Dr. Robin Dease to be new Hartsville District Superintendent

The Cabinet will welcome its newest member this summer when Dr. Robin Dease becomes the S.C. Conference's new Hartsville District Superintendent.

Bishop Jonathan Holston appointed Dease to the position effective June 26. She replaces the Rev. Lillian Washington in Hartsville, who completes her eighth year of service as district superintendent in June.

I am humbled and most grateful for the opportunity to serve in such an awesome way, Dease said. I pray that through my ministry and service, the church s mission will be the driving factor for all I do.

Dease felt the call to ministry while a student at Claflin University majoring in elementary education. With a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry in stewardship from Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, D.C., Dease joined the S.C. Conference in 1992 and was ordained an elder in 2001. She first served as pastor of Wesley United Methodist Church, Johns Island (1998-2008), followed by John Wesley UMC, Greenville (2008-2012).

In 2012, she became interim chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Claflin University, Orangeburg.

Dease has held a number of district and conference positions: chair of the Committee on District Superintendency-Charleston District, Conference Board on Ordained Ministry, District Board on Ordained Ministry-Greenville District (2008-2012), Conference Connectional Table Task Force (2012-2012), chair of Continuing Education Covenant Groups (2008-2012) and District Study Task Force (2011-present).

She represented South Carolina at the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference and General Conference 2012.