On Monday, May 23, the General Conference elected Rev. Johanna Rugh. She was recommended by General Superintendent Wayne Schmidt and nominated by the General Board for a four-year term of general officer service in the Education and Clergy Development Division of The Wesleyan Church (TWC).
Rugh, an ordained minister, serves as TWC’s director of Spanish Ministry Education and Formation, and provides leadership for the Thrive Financial Initiative. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Christian ministries (2011), a Master of Divinity degree (2015) from Wesley Seminary and is earning a Doctor of Ministry degree from Asbury Seminary.
From an early age, Rugh discerned the Lord calling her to serve him in multiple ways which have been expressed through local pastoral ministry, Christian secondary education, district and denominational leadership roles, and as a board member for Wesley Seminary and Wesleyan Holiness Women Clergy. Two of the ways Rugh models Kingdom Force Unleashed leadership is in serving Spanish and English peoples and promoting the ministry of Hispanics and women in all areas of the church. A joy-filled leader employing her spiritual gifts, graces and life experiences to serve God in and through TWC, Rugh’s passion is to serve the Lord in any way possible as an encouraging leader to all.
Rugh’s election is an historical election moment, marking the first time an immigrant has been elected to general officer service. Through tears of joy, Rugh states that this election “speaks volumes … that there is room at the table” for our Wesleyan Hispanic sisters and brothers too.
Rev. Angela Alvarado is the assistant editor of Communication and Administration of The Wesleyan Church and a graduate of Wesley Seminary, Marion, Indiana.
