Three disaster response veterans tapped to lead ministry
By Dan O’Mara
For decades, South Carolina has been home to strong and responsive ministries that serve the most vulnerable in the wake of devastating hurricanes, tornados, floods and other weather-related disasters.
While countless volunteers have served faithfully over the years, as churches have separated from the denomination, it has impacted the disaster response teams of the South Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church. As well, it takes committed professionals to help coordinate these volunteers’ efforts and ensure they have the resources needed to engage in effective ministry.
To that end, the South Carolina Conference has reinstituted three key staff positions to help lead the reshaping and reinvigoration of its Disaster Response Ministries.
The Rev. LaTonya Dash, senior pastor of Easley Chapel UMC and John Wesley UMC in Easley, will serve as disaster response coordinator. The Rev. Sharon “Shay” Long, pastor of Mill Creek UMC in Columbia, will serve as disaster recovery volunteer coordinator. And Ward Smith, who has served in multiple conference roles, will be disaster recovery construction manager.
“The United Methodist Church in South Carolina is alive, active and ready to serve,” said the Rev. Millie Nelson Smith, director of Connectional Ministries. “Under the guidance of these experienced leaders, we will rebuild our disaster response and recovery ministries so that we can continue to provide the swift, capable and compassionate response that has been an important part of our mission.
“We are grateful to the United Methodist Committee on Relief for the generous grant support that will pay for our recovery efforts this year. We are stronger through the connection.”
Dash’s appointment is anticipated at Annual Conference in June. Dash was ordained as a full elder in 2018 after earning her Master of Divinity in 2016 from Gammon Theological Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in physical education and physical activity management from South Carolina State University and a Master of Science in management and administration of educational programs from Nova Southeastern University. She served churches in the Walterboro and Hartsville districts before being appointed pastor of the Easley Charge in the Anderson District in 2022. She has served on District Committees on Ordained Ministry and Superintendency and as registrar for the Hartsville District Committee on Ordained Ministry. On the conference level, she has served on the Council on Finance and Administration and as a group candidacy mentor.
Dash has experience serving on Early Response Teams and has extensive education and training in leadership development.
Long, a local pastor in the South Carolina Conference, earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Columbia College and a Master of Divinity from Hood Theological Seminary. She has served as pastor of Mill Creek for 14 years.
Outside the church, Long has served as emergency planner for Richland County since 2016. In that role, she is responsible for securing shelter for people and pets in the event of a disaster and for training members of Community Emergency Response Teams and residents about how to be better prepared when disaster strikes.
Smith, who has more than three decades of experience in construction and home repair, earned a Bachelor of Science in sociology from Francis Marion University. He has owned and operated home repair and handyman businesses dating back to 2010.
He supervised the South Carolina Conference’s disaster recovery efforts in the wake of the historic 2015 flood across the state, and Hurricane Matthew a year later. He also has helped lead rebuilding efforts following Hurricane Rita in Texas and Hurricane Floyd in North Carolina.
Smith also has served as site leader for the Santee Camp of Salkehatchie Summer Service, inspired by his eight summers with Salkehatchie as a youth. He serves as the chair of the Salkehatchie Board of Directors.
Help is needed
Whether you’ve served before or are new to disaster response and recovery ministry, your help is sought as a disaster response volunteer with the conference. Find out how you can help by emailing Long at [email protected].