Bishop appoints three new district superintendents

Bishop L. Jonathan Holston, resident bishop of the South Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, has appointed three new district superintendents: the Rev. Terry Fleming to the Florence District, the Rev. Cathy Mitchell to the Spartanburg District and the Rev. Steve Patterson to the Anderson District.



Florence District

[caption id="attachment_6276" align="alignleft" width="200"] South Carolina United Methodist Clergy[/caption]

Fleming, pastor of New Beginnings UMC, Boiling Springs, will succeed the Rev. John Hipp as superintendent of the Florence District.

Hipp has served the Florence District as superintendent since 2012. He is retiring at the 2018 Annual Conference.

Fleming was born in Alexandria, Virginia, and grew up in Louisiana. He graduated from Liberty University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science in management. He spent 18 years on staff at United Methodist churches in Texas, Arkansas and Tennessee and at St. John’s UMC in Aiken, working with children, youth and programming ministries.

Being called to ordained ministry, Fleming was licensed in 2008 and ordained in 2014 following his 2012 graduation from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary with a Master of Divinity. Before his appointment to New Beginnings UMC, Fleming served Elloree and Jerusalem UMCs.

In addition to Fleming’s work in local churches, he has served in many ways, including on district boards of congregational development and as district Christian education and youth coordinator, to name a few. He also served as the prayer coordinator for the Imagine No Malaria steering committee. Fleming is the co-registrar for candidacy and mentors on the Board of Ordained Ministry.

Fleming is married to Carla Fair Fleming. They have three adult children and enjoy spending time with their two grandchildren.



Spartanburg District

Mitchell, pastor of Wesley UMC, Johns Island, will succeed the Rev. Paul Harmon as superintendent of the Spartanburg District.

Harmon has served the Spartanburg District as superintendent since 2010. He is retiring at the 2018 Annual Conference.

Mitchell was born in Williams and graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science in health information administration. She earned a Master of Arts in speech pathology and audiology from South Carolina State University in 1997. For 15 years, she worked in health management and as a speech-language pathologist and audiologist.

Being called to ordained ministry, she was ordained in 2008 following her 2005 graduation from Candler School of Theology with a Master of Divinity. Before her appointment to Wesley UMC, she served St. James UMC, Sumter.

In addition to Mitchell’s work in local churches, she has served in many ways, including on district and conference committees of Connectional Ministries and nominations and on the conference response team. She currently serves on the Board of Ordained Ministry as chairperson of the Call and Disciplined Life Committee, as chairperson of the Charleston District Committee on Ordained Ministry and as the vice president of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women.

Mitchell enjoys many outdoor activities and spending time with her family.



Anderson District

[caption id="attachment_6274" align="alignleft" width="200"] South Carolina United Methodist Pastor[/caption]

Patterson, pastor of Lyttleton Street UMC, Camden, will succeed the Rev. Susan Leonard-Ray as superintendent of the Anderson District.

Leonard-Ray has served the Anderson District as superintendent since 2010. She is completing her term at the 2018 Annual Conference.

Patterson was born in Antreville. He graduated from Erskine College in 1985 with bachelor’s degrees in biology and Christian education.

Patterson was ordained in 1993 following his 1991 graduation from Erskine Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree. Before his appointment to Lyttleton Street UMC, Patterson served Hopewell-Lancaster, Grace-Pickens, Liberty Chapel/Friendship-Florence, Pelion/Sharon/Bethel and Bethel/Ebenezer-Anderson UMCs, as well as the Francis Marion Wesley Foundation.

In addition to Patterson’s work in local churches, he has served in many ways, including as a facilitator for the Forward Focus initiative, a candidacy mentor and on district committees on district superintendency and congregational development. Patterson currently serves on the Board of Ordained Ministry, the Summit on the Black Church design team and the district Committee on Ordained Ministry.

Patterson is married to Debra Deschamps Patterson. He enjoys creative writing and many outdoor activities.