Bishop David Bard welcomes Rev. Scott Harmon and Rev. Dr. Dale Miller to the Michigan Area’s cabinets. They begin full service July 1, 2017.
JANUARY 23, 2017; LANSING MI: Today, Bishop David Alan Bard announced the appointment of two new district superintendents, both of whom will begin service on July 1, 2017.
Rev. Scott Harmon will serve as the new District Superintendent for the Marquette District, effective July 1, 2017. Rev. Harmon currently is the pastor of Frankenmuth United Methodist Church in Frankenmuth, MI, a part of the Detroit Annual Conference. Current Marquette District Superintendent Rev. Elbert Dulworth, has been appointed Senior Pastor of Birmingham First United Methodist Church.
“Rev. Scott Harmon is a leader in the Detroit Conference, both in his local church and in the wider structure,” Bishop David said. “His love for Jesus Christ and the church is matched by a deep love for and experience with the northern part of the conference,” he continued. “Scott will bring to the role of district superintendent his warm-hearted and well-considered faith, his gifts and skills in working well with others, and a genuine love for local churches.”
Bishop David said of Rev. Dulworth, “For the past two years Elbert has served as the Dean of the Cabinet, and we will miss his leadership.” He added, “Elbert will carry his tremendous gifts of ministry to his new position as Senior Pastor at Birmingham First United Methodist Church and we are blessed to have him there.”
Scott Harmon grew up in farm country west of Monroe, south of Detroit, and attended Eastern Michigan University where he earned a degree in Architecture and Secondary Industrial/Technical Education. He holds a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. Past appointments include three churches in the Upper Peninsula — Quinnesec, Iron Mountain: Trinity, Negaunee: Mitchell, and Escanaba: Central UMCs — and Birmingham FUMC (Assoc.) and Frankenmuth UMC. Scott is married to Jae Bronwen “Bron” and they have two teenaged children, Aiden and McKenzie. “We are humbled and thrilled to once again have the privilege of serving the people and churches of the Upper Peninsula in the name of Jesus Christ,” said Rev. Harmon.
Downstate, The Albion District of the West Michigan Conference will welcome an interim District Superintendent beginning July 1, 2017. Bishop Bard also announced today that Rev. Dr. Dale Miller, a recently retired pastor of the Detroit Conference, has agreed to serve as interim District Superintendent for the Albion District for one year starting this summer. Rev. Tamara William’s current term as Albion District Superintendent ends in June.
“Tamara has served the Albion District so incredibly for the past eight years,” Bishop Bard said of Rev. Williams. He went on, “The Cabinet and I will miss her warmth, her smile, her incredible faith and her indomitable spirit.” The bishop made the decision to name an interim superintendent to allow the Michigan Area Design Team latitude to review the current district structure. “In this time of bringing a new conference to birth, having some flexibility as we consider possible new district configurations seemed helpful.” explained Bishop Bard.
“I consider it a genuine serendipity of God’s grace that Dale Miller was willing and available to serve a one-year interim as the Albion District Superintendent.” Bishop Bard added, “Dale brings to the position his deep and thoughtful faith in Jesus Christ, a lively concern for the church as well as previous experience as a district superintendent.”
Dale Miller retired in July 2016 as Senior Pastor of Nardin Park UMC in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Previously he served as the Detroit East District Superintendent, Senior Pastor of Waterford: Central, Pontiac Cooperative Parish, Flint: Central, Gladstone: Memorial, Stony Creek, and Plymouth: First as Associate Pastor. He and his wife Susan currently reside in Marshall, MI.
Last Updated on January 23, 2017