Two Superintendents to transition out from Cabinet

Dear partners in ministry,  

Recently, Rev. Judy L. Walker, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Superintendent, and Rev. Brenda K. Leigey, State College Superintendent, shared with me their intention to retire from active pastoral ministry. 

Rev. Judy Walker

Rev. Walker has served as a pastor in The United Methodist Church for 19 years. During her six-years as a Superintendent assigned to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre District, Rev. Walker has been passionate about parish ministry, especially with small churches. She has faithfully lived her commitment to helping local churches thrive and continue to be in mission and ministry. Rev. Walker served faithfully as the Cabinet Secretary. In 2023-2024, Rev. Walker offered critical leadership engaging pastors and congregations discerning whether to leave or stay in the United Methodist Church. Alongside a team, Rev. Walker helped congregations work through the disaffiliation process. Rev. Walker’s retirement is effective December 31, 2024.  

When Judy retires at end of 2024, she and her husband Dave are looking forward to living close and spending time with the children and grandchildren. 

Rev. Brenda Leigey 

Rev. Leigey has served as a pastor in The United Methodist Church for 35 years. She was appointed Conference Superintendent in 2019, and faithfully and with great commitment served in both the former Lewisburg and current State College district. Rev. Leigey has always shown a commitment to the local church, pastors and churches in the district she serves. She has been a tireless advocate for mission and ministry as well as working to help congregations reach new people. From the smallest, theologically conservative church to the reconciling congregation, Rev. Leigey has encouraged people to be committed United Methodists. Rev. Leigey’s retirement is effective June 30, 2025.  

When Brenda retires June 30, 2025, she is looking forward to spending time with her husband Allen. 

On behalf of the cabinet, I express our deepest gratitude to these two faithful servants for their adaptive leadership throughout the years, especially during their time serving in the cabinet. They have led with integrity, grace, passion, and resilience during an extended season of challenges, conflict, and uncertainty, being agents of hope for those they lead. I look forward to serving alongside them during their remaining time in the cabinet.  

In the coming weeks, I will share next steps regarding coverage for the Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre district after the New Year, and the discernment process for selecting the new superintendents. In the meantime, please join me in celebrating the ministry of Rev. Walker and Rev. Leigey and praying for them as they begin this important transition. 

Thank you for living the gospel, embodying God’s love with your neighbors, and nurturing disciples of Jesus Christ who share faith, love, mercy and justice everyday and everywhere.  

Together in the journey, 

Bishop Héctor A. Burgos-Núñez

Resident Bishop
Susquehanna & Upper New York Episcopal Area
The United Methodist Church

Conference Staff Changes

The Conference Disaster Response Coordinator Douglas Hoy, has taken a job with the PA Emergency Management Agency and has had to step away from his role with the Conference. We’re sorry to see him go, but glad that we will probably still work with him through various disaster response needs.

Helen Meyers, the State College Area Administrative Assistant will be retiring on May 1. Congratulations Helen! Alexis Perry will be the new State College Area AA and began training with Helen on April 22! Welcome Alexis!

Elsa Rodriguez, the Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre Area Administrative Assistant relocated to the Lebanon area and stepped away from her position effective April 18. Valerie Simmons is the new Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area AA and began April 15. Welcome Valerie!

Jill Johnston, the Williamsport Area Administrative Assistant, was recently promoted to Senior Supervisory Area Administrative Assistant. Her wealth of experience makes her a knowledgeable training resource for all of our Area AAs. Congratulations Jill!

Rev. Jason Mackey will be leaving the Conference Benefits Administrator role and heading to Camp Hill UMC as a part-time associate pastor effective July 1. Thank you for your ministry among us at the conference office Jason! Chris Sims, Director of Seedling Ministry, will replace Jason.

Rev. Dr. Joleen Willis, Altoona Area Superintendent, will be heading to First UMC, Hollidaysburg. She will be replaced by Rev. Lillian Smith, who comes to us from the Baltimore Washington Conference.

