Announcement of Cabinet and Conference Staff Changes

Greetings in the name of Christ.

The process for reducing the number of districts from eight to five in the Oklahoma Conference is a complex one. While it would be optimal to be able to announce the entire structure and its personnel, the constraints of calendar and logistics require the task be accomplished in stages. The location and boundaries for the districts, offices, and assignments for District Administrators are forthcoming. You may expect this process to be complete by the middle of March.  

I wish to express my gratitude to the outstanding people who have served in conference leadership. Each person has demonstrated their faith in Jesus Christ and integrity to The United Methodist Church during these trying times.
The following changes are effective July 1, 2024, unless otherwise noted.

Retirements
This year brings retirements of three leaders from my Cabinet. Rev. Dr. Joe Harris reaches mandatory retirement after serving for 42 years as a leader throughout the denomination at every level, including for the last 19 years as our Assistant to the Bishop and Director of Communications. Joe will continue to serve as our Conference Secretary on a part-time basis.
 
Rev. Diana Northcutt, who has been serving as the Cimarron District and Wichitas District Superintendent, will also reach mandatory retirement. For many years as a layperson, a Diaconal Minister and as an Elder in our conference, Diana has proven an effective leader in the local church, conference staff and as a DS.
 
Rev. Dr. Carol Cook Moore, who is serving as the Northern Prairie District Superintendent, is also entering a retired relationship at this year’s conference. Carol has served the local church, the district and the academy as a liturgical scholar and worship professor. She has also served as the chair of our Board of Ordained Ministry.
 
There are not enough words to express our gratitude for the three of these extraordinary leaders in The United Methodist Church and the Oklahoma Conference.

Transitions
There are two more transitions regarding Cabinet leadership. Rev. Connie Gibson has served 8 years as a DS as well as previously serving as our Interim Conference Benefits Officer. It is my intention to appoint Connie as the next Assistant to the Bishop, Conference Benefits Officer and conference statistician. We appreciate her service to the Wichitas and Council Oak Districts. She will work closely with our five new districts.
 
Rev. Dr. Sam Powers, who has served as the Crossroads District Superintendent, will be appointed as the senior pastor of Boston Avenue UMC in Tulsa.
 
District Superintendent Assignments
I am pleased to welcome Rev. Dr. Tish Malloy back to the Cabinet. She has served faithfully as our Director of Transitional Ministry during these last two years, guiding our conference through the disaffiliation process and now in the transition to 5 districts.  
 
I am also appointing Rev. Dr. Sonja Tobey to the Cabinet. Sonja is a certified coach, has worked in conflict mediation and created a preaching academy for laity while also serving local churches in our Conference. 
 
Though we have not made a final decision on district lines, we generally know that there will be five areas and it is my intention to appoint the following DS’s to supervise those areas:

• Rev. Dr. Tish Malloy to the north central area.
• Rev. Dr. James Kim to the central area.
• Rev. Dr. John Breon to the western area.
• Rev. Dr. Terry Koehn to the northeast area.
• Rev. Dr. Sonja Tobey to the southeast area.

Ministry Center assignments
We have been blessed by stable and efficient leadership at our Ministry Center during these last years.  

Rev. Derrek Belase will continue to serve as our Executive Director of Connectional Ministry but will also be responsible for the Communications area of the conference. Joe Holt, CPA, will continue to serve as Conference Treasurer but will also be responsible for property and resource management. As mentioned above, Rev. Connie Gibson will become the Assistant to the Bishop and Conference Benefits Officer. In addition, Connie will be responsible for our data management and statistics work alongside Mary Myers.

Rev. Carlos Ramirez will be promoted to Director of Communications and Strategy. He will continue to be responsible for church revitalization, demographic research and Hispanic/Latino Ministry. In this new role, Carlos will direct our overall communication strategy as well as innovative initiatives. Andrew Himes will become the Assistant Director of Communications.

Finally, we welcome Rev. Marla Lobo as the interim director of Project Transformation effective March 1. Marla has served as the board chair for Project Transformation for a number of years and brings many years of background in education and program administration to this important ministry.

I want to close with these words from Paul’s letter to the Philippians – I thank my God for every remembrance of you, always in every one of my prayers for all of you, praying with joy for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Every blessing,
Bishop James G Nunn