Dear Brothers and Sisters of the California-Nevada Conference,
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)
We, the members of the California-Nevada Conference Cabinet, greet you during this time of transition in the name of the One who does not change. For the first time in eight years, we as an annual conference are experiencing a transition in Episcopal leadership with the August 31st retirement of Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr.
We have been blessed by Bishop Brown's leadership for the last eight years as he has led us towards our strategic direction to re-position the Conference—every aspect of its structures, human resources, financial resources, and program emphases—to foster, encourage, and support the work of local churches to act as agents of God's mission in the world.
We are thrilled to welcome Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño as our Episcopal leader beginning September 1st. Bishop Carcaño comes to us from the California-Pacific Conference where she has served for the last four years. During Bishop Carcaño's tenure in the California-Pacific Conference, their budget has finished in the black the past four years, and this past year, for the first time in many, they fulfilled their connectional apportionment giving at 100 percent. Additionally, they streamlined their ministry structure, and fully staffed their conference ministry team with called and skilled leaders.
Bishop Carcaño is a prophetic leader in our denomination who is committed to full inclusion, and the call of Amos to "let justice roll like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."
We look forward to Bishop Carcaño's leadership, as we continue to work with the gifted clergy and laity of the California-Nevada Conference towards our three foundational goals:
- Equipping congregations to develop clear paths to discipleship, with depth and relevance to their own context;
- Creating a culture of collaboration and innovation; and
- Creating new places for new people, until all people are fully included in the life of the Church.
During this time of transition, we find hope in the words of an old hymn:
Time is filled with swift transition
Naught of earth unmoved can stand
Build your hopes on things eternal
Hold to God's unchanging hand
We ask that you join us in prayer for Bishop Brown as he enters a journey of retirement, Bishop Carcaño as she joins us in Northern California and Northern Nevada, and all of the churches of the annual conference as we continue being agents of God's mission, making disciple of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Let us hold to God's unchanging hand.
The California-Nevada Conference Cabinet
Rev. Debra Brady, Dean, Central Valley District Superintendent
Rev. Staci Current, El Camino Real District Superintendent
Rev. Schuyler Rhodes, Bridges District Superintendent
Rev. David Samelson, Great Northern District Superintendent
Rev. Bener Agtarap, Conference Superintendent for Congregational Vitality
Rev. Greg Bergquist, Conference Superintendent for Leadership Development
Rev. Linda Caldwell, Conference Superintendent for Mission Collaboration
