{"id":4158,"date":"2025-10-24T14:00:20","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T18:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/?p=4158"},"modified":"2025-12-08T13:59:08","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T18:59:08","slug":"extension-ministry-spotlight-annual-conference-secretary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/2025\/10\/extension-ministry-spotlight-annual-conference-secretary\/","title":{"rendered":"Extension Ministry Spotlight:\u00a0Annual Conference Secretary"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Welcome to our series that spotlights NC Conference pastors serving in extension ministries. Read about other\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/tag\/extension-ministers\">extension ministers<\/a>\u00a0as these stories are published weekly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rev. Dr. Gray Southern<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Rev. Dr. Gray Southern serves as our Annual Conference Secretary. He is an ordained elder (retired) in the NC Conference. He has served six local churches and has been a district superintendent twice, as well as Assistant to the Bishop. He grew up in Smithfield, NC, and now lives in Raleigh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery alignwide has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a22334d596fe&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6a22334d596fe\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"799\" height=\"533\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-id=\"4162\" src=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/10\/gray-southern-prayer.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4162\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/10\/gray-southern-prayer.jpg 799w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/10\/gray-southern-prayer-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/10\/gray-southern-prayer-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/10\/gray-southern-prayer-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 799px) 100vw, 799px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a22334d5a156&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6a22334d5a156\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"531\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-id=\"4163\" src=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/10\/gray-southern-ext-min-breakfast.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4163\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/10\/gray-southern-ext-min-breakfast.jpg 800w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/10\/gray-southern-ext-min-breakfast-720x478.jpg 720w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/10\/gray-southern-ext-min-breakfast-768x510.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Annual Conference Secretary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As Annual Conference Secretary, Rev. Dr. Southern works with a large group of people to plan and coordinate each session of the Annual Conference. <em>The Book of Discipline<\/em> also directs that his office maintain certain annual conference and pastoral records. The true fun of the ministry is seeing how all the various groups and parts truly work together in the best sense of the Apostle Paul&#8217;s hope that the Body of Christ works together as a body, each part with its own role. The Annual Conference Secretary&#8217;s physical office is at the NC Conference Building in Garner, but he also gets to work in Greenville or wherever the Annual Conference sessions are held.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery alignwide has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a22334d5af96&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6a22334d5af96\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"799\" height=\"533\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-id=\"4161\" src=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/10\/gray-southern-bishop.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4161\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/10\/gray-southern-bishop.jpg 799w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/10\/gray-southern-bishop-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/10\/gray-southern-bishop-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/10\/gray-southern-bishop-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 799px) 100vw, 799px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a22334d5b76f&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6a22334d5b76f\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"799\" height=\"534\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-id=\"4160\" src=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/10\/gray-southern-discussion.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4160\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/10\/gray-southern-discussion.jpg 799w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/10\/gray-southern-discussion-720x481.jpg 720w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/10\/gray-southern-discussion-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/10\/gray-southern-discussion-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 799px) 100vw, 799px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Leader Forming Ministry<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The NC Conference is the people, lay and clergy, of eastern North Caroline called to follow Jesus, shaped by the Wesleyan way of discipleship. Wesleyan discipleship invites us to worship, to serve, and to lead others into the Christian life. It works in a connection of interconnected relationships. Those relationships&#8211;and that leadership&#8211;are literally embodied at sessions of the Annual Conference and by the ministries of the NC Conference in which Rev. Dr. Southern works.