Bishop Leeland Announces Cabinet Changes

 
Bishop Leeland announces new Cabinet appointments, effective July 1, 2020.
 
Rev. Michael F. Bailey has announced his retirement, effective July 1, 2020. Mike has served under appointment for 41 years, including the past three years as the District Superintendent for the Yadkin Valley District. He has served in a broad variety of settings: three rural church circuits, an urban transitional congregation, two suburban church "relaunches," the American Protestant Church of The Hague, The Netherlands as well as very large congregations in the annual conference.  Mike was born in Tupelo, Mississippi and raised in parsonages throughout the Memphis Annual Conference. He is married to Lauralee (née Davis) of Burlington. Lauralee and Mike have four children and are anticipating their ninth grandchild's birth in May. Join us in celebrating Mike’s years of faithful ministry and anticipating his new adventures in retirement. 
 
Rev. Angela Pleasants will succeed Mike as the Yadkin Valley District Superintendent. Angela has served as the District Superintendent of the Catawba Valley District since 2016. Prior to her appointment as a District Superintendent, she served First (Mount Holly), Wingate, Covenant (High Point), and St. Mary’s (Trinity). She is a graduate of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Marketing. She completed her Master of Divinity at Duke Divinity School. She has also served on conference worship committee, Conference Board of Ordained Ministry where she chaired the Call and Discipline Committee, District Committee of Ordained Ministry, trained Intentional Interim Ministry Specialist, Assistant Secretary to Annual Conference, Residency In Ordained Ministry facilitator, Board of Directors for Western North Carolina Conference Foundation, Duke Divinity School Board of Visitors, Board of Ministers at Wingate University, as well as a delegate to General and Jurisdictional Conferences. Reverend Pleasants is also an active police chaplain trained in Critical Incident Stress Management, stress and trauma in Law Enforcement and Psychological Impact of Terrorism. And she serves on the Board of Directors for Strength for Service Inc.
 
Rev. David Christy will be appointed as District Superintendent of the Catawba Valley District. Since 2012, David has served as Senior Minister of First United Methodist Church in Gastonia. He is a graduate of Pfeiffer College (B.A., 1988) and Duke Divinity School (M.Div., 1991). He has served Franklinville - Rehobeth Charge (Randolph County), Fair View UMC (Mt. Mourne), Epworth UMC (Concord), and Central UMC (Canton). David has served on several boards and agencies in our conference and in communities where he has lived. Currently, he serves through: Gastonia Rotary Club member, Co-Chair of Gaston Citizens and Clergy Coalition, Gaston Together Board Member, Glenn Foundation Board Member, Greater Gaston Boys & Girls Club Board Member, Disciple Outreach Ministries Board Member, WNCC Board of Ordained Ministry Discernment Team Leader, Delegate to the 2019 called session of the United Methodist General Conference. David was born in Jefferson, NC, into a “parsonage family,” so he moved around Western North Carolina. His father (deceased) was a minister, and his sister and two brothers are all in ministry in Western NC, as are two nephews and his son. David is married to Pam, an elementary school teacher. They have two children: Luke, a United Methodist minister in Anson County (married to Kelly); and Maggie, a student at UNC-Chapel Hill. 
 
All other appointments will be announced as usual later this year.