Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. has announced that effective July 1, the Rev. Jerry Smith, Great Northern District Superintendent, will complete his service on the Cabinet and the Rev. David L. Samelson, pastor of First UMC of Eureka, will become the new Great Northern DS.

Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. welcomes the Rev. Greg Bergquist, named Cal Nevada's new Conference Superintendent for Leadership Development. He will join the staff July 1, 2012, succeeding the Rev. Ted Virts.

The dates, times, and locations for this spring's Discovery Events have been finalized.

Youth 2011 Hip-hop Artist AGAPE will bring high-energy hip-hop performances, authentic faith stories, and relationship building with youth to St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Manteca, California on Saturday, March 3.

General Conference 2012 will be bathed in prayer, according to the opening preacher at the Pre-General Conference News Briefing, hosted by United Methodist News Service (UMNS), taking place this week (Jan. 19-21) in Tampa, Florida.