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome to our series that spotlights NC Conference pastors serving in extension ministries. Read about other\u00a0extension ministers\u00a0as these stories are published weekly. Rev. Dr. Gray Southern Rev. Dr. Gray Southern [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4159,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_tec_requires_first_save":true,"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_tribe_blocks_recurrence_rules":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_description":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_exclusions":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[160,8,178,179,173],"class_list":["post-4158","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories","tag-conference-secretarys-office","tag-effective-leaders","tag-extension-ministers","tag-ministry-spotlights","tag-office-of-clergy-life"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Extension Ministry Spotlight:\u00a0Annual Conference Secretary | Clergy Life | North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/2025\/10\/extension-ministry-spotlight-annual-conference-secretary\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Extension Ministry Spotlight:\u00a0Annual Conference Secretary | Clergy Life | North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Welcome to our series that spotlights NC Conference pastors serving in extension ministries. Read about other\u00a0extension ministers\u00a0as these stories are published weekly. Rev. Dr. Gray Southern Rev. Dr. Gray Southern [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/2025\/10\/extension-ministry-spotlight-annual-conference-secretary\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Clergy Life\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/facebook.com\/nccumc\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-10-24T18:00:20+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-12-08T18:59:08+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/10\/gray-southern-1200x675-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"675\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"ldallas\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@nccumc\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@nccumc\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"ldallas\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nccumc.org\\\/clergy-life\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/extension-ministry-spotlight-annual-conference-secretary\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nccumc.org\\\/clergy-life\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/extension-ministry-spotlight-annual-conference-secretary\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"ldallas\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nccumc.org\\\/clergy-life\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/bfd316a2a30209df3f7072aab647fd2a\"},\"headline\":\"Extension Ministry Spotlight:\u00a0Annual Conference Secretary\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-24T18:00:20+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-12-08T18:59:08+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nccumc.org\\\/clergy-life\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/extension-ministry-spotlight-annual-conference-secretary\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":281,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nccumc.org\\\/clergy-life\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nccumc.org\\\/clergy-life\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/extension-ministry-spotlight-annual-conference-secretary\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nccumc.org\\\/clergy-life\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/10\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/gray-southern-1200x675-1.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Conference Secretary&#039;s Office\",\"Effective Leaders\",\"Extension Ministers\",\"Ministry Spotlights\",\"Office of Clergy Life\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Stories\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nccumc.org\\\/clergy-life\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/extension-ministry-spotlight-annual-conference-secretary\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nccumc.org\\\/clergy-life\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/extension-ministry-spotlight-annual-conference-secretary\\\/\",\"name\":\"Extension Ministry Spotlight:\u00a0Annual Conference Secretary | Clergy Life | North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nccumc.org\\\/clergy-life\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nccumc.org\\\/clergy-life\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/extension-ministry-spotlight-annual-conference-secretary\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nccumc.org\\\/clergy-life\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/extension-ministry-spotlight-annual-conference-secretary\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nccumc.org\\\/clergy-life\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/10\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/gray-southern-1200x675-1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-24T18:00:20+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-12-08T18:59:08+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nccumc.org\\\/clergy-life\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/extension-ministry-spotlight-annual-conference-secretary\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/nccumc.org\\\/clergy-life\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/extension-ministry-spotlight-annual-conference-secretary\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nccumc.org\\\/clergy-life\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/extension-ministry-spotlight-annual-conference-secretary\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nccumc.org\\\/clergy-life\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/10\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/gray-southern-1200x675-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nccumc.org\\\/clergy-life\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/10\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/gray-southern-1200x675-1.