2024 Appointments and Retirements

Following are the clergy appointments, listed by month of announcement. All appointments are effective July 1, 2024 (unless otherwise noted).

Full list (Appointment Book)

January Announcements

• Luther Mason (Licensed Local Pastor) to Chicago: Eastside (¼ time) (Lake South District) whileremaining at Chicago: Greenstone (¼ time) (Lake South District). Effective October 1.
• Ha Nguyen (District Superintendent Supply) to Chicago: First Vietnamese (¼ time) (Lake North District). Ha follows Mai Le who has concluded her ministry. Effective January 1.
• Rachel Grover (District Superintendent Supply) to Davis: Calvary (¼ time) (Prairie North District) Rachel follows Brenda Byrne who is retiring. Effective January 1.
• Jay Shin (Licensed Local Pastor) to full-time at Belvidere: First Associate (Prairie North District) from ½ Associate and ¼ time at Capron (Prairie North District). Effective April 1.
• Hwan Kyu Kim (Licensed Local Pastor) to Hampshire: Zion and Hampshire: First (Praire North District). Kyu follows Jenny Weber who returned to extension ministry. Effective Dec 1, 2023 
• Adrienne Stricker (Full Deacon) to Transforming Center in Wheaton from Office Administrator at First Congregational Church of LaGrange. Effective January 31.
• Seth Botts (Licensed Local Pastor) to Chicago: United Church of Rogers Park and Recovery NFC (1/2 time) (Lake North District). Effective February. 1. 
• Laura Barkley (Full Elder) to Joliet: Grace (Prairie Central District) from 346.1 status in Kentucky. Laura follows Romir Esquerra who is retiring.
• Jeffry Bross (Full Elder) to Libertyville (Lake North District) from Prairie Central District Superintendent. Jeffry follows Jay Carr who is retiring.
• Brittany Isaac (Full Elder) to Arlington Heights: First (Lake North District) from Lake North District Superintendent. Brittany follows Rick Carlson who has been serving as an interim.
• Grace Oh (Full Elder) to Hinsdale (Lake South District) from Chicago: Englewood-Rust and Thornton (Lake South District). Grace follows Young-Mee Park who is retiring.
• David Hamer (District Superintendent Supply) to ½ time interim at Paw Paw (Prairie South District) David follows Dana Cox who is withdrawing her provisional membership from the NIC and concluding her ministry. Effective February 1.
• Brenda Morris (Licensed Local Pastor) to Durand (Prairie North District) from Shannon: Bethel (Prairie North District). Brenda follows Lesley Stanford who is serving Durand as an interim.
• Retirements
  • Gavin C. Brandt (Retired Elder) returning to Retirement from German Valley & Winnebago (Prairie North District), effective July 1, 2024. Gavin officially retired in January 2014 and in February 2015 was appointed to Cedarville, Red Oak until April 2016. He was then appointed to German Valley/Winnebago (½ time). 
  • Jay D. Carr (Full Elder) to Retirement from Libertyville (Lake North District), effective July 1, 2024. Jay was ordained a Probationary Elder in 1984 and became a Full Elder in 1987. During his ministry, Jay served at Dixon: First, Oswego: Prairie, Princeton, Roscoe, New Lenox and Libertyville.
  • Romir Reyes Esguerra (Full Elder) to Retirement from Joliet: Grace (Prairie Central District), effective July 1, 2024. Romir was ordained a Probationary Elder in 1984 and became a Full Elder in 1987. During his ministry, Romir served at Thomson, Argo Fay, Ashton, DeKalb: First, Wheaton: Aldersgate, Oak Park: St. John’s, Villa Park: Calvary, Chicago: Berry Memorial, Schaumburg: Our Redeemer’s and Joliet: Grace.
  • Catiana McKay (Retired Elder) returning to Retirement from Chadwick: Hope, Hickory Grove, and Fairhaven (½ time)  (Prairie North District), effective July 1, 2024. Catiana officially retired in July 2022, and served the Chadwick charge.
  • Young-Mee Park (Full Elder) to Retirement from Hinsdale (Prairie Central District), effective July 1, 2024. Young-Mee was ordained a Probationary Elder in 2005 and became a Full Elder in 2008. During her ministry, Young-Mee served at Dixon: First, Oak Park: First, DeKalb District Superintendent and Hinsdale.
  • Gary Rich (Licensed Local Pastor) to Retirement from Cedarville (¼ time) (Prairie North District), effective July 1, 2024. Gary received his Local Pastor’s License in 2017 and served at Red Oak (Prairie North District) and Cedarville. He officially retired in July 2023, while continuing to serve at Cedarville.
  • Wendy A. Witt (Full Elder) to Retirement from Dundee: First (Prairie Central District), effective July 1, 2024. Wendy was ordained a Probationary Elder in 1987 and became a Full Elder in 1989. During her ministry, Wendy served at Plattville, Joliet: Ottawa Street, University UMC (Oklahoma Conference), Dolton: Faith, Chicago: Faith, Chicago: Willard, Chicago: Trinity, United Campus Ministries/Wesley Foundation (DeKalb), Suydam, Cortland, Earlville, Chicago: First (Temple), Dundee: First.
  • Jongmin Martin Lee (Full Elder) to retirement from Director of Congregational Development and Redevelopment, effective July 1, 2024. Martin was ordained a Probationary Elder in 1993 and a Full Elder in 1995. During his ministry, Martin served Freeport: Faith, Chicago: First Korean, Bensenville and as NIC Director of Congregational Development and Redevelopment. 
  • Paul C. Meyers (Full Elder) to Retirement from Roscoe (Prairie North District), effective July 1, 2024. Paul was ordained a Probationary Elder in 1995 and became a Full Elder in 1997. During his ministry, Paul served at Rockford: Court Street, Elgin: Cornerstone, and Roscoe.
  • Regina Davis-Bridges (Full Deacon) to retirement from Leave of Absence. Regina became a Provisional Deacon 2001 and ordained a Full Deacon in 2004. During her ministry she served Homewood: St. Andrew. South Holland School District (Principal) and Season's Hospice, Des Plaines, IL. 

