Welcome to our series that spotlights NC Conference pastors serving in extension ministries. Read about other extension ministers as these stories are published weekly.

Rev. Ismael Ruiz-Millán

Rev. Ismael Ruiz-Millán serves as the Executive Director of Connectional Ministries for the North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church. He helps align the mission and ministries of the Conference to nurture healthy congregations, effective leaders, and connection across communities. His ministry is rooted in cultural humility and creating spaces of belonging where all can experience God’s transforming grace.

Connectional Ministries

Rev. Ruiz-Millán helps steward the vision, the mission, and ministries of the Conference to nurture healthy congregations, form effective leaders, and strengthen connection across the Church. He provides leadership and support for areas including Leadership Development, Christian Formation, Youth Ministry, Race Equity and Justice Ministries, Peace Building and Outreach, Disaster Response, and Communications. As a member of the Cabinet, he works closely with the Bishop, Cabinet, and Conference staff, and he emphasizes the importance of connecting local churches with district and Conference resources—aligning our efforts to avoid duplication and foster collaboration for greater impact across the Conference. He seeks to integrate theological vision, cultural humility, and trauma-informed leadership to create spaces of belonging, healing, and transformation for all God’s people.

A Disciple Making, Leader Forming, and Peace Building Ministry

In his role, Rev. Ruiz-Millán is deeply committed to supporting the Conference’s three core emphases of disciple making, leader forming, and peace building. Through initiatives that equip congregations to engage their communities with compassion and creativity, he helps foster environments where disciples of Jesus Christ can grow in faith and service. He also prioritizes the formation of effective and spiritually grounded leaders by cultivating opportunities for learning, mentoring, and collaboration across districts and ministry areas. Rooted in a Wesleyan understanding of grace and community, his work in peace building seeks to create spaces where reconciliation, justice, and healing become tangible expressions of the gospel, helping the Church embody God’s love in every place.