District Services Team

Rev. Dr. Aleze M. Fulbright is an ordained Elder in The United Methodist Church. She is a person of conviction in living a personal mission to encourage, equip, and empower all people to live on purpose and live out their God-giveness. Dr. Aleze’s greatest joy in life is her son, Myron Fisher Jr., who is a Middle School Math Educator and Basketball Coach in Wichita, Kansas. Additionally, she enjoys fellowshipping with family and friends, while also connecting with the community through her civic and sorority involvement. Another joy is serving alongside the laityand clergy around the Central District, where we strive to be Christ-Centered, Community-Connected, and Missionally-Centric.

Rev. Russ Abel has been passionately following Jesus most of his life. A native of southern Indiana he has found great joy in serving the northern part of the state for the past 13 years. Russ has served as a parish pastor since 1992. He began serving in his new appointment as Conference Superintendent for the East District of the Indiana United Methodist Conference July 1, 2019.

Growing up in a working-class home, Russ holds deeply the values he learned in that home and strives to remember his roots. He also is very thankful for his military service, Air Force, which helped awaken him to the beauty and blessing of diversity.

A graduate of Indiana University and Christian Theological (Magna) and inducted into The International Society of Theta Phi (an honor society for theological students). Ordained in 2000, he continues to be blessed, humbled, and excited by opportunities to serve Jesus. He is most passionate about helping people unlock the story of Jesus in their faith walk.

Russ and his wife have two children, Emma and Sam.
Russ is committed to his beautiful family and looks forward to his firmly growing through two weddings (Chad and Alyssa) in the next four months.

Rev. Lore Blinn Gibson met Jesus as in infant, carried by her parents to be baptized at Star City [United] Methodist Church, where she began her ministry by playing piano and working with children. There she was trained to think outside the box, work hard, and be a team player. Experiences in marching band, choirs, and teaching middle schoolers were the doors God used to invite her into pastoral ministry. After working with local pastors on several District Committee on Ministries and teaching Course of Study, Lore developed a passion for equipping and empowering licensed local pastors and small churches to do whatever it takes to follow the Spirit in transforming lives to become more and more like Jesus. When not driving around the Northwest District in her blue super-mobile, Lore maybe found painting, walking the family dog (Kitty), trying to coax interesting plant life out of the Lafayette clay, earning about and creating art, and history. She’s a proud Winamac Warrior, Indiana State Sycamore, Duke Blue Devil, and adopted Lafayette Jefferson Broncho and above all, a grateful United Methodist who highly values the connection. Lore married Randy, who currently works in medical research for Cook and teaches college ethics. They are the parents of Maia, a UIndy student and soon-to-be teacher, and James, a student at Lafayette Jefferson High School.

Greg began his time with the United Methodist Church in 2017 while he was working at the University of Evansville. He volunteered with the Office of Religious Life and his students often joked that if he wasn’t in his office he was in the chapel on campus. As Conference Assistant for the Central and North Central districts, Greg hopes to use his background in education and leadership development to help others find their place in the UMC and work through challenging situations. He is a proud alum of Bowling Green State University and the University of South Florida. Outside of work, Greg loves to read, write, and sing. During football and basketball season, you can find him cheering on the Colts and the Cleveland Cavaliers respectively.

Saneta Maiko, Ph.D. is a former John Templeton Research Fellow with Indiana University School of Medicine (2017-2019). His clinical research investigated the role of spirituality and religion on the emotional and spiritual wellbeing of metastatic cancer patients. An experienced ordained clergy of the United Methodist, Dr. Maiko is the founder and former executive director of Crime Victim Care of Allen County (Amani Family Services), Chaplain Researcher at Indiana University Health. Dr. Maiko has many years of serving churches and teaching gender and diversity management at Purdue University. He is a respected leader in training Intercultural Competence for Law Enforcement, Social Agencies, Businesses, and Healthcare Systems. Dr. Maiko is Nationally licensed as an Intercultural Development Qualified Administrator and is nationally board certified as a healthcare chaplain. Dr. Maiko is a recipient of several honors and awards. He has authored a book and several articles in medical, leadership, chaplaincy, and youth journals. He is married to Beatrice. They are both blessed with three daughters and a son.

