Rev. Jeffrey Campbell Named Acting General Secretary of Discipleship Ministries

NASHVILLE, Tenn. March 8, 2021 /Discipleship Ministries/ – The Rev. Jeffrey Campbell, Associate General Secretary of Strategic Programming at Discipleship Ministries, has been named Acting General Secretary of the agency.

Campbell was selected to replace the late Rev. Junius B. Dotson while a search for a top executive is undertaken by the Discipleship Ministries Board of Directors.

“While we continue to mourn the loss of Junius and his gifts of leadership, we are grateful for Jeff’s willingness to serve as Acting General Secretary,” said Bishop Mark J. Webb of The Upper New York Conference, the board’s president. “Jeff is a passionate follower of Jesus who loves the church and is committed to her mission.

“His deep involvement in the strategic direction of Discipleship Ministries over the last few years will insure a commitment to the purpose and values of this agency. He has our full support and deep prayers,” Webb said.

Kim Simpson, the board’s vice president, added her support for Campbell.

“Jeff has the skills to lead with competence and the caring relationship with the staff that will be needed to walk down this difficult pathway,” said Simpson, a lay person from Arlington, Texas.

Dotson, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, died Feb. 25 at the age of 55.

Campbell, an ordained elder of the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference, joined Discipleship Ministries in 2013 and has helped the agency build relationships with conference leaders, while coordinating the operations of the World Service side of the agency. In addition to creating and lifting up resources for local church and annual conference leaders, Campbell has been instrumental in the creation of resources supporting the “See All the People” initiative.

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 Communications Office at (877) 899-2780, Ext. 1726.