make recommendations to annual conferences regarding fulfillment of requirements.

Patricia Barrett
Division of Ordained Ministry

Phone: 615/340-7411
E-mail

Assistant General Secretary. Barrett supervises the Endorsing Team and the Support/Accountability/Nurture Team. She serves as the endorsing agent for The United Methodist Church, supervises the director of endorsement, and is the primary link between the church and institutions that employ or establish standards for chaplains and pastoral counselors. Barrett is among five GBHEM staff members who make up the boardwide Ethnic Concerns Committee.

Ken Bedell
Division of Higher Education

Phone: 615/340-7399
E-mail

Associate General Secretary. Bedell is responsible for coordinating and directing all of the programs of the Division of Higher Education, including the Black College Fund and Ethnic Concerns; Campus Ministry, and Schools; Colleges, and Universities. He shares with the rest of the Executive Staff responsibility for evaluating existing programs and establishing new programs that strengthen the work of The United Methodist Church in higher education. He provides staff support to various associations of United Methodist institutions of higher education—both in the U.S. and across the globe. He relates to organizations that support higher education, such as the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation and the Educational Institutional Insurance Administrators. He also interprets the work of The United Methodist Church in higher education to congregations, annual conferences, and across the church.

Wanda D. Bigham
Division of Higher Education

Phone: 615/340-7368
E-mail

Assistant General Secretary. Bigham coordinates programs for schools, colleges, and universities related to The United Methodist Church. She is responsible for institutes and seminars, research and planning, international education initiatives, and professional development of college and university administrators. Bigham is also responsible for higher education public policy and serves as the liaison between the division and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), the U.S. Department of Education, and denominational executives in higher education.

William "Tom" Carter
Division of Ordained Ministry

Phone: 615/340-7411
E-mail

Interim director of Endorsement and Pastoral Care. Carter coordinates and manages the endorsing process and pastoral support for endorsed chaplains and pastoral counselors. He is the staff person who relates with the endorsing organizations for the Armed Forces, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and various civilian settings.

Angella Current-Felder
Office of Loans and Scholarships

Phone: 615/340-7342
E-mail

Executive Director. Current-Felder 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. She also serves as staff liaison to the Africa University Development Committee.

Jerome King Del Pino
Office of the General Secretary

Phone: 615/340-7356
E-mail

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.

Saul J. Espino
Division of Ordained Ministry

Phone: 615/340-7366
E-mail

Director of Retreats and Specialized Ministries Support. Espino arranges retreats for members of the UM Endorsed community. Administers the Clinical Pastoral Education scholarship programs for the division and relates to the chaplains and pastoral counselors certifying bodies. Designs programs for persons serving in specialized ministries. Support the Board Educational partnership with Latin America. His Boardwide responsibilities include the implementation of the National Plan for Hispanic Latino Ministries Program and the Journey Toward Ordained Ministry Mentoring Program and Scholarship.

Michelle Fugate
Division of Ordained Ministry & Division of Higher Education

Phone: 615/340-7528
E-mail

Director of Research and Data Management. Fugate provides regular information to GBHEM staff and elected directors regarding issues in higher education and ministry. She develops and maintains research data and prepares regular reports, as well as reviewing relevant research and published data related to higher education and ministry. Fugate will develop grant proposals and develop and facilitate the work of a boardwide research advisory committee to assist with the design of and setting priorities for research projects.

Terri J. Hiers
Office of Interpretation

Phone: 615/340-7382
E-mail

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
E-mail

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.

Robert Kohler
Division of Ordained Ministry

Phone: 615/340-7388
E-mail

Assistant General Secretary. Kohler supervises the staff of both the Education Team and the Enlistment/Candidacy Team, and carries responsibility for the theological education programs of the Division of Ordained Ministry throughout The United Methodist Church. He also assists in the development of global theological education and resources the church on all matters relating to elders and local pastors.

