LEADERSHIP
Richard H. Gentzler, Jr.
Director: Center on Aging and Older Adult Ministry
An ordained elder in the Central Pennsylvania Annual Conference, Rick is author of
numerous books and articles on aging, midlife, and older adult ministries. He is the writer and producer of the award winning video, New Beginnings: The Gifts of Aging. His most recent
book is Aging and Ministry in the 21st Century: An Inquiry Approach.
Melanie Gordon
Director: Ministries with Younger Children
Melanie resources congregational ministry with younger children including weekday ministries. She also directs Focus a quadrennial national event for leaders of children’s ministry.
She is a candidate for commissioning as a deacon in the South Carolina Annual Conference.
Mary Alice Gran
Director: Ministries with Older Children
As a specialist in ministry with school-age children, Mary Alice works with people throughout the life span who care about children. A clergy member of the Iowa Conference, she has authored numerous articles, books, and resources, and provides leadership for training events and consultations with congregational leaders.
Susan Hay
Director: Ministries with Congregational Youth Ministry Leaders
Susan has participated the Youth Ministry Spirituality project and the Exemplary Congregations in Youth Ministry project, both funded by the Lilly Foundation. She serves as a Practice Advisor with “The Center for Spiritual Development in Childhood & Adolescence” of the Search Institute. Susan is a clergy member of the Tennessee Annual Conference.
Bill Lizor
Director: Ministries with Leaders of Young Adult & Single Adult Ministries
Bill works to equip, empower, and connect leaders in young adult and single adult ministries throughout The United Methodist Church. He also serves as the chair of the Young Adult Ministry Council of the Tennessee Annual Conference.
MaryJane Pierce Norton
Director: Family Ministries
MaryJane is the author of several books, the most recent being Your Baby is For Loving, Questions Parents Ask About Confirmation, and Making God Real for a New Generation. She is a clergy member of the North Carolina Annual Conference.
Cruz Edwin Santos
Director: Leader Development in Hispanic/Latino Ministries
An ordained elder in the Florida Annual Conference, Edwin has authored numerous articles and resources on multicultarism and on leadership development in the Latino context. He provides training in a variety of areas related to Hispanic/Latino ministries including non-Latino congregations who are seeking to be in ministry with Hispanic/Latino people.
Deb Smith
Director: Middle Adult Ministries, Evangelism & Metro Churches
Deb has edited curriculum and books related to all areas of the life span. She leads workshops on mid-life issues. Deb is a clergy member of the Tennessee Annual Conference.
Kevin Witt
Director: Leaders in Camp & Retreat Ministries
Kevin has a strong background in experiential learning related to faith formation and developing spiritual leaders. He is co-author of Twists of Faith: Ministry with Youth at the Turning Points of Their Lives and The Retreat Leader’s Manual: A Guide to Organizing Meaningful Christian Retreats. Kevin is a clergy member of the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference.
