The Education and Clergy Development Division of The Wesleyan Church:

  • Develops Wesleyan clergy to be healthy, fit and effective from the beginning of the call to the completion of the ministry in order to transform lives, churches and communities through the hope and holiness of Jesus Christ.
  • Advances Wesleyan colleges and universities to be healthy, strong and effective in the mission to educate and develop students who transform lives, churches and communities through the hope and holiness of Jesus Christ.
Johanna Rugh

Johanna Rugh

Executive Director, Education & Clergy Development

Thriving Clergy




Ministerial Preparation



Wesleyan Higher Education



Gathering

Featured Articles

Sermon Starters

Jesus was a famously good storyteller. On hillsides and shorelines, Jesus held audiences spellbound with his way of sharing in images and narratives that expressed core human needs.

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He Sapa New Life Ministry

He Sapa New Life has established a large community-based youth outreach program this past year to reach these youth by providing alternative positive activities and mentoring

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Our Team

Johanna Rugh

Johanna Rugh

Executive Director, Education and Clergy Development

Bio

La Reverenda Johanna Chacón Rugh es una ministra ordenada de La Iglesia Wesleyana. Ella sirvió como Superintendente Asistente del Distrito Hispano del Suroeste de La IW. En dicha posición pudo desarrollar una serie de proyectos para el avance de la JDDM y proveer apoyo a las iglesias y pastores dentro del distrito. Ella actualmente trabaja en con la División de Educación y Desarrollo Ministerial como Directora de Educación Ministerial y Cuidado del Clero de La Iglesia Wesleyana.  Desde esta plataforma, tanto ella junto con un equipo de líderes hispanos dan apoyo y dirección a nuestros Estudiantes Ministeriales Hispanos de cada Distrito. Su pasión es servir al Señor en cualquier área posible como una líder que anima a cada miembro a dar lo mejor para el Reino, especialmente el continuar promoviendo el ministerio de la mujer en todas las áreas de la iglesia.

Rev. Johanna Chacon Rugh is an ordained minister of The Wesleyan Church. She served as the Assistant District Superintendent of the Distrito Hispano del Suroeste of TWC.  As ADS she was able to develop several projects for the advancement of the DBMD and to provide support to the churches and pastors within the district. She currently works for the Division of Education and Clergy Care of The Wesleyan Church. From this platform, she along with a team of Hispanic leaders provide direction and support to the Hispanic Ministerial Students from every district. Her passion is to serve the Lord in any way possible as an encouraging leader to each member to give the best of themselves for the Kingdom, especially to continue promoting the ministry of women in all the areas of the church.

Joel Liechty

Joel Liechty

Director of Ministerial Education

 

Bio

​Joel Liechty is a Director of Education and Clergy Development for The Wesleyan Church and has a great passion for the quality ministerial education and formation of local church leaders. He’s serves through advancing leadership, residencies, learning communities and experiential learning.  He currently oversees several educational and formational initiatives for pastors and leaders which are aimed primarily at simplifying credentialing in The Wesleyan Church and advancing competency-based ministry education and formation. Joel lives in Flagstaff, Arizona with his wife Stephanie and three boys Eli, Paxton & Wesley.

Carla Working

Carla Working

Director of Clergy Care

 

Bio

Director, Clergy Development

Rev. Carla Working is an ordained minister in The Wesleyan Church currently serving as the Director of Clergy Care and Development.  She previously served as Assistant DS for the Crossroads District, where she focused on the DBMD and developmental events such as Celebration of Holiness.  Carla has also served with her husband as a local church pastor at Wesleyan churches in New York, Connecticut and Indiana.  She is passionate about the local church and ensuring pastors are supported and equipped to live out the call of ministry in their lives.  Because she did not grow up in a church that supported female pastors, Carla considers herself an advocate for women in ministry.  Adopting the phrase, “elevate and celebrate,” she intentionally seeks out leaders that she can encourage, develop, and highlight for future ministry opportunities.  She and her husband, Zack, have four children and currently reside in northeastern Indiana. 

Becci Wood

Becci Wood

Field Director, The Gathering & Special Events

David Durst

David Durst

Wesleyan Seminary Foundation, Asbury Seminary

Eddy Shigley

Eddy Shigley

Director, Kern Wesleyan Scholars

Ingrid Martinez

Ingrid Martinez

Director Spanish Ministerial Preparation 

Gary Carr

Gary Carr

Chair of Chaplain Ministries & Associate Endorser

Bio

Associate Endorser, Military Chaplains

864-633-8994

Dr. Gary Carr is the Associate Chaplain Endorser for the Wesleyan Church. Carr was a highly decorated military chaplain (COMMANDER, USN) endorsed by The Wesleyan Church. Originally from Lansing Faith Wesleyan Church, he pastored at Diamond Springs W. C. in Michigan, then embarked upon active duty military chaplain service in 1987 and retired from the Navy at the end of 2007.

