Bishop Laurie Haller is pleased to announce the appointment of the Rev. Kiboko I. Kiboko to the Storm Lake United Methodist Church effective September 1, 2020. Rev. Kiboko has served as the East Central District Superintendent since July 1, 2015 demonstrating a missional mindset and an international understanding of ministry. He is an excellent preacher and has a strong heart for Jesus Christ and for all people. Among other missional considerations, Rev. Kiboko’s effectiveness in cross-cultural ministry is especially important in the very culturally diverse Storm Lake community.
Bishop Laurie had previously selected Rev. Kiboko to serve with Rev. Paul Wilcox as one of two Superintendents to help direct the transition to five districts and the formation of circuits in the Iowa Conference. As the missional expectations of Storm Lake were profiled, Rev. Kiboko stood to the fore as clearly demonstrating the needed leadership gifts for Storm Lake.
Rev. Paul Wilcox, currently the Northeast District Superintendent, will work with our Ministry Directors: Rev. Dr. Lanette Plambeck, Director of Clergy and Leadership Excellence, Rev. Dr. Jaye Johnson, Director of Congregational Excellence and Rev. Bill Poland, Director of New Communities of Faith on the formation of Circuits in the Iowa Conference. The timeline for the formation of the next round of eight to nine pilot circuits has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The team had planned on meeting with clergy of potential circuits beginning in March and April. Those meetings will now likely happen late summer. For more information on Circuits:
Becoming a Movement Again through Circuit Ministry.
A Circuit is intended to consist of the clergy of one or more charges with a focus on leadership development and accountability to the missional expectations of each charge. The circuits will be led by a clergy leader in partnership with a circuit lay leader. The expectation is that the circuit leaders will meet for at least eight hours monthly for leadership development, learning, and growing in their love of God and one another. This leadership development process is often abbreviated as L3 (Loving, Learning, and Leading).
Superintendents have identified potential circuits in the Conference. The Cabinet has selected eight of those to be pilots in addition to the first pilot in Delaware County. The team will meet with the clergy of the proposed circuit to share the vision of circuit ministry and discern who among the area clergy should be invited into the formation of the circuit. It is anticipated this will be completed by the end of September with a training event for the clergy and lay leaders to happen in the early fall. The Circuit Leaders will meet with Superintendents and Directors monthly for ongoing leadership development and consultation. With the learnings and leadership from these circuits all charges will be invited into circuits in 2021 and 2022.
