Bishop announces appointment of Cobb, Groves as district superintendents

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner announces the appointment of the Rev. Michelle Cobb and the Rev. John Groves to the Cabinet effective July 1. Cobb, currently the Director of the Rejuvenate Ministry, will serve as Superintendent of the North Central District based in Kokomo, following the Rev. Frank Beard who must rotate off the Cabinet after eight consecutive years of service as a District Superintendent. Groves, currently senior pastor at First United Methodist Church in Vincennes, will serve as the Superintendent of the West District, following the Rev. Judi Purvis who is retiring at July 1.

Cobb

Upon this announcement, Coyner said, “Michelle has served previously as a Superintendent in the former North Conference, so she brings that experience back to the Cabinet, and she also has spent the past three years launching the Rejuvenate Ministry for our new Indiana Conference. In that capacity she has demonstrated her care for pastoral excellence and for clergy families. As of January 1, Rejuvenate became ongoing ministry of the year-old United Methodist Foundation of Indiana. These next few months will provide an important transitional time.

Groves

“John has provided excellent leadership for the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry of the former South Indiana Conference and the new Indiana Conference, and he will bring to the Cabinet a wealth of experience as a pastor of a local congregation along with his experience helping the clergy processes of the new Indiana Conference.

“Both of these persons were highly recommended to me by the current Cabinet, and I am pleased that John and Michelle have said yes to serving on the Cabinet.”

According to Coyner, the other eight District Superintendents – the Revs. Cindy Reynolds, David Michel, Dave Byrum, Charlie Wilfong, Brian White, George Purnell, Bert Kite and Craig LaSuer – will continue on the Cabinet for the conference year 2012-2013.