2026 Appointments and Retirements

The following are the clergy appointments, listed by month of announcement. All appointments are effective July 1, 2026 (unless otherwise noted).

January Announcements

• Norval I. Brown  (Full Elder) to Retirement. Norval was ordained a Probationary Elder in 1977 and became a Full Elder in 1981. During his ministry, Norval served Chicago: St. Mark; Chicago: West Englewood; Maywood: Neighborhood; Chicago: Southlawn; Chicago: Gammon Memorial; Aurora: Fourth Street; Homewood: St. Andrew; Southern District Campus Ministry; Carol Stream: St. Andrew (Interim); Park Forest: Grace United Protestant, Thornton; Deerfield: Christ; Cary; Cary/Fox River Grove: Community. 
• Eun-Hye Choi (Full Elder) to Retirement. Eun-Hye was ordained a Probationary Elder in 1998 and became a Full Elder in 2000.  During her ministry, Eun-Hye served Palatine: First (Associate); West Dundee: First; Chicago: Morgan Park; Plainfield; Glenview: Glenview. 
• Sandra E. Harbour (Full Elder) to Retirement. Sandra was ordained a Probationary Elder in 1996 and became a Full Elder in 1988. During her ministry, Sandra served Morris: First (Associate); Prophetstown; Gulfside Regional Hospice (Chaplain); Moffitt Cancer Center (Tampa, FL).  Effective: February 1, 2026
• Donna Hoffman (Retired Licensed Local Pastor) returning to Retirement from Elizabeth and Hanover UMCs.
• Adrienne Ann Iseman (Full Deacon) to Retirement. Adrienne was consecrated as a Diaconal Minister  in 1989, was certified in Christian Education in 1991, and became a Full Deacon in 1998. During her ministry, Adrienne served Naperville: Grace; Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary; Glen Ellyn: First; Healing Flow Yoga & Retreat Ministries, Naperville. Effective: March 1, 2026
• Barbara Javore (Full Deacon) to Retirement. Barbara was ordained a Probationary Elder in 1999 and became a Full Elder in 2004. During her ministry, Barbara served Glencoe: North Shore (Director of Christian Education). 
• Brian LeBaron (Retired Associate Member) returning to Retirement from Freeport: Harmony (interim).
• Emma Lozano (Licensed Local Pastor) to Retirement. During her ministry, Emma served Chicago: Lincoln; Chicago: Adalberto Memorial. 
• Barbara J. Morgan (Full Elder) to Retirement. Barbara was ordained a Probationary Elder in 2005 (Recognition of Orders from American Baptist) and became a Full Elder in 2008. During her ministry, Barbara served Chicago: St. Mark; Chicago: New Gresham; Evanston: Sherman; Waukegan: First. 
• Grace Oh (Full Elder) to Retirement. Grace was ordained a Probationary Elder in 2014 and became a Full Elder in 2016.  During her ministry, Grace served Ottawa: Evangelical; Chicago: Englewood-Rust; Thornton; Hinsdale. 
• Irene Taylor (Retired Elder) returning to Retirement from Ingleside: Joyful Spirit.
• Richard C. Wisdom (Full Elder) to Retirement. Richard was ordained a Probationary Elder in 2000 and became a Full Elder in 2002. During his ministry, Richard served Kingston: Herbert; Rockford: Christ (Associate and Senior Pastor); DeKalb District Superintendent; Aurora District Superintendent; Plainfield: First. 
• George Woosnam (Retired Elder) returning to Retirement from Lanark UMC.
• Mary Zajac  (Retired Elder) returning to Retirement from Wheaton: Gary (interim).
• Rachel Grover (District Superintendent Supply) to Germany Valley (1/4, Prairie North) while continuing to serve Davis: Calvary (1/4, Prairie North). Effective February 1, 2026.
• Mark Harkness (Full Elder) to Dixon: First (Prairie South) from Cherry Valley (3/4, Prairie North) and New Milford (1/4, Prairie North). Mark follows Zaki Zaki. 

February Appointments

• Eric Blachford (Full Elder) to Plainfield (Prairie Central) from Naperville, Grace, Associate Pastor (Prairie Central). Eric follows Dick Wisdom who is retiring.
• Kurt Alan Gamlin (Full Elder) to Retirement. Kurt was ordained a Probationary Elder in 1979  and became a Full Elder in 1982.  During his ministry, Kurt served Reynolds, Hinsdale (Associate), Antioch, Wheaton: Aldersgate, Woodstock: First, McHenry First.