Rev. Dr. Paul Amara, Williamsport Area Superintendent, will be heading to Trucksville UMC. He will be replaced by Rev. Daniel Wilt, who is leaving St. Paul’s UMC, Lewisburg.

God is Doing a New Thing Through Staff Transitions

Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi and Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball have appointed Rev. Dr. Paul  Amara to the Trucksville United Methodist Church in the Scranton/Wilkes Barre Supervisory Area, effective July 1, 2024. Paul has many gifts for ministry. The cabinet and the Williamsport Supervisory area have been blessed by those gifts for four years. The bishops believe that Paul’s gifts are particularly needed during this new season to help the community of Trucksville UMC take its next faithful steps in ministry. Paul will be replacing Rev. Jay Jones who will retire after having faithfully served Trucksville for the past 6 years.

Paul has a heart and love for the local church. In addition, he is passionate about bringing people of all ages into the church. He is able to connect with a large population of individuals, especially those who are not currently relating to any local church or faith community. His commitment to an inclusive church, we believe, will help expand the mission and ministry of Trucksville UMC. In addition, he will be able to make important connections and develop relationships with those who are not yet in the church, especially those in the surrounding community. Paul is a charismatic preacher, talented teacher, and he has a heart for mission. These are all gifts that the Trucksville UMC leadership identified as critical gifts for their next pastor.

We give thanks for Paul’s commitment to the United Methodist Church, for his service to the Susquehanna Conference as a Superintendent, and to his passion for ministry. He will be greatly missed around the cabinet table. And we know that the people of the Trucksville community will be just as blessed as the cabinet has been through his ministry. We invite you to be in prayer with us as Paul begins his transition and enters this new chapter in ministry.

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Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi and Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball have appointed Rev. Dr. Joleen Willis to First United Methodist Church, Hollidaysburg effective July 1, 2024. First Hollidaysburg is in the Altoona Supervisory Area.

Joleen has many gifts for ministry. Her gifts have been so appreciated both by the Cabinet and also by the Altoona Supervisory Area. The Bishops believe that the gifts for ministry that Joleen has will be a blessing and a gift to First Church, Hollidaysburg. 

Joleen has a heart and a passion for ministry. Her passion has been shown throughout the Altoona Supervisory Area. Her care and commitment to the churches and the people of her supervisory area will be of great benefit and importance to First Church Hollidaysburg as they look forward to God’s preferred future. Rev. Dr. Wesley Jacob, current pastor at First Church will return to ministry in the Wisconsin Annual Conference. Pastor Elizabeth Jacob, spouse of Dr. Jacob will also return to Wisconsin Annual Conference.

Joleen’s passion for ministry in the local church and throughout the community has been exhibited not only in her ministry with the Altoona Supervisory Area, but also in the churches she has served. Joleen’s enthusiasm as well as her commitment to evangelism and reaching the least, the lost, and the lonely have been clearly exhibited in her former local church appointments both at Manor Hill and also at West Side UMC, Clearfield. 

Joleen’s passion for music is integral to her faith. Her gift of singing, playing piano, and in the past directing the Chi Rho Singers is one tangible example of how she uses God’s gifts for ministry.

We give thanks for Joleen’s commitment to the United Methodist Church and her commitment to being part of the Appointive Cabinet. Her enthusiasm, her commitment to our denomination and her understanding of ministry in the Altoona Supervisory Area will be missed around the Cabinet table. However, we know that First Church, Hollidaysburg and the people surrounding First Church will be blessed and energized by Joleen’s ministry among them. We know that you join us in prayer for Joleen as she begins this transition and her new ministry in Hollidaysburg.

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Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi and Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball have appointed two new Conference Superintendents effective July 1, 2024. The two new Superintendents bring a wealth of knowledge and a commitment to effective ministry in the United Methodist Church with clergy, laity, and local churches.

