Cal-Pac Annual Conference Navigation-EMT District Nominees Pg. 1

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1 Cal-Pac Annual Conference Navigation-EMT District Nominees Pg. 1 Hawai i District: Rev. Dr. Krista S. Givens Home church: Kona UMC I am a proud alumna of the Claremont School of Theology, having received my Masters of Divinity in 2001and Doctor of Ministry in Before serving as the senior pastor at Kona UMC, I served as a GBGM missionary as the pastor of an English-speaking church in Hamburg, Germany. When not working, you can find me painting, drinking coffee, chatting with family and friends or enjoying the beauty of the Big Island. Female; Clergy; Middle Aged (36-65); Caucacian Hawai i District: Shannon Del Rosario Home Church: Aldersgate UMC in Honolulu Shannon is a member of Aldersgate UMC. She currently serves as young adult coordinator for Hawaii District, and is active in local church, district, and conference level ministries. Her background is in Social Work and Hawaiian Studies (Mālama ʻĀina/Land stewardship). She is a board member of the Hawaii Emmaus community as well as Hands in Helping Out (HIHO), a local non-profit specializing in promoting volunteerism as well as volunteer placement and management on Oahu. Female; Laity; Young Adult (19-35) Asian/Pacific Islander

2 Cal-Pac Annual Conference Navigation-EMT District Nominees Pg. 2 East District: Mr. Mike Mitchell Home Church: Yorba Linda UMC Male; Laity; Middle Aged (36-65); Caucasian Raised in the Garden Grove UMC and participated in leadership in UMYF and was a member of the first and only Youth delegation to Annual Conference with voting rights in That same summer participated in IMPACT 70, a monthlong inner-city plunge with 30 other youth from the conference, traveling to major cities in a Greyhound bus. We met with everyone from conservative radio broadcasters in Texas; US Senator Daniel Inouye and feminist leaders in Washington DC, members of the gay community in New York City, working with the poor in Appalachia. This gave me broad perspective on the mission and outreach of the church while still a teenager. Like many, I strayed from the church in late teens and early twentys. In the early 1980 s I served in leadership in The Upper Room s Southern California Walk to Emmaus Movement, catching the vision for transforming the laity into engaged Christian leaders. Eventually becoming the community Lay Director for several years, we sponsored new Emmaus Communities in San Diego, Ventura, LA Inner City, Victorville, Inland Empire (El Shaddai), as well as spawning the youth program of Chrysalis and sponsoring the formation of the California State Kairos prison community. During some of this period I sat on the Conference Board of Discipleship. Taking lessons learned from Emmaus I felt called to a greater commitment to leadership at the local church, and my family joined the recently planted Canyon United Methodist Church which eventually became Light of the Canyon UMC. I was involved in lay leadership in various forms for over 20 years, until that church dissolved in As the leader at that church we created the Vision Team. The function of the Vision Team was to keep the church programs and ministries on track and in sync with the vision and mission of our local church. In fact we implemented a concept over 15 years ago that the conference implemented only recently with the creation of the Navigation Essential Ministries Team. So I am very familiar with the concept and have the spiritual gifts of leadership, administration and teaching (communication) that are necessary for this leadership role. Over the past several years I became active on the Santa Ana District leadership team and currently serve as Lay Leader of East District s Santa Ana Hills Mission Area team. And was recently named secretary of the board of Conference United Methodist Men. My wife and I currently attend Yorba Linda UMC where I am one of our two Lay Leaders--involved in Finance and Leadership Team, teach Bible Study. I am also a Certified Lay Speaker. Having spent my working career in professional technical sales I have an abundance of presentation, communication, strategic planning, and computer skills. Anyone for a PowerPoint presentation?? Starting in 2012 I joined the Lay Ministry Academy and have an exciting appreciation of what it is to be a United Methodist with hope and optimism, a lot of hard work; and with great faith in a loving God, a saving Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit United Methodists and our Conference can make a real difference in the lives of those people of all races and sections of society for the Transformation of the World.