February Announcements

• Nancy Blade (Full Elder) to Oak Park: Euclid Ave (Lake North District) from Kaneville (Prairie South District). Nancy follows Tony Asta who has been serving as an interim.
• Ryan Sutton (Full Elder) to Roscoe (Praire North District) from Princeton (Prairie South District). Ryan follows Paul Meyers who is retiring.
• Jeremiah Lee (Full Elder) to Shannon: Bethel (Prairie North District) from Addison: Good Samaritan (Prairie Central District). Jeremiah follows Brenda Morris who is appointed to Durand. 
• Lino Aragon (Licensed Local Pastor) to interim at Chicago: Amor De Dios (¼ time) (Lake South District) while remaining at Des Plaines: Nuevo Amanecer (¼ time) (Lake North District). Lino follows Ramiro Rodriguez who is concluding his ministry. 
• GaHyung Kim (Retired Elder) to Lockport: First (3/4) from retirement.
• Kelly McKune (Licensed Local Pastor) to Kaneville (Prairie South District) from Red Oak & Wyanet (Prairie South District). Kelly follows Nancy Blade who is appointed to Oak Park: Euclid Ave (Lake North District)
• Wendy Hardin Hermann (Full Elder) to Prairie Central District Superintendent from Mount Prospect: Trinity. (Lake North District). Wendy follows Jeffry Bross, who is appointed to Libertyville (Lake North District)
• Victor Melad (Full Elder) to Lake North District Superintendent from Lead Pastor Chicago: Edison Park and Oak Park: St. John’s (Lake North District). Vic follows Brittany Isaac, who is appointed to Arlington Heights: First (Lake North District).
• Retirements
  • GaHyung Kim (Full Elder) to retirement from Lockport: First (Lake South District). GaHyung was ordained a Probationary Elder in 1988 and in 1993 became a Full Elder. During her ministry, GaHyung served Aurora: Wesley (Associate), Winthrop Harbor, North Prairie, Wauconda: Federated, Chicago: Calvary, DeKalb: First (Associate), Naperville: Community (Associate), Oak Lawn, First, Sycamore (Lead), Lake Bluff: Grace, Lockport: First/Lisle: Faith and Lockport: First.

