Erin Hawkins Named Convener of the United Methodist General Secretaries Table
Erin Hawkins, general secretary of the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR), has been elected unanimously to serve as convener of The United Methodist Church’s General Secretaries Table. She fulfills the term of Rev. Dr. Kim Cape, who will retire in June from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. Hawkins will serve out this term through General Conference 2020.
“The General Secretaries Table brings together the important ministries of the church in global connection in a way that no other church body does,” Hawkins said. “It represents real-world examples of the resources, reach and gifts of The United Methodist Church.”
The general agencies work collaboratively to advance the work of the entire denomination around the Four Areas of Focus: developing principled Christian leaders for the church and the world, establishing new places for new people and renewing existing congregations, engaging in ministry with the poor, and stamping out the killer diseases of poverty by improving health globally.
Hawkins, a Los Angeles native, holds a master’s degree in public policy from Indiana University and a master’s degree in organizational development from American University. She came to GCORR in 2000 as an associate general secretary and was named general secretary in 2007.
The members of the General Secretaries Table include Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe, General Board of Church and Society; Rev. Junius Dotson, Discipleship Ministries; Thomas Kemper, General Board of Global Ministries; Barbara Boigegrain, Wespath Benefits and Investments; Harriett Olson, United Methodist Women; Dan Krause, United Methodist Communications; Gilbert Hanke, General Commission on United Methodist Men; Rev. Brian Milford, United Methodist Publishing House; Rev. Alfred Day, General Commission on Archives and History; Dawn Hare, General Commission on the Status and Role of Women; Erin Hawkins, General Commission on Religion and Race; and Moses Kumar, General Council on Finance and Administration.
“My hope is that the General Secretaries Table will join with other leaders in the church to cast a vision of hope and to build bridges to lead us to a world in need of hope, health and healing,” Hawkins said. “It’s an opportunity to do more and go forward, and not to shrink away because of fear.”
About GBHEM: As the leadership development agency of The United Methodist Church, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry’s mission is to build capacity for United Methodist lay and clergy leaders to discover, claim and flourish in Christ’s calling in their lives, by creating connections and providing resources to aid in recruitment, education, professional development and spiritual formation. Every elder, deacon and licensed local pastor benefits from our training and candidacy programs. Many young adults find help in clarifying their vocation and God’s call in their lives through our leadership and discernment programs. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @GBHEM.
Related Posts
The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) and the International Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges, and Universities (IAMSCU) mourn the passing of Rev. Dr. Roger Ireson, president emeritus of IAMSCU and general secretary of GBHEM from 1988 until his retirement in 2001, who died on November 6, 2026, in Austin, Texas.
Sometimes we come to believe that we can do great things on our own. In some cases, it appears to be so. The marathon runner that finished the race seems to do it alone. The author of a book seems to have done it on their own. Someone who recently completed their doctorate, by all appearances, it looks like they did it alone.
This last Sunday, as a guest preacher, I didn’t want to say something that would create a problem for my friend as she was coming back from vacation. This time I felt led to use empathy as the centerpiece of the sermon. Of course, at any other time in history, empathy is the safest thing to talk about in church. Except in our time. Empathy has become a dirty word and controversial even in the church.
