Carolyn Moore Elected WCA Chairwoman

December 4, 2020

Rev. Carolyn Moore, WCA Chairwoman

The Wesleyan Covenant Association’s Global Council elected the Rev. Dr. Carolyn Moore as its chairwoman on Tuesday, December 2, 2020. Moore is a well-known author, sought after speaker, and lead pastor at Mosaic Church in Evans, Georgia. She is a founding council member of the WCA and has served as its vice-chairwoman since October 2016. Moore will succeed the Rev. Dr. Jeff Greenway who served as the council’s chairman since its inception. He will now assume the role of vice-chairman.

“I am humbled by the opportunity to serve in this capacity and look forward to leading the WCA Council through the events of 2021 and beyond,” said Moore. “The key phrase here is ‘looking forward.’ That’s our posture. We are ready for what Christ is ready to do.”

Rev. Chuck Savage II, Treasurer
Ms. Elizabeth Fink, Secretary

In addition to the elections of Moore and Greenway to their new roles, the council also elected Ms. Elizabeth Fink (Bentonville, Arkansas) as its secretary and the Rev. Chuck Savage II (Roswell, Georgia) as its treasurer. Fink currently serves as Junior High Youth Minister at First United Methodist Church in Springdale, Arkansas. She was a member of the Arkansas Annual Conference’s General Conference delegation in 2016 and 2019 and will represent the conference again in 2021. Savage is an elder in the North Georgia Annual Conference where he has served as pastor of several different churches, including cross-racial appointments. In addition, Savage served as the Executive Director of the North Georgia Annual Conference Foundation and represented the conference as a General Conference delegate in 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2019. Fink is replacing the Rev. Dr. Madeline Carassco Henners (Dayton, Ohio) and Savage is succeeding Mr. Ferrell Coppedge (Marietta, Georgia).

“There are no finer, more faithful servants of Christ than Jeff Greenway, Madeline Henners and Ferrell Coppedge,” said Moore. “In the early years of the WCA’s formation, these solid leaders gave countless hours to prayer, conversation, and strategic planning. They genuinely love Jesus and his Church and over and over on this journey, they have proven that deep love. Jeff has given such steady, wise guidance to our deliberations and was very much the architect of our launch and structure. I could not have asked for a better teacher or coach as I step into my new role.”

In addition to the election of its new executive team the WCA also announced that its Global Legislative Assembly elected the following individuals to serve on the 36 member council: Jennifer Cowart (Warner Robins, Georgia), Kimba Evariste (Democratic Republic of Congo), Elizabeth Santos Fisher (Pottsville, Pennsylvania), Greenway (Reynoldsburg, Ohio), Duk Hee Han (Albion, Pennsylvania), Cara Nicklas (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), Rob Renfroe (The Woodlands, Texas), and David Watson (Dayton, Ohio). The following individuals were also elected to ensure the council continues to reflect the diversity of the WCA’s global members, friends, and partner local churches: John Agee (The Woodlands, Texas), Debra Baty (Huntsville, Alabama), and Fitzgerald Lovett (Hattiesburg, MS). The complete list of WCA Council members can be found HERE.

“It has been a great privilege to serve as the chairman of the WCA Council,” said Greenway. “The gifted council of leaders we have assembled and the substantial and significant work we have accomplished together in just four years is truly remarkable. And now I am honored to pass the baton to Carolyn, a spirit-filled, passionate follower of Jesus Christ; she will lead the council with wisdom and grace as we step into a future full of challenges and great possibilities. And of course Elizabeth, Chuck, and I will do all we again to assist her as our new leader.”

Since its inception in October 2016 the WCA, like many other United Methodists, believed a future separation of the denomination was a distinct possibility. While its members hoped and prayed the special 2019 General Conference would resolve the denomination’s decades long conflict, it was not surprised that a significant minority in the church determined to defy the will of the global church after the passage of the Traditional Plan. Since late 2018 the WCA began envisioning what a new global Methodist church might look like should the UM Church reach such an impasse.

In addition to preparing a draft “Book of Doctrines and Discipline” and releasing it in November 2019, WCA leaders also reached across the theological and ethical divide to negotiate a plan for an amicable separation of the denomination. Those negotiations resulted in the Protocol for Reconciliation and Grace through Separation. The WCA, along with leading bishops and centrist, progressive, and traditionalist advocacy groups, continues to support the terms of the Protocol agreement. It is also working with theologically conservative allies around the world to create a new, global Methodist church.

“In this time of turmoil and disruption, the WCA is blessed to have so many faithful and talented leaders from around the world,” said the Rev. Keith Boyette, President of the WCA. “I am confident our new executive team will lead our growing association forward as we press forward full of faith in what God has in store for us. The entire council is very thankful for all our members, friends, and partner churches who pray for us, support us, and make our work possible. I know they will join me in praying for Carolyn, Jeff, Elizabeth, and Chuck as they assume their new roles.”

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