March Announcements

• Rob Wandell (Superintendent Supply) to Capron (¼) (Prairie North District). Rob follows Jay Hyesang Shin who is moving to full-time at Belvedere: First Associate (Prairie North District). Effective April 1.
• Kelli Knight (Full Elder) to 346.1 as Associate at Catalina First (Desert Southwest Conference) from Extension Ministry.
• Dawn Gardner (Licensed Local Pastor) to Chicago: West Ridge Community (¼) while remaining at Evanston: Hemenway (½) (Lake North District). Dawn follows Aaron McLeod who will remain at Evanston: Sherman (¾) (Lake North District). 
• Arnel Vasquez (346.1) to Lead Pastor at Chicago: Edison Park (¾) and Oak Park: St. John’s (¼) (Lake North District) from Magsaysay UMC in Tondo, Manila (Philippines Annual Conference). Arnel follows Victor Melad who is appointed as the Lake North District Superintendent.
• Arlene Christopherson (Full Elder) to retirement from Assistant to the Bishop effective September 1, 2024. Arlene was ordained a Probationary Elder in 1985 and became a Full Elder in 1987.  During her ministry she served Midlothian, Polo: First, Downers Grove : First (Associate), Sycamore (Co-Pastor), Elgin District (Superintendent).  NIC Assistant to the Bishop and Director of Connectional Ministries.
• Danita Anderson (Full Elder) to Assistant to the Bishop from Woodridge (Prairie Central District). Danita follows Arlene Christopherson, who is retiring. 
• Ashish Singh (Full Elder) to Addison: Good Samaritan (Prairie Central District) from Libertyville Associate (Lake North District). Ashish follows Jeremiah Lee who is appointed to Shannon: Bethel (Prairie North District).
• Cherie Quillman (Licensed Local Pastor) to Forreston/Leaf River (Prairie North District) from Serena/Norway/Millington. Cherie follows Eddie Eddy who has been supporting the congregation as an extension of his Freeport ministry.
• David Profitt (DSS) to the new position of Arlington Heights: First Associate (¾ time) (Lake North District).
• Michael Hickock (Full Elder) to Princeton (Prairie South District) from Boilingbrook: Crossroads of Faith (Prairie Central District). Mike follows Ryan Sutton who is appointed to Roscoe.
• Praveen Raj Natarajan Lily (346.2 Student) ad interim to Melrose Park: Cosmopolitan (¼) (Lake North District). Praveen follows John Sianghio who is moving to Arizona State University to be the Assistant Director of the Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict. Effective May 15. 
• Sam Park (Full Elder) to Mount Prospect: Trinity (Lake North District) from Aurora: Bethany of Fox Valley (Prairie Central District). Sam follows Wendy Hardin Hermann, who is appointed Prairie Central District Superintendent.
• Jonathan Grace (346.1) to Lead Pastor at Chicago: Urban Village Church Edgewater (Lake North District) from 723 Ministries and Thrive at Lovers Lane UMC (North Texas Conference). Jonathan follows Christian Coon (as Lead) who is moving to Transitional Leave and Lois Parr (in Edgewater) who is an interim.
• DaeGyu Dave Yim (Full Elder) to Woodridge (Prairie Central District) from Savannah (Prairie North District). Dave follows Danita Anderson who is appointed as the Assistant to the Bishop.
• Abby Holcombe (Provisional Elder) to River Forest (½) and Site Pastor Urban Village West  (½) (Lake North District). Abby follows Christian Coon who is appointed to Transitional Leave.
• Rick Carlson (Retired Elder) to West Dundee (½) (Prairie Central District) from Interim Lead at Arlington Heights: First (Lake North District). Rick follows Wendy Witt who is retiring.

