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All appointments and those named to serve in a supply capacity are finalized at the Annual Conference Session in June. Appointments that have been announced are posted here.
Appointments for the current year are sectioned by effective month and date. Use the links below to navigate this page.
- Current Church Openings
- 2015 Appointments by Bishop Elaine Stanovsky
- 2015 Cross-Conference Appointments
- Assignments by District Superintendents
- 2015 Retirement Announcements
The following churches have been identified as clear openings by the RMC Cabinet. A clear opening means churches that have had their appointed pastor either retire or be appointed to another ministry setting. If you believe God is leading you to service in one of these communities, please contact your current District Superintendent.
- Julesburg/Big Springs
- Wray
2015 Appointments by Bishop Elaine Stanovsky
Bishop Elaine Stanovsky has announced her intention to make the following appointments, effective Dec. 1, 2015:
Sione Fungalei, as Associate Pastor, to Centenary United Methodist Church of Salt Lake City, Utah.
Bishop Elaine Stanovsky has announced her intention to make the following appointments, effective Nov. 29, 2015:
Pat Johnson to serve Trinidad United Methodist Church in Trinidad, Colorado, as interim pastor from Nov. 29, 2015 to June 30, 2016.
Bishop Elaine Stanovsky has announced her intention to make the following appointments, effective Aug. 1, 2015:
Carol A. Loftin, currently serving St. Paul United Methodist Church, Copperton (1/4 time), to also serve Tooele United Methodist Church, Tooele, Utah (1/4 time).
Vickie Maxon to serve Kirk United Methodist Church and Stratton United Methodist Church in Kirk, Colorado, and Stratton, Colorado, while continuing to serve Genoa UMC in Genoa, Colorado.
Christine H. Tullis, as student local pastor, to Cedaredge Community United Methodist Church, Cedaredge, Colorado.
Robin Riley to serve Wiley and McClave United Methodist Churches in Wiley and McClave, Colorado.
Claire Cassell to serve Eads and Haswell United Methodist Churches in Eads and Haswell, Colorado.
Bishop Elaine Stanovsky has announced her intention to make the following appointments, effective July 1, 2015:
Philip Rogers, as Provisional Deacon (1/2 time) at Longs Peak United Methodist Church, Longmont, Colorado.
John David Hiestand, currently serving Crawford Community United Methodist Church and Hotchkiss Community United Methodist Church, Crawford and Hotchkiss, Colorado, to United Methodist Church of Johnstown, Johnstown, Colorado.
Mark Thurman, Yellowstone Conference Elder, to First United Methodist Church of Newcastle, Wyoming.
Sharon Langfeldt to the Rawlins Cooperative Parish (First United Methodist and France Memorial Presbyterian Churches) in Rawlins, Wyoming.
Emily Flemming, currently serving Lyons Community Church (1/2 time), to also serve Erie United Methodist Church, Erie Colorado (1/2 time).
Sarah Jane Merchant, as Associate Pastor to Mountain View United Methodist Church, Boulder, Colorado (1/2 time).
Tiffany Keith, provisional Elder, as Associate at First United Methodist Church, Colorado Springs (1/4 time) and The Edge new church start, Colorado Springs (3/4 time).
Peter Freytag, currently serving The United Methodist Church of Johnstown, Johnstown, Colorado, to Burns Memorial United Methodist Church, Aurora, Colorado and Jefferson Avenue United Methodist Church, Wheat Ridge, Colorado.
Nancy Peacock, currently serving Eads and Haswell United Methodist Churches in Eads and Haswell, Colorado, to serve Olney Springs UMC, Olney Springs, Colorado.
Amos Kariuki, currently serving Jefferson Avenue United Methodist Church, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, to Hotchkiss/Crawford United Methodist Churches, Hotchkiss and Crawford, Colorado.
Peter C. (Pete) Phillips, currently serving in the Great Plains Conference to the First United Methodist Church of Laramie, Wyoming.
Pete Meese, retired elder, to Florence United Methodist Church, Florence, Colorado.
Lou Ward, as Student Local Pastor to the United Church of Walsenburg, Walsenburg, Colorado.
Vivian Clare Hiestand, currently serving Olathe United Methodist Church, Olathe, Colorado, as Transitional Intentional Interim Ministry Specialist – Associate Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Fort Collins, Colorado.
