The Alabama-West Florida Conference would like to congratulate Dr. R. Lawson Bryan, senior pastor at Montgomery First United Methodist Church, on being named to the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits. Dr. Bryan replaces Judge Dawn Hare after her selection and naming as the General Secretary for the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women.
Dr. Bryan was named by the Southeastern Jurisdiction College of Bishops at the recent Council of Bishops meeting per the 2012 Book of Discipline ¶712 stating, "a vacancy in the jurisdictional conference or central conference membership shall be filled by the corresponding College of Bishops (the replacement must be a member of the same annual conference of the person being replaced)." His service to this board is effective immediately.
Bryan expressed his gratitude by saying, "Because of wise and faithful leadership the UM pension has become the largest denominational pension fund in the world. This is especially significant to us all during challenging economic times. I thank God for the confidence this imparts to the clergy and lay participants in the fund. To maintain a fiscally responsible pension fund is a glory to God and a strong witness to our society. I am grateful to represent the Alabama-West Florida Conference and to work with our own bishop who is the current president of this General Board."
Please join the conference in praying for Dr. Bryan as he embraces this service to our conference and the general church.