April Announcements

• Richard Wagner (Full Elder) to retirement from Olympia Fields (Lake South District). Rich was ordained a Probationary Elder in 1988 and became a Full Elder in 1992. During his ministry Rich served Morrison (Associate), Pierce, Cortland, Wilton Center Federated, Elgin: Wesley, Lake Villa, and Olympia Fields. 
• Fernando Candumbo de Castro (Licensed Local Pastor) to Savanna: First from Oak Park: St. John’s/Chicago: Edison Park (associate) (½) (Lake North District). Fernando follows DaeGyu “Dave” Yim who is appointed to Woodridge (Prairie Central District).
• Lino Aragon (Licensed Local Pastor) to Libertyville (Associate) from Des Plaines: Nuevo Amanecer (Lake North District). Lino follows Ashish Singh who is appointed to Addison: Good Samaritan (Prairie Central District).
• Innis Miller (Full Elder) to Chicago: Englewood-Rust (½) while remaining at Chicago: Kelly Woodlawn (½) (Lake South District). Innis is ending his service at Blue Island: Grace, which decided to close. At Englewood-Rust, Innis follows Grace Oh who is appointed to Hinsdale (Lake South District).
• Matthew Smith (Provisional Elder) to Cedarville (1/4) while continuing at Warren (1/2) and Red Oak (1/4) (Prairie North District). Matthew follows Gary Rich who is retiring.
• Payton “Buzz” Wheeler (District Superintendent Supply) to Lake Villa (Prairie Central District). Buzz follows Jacques Manirikiza who has concluded his student appointment. Effective May 1.
• Sang Hun Han (Full Elder) to Aurora: Bethany of Fox Valley (Prairie Central District) from Schaumburg: Salem Korean (Prairie Central District). Sang Hun Han follows Sam Park who is appointed to Mount Prospect: Trinity (Lake North District). 
• Jackie Moreno Salgado (Licensed Local Pastor) to Bensenville (½) (Prairie Central District) from Franklin Park: First Associate (¼) (Lake North District). Jackie follows Juyeon Jeon who is appointed to Wheeling: First Korean Associate (Lake North District). Effective June 1.
• Chanje (CJ) Woo (Licensed Local Pastor) to Mundelein: Vision (¼) while remaining at Arlington Heights: Church of the Incarnation (¾) (Lake North District). CJ follows Kun Sang Cho who has been serving as an interim.
• Linny Hartzell (Full Elder) to Chicago: Resurrection (½) in a newly yoked charge with Harvey: Transformation (½) formerly yoked with Homewood: St. Andrew, which has voted to close (Lake South District). Linny follows Delian Stone who is concluding her ministry.
• Dennis Langdon (Full Elder) to Olympia Fields (¾) in a newly yoked charge with Chicago: Trinity (¼) formerly yoked with Chicago: Morgan Park (Lake South District). Dennis follows Richard Wagner who is retiring.
• Nadan Cho (Licensed Local Pastor) to Naperville: Woori (Prairie Central District) from Mount Carroll, Thompson and Argo Fay (Prairie North District). Nadan follows Chung Nam Kwak who has been serving as interim.

May Announcements

• Timothy Biel Sr. (Licensed Local Pastor) to Bolingbrook: Crossroads of Faith (3/4) (Prairie Central District) from Alsip: Christ (Lake South District). Timothy follows Michael Hickcock who is appointed to Princeton (Prairie South District).
• Christian Coon (Full Elder) to Director of Congregational Development from Chicago: Urban Village Church (Lake North and South District). Christian follows Martin Lee who is retiring.
• Yoshiya Takahashi (Full Elder) to Extension Ministry (Four Seasons Hospice) from Extension Ministry (Duke University Hospital).
• Jason Princer (Licensed Local Pastor) to the newly created Site Pastor for Bartlett: Journey of Hope (¾)(Prairie Central District). 
• Rich Ottens (District Superintendent Supply) to Chadwick: Hope/Hickory Grove/Fairhaven (½). Rich follows Catiana McKay who will return to retirement. 
• Lambert Habonimana (Licensed Local Pastor) to Mount Carroll/Thompson/Argo Fay. Lambert follows Nadan Cho who is appointed to Naperville: Woori (Prairie: Central)
• Joyce Hazel Salatan (346.1/Student) to Associate Oak Park: St. John’s and Chicago: Edison Park (½) (Lake North District). Joyce follows Fernando de Castro who is appointed to Savanna (Prairie North District)
• Jan Shaulis (Retired Local Pastor) to Reynolds (½) while remaining at Ashton (½) (Prairie South District). Jan follows Glen Allen Stewart who returns to retirement.
• Rachel Birkhahn-Rommelfanger (Full Elder) to transitional leave from Extension Ministry.
• Beverly Dukes (Full Elder) to Chicago: Morgan Park ( ¾ ) and Alsip: Christ ( ¼ ) (Lake South District) from Maywood: Neighborhood ( ¾ ) (Lake North District) and Lombard: Faith ( ¼ ) (Prairie Central District). At Morgan Park, Beverly follows Dennis Langdon who is appointed to Olympia Fields ( ¾ ) and Chicago: Trinity ( ¼ ) (Lake South District). At Christ, Beverly follows Timothy Biel Sr. who is appointed to Bolingbrook: Crossroads of Faith (Prairie Central District).
• Jake Cho (Provisional Elder) to Schaumburg: Salem Korean (Prairie Central District) from Prospect Heights: Central Korean and Galilee Korean (Lake North District). Jake follows Sang Hun Han who is appointed to Aurora: Bethany of Fox Valley (Prairie Central District).
• Robert Houston (Licensed Local Pastor) to Evergreen Park ( ¼ ) from Chicago: Faith (Lake South District). Robert follows Caitlyn Nesbit who will remain at Palos Heights ( ½ ) (Lake South District) and serve less than full-time.