Laura Rainwater, currently serving in extension ministry at the Wesley Foundation at the University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, and 1/4 time at First United Methodist Church, Laramie, Wyoming, to Grace United Methodist Church, Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Dan Odell, currently on voluntary leave of absence, to Christ United Methodist Church, Casper, Wyoming at 1/2 time.
Allison Joy (A.J.) Bush, currently preparing to graduate from Claremont School of Theology and will be presented for membership as a Provisional Elder at the 2015 Annual Conference, to First United Methodist Church, Gillette, Wyoming.
David Bachelor, an elder in extension ministry in the New Mexico Conference to First United Methodist Church, Fountain, Colorado.
Jessica Rooks, currently serving Cameron United Methodist Church, Denver, Colorado, to Cameron and St. Paul United Methodist Churches, Denver, Colorado.
William Robert Morris, currently serving Burns Memorial United Methodist Church, Aurora, Colorado, to First United Methodist Church of Cortez and the San Juan Cooperative Parish, Colorado.
Cherie B. Cobb, local pastor, to Johnson Memorial/First Dove Creek United Methodist Churches of Dolores and Dove Creek and the San Juan Cooperative Parish, Colorado.
Bryson P. Lillie, currently serving as associate pastor First United Methodist Church, Fort Collins, Colorado, to Rinn United Methodist Church, Fredrick, Colorado.
Barbara Johns Schleicher, currently serving Rinn United Methodist Church, Frederick, Colorado, to Lamar United Methodist Church, Lamar, Colorado.
Patrick Glen Lewis, currently serving as associate pastor at Christ United Methodist Church, Salt Lake City, Utah, to Fruita/Palisade United Methodist Churches, Fruita and Palisade, Colorado.
Charles Murry, currently serving as Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church, Fort Smith Arkansas, to First United Methodist Church, Fort Collins, Colorado, as a Transitional Intentional Interim Ministry Specialist-Lead pastor.
Jeff Rainwater, currently senior pastor of First United Methodist Church, Laramie, Wyoming, as Superintendent, Wyoming District, Mountain Sky Area. Read the press release about this appointment.
Burry Bessee, currently serving Gillette United Methodist Church, Gillette, Wyoming, to Burlington United Methodist Church, Burlington, Colorado.
William D. “Mac” McGrew, currently serving Christ United Methodist Church, Casper, Wyoming, to Aldersgate Community United Methodist Church, Brigham City, Utah.
Dale Beck, trained interim pastor, to University Park United Methodist Church, Denver, Colorado.
Jeff Kanost, newly licensed Local Pastor, to Epworth United Methodist Church, Denver, Colorado.
Sandi Dillon, currently serving Grace United Methodist Church, Cheyenne, Wyoming, to Washington Park Community United Methodist Church, Denver, Colorado.
Debra Olenyik, currently serving as District Superintendent, Wyoming, Mountain Sky Area, as Transitional Ministry Developer, Mountain Sky Area. Read the press release about this appointment.
Thomas R. Towns, currently serving First United Methodist Church, Cortez, Colorado, to Estes Park United Methodist Church, Estes Park, Colorado.
Richard F. Carpenter, currently serving First United Methodist Church, Dove Creek, Colorado, and Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church, Dolores, Colorado, to Fort Morgan United Methodist Church, Fort Morgan, Colorado.
Jasper Peters as associate pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church, Denver, Colorado. Jasper will be appointed as a Provisional Elder pending the Clergy Session action at the 2015 Annual Conference.
Michael Jarrell as associate pastor of Tri-Lakes United Methodist Church, Monument, Colorado. Michael will be appointed as a Provisional Elder pending the Clergy Session action at the 2015 Annual Conference.
Paul Kottke, currently senior pastor at University Park United Methodist Church, Denver, Colorado, as Superintendent, Metropolitan District. Read Kottke's thoughts and vision for the appointment.
Calob Rundell, currently serving Wiley/McClave United Methodist Churches, to First United Methodist Church in Salida, Colorado.
Steve Easterday-McPadden, currently senior pastor of First United Methodist Church, Fort Collins, Colorado, as senior pastor of First United Methodist Church, Grand Junction, Colorado. Rev. Blaine M. Scott, current senior pastor, is exploring extension ministry.
Steven K. Goodier, currently serving as District Superintendent, Metropolitan District, Rocky Mountain Conference, to First United Methodist Church, Loveland, Colorado.
