WELCOME NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS
The Council of the Wesleyan Covenant Association (the "WCA") has elected seven outstanding United Methodist leaders to the Council, the primary governing body of the WCA. Jeff Greenway, the chair of the Council, commented, "We are excited to have the wisdom and counsel of these exceptional leaders who will share the breadth of their knowledge as we together live into the future of what God has in store for United Methodists. These leaders bring a range of experiences which enhance the depth of the leadership available to the Wesleyan Covenant Association. With their involvement, our confidence in the future only increases."
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The
Rev. Dr. Jerry Kulah
is an elder in the Liberia Annual Conference. He currently serves as the Dean of the Gbarnga School of Theology, a United Methodist Seminary in Liberia. He also serves as the General Coordinator of the UMC Africa Initi
ative. Dr. Kulah has served as a local church pastor, Conference Director of Evangelism and Missions, as well as the Monrovia District superintendent overseeing more than 35 churches. Dr. Kulah was a delegate to the 2012 and 2016 General Conferences.
Rev. Forbes Matonga
is an elder in the Zimbabwe Annual Conference. He currently serves as pastor in charge of Nyadire Mission and director of Christian Care Zimbabwe. He is the secretary of the Africa Central Conference, and served as a delegate to the 2012 and 2016 General Conferences. Rev. Matonga is a board member of the General Board of Higher Education & Ministry, a lecturer at Africa University, and a director of ACT International (Geneva). He was a founding member of the UMC's Connectional Table serving from 2004 to 2012.
The
Rev. Dr. Kimba Kyakutala Evariste
is an elder in the North Katanga Annual Conference. He is Director of Church Building Initiative. He is also a member of the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters, and a board member of the International Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges and Universities. Dr. Evariste is also the French and Kiswahili Coordinator of the UMC African Initiative. Dr. Evariste served as a delegate to the 2012 and 2016 General Conferences.
The
Rev. Dr. Jonathan Razon
is an elder in the Northeast Philippines Annual Conference. He presently serves as the district superintendent of the Metro Santiago District in the Northeast Philippines Annual Conference. He also serves as the Corporate Treasurer and member of the Board of Trustees of Wesleyan University - Philippines, the only University in the country owned by the United Methodist Church through the Philippine Central Conference. He teaches in the Graduate Program of Aldersgate College and in the Master of Divinity program of John Wesley Divinity School in Tuguegarao City, Philippines. Dr. Razon was a delegate to the 2016 General Conference and was an episcopal candidate in 2016.
The
Rev. Dr. Eliseo Mejia
is an elder in the Kentucky Annual Conference. He presently serves as senior pastor of Paris First United Methodist Church in Paris, Kentucky, and is the associate director of multiethnic, Hispanic and international church planting with New Church Development in the Kentucky Annual Conference. Dr. Mejia serves on the Board of Trustees of United Theological Seminary and has served as President of the National Association of Latina/o Conference Coordinators.
The Rev. Dr. Theodore "Ted" Smith is an elder in the Virginia Annual Conference. He presently serves as the district superintendent of the Rappahannock River District in the Virginia Conference. Dr. Smith has been a delegate to the 2012 and 2016 General Conferences and was an episcopal candidate in 2016. Dr. Smith presently serves on the board of directors of the General Board of Church & Society. He also serves as Secretary of the Wesley Theological Seminary Board of Governors.
Michelle Nicole DeRouen
is a lay person in the Louisiana Annual Conference. She owns her own business, DeRouen Financial Management, where she is a financial advisor and senior specialist. She is a member of First United Methodist Church of New Iberia, Louisiana. Ms. DeRouen is a member of the Louisiana Annual Conference Board of Laity and also serves on the boards of a number of multi-denominational and community organizations.
Keith Boyette, the President of the Wesleyan Covenant Association, observed, "Each of these individuals has demonstrated their love and passion for Jesus Christ in significant ministry settings where they have made a difference in advancing the Christian faith as it has been entrusted to our generations. I look forward to partnering with each of them as we boldly stand together under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and submitted to the authority Scripture. They join many other proven leaders who already serve on the WCA Council who desire to be part of a vibrant, faithful, growing 21st-century church."
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