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":675,\"caption\":\"Rev. Dr. Gray Southern\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nccumc.org\\\/clergy-life\\\/2025\\\/10\\\/extension-ministry-spotlight-annual-conference-secretary\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nccumc.org\\\/clergy-life\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Extension Ministry Spotlight:\u00a0Annual Conference Secretary\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nccumc.org\\\/clergy-life\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nccumc.org\\\/clergy-life\\\/\",\"name\":\"Office of Clergy Life\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nccumc.org\\\/clergy-life\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nccumc.org\\\/clergy-life\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nccumc.org\\\/clergy-life\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nccumc.org\\\/clergy-life\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nccumc.org\\\/clergy-life\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"\",\"contentUrl\":\"\",\"caption\":\"North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nccumc.org\\\/clergy-life\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/facebook.com\\\/nccumc\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/nccumc\",\"https:\\\/\\\/instagram.com\\\/nccumc\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nccumc.org\\\/clergy-life\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/bfd316a2a30209df3f7072aab647fd2a\",\"name\":\"ldallas\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Extension Ministry Spotlight:\u00a0Annual Conference Secretary | Clergy Life | North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/2025\/10\/extension-ministry-spotlight-annual-conference-secretary\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Extension Ministry Spotlight:\u00a0Annual Conference Secretary | Clergy Life | North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church","og_description":"Welcome to our series that spotlights NC Conference pastors serving in extension ministries. Read about other\u00a0extension ministers\u00a0as these stories are published weekly. Rev. Dr. Gray Southern Rev. Dr. Gray Southern [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/2025\/10\/extension-ministry-spotlight-annual-conference-secretary\/","og_site_name":"Clergy Life","article_publisher":"https:\/\/facebook.com\/nccumc","article_published_time":"2025-10-24T18:00:20+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-12-08T18:59:08+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":675,"url":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/10\/gray-southern-1200x675-1.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"ldallas","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@nccumc","twitter_site":"@nccumc","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"ldallas","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/2025\/10\/extension-ministry-spotlight-annual-conference-secretary\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/2025\/10\/extension-ministry-spotlight-annual-conference-secretary\/"},"author":{"name":"ldallas","@id":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/#\/schema\/person\/bfd316a2a30209df3f7072aab647fd2a"},"headline":"Extension Ministry Spotlight:\u00a0Annual Conference Secretary","datePublished":"2025-10-24T18:00:20+00:00","dateModified":"2025-12-08T18:59:08+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/2025\/10\/extension-ministry-spotlight-annual-conference-secretary\/"},"wordCount":281,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/2025\/10\/extension-ministry-spotlight-annual-conference-secretary\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/10\/gray-southern-1200x675-1.jpg","keywords":["Conference Secretary&#039;s Office","Effective Leaders","Extension Ministers","Ministry Spotlights","Office of Clergy Life"],"articleSection":["Stories"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/2025\/10\/extension-ministry-spotlight-annual-conference-secretary\/","url":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/2025\/10\/extension-ministry-spotlight-annual-conference-secretary\/","name":"Extension Ministry Spotlight:\u00a0Annual Conference Secretary | Clergy Life | North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/2025\/10\/extension-ministry-spotlight-annual-conference-secretary\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/2025\/10\/extension-ministry-spotlight-annual-conference-secretary\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/10\/gray-southern-1200x675-1.jpg","datePublished":"2025-10-24T18:00:20+00:00","dateModified":"2025-12-08T18:59:08+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/2025\/10\/extension-ministry-spotlight-annual-conference-secretary\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/2025\/10\/extension-ministry-spotlight-annual-conference-secretary\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/2025\/10\/extension-ministry-spotlight-annual-conference-secretary\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/10\/gray-southern-1200x675-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/10\/gray-southern-1200x675-1.jpg","width":1200,"height":675,"caption":"Rev. Dr. Gray Southern"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/2025\/10\/extension-ministry-spotlight-annual-conference-secretary\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Extension Ministry Spotlight:\u00a0Annual Conference Secretary"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/#website","url":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/","name":"Office of Clergy Life","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/#organization","name":"North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church","url":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"","contentUrl":"","caption":"North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/facebook.com\/nccumc","https:\/\/x.com\/nccumc","https:\/\/instagram.com\/nccumc"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/#\/schema\/person\/bfd316a2a30209df3f7072aab647fd2a","name":"ldallas"}]}},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/10\/gray-southern-1200x675-1-600x400.jpg","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/10\/gray-southern-1200x675-1-600x600.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"ldallas","author_link":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/author\/ldallas\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4158","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4158"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4158\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4165,"href":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4158\/revisions\/4165"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4159"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4158"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4158"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/clergy-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4158"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}