Bishop Elaine Stanovsky has announced her intention to make the following appointment, effective June 1, 2015:
Greg Young, retired elder, as Associate Pastor to Smoky Hill UMC, Centennial, Colorado.
Bishop Elaine Stanovsky has announced her intention to make the following appointment, effective May 1, 2015:
Rev. Larry Paulson as Interim pastor of First UMC, Fountain, Colorado. Current pastor, the Rev. Greg Borden, will return to retirement, effective April 30, 2015.
Bishop Elaine Stanovsky has announced her intention to make the following appointment, effective April 1, 2015:
Charles Stephens, currently serving 1/2 time in Extension Ministry at the Institute for Life and Care to 1/4 time Extension Ministry, Institute for Life and Care and 1/2 time to First United Methodist Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Bishop Elaine Stanovsky has announced her intention to make the following appointment, effective March 20, 2015:
Phil Tarman, retired elder, as Transitional Intentional Interim to First UMC, Newcastle, Wyoming.
Bishop Elaine Stanovsky has announced her intention to make the following appointments, effective Jan. 1, 2015:
Bich Thy (Betty) Nguyen, currently serving Bethany United Methodist Church, to Brentwood and Bethany United Methodist churches (3/4 time).
Leslie Sue Wood, currently serving Pikes Peak United Methodist Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado, to the United Church of San Juans, Ridgway, Colorado.
Deanne Sharp as pastor (1/2 time) of Pikes Peak United Methodist Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Andy Dunning, currently serving as Development Director at Denver Urban Ministries, to St. Andrew United Methodist Church, Highlands Ranch, Colorado, as executive pastor.
2015 Cross-Conference Appointments
The following clergy have been appointed to another conference within The United Methodist Church.
Jane Youtz Riecke, currently serving as Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church, Loveland, Colorado, to University United Methodist Church, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as Senior Pastor, effective July 1, 2015.
Amy Michelle Seifert, currently serving Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church, St. George, Utah, to Havelock and Eagle United Methodist Churches, Eagle, Nebraska, in the Great Plains Conference, effective July 1, 2015.
Assignments by District Superintendents
District Superintendent Melanie Rosa has announced her intention to assign Cody Anderson as Supply Pastor of Parker UMC in Parker, Colorado, effective Sept. 1, 2015.
District Superintendent Walter “Skip” Strickland has announced his intention to assign Andrew Stinnett to supply Pierce United Methodist Church, Pierce, Colorado, 1/4 time, effective July 1, 2015.
District Superintendent Sione Tukutau has announced his intention to assign Monte J. Baker, a retired member of The Desert Southwest Conference, to supply Olathe United Methodist Church, Olathe, Colorado, 1/2 time, effective July 1, 2015.
District Superintendent Sione Tukutau has announced his intention to assign Steven Dunkel to supply Paonia United Methodist Church, Paonia, Colorado, 1/2 time, effective July 1, 2015.
District Superintendent Deb Olenyik has announced her intention to assign Jim Welch, a retired member of the New Mexico Conference, to supply Wheatland and Chugwater United Methodist Churches, 3/4 time, effective July 1, 2015.
District Superintendent Deb Olenyik has announced her intention to assign Thomas Beam to supply the United Methodist Church of Sundance, Wyoming, effective July 1, 2015.
District Superintendent Walter “Skip” Strickland has announced his intention to assign as lay supply pastor Emily West Kintzel to Evans United Methodist Church, Evans, Colorado, effective July 1, 2015.
District Superintendent Melanie Rosa has announced her intention to assign the Clifford Seay as Pastor of People’s UMC in Colorado Springs, Colorado, effective July 1, 2015.
District Superintendent Margaret Gillikin has announced her intention to assign as lay supply pastor Susie Burley to Cheraw and Swink United Methodist Churches, Cheraw and Swink, Colorado, effective July 1, 2015.
2015 Retirement Announcements
The following clergy have been approved for retirement, effective June 30, 2015. Our Conference is appreciative of their many years of faithful Christian service. There will be an opportunity to greet them and wish them well at the 2015 Annual Conference session.
David Christensen
John Denker
Susan Denker
Richard Evans
Char Elliott
Kathryn Britt Graff
Pam Graham
David Moorman
Donna Patterson
Nancy Peacock
Rhonda Plinske
Linda Wells
Karen Lowe (As of Feb. 28, 2015)
Miriam Slejko (As of April 30, 2015)
Retiring from another conference or denomination
Norm Stott
Greg Borden