Bishop Elaine JW Stanovsky has announced her intention to appoint the Rev. Lisa Talbott as Director of Connectional Ministries (DCM) for the Alaska United Methodist Conference, effective July 1, 2021. She will also continue in her role as pastor of Homer United Methodist Church in Homer, Alaska.
“Lisa brings visionary leadership, a deep love for Alaska, and a passion for ministry that inspires,” shared Bishop Stanovsky. “She is already a connector and I know that people in Alaska and many in the Greater Northwest Area will welcome her leadership in this new role.”
As DCM, Rev. Talbott will serve as the steward of the vision of the annual conference, aligning resources, and ensuring connections among local churches, throughout the conference, across the Greater Northwest Area and the denomination. She will be a partner in ministry with the Conference Superintendent and serve on the bishop’s cabinet.
This new role puts Rev. Talbott in a strategic position to assist Alaska and Pacific Northwest Conference leaders as Alaska moves toward becoming a ‘mission district’ of the Pacific Northwest Conference. A special called session of the Alaska Conference approved a petition to the 2020 General Conference in February of 2020 to initiate this process.
Funding for this position will come from monies freed-up as a result of the change in the portfolio of the Conference Superintendent position and will not cause a significant impact to the budget of the Alaska Conference.
“I am delighted Bishop Elaine is re-imagining the role of Director of Connectional Ministries and entrusting me with this position,” said Rev. Talbott. “As Alaska moves toward becoming a Mission District, we have the opportunity to reflect on our conference’s past and commit ourselves to the process of decolonization as we consider the innovative ways God is calling us to be in ministry together. I am honored to steward this important work. I also feel deeply blessed to continue to serve my community alongside the people of Homer UMC. I appreciate your prayers as we embark on this new adventure.”
Rev. Talbott is an ordained elder and member of the Pacific Northwest Conference who started serving as pastor of the Homer United Methodist Church in 2013 after graduating from Duke Divinity School. Before discerning a call to ministry, Lisa was a middle school teacher with the Anchorage School District specializing in curriculum development and evaluation. A lifelong Alaskan, Lisa lives in Homer, Alaska with her husband Joe and bird Captain Tony.