June Announcements

• Pamela Pirtle (Full Elder) to Maywood: Neighborhood (¾) (Lake North District) and Lombard: Faith (¼) (Prairie Central District) from Leave of Absence. Pamela follows Beverly Dukes who is appointed to Chicago: Morgan Park and Alsip: Christ (Lake South District).
• Valerie Johnston (District Superintendent Supply) to Millington (Prairie South District). Valerie follow Cherrie Quillman who is appointed to Forreston: First (¾) and Leaf River (¼) (Prairie North District)
• Karen Andrus (District Superintendent Supply) to Winnebago (¼) (Prairie North District). Karen follows Gavin Brandt who returns to retirement.
• Young Sub Cha (346.2) to Prospect Heights: Central Korean and Galilee Korean (Lake North District). Young Sub follows Jaeeon “Jake” Cho who is appointed to Schaumburg: Salem Korean (Prairie Central District). Effective August 1.
• Bill Dunfrund (District Superintendent Supply) to Serena (¼) and Norway (¼) (Prairie South District). Bill follows Cherie Quillman who is appointed to Forreston and Leaf River (Prairie North District).
• David Price (Full Elder) as interim to Lombard: Faith while remaining at Glen Ellyn: First (Prairie Central District). David follows Beverly Dukes who is appointed to Chicago: Morgan Park and Alsip: Christ (Lake South District).
• Additionally, we are thankful to the following clergy:
  • Romir Esquerra (Retired Elder) who will be supporting Oak Park: St. John’s as they wait for their new pastor, Hazel Joyce Salatan.
  • Lynn Mikels (Retired Deacon) who will be supporting Chicago: Edison Park as they wait for their new pastor, Arnel Vasquez.
  • Sung Ja Lee Moon and Soong-In Moon (Retired Elders) who will be supporting Prospect Heights: Central Korean and Galilee Korean as they wait for their new pastor, Young Sub Cha.

September Announcements

• Cesar Pichardo (District Superintendent Supply) to Chicago: Amor de Dios (1/4 time) (Lake South District). He follows Lino Aragon, who served as interim pastor. 
• Estela Velasquez (District Superintendent Supply) as interim to Joliet: Cristo El Camino NFC. She follows Cesar Pichardo. Effective July 7.
• Clifford Oliver (¶ 346.2) to Maywood: Neighborhood (1/2 time). He follows Beverly Dukes, who is appointed to Chicago: Morgan Park and Alsip: Christ (Lake South District). Effective July 15.
• James Fu (Full Elder) to Lombard: First as Associate Pastor (1/4 time), a new position created with the merger of Lombard: First and Villa Park: Calvary, while continuing to serve Elmhurst: Christ UMC. Effective Sept.1.
• David Poust (Full Elder) to Red Oak (1/4 time), while continuing to serve Walnut (3/4). Effective Oct. 1.
• Myron F. McCoy (Full Elder) to Retirement from Chicago: First (Temple) (Lake South), effective Dec. 1. Myron was ordained a Probationary Elder in 1980 and became a Full Elder in 1984. During his ministry, Myron served at Chicago: St. Mark as Associate Pastor; Chicago: South Shore, Chicago Southern District (Superintendent); Chicago: St. Mark; St. Paul’s School of Theology (President); Chicago: First (Temple).

November Announcements

• Matthew Mariani (Provisional Elder) to Northwestern Memorial Hospital (Chicago) as Staff Chaplain, from Northwestern Hospital (Huntley) as Chaplain. Effective October 28, 2024.

• Young-Mee Park (Retired Full Elder) to Chicago: First (Temple) as Interim Senior Pastor. Before her retirement in June 2024, Young-Mee served at Dixon: First (Associate); Oak Park: First; DeKalb District (Superintendent); and Hinsdale. Effective December 1, 2024.