wfn.org | Boston pastor nominated to head higher education board

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

June 25, 2001 News media contact: Linda Green·(615)742-5470·Nashville, Tenn.
10-21-31-71B{289}

By T.J. Hiers*

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - A leader in the New England Annual Conference has
been tapped to head the denomination's agency of higher education and
ministry.

After a seven-month global search, the Rev. Jerome King Del Pino, 54, an
African American and superintendent of the Metropolitan Boston/South
District, has been nominated as the top executive of the United Methodist
Board of Higher Education and Ministry. He will succeed the Rev. Roger
Ireson, who is retiring after 12 years as general secretary of the
Nashville-based agency.

The 63 members of the board will vote on Del Pino's nomination by mail
ballot. If Del Pino is recommended by majority vote, his name will go before
the General Council on Ministries for election. The council elects top
executives for churchwide agencies annually. If his election is sustained,
he will begin full-time duties Oct. 1.

"The search committee is both excited and pleased about the selection of
Jerome King Del Pino as general secretary," said Arkansas Bishop Janice
Riggle Huie, chairwoman of the search committee and president of the board.
"Based on an extensive search characterized by openness, candor and grace,
it is our strong conviction that Dr. Del Pino possesses the qualities of
leadership and integrity that the search committee considers vital to the
future well-being of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. We
look forward to working with him."

Del Pino has a bachelor of arts degree from Gustavus Adolphus College in St.
Peter, Minn., and a master of divinity degree from United Methodist-related
Boston University School of Theology. He received a doctoral degree from
Boston University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

He served as an elected director of the Board of Higher Education and
Ministry for eight years beginning in 1981. Afterward, he was an elected
director of the United Methodist Board of Discipleship and served eight
years beginning in 1988. He has been a delegate to every meeting of the
church's top legislative body, the General Conference, since 1976.

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*Hiers is a staff member of the Office of Interpretation of the United
Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

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United Methodist News Service
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