Rev. Jeff Campbell Elected General Secretary of Discipleship Ministries

NASHVILLE, Tenn. April 12, 2022 /Discipleship Ministries/ – The Discipleship Ministries Board of Directors has elected the Rev. Jeff Campbell, as the agency’s new General Secretary (chief executive), effective Monday, April 18, 2022.

Campbell, an ordained elder in the Greater New Jersey Conference, has served as Acting General Secretary of Discipleship Ministries since February 25, 2021, while maintaining his role as Associate General Secretary for Strategic Programming. Campbell joined Discipleship Ministries in 2013 as Director of Conference Relationships.

During his tenure at Discipleship Ministries, Campbell has coordinated the work of the agency around three strategic priorities:

• An Intentional Discipleship System in every church with focus on our identity in Christ and explicitly anti-racist discipleship.
• Equipping local churches to engage their communities, particularly those for whom the church has become irrelevant, recognizing a diverse mission field.
• Lifting up and creating local, contextual resources globally.

Campbell has been instrumental in the creation of resources supporting the See All the People initiative which invites leaders to stop trying to fix their church and start seeing the people that God calls us to reach. Campbell created the One Matters Award to be in partnership with conferences encouraging churches to focus on making disciples.

“Jeff Campbell brings a pastoral heart and a rich understanding of the role of the local church in making disciples of Jesus Christ,” said Bishop Mark J. Webb of The Upper New York episcopal area, who is president of the Discipleship Ministries board of directors. “Jeff will continue to guide and advocate for the mission and vision of Discipleship Ministries. His deep sense of call, along with his collaborative and strong relational leadership style, will allow Discipleship Ministries to continue to carry out the task of equipping the body of Christ to invite people to become disciples of Jesus Christ, in a powerful and relevant way.”

“I am grateful to the Board of Directors and staff of Discipleship Ministries for placing your trust in me to continue to lead this important organization at such a crucial time,” Campbell offered. “By God’s grace we will continue to work closely with local church and conference leaders to create and lift up resources that challenge and support us all in the making of disciples and transforming our communities.”

Campbell received his undergraduate degree in English, Linguistics, and Speech from the University of Mary Washington. Campbell earned his Master of Divinity from Drew Theological School where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and received the Alton Raynor Prize for Town & Country Ministry. Campbell lives in the Nashville area with his wife and three children and participates in the life and ministries of Nolensville First United Methodist Church.

The mission of Discipleship Ministries is to support annual conference and local church leaders for their task of equipping world-changing disciples. An agency of The United Methodist Church, Discipleship Ministries is located at 1908 Grand Ave. in Nashville, Tenn.

For more information, visit www.UMCdiscipleship.org, the Press Center at www.UMCdiscipleship.org/about/press-center or call the Marketing & Delivery Office at 877-899-2780, ext. 7123.