Meet those who represent you
Approximately 150 delegates attend the North Central Jurisdictional Conference. These elected representatives vote on your behalf and make decisions for the church.
These delegates were elected during the 2019 Annual Conference to represent our conference at the 2020 NCJ Conference. Since their term continues until the election of delegates to serve during the 2024 NCJ, these delegates represent the Michigan Conference at all gatherings of the NCJ.
The first elected delegates became the chairpersons of the delegation. Many of these delegates will be familiar to you, they attend General Conference as representatives as well.
Does every conference get the same number of delegates?
No, they do not. The delegates for the 2020 NCJ Conference are proportionately distributed among the annual conferences across the globe for general and jurisdictional conferences.
The Michigan Delegation to the 2020 NCJ is made up of 8 clergy and 8 laity. Four more persons (2 clergy and 2 laity) serve as alternate delegates to the Jurisdictional Conference. This 20-member Delegation was elected at the 2019 Michigan Annual Conference.
How can I contact the delegation?
Send your comments or questions to [email protected]
NORTH CENTRAL JURISDICTIONAL CONFERENCE DELEGATION
Laura Witkowski
Chairperson
LAITY DELEGATE
Member of Grand Rapids Aldersgate UMC and Michigan Conference Associate Director of Lay Leadership Development
Kennetha Bigham-Tsai
Chairperson
CLERGY DELEGATE
Currently, the Chief Connectional Table Officer for The United Methodist Church Connection Table.
Diane Brown
LAITY DELEGATE
Member of Chelsea First UMC and Michigan Annual Conference Legislative Coordinator
Joy Barrett
CLERGY DELEGATE
Senior Pastor of Chelsea First UMC and Michigan Annual Conference Secretary
Jennifer Peters
LAITY DELEGATE
Court Street United Methodist Church
Flint
Paul Perez
CLERGY DELEGATE
Associate Director for Mission and Ministry
Livonia
Nichea Ver Veer Guy
LAITY DELEGATE
Member of Grand Rapids Trinity Church and Chairperson of the Michigan Conference Commission on the Annual Conference
Meghan Walther
CLERGY DELEGATE
Clarkston United Methodist Church
Clarkston
Ruby Anderson
LAITY DELEGATE
Member of Scott Memorial UMC and NCJ Director of United Methodist Women
Charles Boayue
CLERGY DELEGATE
Serving as the District Superintendent for the Greater Detroit Conference
Hoon-Yung Hopgood
LAITY DELEGATE
Troy Korean United Methodist Church
Taylor
Joel Fitzgerald
CLERGY DELEGATE
Sterling Heights United Methodist Church
Rochester
Brad Bartlemay
CLERGY DELEGATE
Holland First United Methodist Church
Holland
Ruth Sutton
LAITY DELEGATE
Sanford United Methodist Church
Sanford
Christina Wright
CLERGY DELEGATE
Royal Oak First UMC and Associate Director of Spiritual Care at Michigan Medicine (University of Michigan hospitals)
Alternate Jurisdictional Conference Delegates
Gordon Grigg III
LAITY ALTERNATE
Ishpeming Wesley United Methodist Church
Ishpeming
Sherri Swanson
CLERGY ALTERNATE
Georgetown United Methodist Church
Jenison