Guest Ordination Preacher: Bishop Dee Williamston

Bishop Delores J. “Dee” Williamston, a Kansas Army National Guard veteran, serves as bishop of the Louisiana Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. She was assigned to the Louisiana Conference at the South Central Jurisdictional meeting in Houston on November 3, 2022. The Louisiana Annual Conference is composed of 486 congregations and 118,725 members and includes the entire state of Louisiana.

Bishop Williamston was ordained as an elder in 2010 and previously served in the Great Plains Conference as the superintendent for the Hays, Hutchinson and Salina Districts. She also served as Director of Clergy Excellence and Assistant to the Bishop.

Prior to beginning her service with the Great Plains Conference, Williamston served churches in Independence, Salina, Mentor, and Topeka in Kansas. She earned her master’s of divinity from Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri, with a specialty in Black Church ministries and evangelism. She is pursuing a doctorate of ministry from Philips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Bishop Williamston’s background includes a 22-year military career in the Kansas Army National Guard, where she served as a technician and eventually became chief supervisor of the account and finance operations at the U.S. Property and Fiscal Office in Topeka. Her rank upon retirement from the National Guard was sergeant first class.

Bishop Williamston, a breast cancer survivor, has one son, seven grandchildren, and one pet Shih Tzu.

Keynote Speaker: Rev. David Valera, Executive Director of Connectional Ministries, Pacific Northwest Conference

The Rev. David Valera serves as the Executive Director of Connectional Ministries for the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. A gifted storyteller and visionary leader, he uses media and digital tools to inspire, connect, and equip ministries for impactful discipleship. An award-winning photographer and filmmaker, Rev. Valera weaves storytelling into ministry, producing compelling video content that enhances worship, outreach, and mission-driven projects. Through training and mentorship, he empowers clergy and laity to share their faith narratives effectively, ensuring the Church remains relevant and engaged in a digital age. Rooted in a passion for social justice, creation care, and innovation, Rev. Valera continues to transform how the Church communicates its mission, helping ministries use storytelling as a powerful tool for connection and change.