New District Superintendent Announced
Bishop Susan Hassinger announces that the Rev. Beth Jones has been named as the new district superintendent for the Scranton District in the Wyoming Conference, soon to be Susquehanna Conference, effective July 1, 2010.
This appointment has been made in consultation with the Committee on District Superintendency of the Scranton District, the cabinet of the Wyoming Conference, and with Bishop Jane Middleton of the current Central Pennsylvania Conference.
Rev. Jones, a native of Central Pennsylvania, has served at the Dorranceton UMC, Kingston, PA (Wilkes-Barre District) since 2003. That congregation has become increasingly multicultural during her ministry there. Recently she received an award for her leadership and encouraging the congregation’s participation in ministries with a drug-and-alcohol rehabilitation center located across the street from the church. She particularly values the development of lay leadership that is focused on growing spiritually and being Christ-centered.
Prior to her appointment to Dorranceton, Rev. Jones served six years at the Dalton, PA UMC. During college years, she served as an assistant pastor in a 3-point charge, as well as Director of College-Age Ministries at First UMC, Williamsport, PA.
The daughter of a pastor, Rev. Jones was active in congregations as a child and youth, and experienced that as “a natural expression of my developing faith story.” Camping ministry has also been very influential in her faith journey. She has been a camper, counselor, staff member, and director. It was at Wesley Forest, a Central PA Conference camp, that she identified the call to ordained ministry.
A graduate of Lycoming College and Wesley Theological Seminary, both United Methodist schools, she was ordained a deacon in 1999 and received as a full member and ordained an elder in 2001, both in the Wyoming Conference. She currently serves on both the district and conference Boards of Ordained Ministry, was a clergy delegate to the 2008 General and Jurisdictional Conferences, and has been co-chair of the current Central PA/Wyoming Conference Vision Team working towards the formation of the new Susquehanna Conference.
Rev. Jones is married to Tom, and enjoys backpacking, hiking, kayaking, reading, and teaching karate at a local school.
In a statement shared with the District Superintendency Committee, Rev. Jones said, “It has been a joy to see God’s hand moving in new ways, and I am privileged to begin this journey with all of you as we vision together the work of Christ in our midst.”
Bishop Hassinger noted that, “This appointment has come from a time of prayerful discernment and consultation, looking at the needs of the whole conference in consultation with Bishop Middleton, as well as the specific sense of mission and needs of the Scranton District. A superintendent is first appointed to the cabinet as an extension of the office of bishop, and then assigned to a district. Rev. Jones will begin meeting with the cabinets of Wyoming and Central Pennsylvania Conference after January 1, 2010. We look forward to Rev. Jones moving into this ministry, and appreciate the gifts and leadership that she brings.”