INDIANAPOLIS – Bishop Julius C. Trimble is pleased to announce the appointment of the Rev. Shannon C. Stringer to serve as the Director of Leadership Development of the Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church effective June 1, 2018. Stringer will succeed the Rev. Dr. Aleze M. Fulbright who will lead as the Conference Superintendent assigned to the East District.
In her new post, Stringer will join the Extended Cabinet as the Conference's chief strategist to discover, develop, and deploy fruitful leaders supporting our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Stringer will work alongside the Board of Ordained Ministry (BoOM) to build upon our processes to recruit, enlist, license, commission, and ordain those called to preach, teach, and connect the Church to the world. She will also take up the charge to continue a commitment that the Conference continues to seek ways to develop diversity in ethnicity, gender, age, and theology to serve within our Connectional system.
Stringer will also partner with the bishop, the Extended Cabinet, Board of Laity, and local churches to create a culture of lifelong leadership excellence and continued learning for clergy and laity. Additionally, she will provide support to the newly developed area with a focus on creating space where emerging leaders can learn and thrive in exploring their calls to ministry and service to the Church and the world.
Stringer, who has shared roots in California and Indiana, having lived in both for equal parts of her life; began her professional life in secondary education prior to answering the call to vocational ministry. She has a passion for peer-education and developing mentoring programs to create new understandings and relationships.
"I am passionate about providing resources and personal connection for local church leaders," said Stringer. "Both laity and clergy need our connection to serve by listening, learning and leading. I'm excited to be a part of helping us continue to grow in connection and purpose as we work together to offer Christ to our world."
In professional ministry she has served the following churches in Indiana: Fort Wayne St. Joseph UMC as an associate pastor, Hammond First UMC as senior pastor, and currently serves at Chesterton UMC as the senior pastor. Stringer has also served as the director of the Indiana Conference Board of Ordained Ministry's Residency in Ministry program for the past three years. During her tenure, the program's focus has been on implementing a new vision for clergy development.
“Rev. Shannon Stringer will bring an enthusiasm for the continued focus and need to build stronger lay and clergy leaders to engage in our focus on being more missional. She will be a welcome addition to our Conference leadership and the Extended Cabinet as we seek to encourage a culture of call and excellence," said Bishop Trimble.
Ordained an Elder in the Indiana Conference in 2009, Stringer’s educational background includes a Master of Divinity from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, a Master’s Degree in American Government from University of California, Riverside, and a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations and French from University of Redlands, CA.
Stringer's husband, David, is an instructional designer for a firm based in Chicago. The couple has two adult children: Jackson and Charles. Jackson, who is a graduate of Belmont University with a degree in Music Business, lives in Fort Wayne and works at Sweetwater Sound. He can be found most Sundays at Saint Joseph UMC facilitating worship music. Charles, who is a Sophomore at Purdue, spent last summer on staff at Epworth Forest and is looking forward to returning this year. He serves as an assistant director in the youth program at First UMC in West Lafayette. The Stringer family and household also include Shannon's mother, Marie, who is a retired therapist and is looking forward to the move to Indianapolis. In their free time, Shannon and her family love to explore new places, both locally and abroad. She is an avid reader and also enjoys spending time with family and friends.