Dear Members and Friends of the New Mexico Conference,
Grace and peace to you in the name of the Jesus Christ, the one true vine of whom we are branches.
I write to you today to share a change in the Cabinet and a subsequent interim plan of supervision for this appointive year.
I announce that the Rev. Ross Whiteaker, Superintendent of the Albuquerque District, will be ending his time on Cabinet beginning October 1, 2026. By his request and with the assent of the appropriate conference bodies, I am granting him medical leave under the provisions of ¶ 357 of the 2020/2024 Book of Discipline. I share this with deep gratitude and appreciation for his service. As DS, Ross has led with a pastor’s heart among the congregations and pastors under his care and supervision. As a member of the joint Desert Southwest and New Mexico Cabinet, he brought depth, creativity and critical thinking to our work. I will miss having Ross on the team and yet I respect and affirm his decision to focus on his health and wellbeing at this time and invite us all to be in prayer for him, his wife Michelle and their family. I implore us, too, to be respectful of the boundaries that they may put in place to protect the necessary space and time for healing to take place.
It is not my intention to appoint a new superintendent immediately to fill the vacancy because of the timing at which it has occurred. Local churches are about to kick their ministries in high gear after the usual slowing down in the summer and I would hate to disrupt plans and momentum for the next person I invite on Cabinet and for the local church in which they are serving. Therefore, I will wait until the regular appointment season to discern who God is calling to fill this role.
Furthermore, I am putting in place an interim plan of supervision that involves a team superintendency model. I announce that the Rev. Dr. Pamela Rowley, current Superintendent of the El Paso District, will be the Conference Superintendent of the whole New Mexico Conference supervising both the Albuquerque and El Paso Districts and will lead the superintendency team beginning October 1, 2026. Rev. Dr. Rowley will also be the Provost for the New Mexico Conference during this time.
Pam will be assisted and supported by two retired elders of the New Mexico Conference who have previously served as District Superintendents. I am appointing the Revs. Craig Cockrell and Gorton Smith as part-time Assistant District Superintendents beginning October 1, 2026.
The following are the important facets of this team superintendency model for us all to know:
- The Conference Superintendent (CS) is the person of contact in ALL matters for both districts. She will decide whether to refer the matter to an Assistant District Superintendent or deal with it herself.
- The CS and Assistant DSes will determine who will convene and conduct charge conferences and consultations.
- The 2026 schedule of charge conferences will be maintained as much as possible for both districts. If there are needed changes to the schedule, pastor will be notified at least 10 days prior.
- There will be a new consultation schedule for ABQ District pastors. You will be notified soon about your day/time.
- El Paso District consultation schedule will be maintained with a few modifications.
- The CS and Assistant DSes will consult about future appointments with the Bishop.
- The CS will represent the NMAC Superintending Team on the Joint DSC-NAMC Appointive Cabinet. The Assistant DSes will not be members of the Joint Appointive Cabinet but will have input.
I am grateful to Pam, Craig and Gorton for their willingness to serve in this unique model during this interim time. Please join me in prayer for them and their families as they begin these new roles and work as a team. I will be in prayer for all of our churches, clergy and lay leaders, and our whole New Mexico Conference as we live into this model with the shifts, challenges and blessings that it brings.
May God be with us as we journey through this season of growth.
Addaan namnama ken rag-o (With hope and joy),
