Bishop David Graves, resident bishop of the Alabama-West Florida Conference, has announced two cabinet changes and two part-time staff additions.
Rev. Sheila Bates, a member of the Alabama-West Florida Conference who is currently serving in the North Georgia Conference as executive pastor at Impact UMC, will serve as the district superintendent of the Southwest District. Her previous appointments in addition to Impact UMC include lead pastor at Cokesbury UMC (Pensacola), Dauphin Way UMC (associate), director of faith and leadership formation at the General Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry (GBHEM) and director of Tuskegee Wesley Foundation. She was ordained an elder in the United Methodist Church in 2018. Bates completed her undergraduate work at Suffolk University and her seminary work at Gammon Theological Seminary. She has one adult daughter, Kira.
Dr. Sterling Boykin will be appointed as the new district superintendent in the Southeast District. Boykin currently serves as senior pastor of Ashland Place UMC in Mobile, AL. His previous appointments include Trinity UMC (Ft. Walton) and Dothan FUMC (associate). Dr. Boykin was ordained an elder in the United Methodist Church in 2008. He completed his undergraduate work at Florida State University, received his Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University and his Doctor of Ministry at Columbia Theological Seminary. He is married to Lee Ann and together they have two children, Ellie and Jes.
Dr. Debora Bishop, current Southwest district superintendent, is retiring at the end of the conference year and Dr. Wilson, current Southeast district superintendent, will receive a new appointment for the 2024-2025 appointment year. Dr. Bishop has served seven years and Dr. Wilson has served eight years on the cabinet. Jeff will roll off due to Book of Discipline requirements.
Rev. Jackie Slaughter, elder in the Alabama-West Florida Conference, will serve part-time as the director of justice and diversity ministries. Ordained an elder in 2006, Jackie has been a servant leader in the Alabama-West Florida Conference, the West Ohio Conference and the British Methodist Church for more than 23 years. Her previous appointments include Eight Mile UMC, Myrtle Grove UMC (associate), St. Paul/Richards Charge (co-pastor), St Paul UMC, Capitol Heights UMC and Metropolitan UMC. Each of her cross-cultural appointments found Rev. Slaughter as the first female and/or the first person of color ever in their pastoral history. In addition, she has served on many district and conference boards and committees. Most recently, she chairs the West Central District Committee on Ordained Ministry. Jackie received her undergraduate degree from Mississippi State University and holds graduate degrees from the University of South Alabama (MS) and Methodist Theological School in Ohio (MDiv; MTS). She holds various certifications including those for spiritual direction and drum circle facilitation.
Mrs. Heather Howell, a lay person in the conference, will serve as the part-time director of lay servant ministries. Howell is a native of Marianna, FL, and resides in Panama City. She and her husband, Ted, are active members of Abide United Methodist Church. She is in the process of becoming a Certified Lay Minister. After teaching high school English for nine years, she continued to hear God’s call into ministry when she served as a pastor’s administrative assistant, then as the hospitality director and finally as the congregational care minister. She is a graduate of the University of South Alabama where she received her bachelor’s and master’s degree in secondary education language arts and has since received a degree in Christian life coaching from Light University.
“There are not enough words to express my deep gratitude to Dr. Bishop and Dr. Wilson for their faithful service to the cabinet,” stated Bishop Graves. “These servants led during some of the most challenging times in our denomination and handled difficult situations with love, compassion and grace. I’m honored that Rev. Bates and Dr. Boykin will begin serving on the cabinet in July. They will bring a fresh perspective as we reimagine church moving forward. I’m excited that Rev. Slaughter and Heather will focus on ministry areas that have great potential in our conference. Join me in praying for all experiencing transition in this appointment year.”
The cabinet continues to meet in February and March to prayerfully discern all clergy appointments. All appointments are effective July 1, 2024. Other clergy appointments will be published at the conclusion of annual conference.