The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) hosted the 2025 United Methodist Church Deacons Gathering, a landmark event convening nearly 150 deacons, provisional deacons and candidates in Nashville, Tennessee, and online.
September 22, 2025
September 22, 2025
Street Address:
1908 Grand Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 340007
Nashville, TN 37203-0007
Susan Clark serves as chief communications officer for Global Ministries and Higher Education and Ministry. She leads the communications function in articulating the messaging of the work and ministry of both agencies to key stakeholders and the public. Susan is a mission-driven marketing and communications executive with experience in nonprofit, higher education, cultural and corporate settings. After graduating from Duke University, she began her professional career running the Harvest of Hope program at the Society of St. Andrew (SOSA), a church-supported hunger education and relief organization that is one of Global Ministries’ Advance partner projects.
She opened SOSA’s first regional office in North Carolina. After earning her Master of Business Administration degree at Northwestern University’s J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management, she worked at S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc., Eastman Kodak Company and the High Museum of Art. Prior to accepting her position with Global Ministries, she served for almost ten years as associate dean for marketing and communications and chief marketing officer at Emory University School of Law, overseeing the school’s internal and external digital and print communications efforts, recruitment marketing strategies, event management and journals publication program. Susan has lived in Atlanta for many years, but she still calls the Eastern Shore of Maryland home.
Kerri Broussard is the director of Human Resources at Global Ministries. The HR department is responsible for providing support to Global Ministries employees during their employment lifecycle, which commences with recruitment and onboarding, continues through talent management and ends with offboarding or retirement. Kerri’s knowledge of Global Ministries spans her 18 years of service with the organization.
She is a member of both local and national chapters of the Society of Human Resource Management. She holds a bachelor’s degree and is a Senior Certified Professional through the SHRM. Kerri was born on the island of Jamaica, migrated to the U.S. with her family at age 3 and grew up in New York City. She and her husband Chris have three children: Adam, Adalyn and Addison.
Roland Fernandes became the general secretary (chief executive) of Global Ministries and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) on Sept. 1, 2020, having filled key leadership roles in the organizations since 1995. He added to his responsibilities when he became general secretary of Higher Education and Ministry on July 1, 2024. With more than 30 years of experience at Global Ministries, Roland was both chief operating officer and chief financial officer of Global Ministries/UMCOR from 2003 and several times served as interim general secretary. He oversees programs, projects and partners in 115 countries, including 250 missionaries in 70 countries. UMCOR is the church’s relief and development organization.
The Rev. Meg Lassiat serves as the executive director of ministry for the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. She leads the ministry team in areas related to licensed and ordained ministry in The United Methodist Church – including enlistment, candidacy and credentialing of clergy; theological education; conference relations for deacons, elders and local pastors; and continuing formation for clergy. Previously, Meg served in the Division of Ordained Ministry from 2005–2020. She has also served at the United Methodist General Commission on the Status and Role of Women and in many local churches.
Meg has spent her career investing in churches, communities and providing opportunities for others to pursue their call. She is an ordained deacon in the Indiana Conference and a graduate of the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. At the conference level, she has served on district and conference Boards of Ordained Ministry and as a jurisdictional delegate. She finds great fulfillment in working with teams to imagine, dream, build and grow in ways that make a difference in the lives of others. She enjoys hiking, vacationing at the beach, and traveling to new places.
Philip Wingeier-Rayo serves as the executive director of education for the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. Previously, Phil has taught in theological education for 25 years at the Seminario Baez Camargo in Mexico City, Pfeiffer University, Perkins School of Theology, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and Wesley Theological Seminary, where he served as dean for four years. He was deployed as a General Board of Global Ministries missionary for 15 years, primarily in Latin America and is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese. Phil is the author of five books: “John Wesley and the Origins of Methodist Mission” (Abingdon 2025), “La Evangelización y la Misión de Dios: Una Teología Bíblica” (Foundery Books 2020), “Where are the Poor? A Comparison of the Ecclesial Base Communities and Pentecostalism — A Case Study in Cuernavaca” (Pickwick 2011), “Cuban Methodism: The Untold Story of Survival and Revival” (Dolphins & Orchids 2006), and “La Biblia atraves de los ojos de Juan Wesley” (Discipleship Resources 2019), which will come out in English later this year. He and his wife, Diana, live outside of Washington, D.C., and have three adult children.
Dr. David W. Scott is senior director of Mission Theology and Strategic Planning at Global Ministries and Higher Education & Ministry, where his work helps United Methodists around the world reflect on how best to join in God’s mission in the present day. He coedited the book “Methodism and American Empire: Reflections on Decolonizing the Church” and has also edited or written “Unlikely Friends,” “The Practice of Mission in Global Methodism,” “Methodist Mission at 200,” “Crossing Boundaries,” and “Mission as Globalization” as well as numerous articles and book chapters. He previously taught religion and leadership at Ripon College.