  • Carr’s service as a navy chaplain are marked by extrodinary achievements such as: Division Chaplain for 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, NC from 2004-2006, managed 22 ministry teams, serving 25,000 personnel plus their families.
  • Senior Naval Officer for the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, coordinating crisis ministry during evacuation of 14,000 US Citizens from Beirut, Lebanon in 2006. President, Fleet Marine Force Qualification Board.
  • Battle Force Chaplain of the 7th Fleet and Command Chaplain of USS KITTY HAWK from 2002-2004, supervising ministry to 8,000 personnel and families during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
  • National Director of Navy Chaplain Corps Recruiting from 1999-2002. The successful strategic changes that were put in place then remain the practices today.
  • Command Chaplain for the Naval Air Technical Training Center, Pensacola, FL from 1996-1999. Established new programs including the Core Values Academy providing spiritual readiness for 18,000 students per year. Also trained US Navy vocal team.
  • Group Chaplain for the Navy Seals and the first chaplain ever assigned to the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (Seals). Trained with Seals in all aspects, except weaponry. Deployed in numerous covert operations globally, including austere environments. Established the Navy Special Warfare Critical Incident Stress Team.

Since then he has served with the International Bible Society and as Vice President at Southern Wesleyan University. His 20 years of service as a navy chaplain are marked by extraordinary achievement. Dr. Carr graduated from the University of Michigan with high distinction in English and comparative linguistics and was the James B. Angell scholar. He holds the M.Div. from Asbury Seminary, a Th.M. in preaching from Duke, and the Doctor in Ministry in leadership (with distinction) from Fuller Seminary. He has had numerous service-related publications and papers, and has also been an Adjunct Professor in World Religions for Central Texas College. Dr. Carr is married (wife, Karen) with three children. He enjoys scuba diving, guitar and piano, cycling, reading. His primary gift is developing leadership in others.

Dr. Gary Carr es el nuevo Capellán de La Iglesia Wesleyana que sea transferido. Carr fue un capellán militar altamente condecorado (Comandar, USN) endorsado por La Iglesia Wesleyana. Originalmente de Lansing Faith Wesleyan Church, pastoreó en Diamond Springs W.C. en Michigan, y luego se enroló en servicio como capellán militar activo hasta 1987 y se retiró de la Armada en los finales del 2007.

  • Su servicio como capellán del armada fuemarcado por logros extraordinarios como División de Capellán por 2da MarineDivision, Camp Lejeune, NC del 2004-2006, logró 22 equipos ministerios sirviendo a 25,000 del personal y sus familias.
  • Oficial naval Superior para la 2da Marine Expeditionary Force, coordinó ministerio crisis durante la evacuación de 14,000 EE.UU. ciudadanos de Beirut, Lebanon en 2006. Presidente, Fleet Marine Force Qualification Board.
  • Capellán fuerza de batalla de la 7th Fleet y Capellán Superior de USS KITTY HAWK del 2002-2004, supervisando el ministerio por 8,000 del personal y familias durante Operation Iraqi Freedom y Operation Enduring Freedom.
  • Director Nacional del Navy Chaplain Corps Recruiting desde 1999-2002. Los exitosos cambios estratégicos que se pusieron en marcha a continuación todavía se practican hoy en día.
  • Capellán Superior por el Naval Air Technical Training Center en Pensacola, FL desde 1996-1999. Estableció nuevos programas incluyendo la Core Values Academy proporcionando la preparación espiritual para 18,000 estudiantes por año. También entrenó el U.N. Navy Vocal Team.
  • Capellán del Grupo para los Navy Seals y el primer capellán asignado de los Navy Seals. Se entrenó con los Seals en todos los aspectos, excepto armamento. Él fue desplegado en numerosas operaciones encubiertas en todo el mundo, incluyendo ambientes austeros. Estableció el Navy Special Warfare Critical Incident Stress Team.

Desde entonces ha sirvido con la International Bible Association y como el Vicepresidente en la Universidad de Southern Wesleyan. Sus 20 años de servicio como un capellán de la Navy ha sido marcado por logros extraordinarios. Dr. Carr se graduó de la Universidad de Michigan con alta distinción en Ingles y la lingüística comparativa y fue el erudito James B. Angell. Tiene su M. Div. de Seminario Asbury, un Th. M. en predicación de Duke, y su Doctorado en Ministerio en liderazgo (con distinción) de Seminario Fuller. El tiene numerosas publicaciones y documentos relacionados con el servicio, y también ha sido un profesor adjunto en Religiones del Mundo en Central Texas College. Dr. Carr está casado (esposa, Karen) y tiene tres hijas. En su tiempo libre, disfruta buceo, toca la guitarra, piano, ciclismo, y la lectura. Su don preferido es desarrollar el liderazgo en otros.

Mark Rennaker

Mark Rennaker

Thrive Financial Initiative

Bio

Thrive Financial Initiative

Dr. Rennaker has pastored for 3 decades and served as project director from 2007 to 2015 for The Wesleyan Church’s pilot project in Lilly Endowment’s initiative to address the economic challenges facing Indiana pastors. He led the denomination’s 2015 national research effort to learn about pastors’ economic challenges from ministers, their spouses, and key lay leaders. He is denominational director of the Thrive Financial Initiative, The Wesleyan Church’s Education and Clergy Development Division program in Lilly Endowment’s national initiative to address economic challenges facing pastoral leaders.

Kim Manning

Kim Manning

Clergy Care

Noreen Weston

Noreen Weston

Ministerial Preparation

Michelle Wood

Michelle Wood

Ministerial Preparation, Wesleyan Loan Grant

Daya Hernandez

Bilingual Administrative Assistant

Cristalys DeJesus

Cristalys DeJesus

Executive Assistant