Rev. Dr. Lillian Smith has been appointed to the Altoona Supervisory Area. Dr. Smith has held positions throughout the General Church and in local churches. Since 2016, Lillian has been serving as pastor of Cheverly United Methodist Church, Cheverly, MD. Lillian has also served as Pastor at St. Matthew’s UMC of Valley Forge, PA and as Lead Pastor at the historic Tindley Temple in Philadelphia, PA.

Lillian served as the Director, Connectional Ministries and Executive Director of Congregation Transformation with the Eastern PA Conference. While on staff, part of her portfolio was working with “High Potential Churches”, “Large Church Initiative” and “Next Level Ministries.”

Lillian has served as Associate General Secretary, Division on Ministries with Young People with the General Board of Discipleship. She also held the position of Director, Ministries with Women and Persons of Color with the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

Lillian is the author of “Words to Live By: Wisdom Keys that Can Change Your Life.” She recently contributed a chapter to the book, “I’m Black, I’m Christian, I’m Methodist.” Her most recent book is “Rooted Again: Re-Establishing Forgotten or Abandoned connections with God and God’s Kingdom Mandate.”

She received her Master of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary and her Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary. Lillian will be on loan to the Susquehanna Conference from the Baltimore-Washington Conference.

Rev. Daniel Wilt will be appointed to the Williamsport Supervisory Area effective July 1, 2024. Daniel is currently the pastor of St. Paul’s UMC, Lewisburg. He has been the pastor at St. Paul’s since 2017. Prior to that appointment, he was the pastor of Chambersburg, St. Johns.

Daniel has been and continues to be very active in the life of the Susquehanna Conference. Daniel has served on the Bishops’ Committee on Unity and Interreligious Concerns. 

Daniel has spent three years as a church camp counselor and an additional four years as Dean. For the past four years, he has been serving on the Camping & Retreat Ministries Board.

Daniel is currently serving on the Equipping Vital Congregations/Growing Spiritual Transformational Leaders Committee. He has been serving on this team since 2018.

Daniel is also the Chair of the Lewisburg District Committee on Ministry. With the  realignment of Supervisory areas, this DCOM encompasses former Lewisburg District churches now in the State College, Williamsport, and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Supervisory Areas.

Daniel is the co-chair of the Annual Conference Worship Team along with Mindy Gochnaur. Daniel is a graduate of Valley Forge Christian College and earned his Master of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary.

While their appointments will officially begin July 1, 2024, as they are able, they will begin meeting with the Appointive and Coordinating Cabinet.

We know that you will be praying for these new Conference Superintendents as they prepare for their new ministry opportunity. We invite you to welcome them and their leadership when they officially begin serving among the people and churches of the Susquehanna Annual Conference.

God Continues to Do New Things in the Susquehanna Conference

In the first article we wrote as your new bishops, we proclaimed and firmly believed that God was about to do a new thing in that new day and time. Since then, God has been faithful in keeping God’s promise of doing many new things!

We have been witness to churches in the Susquehanna Conference that have moved in new ways in faithful service to Christ. While COVID was difficult and devastating, many of our churches were determined to begin new ministries and new online expressions to be in ministry with new groups of people. God is blessing these churches and their efforts.

Since the passage of ¶2553 in 2019, some congregations have had difficult conversations about disaffiliation. The overwhelming majority of our churches and clergy in the Susquehanna Annual Conference are remaining United Methodist. Some members of disaffiliating congregations have already switched their membership to churches that are remaining United Methodist, thus creating new relationships and opportunities for ministry. We are also using this season to look at ways to be in ministry with new people in new places.

As your bishops, in collaboration and partnership with the Cabinet and Conference Leadership, we are following God’s desire for new ways of doing our ministry of supervision. We are experiencing some natural transitions in our congregations and our conference, allowing all of us to dream of new ways of doing our ministry of supervision. Through these transitions, we believe that God is pointing us in some new ways of being an annual conference, districts, and local churches.

As we have prayed and discerned God’s will for doing a new ministry, we are excited to announce that we will begin a new model of supervision for pastors and for churches. With these natural transitions, God is providing a unique opportunity for God’s church to continue to new things – even in supervision.

