March 15, 2015
(Montgomery, AL) – Bishop Paul L. Leeland is pleased to announce two new district superintendents to the Alabama-West Florida Conference appointive cabinet. Rev. June Jernigan and Dr. Tim Trent will begin their new appointments as superintendents starting July 1, 2015.
Rev. June Jernigan will serve as District Superintendent for the Baypines District and currently serves as the Assistant to the Bishop and Director of Ministerial Services. Before serving in the conference office, she served as senior pastor of Millbrook FUMC and executive pastor of Gulf Breeze UMC. Jernigan was ordained an elder in the AWF Conference in 2004. She is a graduate of Samford University and received her seminary degree from Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY. She completed a Clinical Pastoral Education Residency at Methodist Medical Center and a Pastoral Counseling Residency at the Pastoral Counseling and Education Center, both in Dallas, TX, and is a certified coach with Passion in Partnership ministry. June has one adult child, Jonathan.
Dr. Tim Trent will serve as the District Superintendent for the Pensacola District and currently serves as senior pastor of Andalusia FUMC. His previous appointments include Whitfield Memorial UMC in Montgomery, AL, Associate Director of the Conference Council on Ministries, Heritage UMC in Enterprise, AL, Atmore FUMC, Ferry Pass UMC, Gonzalez UMC, Dothan FUMC, Skipperville UMC, Midland City UMC and Post Oak UMC. He is a graduate of Troy State University and received his seminary degree from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Dr. Trent and his wife, Linda, have three children and five grandchildren.
Dr. Jeremy Pridgeon, current Pensacola District Superintendent and Dean of the Cabinet, will be appointed as Assistant to the Bishop and Director of Ministerial Services. He has been in his current appointment since 2010 and previously served Wetumpka FUMC, Montgomery FUMC and the Seale/Alexandria charge. He and his wife, Abigail, have two children, Alexis and Addison.
Dr. Cory Smith, current Baypines District Superintendent, will be appointed as the Director of Connectional Ministries, following the retirement of Rev. Neil McDavid. Smith has served as the Baypines District Superintendent since 2011 and previously served Woodland UMC in Montgomery, AL, and Epworth UMC in Phenix City, AL. He is married to the former Alicia Sellars and together they have one daughter, Sarah.
Bishop Leeland stated, “It is an honor to welcome June and Tim to the appointive cabinet. Both have shown tremendous leadership in our conference and will be outstanding assets to our ministry team. We give thanks for the ministry of Rev. Neil McDavid and his 48 years of service to this conference. I know you will join me in extending your thanks to him for his dedication to this calling. I am excited to welcome Jeremy and Cory to the conference staff and look forward to their continued fruitful and effective leadership for the conference.”
Andalusia FUMC will receive a new appointment in the coming weeks. For more information about the Alabama-West Florida Conference, please visit www.awfumc.org.