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Butcher to Head New Church Development

The Rev. Thomas G. Butcher

(May 2, 2007, GBOD) -- The Rev. Thomas G. Butcher has been named executive officer for New Congregational Development in the U. S. for the General Board of Discipleship, where he will be leading the Path One Team, effective July 1, 2007.

This new position, based at GBOD headquarters in Nashville, will work to build and implement the denomination's collaborative effort to train 1000 new church planters who will start 650 new churches by 2012.

"I am excited about Tom's leadership of the Path One Team. His background and gracious spirit will greatly assist all of us as we seek to make new disciples of Jesus Christ by planting new churches," says Bishop G. Lindsey Davis, chair of the Path One Team for new church starts in the U. S. and bishop of the North Georgia Area.

"Tom is a person of deep faith and great passion. He brings to this office a proven track record of starting new churches," said the Rev. Karen Greenwaldt, top executive for GBOD.

During Butcher's tenure in Congregational Development, he has facilitated the start-up of 24 new churches and the revitalization of over 40 others.

Butcher credits his past success to his passion for starting new churches. He looks forward to sharing this same passion in his work with the Path One Team, which is composed of leaders from the Council of Bishops, General Board of Global Ministries, United Methodist Communications, General Board of Higher Education Ministry, the network for congregational developers, each of the five racial ethnic national plans, the network of church planters, and others, which his office will oversee.

Butcher currently serves as district superintendent in the Desert Southwest regional area.

Previously, Butcher served as pastor of University United Methodist Church in Las Vegas, Nevada, for two years and as conference council director and director of congregational development for eight years at the Desert Southwest Conference. He also chaired Congregational Development for the Western Jurisdiction.

Prior to his call into ministry, Butcher worked as a high school coach. He has served The United Methodist Church for more than twenty years.

Butcher holds a master's degree in divinity and a master's in Christian education from the Pacific School of Religion.

Butcher currently resides in Glendale, Arizona.

GBOD’s mission is to support annual conference and local church leaders for their task of equipping world-changing disciples. An agency of The United Methodist Church, GBOD is located at 1908 Grand Ave. in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, call the Media Relations Office toll free at (877) 899-2780, ext. 7017.