Bishop Julius C. Trimble is pleased to announce the selection of the Rev. Larry Whitehead to serve as the full-time Executive Assistant to the Bishop and Director of Connectional Ministries for the Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church effective July 1, 2019. He will be replacing the Rev. Dr. Cindy Reynolds, who will be retiring at the end of June.
“Larry served as Dean of the Appointive Cabinet my first two years as Resident Bishop giving us the opportunity to work closely together as we embarked on our 2020 goal of becoming more Missional in our focus as a Conference,” said Bishop Trimble. “He has served on Bishop’s Operational Team and given exemplary leadership as a Missional Strategist. His temperament and experience make him well suited to serve as Executive Assistant to the Bishop & Director of Connectional Ministries. His support for cultural fluency and Conference support for congregations of all sizes as well as a commitment to keep the positive progress in our Connectional ministries efforts, including Mission and Justice, Disaster Response, and institutional relationships will allow him to continue the excellent work of Dr. Cindy Reynolds.”
Larry currently serves as Conference Superintendent serving the North District. He became an Ordained Elder in 1996 and has served at Muncie High Street, Hobart First, and Mishawaka First churches. Larry holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management/Marketing from Purdue University and a Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School.
Larry serves on the Board of Directors for Methodist Hospitals (Merrillville and Gary). He previously was on the Board of Directors for Bashor Children’s Home, served as the President for the Council on Finance and Administration (North Indiana Conference), a Spiritual Director at Camp Adventure, and the Chair for Camp Design Leadership Team (North Indiana Conference).
Larry states, “I have been incredibly blessed to have served under Bishop Trimble’s leadership, and I look forward to this new chapter ahead. The experiences of being a Conference Superintendent have been some of the most fulfilling times I have had in ministry and the North District staff and Operational Team have been instrumental in making a difference for Jesus in our part of the Conference ministries. Cindy Reynolds has set a very high bar to meet, and I am deeply humbled to follow her exemplary leadership.”
Larry and his wife Susan have 5 adult children (and 2 grandchildren). The Whiteheads currently live in South Bend but plan to relocate to Indianapolis in the spring.
You may share your thoughts, prayers, and well-wishes with Larry at larry.whitehead@inumc.org.