Dave Neckers serves the Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church as the Conference Superintendent of the Northeast District. Dave brings to this position forty years of experience as a business owner, counselor, life coach, executive pastor, and church developer. In his previous position as Director of Church Development, he led a team that consulted and coached pastors and lay leaders in church revitalization and the planting of new faith communities. As a Superintendent, Dave is invigorated by discovering where God is at work and then assisting in bringing that work to fruition. This fulfills his passion to discover, develop, and deploy leaders so that God’s Kingdom is present on earth, just as it is in heaven. Dave received a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration from Rochester Institute of Technology. For 9 years he invested his energy in a Ford Dealership where he became partner and owner. However, God was at work in his heart leading he and his wife, Darlene, into various ministry opportunities as laity in their local church. Once God’s call was clear, Dave attended Asbury Theological Seminary earning a Master’s of Divinity degree in 1989 and a Master’s of Pastoral Counseling in 1990. Upon graduation, he received his first appointment in the United Methodist Church as a pastoral counselor and was later ordained an Elder in 1995. Dave has been married for forty-one years to his high school sweetheart, Darlene. Together they have two adult children, Jeremy and Shannon, and have three beautiful grandchildren. Dave is a fan of the Buffalo Bills and Ball State University football team. He likes to watch a good suspense-filled movie. He also enjoys landscaping, taking care of his lawn, flower gardens, and those DIY projects around the house. Darlene and Dave’s most favorite activity is spending time with their amazing grandchildren.

Rev. Lore Blinn Gibson met Jesus as in infant, carried by her parents to be baptized at Star City [United] Methodist Church, where she began her ministry by playing piano and working with children. There she was trained to think outside the box, work hard, and be a team player. Experiences in marching band, choirs, and teaching middle schoolers were the doors God used to invite her into pastoral ministry. After working with local pastors on several District Committee on Ministries and teaching Course of Study, Lore developed a passion for equipping and empowering licensed local pastors and small churches to do whatever it takes to follow the Spirit in transforming lives to become more and more like Jesus. When not driving around the Northwest District in her blue super-mobile, Lore maybe found painting, walking the family dog (Kitty), trying to coax interesting plant life out of the Lafayette clay,learning about and creating art, and history. She’s a proud Winamac Warrior, Indiana State Sycamore, Duke Blue Devil, and adopted Lafayette Jefferson Broncho and above all, a grateful United Methodist who highly values the connection. Lore married Randy, who currently works in medical research for Cook and teaches college ethics. They are the parents of Maia, a UIndy student and soon-to-be teacher, and James, a student at Lafayette Jefferson High School.

Gary Schaar is in his fortieth year of ordained ministry. During those years Gary has served in Indiana as a choir director of a large congregation, as an associate pastor, and as the pastor of additional congregations of varying sizes. Gary was a member of the Conference staff for eight years and is currently the Conference Superintendent for the South District of the Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. As a member of the Conference staff, Gary was appointed to be the conflict manager and staff mediator for the Conference. Gary ministered in that position for over five years as he worked with UM congregations across southern Indiana to understand and hopefully resolve, differences within their congregations. He coached congregations to practice loving, respectful, dialogue and encouraging critical conversation. Gary was trained in conflict management at Speed Leas of the Alban Institute and from the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center. Along the way, he earned his certificate in mediation. Gary received a Doctor of Ministry degree from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Louisville on an Interim Ministry track. Gary has taught New Testament in the Indiana Course of Study for local pastors in the Indiana Conference. He has also taught United Methodist Polity at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. Gary is married to his wonderful wife, Joyce. Together they have two daughters, one son-in-law, and the cutest, smartest, most handsome grandson, Gary has ever laid eyes on.

Rev. Russ Abel has been passionately following Jesus most of his life. A native of southern Indiana he has found great joy in serving the northern part of the state for the past 13 years. Russ has served as a parish pastor since 1992. He began serving in his new appointment as Conference Superintendent for the East District of the Indiana United Methodist Conference July 1, 2019.

