Bishop Laurie Haller has announced that Rev. Melissa Drake will become one of the Superintendents effective July 1, 2020. She will serve the southwest region, which comprises the current Southwest District and some adjacent areas of the current Northwest District. Rev. Drake will follow Rev. Terra Amundson, who concludes her tenure on the Appointive Cabinet this year, having served most recently as the Dean of that group. She becomes lead pastor of the Mount Vernon United Methodist Church in July.
“Rev. Melissa Drake is an excellent pastor who served for a number of years as one of our Conference Field Outreach ministers and is currently an Associate Director of Congregational Excellence,” said Bishop Laurie in announcing the appointment.
Rev. Drake was ordained as an Elder and became a full member of the Iowa Conference in 2013. She served the Hancock-Silver Creek charge from 2008 until her appointment to be a Field Outreach Minister for the Southwest District in 2013. In 2018 she was named as an Interim Associate for Congregational Excellence and in 2019 became one of two Associate Directors for Congregational Excellence for the Conference. (
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She is a native of Southwest Iowa. “I am deeply aware of the economic, environmental, societal and educational challenges that have affected our communities and our churches,” Rev. Drake noted. “I am delighted to partner with the many churches already doing transformational ministry in our communities to build life-changing relationships with our neighbors,” she added. She coaches clergy and laity across the conference toward greater congregational vitality and effectiveness.
“I look forward to dreaming God’s new dreams for the people and the communities of the Southwest region,” Rev. Drake said of her new appointment.
“Melissa will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the cabinet and the Southwest region,” Bishop Laurie concluded.