Reverend Barry Robison is finishing his eight years on the Cabinet and tenure as Dean. He will retire at this Annual Conference. He will be the new Director of Relationships and Stewardship Development for the UM Foundation of PA.

Reverend Cathy Boileau also recently announced her retirement, effective July 1, 2023. Cathy has been a strong supporter of local churches, a tireless worker and a loving, caring superintendent of the York District. She has worked with many churches to help them move out into mission opportunities both in the district and throughout the world. Cathy will spend time in her retirement continuing to be a clergy member of the Susquehanna Conference and spending time with her beloved husband, Mike.

In addition to the transition of leadership openings in the Harrisburg and York Districts, we recognize transitions in church and communities as some churches disaffiliate, which will require a nimbleness in supervision.

Beginning July 1, there will be five Conference Superintendents to provide supervisory care and oversight. To accomplish this new form of supervision, we will be creating five supervisory areas. The supervisory areas will include the areas of the former seven districts. We are not recommending redistricting as part of this supervisory plan. We are simply reorganizing and creating supervisory areas.

The five Conference Superintendents will be: Paul Amara, Brenda Leigey, Judy Walker, Joleen Willis, and Gary Weaver. As already announced, Gary Weaver will also serve as the Dean of the new Cabinet.

The following are the Conference Superintendents and their coverage area:

1. Paul Amara will cover churches within the Williamsport District as well as most churches within the Lewisburg District. The office for this coverage area will be the current office located at 2420 Nottingham Road, Williamsport.
2. Brenda Leigey will cover churches within the State College District, as well as portions of the Lewisburg and Altoona Districts. The office will continue to be at 1200 Haymaker Road, State College.
3. Judy Walker will cover churches within the Scranton/Wilkes Barre District and some churches within the Lewisburg District. The office will still be located in the Trucksville UM Church, 40 Knob Road, Trucksville.
4. Joleen Willis will cover churches within the Altoona District and portions of the York District. They will begin to look for office space possibly within a local church in the Altoona Area.
5. Gary Weaver will cover the churches within most of the Harrisburg District as well as portions of the York District. This coverage area will continue to utilize the former Harrisburg District Office in the Conference Center. Gary and Cindy will move to what is now the Harrisburg District Parsonage.

As we shift to a new model of supervision, we will also be shifting some district offices. The York office will work toward closure by July 1, 2023.

The Lewisburg Office will stay open only through the retirement of the current Administrative Assistant which will be December 2023. She will also provide support to other coverage areas as needed in this time of transition.

There are some important facts as we begin to move into this new model of supervision.

1. These decisions are made with the full understanding that God is expecting God’s church to always be open to change for a new day and for new possibilities. These decisions are made out of a sense of newness and possibility.
2. These coverage areas will allow the new number of churches/charges per superintendent to remain similar to the current numbers.
3. The boundaries of the coverage areas have been made for the most part around county lines. This will make is easier to do things across former district lines.
4. There will be new ways of supervision. One way is to utilize effective local pastors and elders as ministry partners to do some of the ongoing work of ministry in the coverage area.
5. Every church and every pastor will have a superintendent with whom they will relate and have direct contact.
6. Current district committees will work with the Conference Superintendent to determine what is the best way to accomplish their tasks.
7. This current change in supervision will position the Susquehanna Conference well for whatever General and Jurisdictional Conference may decide about number of episcopal areas and number of bishops.
8. This new way of doing supervision will also allow us to be nimbler and provide new ways of being in ministry.

We will keep you updated as things progress. In the coming weeks we will release a conference map showing the new supervision areas. Included with that map will be the number of churches and charges in that new area.

We welcome your questions. Feel free to send an email to our office or to your current Conference Superintendent. We will be working on an FAQ sheet to put on the Conference website.

In this season of transitions, we celebrate that God is providing transitions and openings for us to do ministry and supervision in a new way. Now is the time for bold action and ministry – following where God is leading.

In ministry with you,

Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi

Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball

Resident Bishops