Four New Leaders Are Joining Discipleship Ministries

NASHVILLE, Tenn. July 13, 2015 /Discipleship Ministries/ – New leaders in the areas of adult discipleship, research and strategic evaluation, music resources and congregational vitality are joining the staff at Discipleship Ministries of The United Methodist Church.

The Rev. Dr. Scott Hughes, the new Director of Adult Discipleship, and the Rev. Dr. Naomi Annandale, the new Director of Research and Strategic Evaluation, joined the agency’s staff on July 1.

The Rev. Jackson Henry, the new Director of Music Ministries, and the Rev. Dr. Jacqui King, the new Director of Congregational Vitality, will join the staff on Sept. 1.

“These four leaders bring outstanding abilities and skills to Discipleship Ministries in their respective areas.” said Sara Thomas, Chief Strategist for Vital Congregations and Deputy General Secretary at Discipleship Ministries. “Each of them will have special roles as we listen and develop resources that help leaders make disciples and transform the world.”

Hughes, an elder in the North Georgia Conference, will explore best practices for ministries with adults and new ways to equip leaders in developing small group ministries in his work in the Leadership Ministries area of Discipleship Ministries. Hughes has served as associate pastor at Douglasville First United Methodist Church in Douglasville, Ga., since 2006.

Annandale, an elder in the Upper New York Conference, will help the agency evaluate how it is fulfilling its mission and objectives to resource congregations for vitality. She most recently served as pastor at Marcellus United Methodist Church in Marcellus, N.Y.

A deacon in the Tennessee Conference, Henry will provide music resources for worship in congregations. He follows Dean McIntyre with these duties in Leadership Ministries, who retired after 16 years of service at Discipleship Ministries, formerly the General Board of Discipleship. Henry currently serves as the Minister of Music and Worship at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Murfreesboro, Tenn.,

As Director of Congregational Vitality in Leadership Ministries, King will support lay and clergy leadership in congregations seeking to focus on congregational vitality for making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. She is an elder in the Texas conference and mostly recently has served as the Associate Pastor for Leadership and Laity Development at Jones Memorial United Methodist Church in Houston.

“We are excited to welcome Scott, Jackson and Jacqui to our staff at Leadership Ministries,” said the Rev. MaryJane Pierce Norton, associate general secretary for Leadership Ministries at Discipleship Ministries. “They each bring distinct skills and talents, enabling us to provide resources for supporting and developing leaders in all areas of The United Methodist Church’s life.”