Council of Bishops
The United Methodist Church

For Immediate Release

March 13, 2026

COB names Interim Committee on Organization for the New U.S. Regional Conference

Washington, D.C. — The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church has named a 25-member Interim Committee on Organization to guide the establishment and initial functioning of the new United States Regional Conference, which will encompass the five U.S. jurisdictions.

This action follows the ratification of the Regionalization Amendment to the Constitution of The United Methodist Church, as contained in the Book of Discipline.

Committee membership was determined using proportionate representation from the five U.S. jurisdictions, with a minimum of three members from each. In addition, three members from regional conferences in the Philippines, Africa, and Europe — selected by their respective regional bodies — will serve as advisors and consultants to the Interim Committee on Organization, ensuring global perspective and collaboration.

“The formation of the Interim Committee on Organization marks a historic and hopeful step in the life of our church. As we move forward with the implementation of regionalization, this committee will help ensure that the United States Regional Conference is launched with clarity, collaboration, and a deep commitment to our shared mission,” said Bishop Tracy S. Malone, president of the Council of Bishops.

“We are grateful for the faithful leadership, diverse gifts, and world-wide partnership represented in this group, and we trust that their work will strengthen our witness and our unity across the connection,” she said.

According to the enabling legislation from the 2020/2024 General Conference, the Interim Committee on Organization is charged with:

1. Selecting the time and place for the initial gathering of the United States Regional Conference.
2. Collaborating with the Secretary and Business Manager of the General Conference to plan the first gathering of the United States Regional Conference.
3. Recommending to the United States Regional Conference, in consultation with the appropriate committees of the Commission on the General Conference, the committees and officers needed to ensure the effective functioning of the new regional body.
4. Concluding its work at the close of the first gathering of the United States Regional Conference, unless the new regional body authorizes the committee to continue for a defined time and purpose.

Interim Committee on Organization Members

Name	Gender	Role	Jurisdiction
Jenny Arneson	Female	Clergy	NCJ
Derrek Belase	Male	Clergy	SCJ
Stephen Cady	Male	Clergy	NEJ
April Casperson	Female	Clergy	NCJ
Sung Chung	Male	Clergy	NEJ
Johnson Dodla	Male	Clergy	NEJ
Nitza E. Dovenspike	Female	Lay	NCJ
Jeff Furtado	Male	Clergy	SEJ
Paul Gomez	Male	Lay	WJ
Anish Hermon	Male	Lay	NCJ
Kim Jenne	Female	Clergy	SCJ
Emily Kincaid	Female	Clergy	SEJ
Ramonica Malone-Wardley	Female	Clergy	SCJ
Mallory Miles	Female	Lay	NEJ
Bennie Grace Nabua	Female	Clergy	WJ
Priscilla Patterson	Female	Lay	SCJ
Karli Pidgeon	Female	Clergy	SCJ
Alice Rogers	Female	Clergy	SEJ
Phil Rogers	Male	Clergy	WJ
Derrick L. Scott III	Male	Lay	SEJ
Amy Shanholtzer	Female	Clergy	NEJ
Kim Simpson	Female	Lay	SCJ
LaNella Smith	Female	Lay	SEJ
Monalisa Tu’itahi	Female	Lay	WJ
Laura Witkowski	Female	Lay	NCJ

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Media Contact:

Rev. Dr. Maidstone Mulenga
Director of Communications, Council of Bishops
The United Methodist Church
(202) 748-5172