Bishop Announces Three Cabinet-Level Appointments

Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson has announced the appointment of two new District Superintendents and the appointment of the next Director of the Center for Clergy Excellence, all effective July 1, 2022.

Rev. Dr. Alice Rogers
Rev. Dr. Alice Rogers, currently District Superintendent of the North East District, will be appointed Director of the Center for Clergy Excellence. 

"Rev. Dr. Alice Rogers is eminently qualified to lead the North Georgia Conference Center for Clergy Excellence," said Bishop Sue. "Her rich and varied experience—background with Candler teaching parish and contextual education linking students with churches, service on the Board of Ordained Ministry, leadership as a district superintendent in a district with a large number of local pastors, and participation as a delegate to several General and jurisdictional conferences—prepared her well for this role.”

Bishop Sue has asked Rogers, as part of this new role, to lead the annual conference and the denomination in examining our current ordination and licensing process. Dr. Rogers will assemble a group to develop a streamlined and more effective process that better reflects the needs of the 21st-century church and better utilizes and employs the gifts of those God has called to serve it.

Rogers has served as superintendent of the North East District since 2018. She previously held appointments at Glenn Memorial UMC in Atlanta, Candler School of Theology, Aldersgate UMC in Augusta, Jackson UMC, Mt. Bethel UMC in Marietta, Comer UMC, and East Point First UMC. She has represented the North Georgia Conference at the last six Jurisdictional and General Conferences of the United Methodist Church. She serves on the United Methodist General Commission on Communications and on the North Georgia Conference Committee on Finance and Administration.

Dr. Rogers also serves on the Disciplinary Review Panel for the State Bar of Georgia, is a Trustee for Young Harris College, is on the Board of Camping and Retreat Ministries. Her hobbies include anything that involves being outdoors: fly-fishing, hiking, kayaking, and cycling.

"I am very happy to be moving into this new area of ministry and believe it brings together many parts of my ministry over the last 34 years," said Rogers. "I love mentoring candidates for ministry through the process towards ordination and look forward to working alongside others towards streamlining the process. In my four years as a DS, I have come to hold great appreciation for our part-time local pastors and the critical role they play in serving our small membership churches. Providing appropriate resources and support for them as well as our Deacons and Elders is essential as we emerge ever so slowly from this global pandemic. And, as always, I continue to seek the wisdom and guidance of our retired ministers as we learn from their many years of service."

Rev. Dr. Doug Gilreath
Rev. Dr. Doug Gilreath, pastor of Covington First UMC, will be appointed North East District Superintendent. 

"Rev. Dr. Gilreath has had a fruitful and productive run at Covington First and is much beloved. When people describe Doug, they often compliment his 'pastor’s heart,'" said Bishop Sue. "Doug’s grace, great compassion, and excellent leadership skills will serve the North East District well."

Gilreath has served Covington First UMC for the past 13 years. In his ministry career, he has previously served at Due West UMC (youth pastor), Trinity UMC in Duluth (student pastor), and as senior pastor of Friendship UMC in Fayetteville, the Mountain Valley Circut in Cleveland, Loudsville UMC, and Locust Grove UMC before his current appointment to Covington.

He is a graduate of Kennesaw State University, Candler School of Theology (M.Div.), and Columbia School of Theology (Doctor of Ministry). He was ordained elder in 1992. He and his wife Lynn have three young adult children, Hannah Marie, Hayden Levi, and Adeline Grace.

“In many ways, Lynn and I feel as though we are returning home," said Gilreath. "We served in the Gainesville District early in our ministry and are excited to return to the place where we grew our family and many friendships. I am excited to have the opportunity to work in partnership with our pastors and churches in the North East District as we grow the Kingdom together.”

Rev. Dr. Beth Sanders
Rev. Dr. Beth Sanders, South East District Missional Specialist, will be appointed North West District Superintendent.

"Rev Sanders has served with distinction in local churches and has been a trusted and effective partner to the South East District churches in her role as missional specialist for the DS," said Bishop Sue. "She has a keen legal mind and a calm, engaging demeanor. She is familiar with the North West District and is eager to return and serve the clergy, laity, and churches there."

Sanders currently serves as Mission Specialist in the South East District. She is an ordained elder and a graduate of Emory University (English and Philosophy), University of Georgia School of Law, Candler School of Theology (MDiv), and Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary (DMin).

Sanders has previously served as the Associate Pastor at Peachtree Road UMC in Atlanta, and as Senior Pastor of College Park First UMC, Second Avenue UMC in Rome, and Lewis Memorial UMC in Evans. She is a happy aunt to one very special niece born in the COVID year 2020. She is a member of the Augusta Choral Society, an avid runner, and enjoys the companionship of two cats, Atticus and Teddy. 

"Having lived in Rome as a child and served there as a pastor, I am thrilled to return to a part of Georgia for which I have so much affection and to the people who nurtured and sustained my faith in significant ways," said Sanders. "I joyfully anticipate coming alongside all the communities, pastors, and laity of the North West District, as together we lead with love for the kingdom of God."

Sanders follows Rev. John Pinson who will retire in June.

Sanders and Gilreath join superintendents Rev. Dr. Byron Thomas (Central South), Rev. Dr. Jessica Terrell (Central West), Rev. Dr. Michael McQueen (Central North), Rev. Dr. Rodrigo Cruz (Central East), Rev. Susan Landry (South West), and Rev. Greg Porterfield (South East) on the 2022-2023 cabinet. 

"We celebrate the diverse backgrounds and theological perspectives of the North Georgia Conference District Superintendents," said Bishop Sue. "They are alumni of Gammon (ITC), Candler (Emory), Duke, Asbury, and Perkins (SMU) (as well as McCormick, Garrett, and Columbia), united by their love for of Jesus Christ, The United Methodist Church, and each other. They are focused on the mission of making disciples for the transformation of the world and committed to cultivating thriving and healthy congregations across the theological spectrum."