Growing up in a working-class home, Russ holds deeply the values he learned in that home and strives to remember his roots. He also is very thankful for his military service, Air Force, which helped awaken him to the beauty and blessing of diversity.

A graduate of Indiana University and Christian Theological (Magna) and inducted into The International Society of Theta Phi (an honor society for theological students). Ordained in 2000, he continues to be blessed, humbled, and excited by opportunities to serve Jesus. He is most passionate about helping people unlock the story of Jesus in their faith walk.

Russ and his wife have two children, Emma and Sam.
Russ is committed to his beautiful family and looks forward to his firmly growing through two weddings (Chad and Alyssa) in the next four months.

Rev. Mitchell C. (Mitch) Gieselman has served churches across the Indiana Conference in various capacities since 1974; including Evansville Old North, Rushville St. Paul’s, New Castle First, Plainfield, Hanover, Mt. Vernon First, and Evansville Aldersgate UMC. Mitch has lived in six of the eleven Southwest District counties and was once employed in a seventh. In other words, he’s no stranger in Southwest District where he is assigned as the Conference Superintendent. While his energies focus on being the Chief Missional Strategist of the district, he does so through the particular lens of justice, having been intensively engaged in justice ministries and interfaith dialogue over the past decade. When the demands of being a part of the Extended Cabinet team allow, Mitch escapes into his preferred pastimes of golf, fishing, reading, crossword puzzles, watching baseball, and camping. He is also an avid follower of John and Charles Wesley’s footsteps all over the world. Additionally, he is involved in campus life at the University of Evansville and has lectured, taught in adult education courses, and volunteered in numerous capacities, and served as Chapter Counselor for Sigma Phi Epsilon, a social fraternity for male students. Gieselman received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Evansville in 1978 and Master of Divinity from United Theological Seminary in 1981. He is married to the Rev. Dr. Tamara K. Gieselman, also an Elder in the Indiana Conference. The couple has three adult children: son, Cory Gieselman; and daughter, Dana (Lucious) Wagner who live in Evansville and both work for Old National Bank; and son, Jordan (Jennifer) Gieselman, a graphic designer who lives in Bowling Green, KY. The Gieselmans also have five grandchildren: Sydney, Rhyan, Sophie, Malik, and Hakeem who reside in Evansville.

Rev. Dr. Aleze M. Fulbright is an ordained Elder in The United Methodist Church. She is a person of conviction in living a personal mission to encourage, equip, and empower all people to live on purpose and live out their God-giveness. Dr. Aleze’s greatest joy in life is her son, Myron Fisher Jr., who is a Middle School Math Educator and Basketball Coach in Wichita, Kansas. Additionally, she enjoys fellowshipping with family and friends, while also connecting with the community through her civic and sorority involvement. And looking forward to serving the West District, where we will be very Willing in our Missional Service and Way-Out in our Witness for Jesus Christ.

Robin Brown began her career in the United Methodist Church as a volunteer in the communications department at a local church office, filling in for the office manager’s extended vacation. Nine years and a certification in Church Business Administration later, she moved from St. Louis, MO to Bloomington, IN where she served as the Church Administrator at FUMC. During that time, Robin oversaw a six million dollar capital campaign and a substantial building and renovation effort. After an opportunity to move into non-profit management, Robin left the church environment and completed ten years of executive management at two different non-profit organizations, leading strategic change as well as financial and program expansion. “Returning to the United Methodist Church has been gratifying in a whole new way,” Robin says. As an Associate Conference Superintendent in the Central District, as well as a Conference Assistant, caring for 110 churches as they carry out the ministry of administration, fulfills her. Robin’s passion is her large blended family of seven adult children and 18 grandchildren, all of whom live out of state from the east coast to west coast. In addition to traveling with her husband to spend time with the family, she loves gardening, decorating, entertaining and reading, and she hasn’t met a grammatical error she wouldn’t love to correct.