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UMECOSS Faculty

UMECOSS Faculty

  The Rev. Valerie Reinhiller is an ordained, full-member Deacon of the Dakotas Annual Conference, currently serving as the director of Kidz Count, a children’s ministry at Wesley UMC in Sioux Falls, SD.  Valerie earned her MA in Christian Education at North American Baptist Seminary in Sioux Falls, and has served the church and the annual conference in varying capacities in Christian Education and program management since 1989.  She has written curriculum for the church, served for two years in the Union Church of Bogota, Colombia, and has experience in case management following natural disasters.
  The Rev. Dr. David Swinton is senior pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Des Moines, Iowa.  He received his M.Div. from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL, and his DMin. from McCormick Theological Seminary, part of the Chicago Association of Theological Schools.  His D.Min thesis was titled “Where Two Stories Collide:  Applying Lessons from Stand-Up Comedy in Preaching;” it was chosen by the faculty as an Outstanding Thesis.  The title also gives a clue to Dave’s love of life and learning, as a practicing preacher.
 

Dr. Jessica L.T deVega is Assistant Professor of Religion at Morningside College in Sioux City, IA.  She received her M.Div. from United Theological Seminary, and her PhD. from The Florida State University, Tampa.  She teaches in the area of Biblical studies, with a specialization in Hebrew Bible. 
Dr. deVega is a contributor to the New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, writing articles on topics pertaining to the Hebrew Bible and New Testament.

The Rev. Bill Cotton is an elder and member of the Iowa Annual Conference.  He graduated with the M.Div. degree from Perkins School of Theology in Dallas, TX, and holds an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Simpson College.  In Iowa, Bill has served as pastor, district superintendent, and executive of the Cedar Rapids Human Rights Commission.  Throughout his ministry, he has acted on his commitment to educating laity and clergy for the enhancement of their ministries.  He has taught in the Course of Study School system since 2001, and has been an instructor in the Iowa School for Lay Ministry.

The Rev. Lillian Gallo-Seagren is an elder and member of the Iowa Annual Conference.  Her undergraduate degree in social work was earned at the Philippine Christian University in Manila. She graduated with the M.Div. degree from Garret Evangelical Theological School in Evanston, IL, and earned the PhD. degree in pastoral care from Christian Bible College in Independence, MO.  In the Philippines, Lillian has taught courses in pastoral care at the Union Theological Seminary in Cavite, and at the South East Asia School of Theology in Manila.  Since coming to Iowa in 1994, she has served as pastor in Fontanelle, Hamburg, and Guthrie Center.  She has been active on the Conference Commission on Religion and Race, and on the Board of Ordained Ministry.
 
Dr. Bruce D. Forbes is Professor of Religious Studies, occupying the Arthur L. Bunch Chair of Religious Studies, and chairperson of the department of Religious Studies at MorningsideCollege, Sioux City, IA.  An ordained elder and member of the Dakotas Annual Conference, Dr. Forbes is a graduate of MorningsideCollege, received the M.Th. degree from Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, and was granted his Ph.D. by Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey.  He is the author of numerous books, papers and article, and is a popular teacher for the church throughout the upper Midwest, including in the IowaSchool for Lay Ministry.
 


The Rev. Dr. Bill Daylong is an elder of the Iowa Annual Conference, currently serving as pastor in Jefferson, IA.  Bill did undergraduate work at KansasStateUniversity and the University of Nebraska; received theological training at Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, MO, and at Chicago Theological Seminary, and was granted the D. Min. from Garret-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL.  He has been active in the annual conference on the Council on Finance and Administration, Board of Ordained Ministry, and Missional Transformation Program.  Bill also has served as an adjunct instructor in the department of Religion and Philosophy for the Des Moines Area Community College.