Bishop Laurie Haller has announced that Rev. Paul Wilcox will become the Superintendent of the Northeast District. He succeeds Rev. Jackie Bradford, who has served the district since 2011.
“The Iowa Annual Conference has eight districts, each led by a Superintendent who works with me to appoint the very best clergy to our congregations,” said Bishop Laurie Haller. The superintendents are the chief missional strategists for the districts, developing programs of mission and ministry that extend the witness of Christ into the world. In addition, the superintendents offer guidance and administrative supervision.
Wilcox is currently pastor of Lovely Lane United Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids. His previous appointments include Springville, St. Luke’s UMC in Newton, Harlan-Monroe Chapel and Trinity UMC in Charles City. He was ordained Elder and elected into full membership in the Iowa Annual Conference in 1984.
“I have served as the pastor of a local church in Iowa for 36 years and loved every minute of it,” said Rev. Wilcox. “In fact, I grew up in a parsonage, so the local church has shaped and formed my body and soul! I am very honored and excited to have the opportunity to serve the local church on the district and conference levels as well. Having graduated from high school in Cedar Falls and Waterloo and having served together at Trinity UMC in Charles City, Gayle and I feel like we are coming home to the Northeast District! We look forward to coming to know all 100 churches and helping to provide for the vital mission of making hope real to an often-hopeless world.”
“My hope is that clergy and laity in the Northeast district will warmly welcome Rev. Wilcox and support both Paul and Gayle as they begin their new ministry with and among the people of the district,“ Bishop Laurie added.
