Search for Associate General Minister – Love of Church
In July 2025 during our next General Synod, the United Church of Christ will be electing an Associate General Minister to guide and lead the activities of the Love of Church unit. Learn more about the application process, responsibilities involved, and update from the search committee.
Latest Updates
September 3, 2024 – Julia Gaughan
Greetings,
In July 2025, the United Church of Christ will be electing an Associate General Minister to guide and lead the activities of the Love of Church unit which shall be carried out in accordance with the Purpose, Mission, and Vision of the United Church of Christ under the leadership of the General Minister and President. The Associate General Minister may be a lay person, an authorized minister, or a person with ordained ministerial partner standing, and shall articulate a prophetic voice for a Just World, and with direction from the General Minister and President and CEO (GMP and CEO). The Associate General Minister will contribute to the functions of the National Ministries, as part of the senior leadership, including visioning and planning, communications, development and management of budgets, development and leadership of staff, and implementation of policies adopted by the General Synod and the United Church of Christ Board.
The Bylaws of the United Church of Christ call for an open search for this position. A search committee has been formed and is beginning the process of discernment to identify the person called to this important role in the life of the denomination. The search committee is now looking to the wider church for assistance in identifying persons whose gifts, skills, experience, and leadership abilities would qualify them as desirable applicants for this office.
Included is the link to the full position description and the online application portal. The deadline for applications is November 30th.
The Search Committee is requesting three items from each applicant. (1) A statement of interest in this position, (2) a professional profile or resume, and (3) three professional references. Applicants with ministerial standing in the United Church of Christ should also submit a current ministerial profile. In accordance with the employment policies of the United Church of Christ, the final candidate will be asked to submit to a background check.
The UCC National endeavors to recruit employees from backgrounds that vary by race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, genetic information, past, present or future service in the uniformed services, religion, or any other legally protected characteristic under applicable federal, state or local law. The UCC National is proud to be a multicultural, multiracial, open and affirming, accessible to all, equal opportunity employer.
Grace and Peace,
Julia Gaughan
Chair of the United Church of Christ Board
Members of the Associate General Minister Search Committee
Chair: Rev. Jasmine Coleman Quinerly
+The Reverend Jasmine Coleman Quinerly is Minister of Missions at Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ, Houston, Texas. She serves the United Church of Christ as member of the Committee of Ministry of the Houston Association and Settegast Heights Apartment Complex Board of Directors. She has severed six years on the Board of Directors of Back Bay Mission, in Biloxi, Mississippi including 1 term as board president. This mission project follows international mission work in Mexico and Guatemala. Jasmine has provided leadership with the as Houston Association Minister, Southern Regional Women’s Retreat, AAWIM, CHISHM and AM 21.
Jasmine is bi-vocational and practices commercial and residential real estate sales and appraisals. Presently she is an instructor and curriculum developer of real estate sales, appraisal ethics for both local and national organizations.
Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson
+The Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia A. Thompson is the General Minister and President and CEO of the United Church of Christ. Rev. Thompson is the first woman and first woman of African descent to serve as leader of the denomination. Prior to this call, Rev. Thompson served in the national setting of the United Church of Christ for 14 years – two years as Minister for Racial Justice, eight years as Minister for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations and four years as the Associate General Minister for Wider Church Ministries and Co-Executive for Global Ministries. She was elected as AGM in 2019. Her passion for justice and equity moved her work on behalf of the UCC into a global context, affording the opportunity to participate globally in efforts to reduce the marginalization experienced by African descendant peoples and other communities globally.
Rev. Thompson earned a Bachelor of Arts from Brooklyn College in New York, a Master’s in Public Administration from North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC, and a Masters of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in New York. She also studied Public Policy at Duke University and earned her Doctorate in Ministry at Seattle University. She was awarded an honorary doctorate from Heidelberg University.
Rev. Shernell Edney Stilley
+Rev. Edney Stilley received her Bachelor’s degree in Corporate Communications from Drexel University (Philadelphia, PA) and her Master of Divinity from Virginia Union University (Richmond, VA). Currently, Rev. Edney Stilley serves as an Associate Conference Minister for the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ, supporting pastoral transitions throughout the conference. Previously, Rev. Edney Stilley served as Associate Conference Minister for Congregational Vitality in the New York Conference. She was selected by the Pension Boards to participate in the Next Generation Leadership Initiative (NGLI) as a member of the 2018-2028 cohort.
Rev. Cean James
+Reverend Cean James is the Senior Pastor of Salt & Light, an interdenominational, intergenerational congregation worshiping and working in Southwest Philadelphia and Mt. Airy. In 2005 Pastor James planted Grace Christian Fellowship, which merged with New Spirit Community Church to form Salt & Light in 2020. One of the fastest growing churches in the nation, Salt & Light is a congregation of vibrant worship, extravagant welcome, passionate activism, and biblical teaching and preaching.
Rev. James completed his undergraduate studies at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University with a BS in biology and received his Masters of Divinity from the Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia. Pastor James has also done doctoral work at Lancaster Theological Seminary. Pastor James also serves the wider church as the Associate Conference Minister of Congregational Development for the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference, UCC. In 2023, after a mass shooting just blocks away from Salt & Light, Pastor James led a coalition of community organizations is developing Kingsessing Heals Community Resiliency Center; a federally funded, trauma informed resource center where local residences find a myriad of tested practices to help them cope and thrive in the face of gun violence.
Mark Dutell
+Mr. Dutell is a retired Human Resource Executive with 35 years of diversified experience in all areas of Human Resources. He is currently serving as the Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee for the NUCC Board. Since retiring in 2010, Mr. Dutell has pursued a retirement objective to “keep my exposure to the world growing rather than shrinking” through community enrichment classes at Denver University, travel, and volunteer work. Mr. Dutell served for five years on the Board of Directors of the Rocky Mountain Conference UCC. He has served on the Board of Directors of a local YMCA and local bank. In 20 years as a member of his local congregation, the Kirk of Bonnie Brae in Denver Colorado, he has served as Moderator, Council member, Capital Campaign Chair, and Endowment Committee Chair. He has also served on a variety of committees including, mission, open and affirming, social justice, property, pastor search, and COVID response.
Richard (Dick) Hom
+Mr. Hom is the Immediate Past Moderator of the UCC Pacific Islander & Asian American Ministries (PAAM) having served three consecutive and is part of the Executive Committee of the Council Of Racial & Ethnic Ministries (COREM) of UCC. Mr. Hom is a strong supporter of the Northern California Nevada Conference & is on the Board of Director of the Golden Gate Association. As a retired small business owner, Mr. Hom served for over 25 years as a Board member of the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce and also served as a Trustee of the Pacific School of Religion. Mr. Hom is a long time member of the Chinese Congregational Church in San Francisco, who recently became the only ONA Chinese church in San Francisco’s Chinatown.
Rev. Mary Nelson
+Rev. Mary Nelson is the Transitional Conference Minister for the Missouri Mid-South Conference of the United Church of Chris. Rev. Nelson is a lifelong “UCCer” with a wealth of experience in various settings across the United Church of Christ. Before coming to Missouri Mid-South, she served seven years as a Regional Minister (ACM) in the Connecticut/Southern New England Conference. Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, she earned her Bachelor of Arts at Grinnell College, and her Master of Divinity at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Rev. Nelson works remotely from Holyoke, Mass. and her home base in the St. Louis area.
A search committee has also been formed for the position of Associate General Minister to guide and lead the Love of Neighbor unit.