Ismael serves as the Executive Director of Connectional Ministries for the North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church, providing strategic and relational leadership in support of the Conference’s vision of healthy congregations and effective leaders in every place, making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
An ordained Elder in the North Carolina Conference, Ismael was born and raised in San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora, Mexico, and brings more than twenty years of pastoral and connectional leadership shaped by multicultural ministry, global engagement, and a commitment to justice, reconciliation, and peacebuilding. He began his ministry in 2004, serving bilingual and multicultural congregations in North Carolina.
Previously, Ismael served at Duke Divinity School as Director of the Hispanic House of Studies and Global Education & Intercultural Formation, forming clergy and lay leaders from the United States and Latin America with a focus on pastoral care, intercultural formation, and mission. From 2020 to 2024, he served as the Heritage District Superintendent, accompanying congregations through seasons of transition and renewal.
In his current role, Ismael works closely with the Bishop, Cabinet, and Conference Connectional Table to connect, align, and collaborate across Conference ministries. His work advances key priorities, including disciple-making, leader-forming, peace-building, racial equity and justice, youth ministry, disaster response, and clergy well-being. He is deeply committed to practicing Cultural Humility as a spiritual discipline and to cultivating spaces of belonging, resilience, and faithful leadership.