3 Cal-Pac Annual Conference Navigation-EMT District Nominees Pg. 3 East District: Rev. Richard Bentley Home Church: Alhambra: First Male; Clergy; Middle Aged (36-65); Caucasian Church experience: District Experience: Conf. Experience: Have been a local church pastor for more than 30 years, usually in cross cultural situations. 2 times have been pastor in churches with a different ethnicity than my own. 3 times have been lead pastor of a church that worships in 2 languages. Have provided leadership for church related community groups such as food pantries and homeless shelters. Have chaired both Los Angeles and Riverside District Committees on Ordained Ministry and served on Pasadena District Committee on Ordained Ministry. Have taught How-to Workshops on Nominating Committee, Cross Cultural Communication and Conflict Management. Providing leadership in groups that actively participate in life of the annual conference such as MFSA (Methodist Federation for Social Action). Chaired annual conference Nominating Committee for many years. This helped develop a broad understanding of the annual conference and how it functions. Have been active participant in 3 annual conference restructurings including most recent. Served on Committee on Investigation during investigations of clergy misconduct. General/Jurisdictional: Since 2012 have worked to build relationships with United Methodists in Africa and the Philippines. Working with WMJM (Western Methodist Justice Movement) to organize social justice action networks across the Western Jurisdiction. Organized effective delegate network around the Judicial Council election at 2004 & 2008 General Conferences. Have written briefs and made oral arguments for the Judicial Council. Nominee Statement: Lead Pastor of growing, revitalizing congregation worshiping in Chinese and English. Church has given the most money to mission per member in the annual conference for the last 3 years. Extensive cross-cultural experience including working to build bridges with United Methodists in Africa and the Philippines. Widespread experience organizing effectively for justice/change in church and society. Helped start feeding program and homeless shelter. Practical knowledge of annual conference and general church. Knows Discipline well enough to find ways to accomplish goals. Provided leadership and vision in formation of Western Methodist Justice Movement which is finding new ways for United Methodists to effectively network around a variety of social justice concerns. Former chair Conference Nominating Committee and district committee on ordained ministry. Graduate of 2 year Academy for Spiritual Formation. Teaching class this summer for East District on Wesleyan Spiritual practices.

4 Cal-Pac Annual Conference Navigation-EMT District Nominees Pg. 4 North District: Rev. Tom Hower Home Church: Christ Our Savior UMC Male; Clergy; Middle Aged (36-65); Caucasian Church experience: Preaching, teaching, and baptizing all nations as Pastor of Christ Our Savior UMC for 2 years and Pastor of First UMC San Gabriel for 5 years. Prior to that served in various lay ministries at UMC Westlake Village with part-time lay speaking at Fillmore and Piru UMC churches. District Experience: North District and Pasadena District since Now part of AV Mission Area Team. Previously in Santa Barbara District where I served as Lay Speaking Director. Conf. Experience Formerly on Board of Laity as Clergy Member. Attended Annual Conferences since Counted ballots for last several years. Nominee Statement: As someone who cares very deeply that our Conference reach out to all people with the gospel of Jesus Christ, I will work tirelessly to help the Navigation EMT implement God s vision for our Conference. God s vision will lead us to the resources and methods that will create breakout churches serving those currently attending our churches, but, most importantly, the all nations Jesus calls us to serve in the Great Commission.

5 Cal-Pac Annual Conference Navigation-EMT District Nominees Pg. 5 North District: Rev. Kalesita Tu ifua Home Church: Knollwood UMC Female; Clergy; Middle Aged (36-65); Pacific Islander Church experience: I have been serving in the local church for 11 years as a bi-lingual pastor for the Tongan and English ministry. Revitalizing the church through relocation, sharing facility, merging discernment plan and merging the congregations. A bridge builder among the racial ethnic communities, youth and young adults mentor, education. District Experience: Member of the District Union Committee; Participated the Camping Ministry as facilitator and lecturer for senior youth camp, San Diego District. Being a Mentor for candidate to ministry for the last four years. Conf. Experience: Member of the AC Board of Trustees, Orders of Executive, Pacific Islander Commission; Involved with Campus Ministry and member of the General Board of Higher Education. Member of the Orders of Executive Committee. I have been attended the UMW School of Mission and taught the Tongan language session for 2 years. General/Jurisdictional: Currently served on the Board of the American Asian Pacific Islander Clergywoman (AAPIC) as a member at large and the representative from the Cal-Pac Conference; Member of the Pacific Islanders National Caucus UM (PINCUM) Executive Board of Director as Treasurer and attended the CGORR Caucus Training Event. Participated with Youth at the Western Jurisdictional Youth Alive. Nominee Statement: Leading the church to connect with God, connect with the community; connect to ministry and challenge them to make a different in the world. My Bio: I have been serving in our Cal-Pac Conference as an Ordained Elder for almost 11 years as a bi-lingual pastor for the Tongan-English congregations. With my educational background and experience for ministry, a bridge builder among the racial ethnic communities, mentor for children and young people, and passion of contextual preaching of the gospel help revitalize, strengthen, and expand the multi-cultural/ethnic/racial congregation.

