INDIANAPOLIS – Bishop Julius C. Trimble is pleased to announce the selection of Emily Reece, of Whitestown, Ind., as the Director of Church Development beginning April 2, 2018. Reece will succeed the Rev. Steven P. Clouse, who received an appointment to Liberty United Methodist Church in the Missouri Conference at the beginning of 2018. She has served as a member of the Indiana Church Development staff as an Associate Director since September 2015.
Reece is a lifelong United Methodist and has a rich history in service to the Church and the Connection. With more than 20 years of professional ministry experience, she brings a wealth of knowledge and resources in the areas of church planting, revitalization, community building, grant management, marketing, and storytelling, along with much more. Reece has worked for a variety of corporate and non-profit organizations which also offers her a unique insight into the opportunities of entrepreneurial leadership.
“I am humbled by the confidence Bishop Trimble places in me as I step into this new role within the Indiana Conference. As I have traveled around the state for the past two years, working with our churches and their leaders, I have been excited to see the ways in which our Indiana United Methodists are embracing the missional opportunities all around us. I am grateful for the privilege of leading in a new way, alongside our Church Development Committee, Conference staff, and Extended Cabinet.”
Before joining the Indiana Conference, Emily served as a New Church Strategist on the Path 1 team with Discipleship Ministries, in Nashville, Tenn., focused in the North Central Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church. She previously served as the Director of Program and Training of Igniting Ministry under the umbrella of United Methodist Communications. Reece has also served as Ministry Coordinator and Director of Lay Ministries for congregations in Illinois and Indiana, before her work with the General Church (United Methodist) and the Indiana Conference.
As the Director of Church Development, Reece will serve as an innovator, teacher, coach, and consultant to build upon the vision to revitalize congregations and to plant new faith communities across Indiana. Reece has been an integral part of the Church Development team in developing the resources of Adapt, Impact, and Multiply (AIM) as enhanced options to help churches identify the needs of their communities and connect to tools that help them accomplish their goals of service to God and alongside our neighbors. In this role, she will work with Bishop Trimble and the Extended Cabinet to develop and deploy fruitful leaders and church planters, as well as strengthen strategic churches willing to connect with new people and launch new faith communities across the state. Reece will also work alongside the Conference’s Discipleship Team.
“A demonstrated commitment to reaching new people through church starts and revitalization, Emily possesses the vision, abilities, and spirit to help churches in Indiana define real ways in which they can impact their communities through sustainable relationships for missional ministry,” said Bishop Trimble.
He continued, “she is a respected leader throughout the churches of our Conference, as well as throughout the Connection for her insights and expertise around training, education, and resourcing. I am thankful for her and the gifts that she will share with our Extended Cabinet and our Conference in this new capacity, as the work of Church Development is vital in achieving our Wildly Important Goal, and she will bring the leadership needed for such a time as this."
Trimble also shared praise for the Rev. Doug Anderson who has served as the Interim Director of Church Development since January 1, 2018.
“Doug has a deep history in Indiana and his knowledge has helped the good work of our Church Development team continue through this transition. On behalf of Indiana, he has my sincere gratitude,” noted Trimble.
Emily grew up in Muncie, Ind., where she was confirmed a member of High Street United Methodist Church in her teens. She earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Ball State University and Illinois State University, respectively, before responding to her call to ministry. Emily is an avid movie fan, with interests in classic, current, and international films. Being “Back Home Again in Indiana” offers Emily (with her labradoodle, Boomer) the opportunity to live nearby her sister’s family in Zionsville, and within an easy drive of Muncie, where her parents still reside.
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About the Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church
The Indiana Conference is a regional body of The United Methodist Church that provides leadership, resources, and support for more than 1,120 congregations, ranging in size from 20 to 8,000 members, in the ten districts across the state of Indiana. The bishop and Extended Cabinet implement the mission and engagement through more than 1,000 pastoral appointments, to the congregations in Indiana, ministering to more than 200,000 adult members and 40,000 children and youth. The Conference continues to have a missional focus to encourage ministries and churches to reach new people and work alongside our neighbors to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.