Meg Lassiat
Division of Higher Education, Division of Ordained Ministry

Phone: 615/340-7405
E-mail

Director of Student Ministries, Vocation, and Enlistment. Lassiat works with United Methodist college students and young adults developing resources and programs to foster their spiritual formation, vocational discernment, leadership development, and enlistment for ministry. In a dual appointment with both the Division of Higher Education and the Division of Ordained Ministry, she oversees the United Methodist Student Movement and Young Adult Seminarians Network and directs the Student Forum and EXPLORATION events. Lassiat also serves as the GBHEM liaison with the Fund for Theological Education’s Pastoral Leadership Search Effort (PLSE) program.

John Lesesne
Office of Administration

Phone: 615/340-7359
E-mail

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.

Beth Luton
Division of Ordained Ministry

Phone: 615/340-7388
E-mail

Assistant General Secretary. Luton supervises the staff of both the Education Team and the Enlistment/Candidacy Team, and carries responsibility for the theological education programs of the Division of Ordained Ministry throughout The United Methodist Church. She also assists in the development of global theological education and resources the church on all matters relating to elders and local pastors.

Mary Ann Moman
Division of Ordained Ministry

Phone: 615/340-7357
E-mail

Associate General Secretary. Moman is responsible for the overall administration of the work and programs of the Division of Ordained Ministry, the Ministerial Education Fund, the Association of United Methodist Theological Schools, and the Commission on Theological Education. She serves as the liaison with United Methodist seminaries and provides support for the University Senate.

HiRho Park
Division of Ordained Ministry

Phone: 615/340- 7391
E-mail

Director of Continuing Formation for Ministry. Park oversees the continuing education and spiritual formation for clergy and provides support for United Methodist clergywomen, as well as racial and ethnic clergy in areas of theological education, enlistment, and research. With Angella Current-Felder, Office of Loans and Scholarships, she coordinates the Women of Color Scholarship and Mentoring program. She relates to Boards of Ordained Ministry, clergywomen, racial and ethnic clergy, annual conferences, and seminaries. She coordinates the Georgia Harkness Scholarship program.

Hendrik R. Pieterse
Office of Interpretation

Phone: 615/340-7334
E-mail

Director of Scholarly Research and Book Editor. Pieterse oversees initiatives, research, and assignments that seek to interpret and articulate theologically the board’s vision of nurturing a new generation of Christian leaders. He has primary responsibilities for planning and resourcing GBHEM’s Staff Study Days. Under the supervision of the Executive Director of the Office of Interpretation, he acquires and edits books and other resources, print and electronic, that communicate and enhance the board’s publishing initiatives as contained in its Strategic Plan.

Sharon G. Rubey
Division of Ordained Ministry

Phone: 615/340-7372
E-mail

Director of Candidacy and Conference Relations. Rubey is responsible for the candidacy program for ordination and licensing by managing the processes for enlistment, assessment procedures, and candidacy mentoring. She provides resources, training, and interpretation for district committees, boards, and other conference officers. She also relates to constituent concerns and questions for deacons and diaconal ministers. She serves as leader of the Enlistment/Candidacy Team for the division.

Anita D. Wood
Division of Ordained Ministry

Phone: 615/340-7335
E-mail

Director of Professional Ministry Development. Wood works with seminaries to provide courses and training programs for deacons and is responsible for the administration of financial aid programs for these studies. She assists conference Boards of Ordained Ministry in the areas of clergy mentoring, probationary processes, continuing education and formation and is responsible for providing gatherings for probationary deacons in their preparation for ordination. She leads the division in exploring the emerging needs in the church for new forms of deacon and diaconal ministries and conducts research studies on the work of deacons and diaconal ministers.

Ken Yamada
Office of the General Secretary

Phone: 615/340-7398
E-mail

Special Assistant to the General Secretary for Global Education and New Initiatives. He assists the general secretary in planning and developing the global education initiatives under the GBHEM Strategic Plan for leadership development for the church and the world. He also works with the associate general secretaries of the Division of Higher Education and the Division of Ordained Ministry in global initiatives including theological education. He will further strengthen the connectional systems among United Methodist-related schools, colleges, universities, and theological schools for increased effectiveness and efficient resource sharing.