NC Conference delegation selects Southern as episcopal nominee

Posted under: NC Conference

The Rev. H. Gray Southern, superintendent of the North Carolina Conference Durham District, has been selected by the conference delegation to the General and Southeastern Jurisdictional Conferences as their nominee to be elected a bishop in The United Methodist Church.

Following a new conference rule, Southern was one of the names selected by the delegation as a possible nominee. Those selected were to discern if being a bishop was a calling for them.

Delegates heard presentations and asked questions of selected clergy before choosing Southern in a written ballot. After the vote was announced, a motion was made and passed by all the delegates that Southern be elected by acclamation.

Southern is in his fifth year as the Durham District superintendent where he has supervisory, mentoring, and coaching responsibilities for 63 charges. One or more local churches are on a charge. One responsibility of the conference bishop and the 12 district superintendents in the NC Conference is to assign pastors to local churches.

Conference delegation members rose and gave the Rev. Gray Southern (seated with head bowed) a round of applause following the announcement that he was the delegation nominee for election as a bishop.

He will be one of the nominees to be considered for election to fill vacancies created by five retiring bishops in the Southeastern Jurisdiction.

There are 15 conferences (regional areas) in the jurisdiction within 10 Southern states.

The elections will take place July 18-20 at Lake Junaluska. Bishop Al Gwinn, the current bishop in the NC Conference, will retire after the jurisdictional conference.

In addition to being a district superintendent, Southern has served as an associate pastor at St. Paul in Goldsboro and senior pastor at Oriental, West Nash in Wilson, Trinity in Durham, and St. James in Greenville. He and his wife, Susan, have two children.

Southern received his BA in psychology and religion from UNC-Chapel Hill, divinity degree from Yale Divinity School, and D.Min from Columbia Theological Seminary.

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Bill Snotherly

It gives me great joy to congratulate Rev. Dr. Grey Southern (here) for being chosen as a candidate for Bishop. He is a model servant of both the institutional and local church. May God see him through all that may unfold leading up to the election of our newest bishops. And may God grant him such an opportunity to serve our United Methodist Church.
Becky Seymour

Congratulations to Dr. Southern; a dedicated servant of our Lord who ministers to all with love and compassion. As another door opens, my prayer is that God will grant him the strength to continue to serve with zeal and passion to the glory of God.
Ray Pearce

Awesome! His leadershid, knowledge of the church on a local and institutional level, and conflict mangement skills are all unmatched . Yet they pall in comparison to the size of his servant heart! He has a love for Christ that can be seen in all he does. He is not ashamed of his faith, his church nor his Lord. He has been more than a DS over the last four years. He has been a pastor, a friend, and a mentor. My prayers are with you and all your family. Peace…Until!
Para Drake

Congratulations to our delegation for their discernment of our episcopal candidate and to Gray for listening to the Spirit’s leading! May God bless and lead the work of each delegate and especially Gray during this time of preparation for the 2012 meetings. With Bishop Gray’s leadership, any conference where he is sent will have the benefit of one of the finest in ministry!
Debbie Lee

I was actually looking up information when I saw the article about Rev. Southern. I was a member and administrative assistant of Centenary in Smithfield and was blessed to know this wonderful Christian. It is with heartfelt honor that I wish Gray and his family God’s blessings on this new endeavor.
Mark Hicks

I am delighted that Gray Southern was chosen as the candidate for bishop from the North Carolina Conference. Gray has been such a great blessing to Disciple Bible Outreach Ministries. I can think of no more capable and dedicated church leader than Gray Southern! My sincere congratuations to a wonderful friend and colleague!
Wendy Kilworth-Mason

I wish God’s blessings on Gray and Susan as he prepares to enter into new responsibilities in ministry. When I studied at Duke (95-96) I sat at his feet on Sundays and have continued to enjoy his supportive wisdom and friendship though our ministries have taken us to different continents. It is good to know that the Methodist people of NC value and support a minister of his calibre.
Mark Lasitter

I cannot think of anyone more qualified for this position than Gray Southern. There is nobody that deserves this more. I knew him when he was a minister at St. James UMC in Greenville and his sermons were the reason my wife and I joined there. Even though he has moved away, has taken other positions within the UMC and has pursued a PhD, he still takes the time to support and council me when needed. That is a sign of true leadership. My blessings to him and his family.
Ken Ripley

Having known and worked with Gray since he was a pastor in Wilson in the Rocky Mount District, I was delighted at the news he is our nominee for Bishop. He is certainly deserving and capable, a proven leader, clearly loves Jesus, and I would feel privileged to be one of his flock.
Kaneasha Shackelford

I do not know Gray Southern well, I talked with him a couple of times and saw him in action at a District meeting. I was mesmerized by his leadership skills and the way in which he responded to ministry questions. His answers were saturated with such grace and wisdom. A very impressionable moment for me. You can read about leadership, but to watch Rev. Southern in action is a different experience, it is a gift from God.
Ron Byrd

I have the utmost respect for Grey Southern. His guidance and forthcoming spirit have directed me and our church. Grey has the ability to answer the difficult questions. He is gentle and firm. A true Southern gentleman. I will miss his presence if he is made a Bishop. I pray that he gets this position
Jay Davis

Our loss will certainly be others gain. Dr. Southern will make an exceptional Bishop. He is a rightious servant of God and great Christian leader.
Barbara Warren (Mrs. M. W.

Whit and I knew that Gray and Susan were a wonderful, spiritual couple from his ministry in the New Bern District. Grey has always been such a sincere person with just the right challenging but compassionate words to his congregation and all he encountered. We followed his ministries with joy in our hearts for the way he met his many accomplishments without pride. I would certainly vote for him if I had the opportunity.
Rick Hebert

My prayers are with Gray and Susan as they seek God’s leading in this important new ministry opportunity! Gray and Susan were wonderful blessings to us at St. James in Greenville, and I believe that God has gifted Gray in many wonderful ways to serve as a bishop in the UMC. May the Lord guide the delegates in the important choices before them. We’ll praying for you, Gray!
Sheri

God bless! Oriental UMC loves Gray and Susan and we wish them all the best!