6 Cal-Pac Annual Conference Navigation-EMT District Nominees Pg. 6 North District: Ms. Allegra Wilson Home Church: Northridge UMC Female; Laity; Young Adult (19-35); Caucasian Church experience: I was baptized in infancy at Reseda United Methodist Church, but due to a move I grew up at Northridge United Methodist Church. In 2012 I was hired as the Communications and Young Adult Ministries Director at Northridge, in which capacity I continue to serve. District Experience: I was hired in 2011 as the Connecting Point Director for the Santa Barbara District. This program was dedicated to serving young adults throughout the district by finding new and compelling ways for them to be involved in their faith. This program changed direction when we realized that many of the churches that we were trying to reach out to didn t have any form of internet presence. To this day, Connecting Point serves the North District, focusing currently on Mission Area 8 (the San Fernando Valley Mission Area). I have helped several churches begin their journey towards having a website, a Facebook page, and a Twitter feed. I have created a website for the mission area and I created the North District website, both of which I continue to maintain. Conf. Experience: I attended my first Annual Conference in June At that time I worked with Rachel Tabutol at the UM Daily to take minutes at several plenaries throughout the conference. I will do this once again at Annual Conference I have more recently served on the CCYA, which I hope to continue. General/Jurisdictional: Nominee Statement: As a young adult working for the church on many levels, I am proud to be nominated for the Navigation Essential Ministry Team. Because I grew up in the church, I understand the basic principles of Methodism as a congregant, but because I left the church for some time while I attended college, I also understand what many young adults are going through when they are struggling with their faith. In this technological age, I see where the church needs to go to reach those people that we are all struggling to find. I am prepared to share my insight as well as take into account the experience of the church as we move forward into the future. I am ready to help this denomination thrive!

7 Cal-Pac Annual Conference Navigation-EMT District Nominees Pg. 7 North District: Rev. Johan Dodge Home Church: Saint Paul's UMC Tarzana Male; Clergy; Middle Aged (36-65); Caucacian Church Experience: 2009 Now Pastor, St. Paul s UMC, Tarzana, CA Pastor, Paso Robles First UMC / Compass Point Pastor, Gardena First UMC Pastor, Fillmore UMC and Piru UMC 2001 Interim Professor at University of Redlands Course: Religion and the Arts Assistant Pastor Chino UMC District Experience: Member of Long Beach District Union (Secretary) Planning and Strategy Building and Location Conf. Experience: Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry (Chair) Healthy Growth Task-Force (Member) Board of Ordained Ministry (Residency in Ministry Representative) Claremont School of Theology Alumni Board (Vice-Chair) UM Daily (Editor) Board of Discipleship (Member) Young Adult Delegate to Annual Conference 1992 Youth Delegate to Annual Conference Nominee Statement: 2011 Young Pastor s Network (Network is still active) 2008 Church Planter s Boot Camp 2007 Worked with Coach Linnea Capshaw of DeepShift Coaching 2006 School of Congregational Development New Church Start Track Year School of Congregational Development New Church Start Track Year School of Congregational Development Revitalization Track Nominee Statement: Hope is a VERB! Live into it! My passion is working with communities of faith to realize their God given potential for world transformation. In my 14 years of service under appointment, I have enjoyed the opportunity to walk with a wonderfully diverse body of faith in realizing their potential for missional service beyond the walls of each church facility. With your support, I look forward to sharing my skills with the Conference Navigation Team.

8 Cal-Pac Annual Conference Navigation-EMT District Nominees Pg. 8 North District: Stephen Sang Lee I saw many UMC Church had been closed and many church become older. I met a people who lived near the church in the plane. He was looking for the church to attend too. I want to change the church where people wants to be member. UMC member is dwindling but newly formed church grows tremendously in our neighborhood. People wants to be Christian but UMC church is not a desirable one. I want to change UMC church where people worship, pray and praise our lord for all aged people. My church become the desirable church and I want to spread the DNA. South District: Nicole Aragon Home Church: Garden Grove UMC Female; Laity; Young adult-24; Hispanic Church experience: youth director, VBS director, mission committee, church council, choir school, sports camp, education committee, helped with Hispanic Ministry, District experience: camp counselor at Jr high and Sr High, District Youth Coordinator for South district. Conference experience: Conference counsel on youth ministries, delegate to Annual conference. General Conference: Spanglish leader/planner