LAKELAND — Bishop Cornelius L. Henderson announced the appointment of five new district superintendents Feb. 23 at a meeting of the Florida Conference Cabinet.

The Rev. David Herman has been appointed to the Sarasota District, the Rev. Geraldine McClellan to the Gainesville District, the Rev. Sharon Patch to the Ft. Myers District, the Rev. Thom Shafer to the Jacksonville District and the Rev. Dean Witten to the Orlando District.

The Revs. Joe Smith, current superintendent in Gainesville, and Larry Cook, superintendent in Ft. Myers, are retiring at the Dare to Share Jesus 2000 Florida Annual Conference Event, according to Keith Ewing, the bishop’s administrative assistant. The Rev. Bob Fox will conclude as interim superintendent in Orlando. The Revs. John Green, superintendent in Sarasota, and Terri Hill, superintendent in Jacksonville, will receive other appointments within the Florida Conference at the annual conference event in May.

Although appointed to a particular district, superintendents serve the entire conference as an extension and representative of the bishop’s office, according to The United Methodist Book of Discipline.

Henderson said the new class of district superintendents brings a high level of commitment to the United Methodist church and its connectional system.

Each one received "extremely high marks from their district superintendents," Henderson said, adding he checks into the service of potential superintendents before approaching them about the appointment.

Sarasota District: David Herman is currently serving as pastor of First United Methodist Church, Melbourne. In his 28 years of service to the United Methodist Church, he has served churches in Lakeland, Tampa, Alachua, Ft. Myers Shores, Jacksonville, Rockledge and Sebring. Herman is a member of the Florida Conference Board of Ordained Ministry and the Melbourne District Committee on Ordained Ministry, Board of Missions and Committee on Building and Location..

Gainesville District: Geraldine McClellan is a pastor, certified clinical counselor and Veterans Administration chaplain. She is currently serving Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church in Gainesville and has served Seller Memorial United Methodist Church in Miami and Cascade United Methodist Church in Atlanta. McClellan has also been a counselor at the Women’s Release Center and Georgia Mental Health Institute in Atlanta and campus minister at Florida International University and University of Miami.

McClellan is the first African-American woman superintendent in the conference, according to Henderson.

Ft. Myers District: Sharon Patch has served the United Methodist Church for 10 years, leading churches in Jacksonville and Oldsmar. She has served on district and conference bodies, including the Board of Ordained Ministry, Annual Conference Event worship and memoirs committees, and as chairperson of the St. Petersburg District Committee on Ordained Ministry.

Jacksonville District: Thom Shafer is pastor of Temple Terrace United Methodist Church in Tampa and chairperson of the Florida Conference Council on Ministries. In his 21 years with the conference, Shafer has served churches in Coral Gables, South Miami and Dallas, TX. Shafer has been a consultant for refugee concerns with the United Methodist Committee on Relief and "Quest for Quality" trainer with the General Board of Discipleship.

Shafer’s appointment helps the cabinet reflect the make-up of the conference, according to Henderson. "I want the cabinet to have the wisdom of our seasoned saints and the energy, intellect and drive of our younger pastors," he said.

Orlando District: Dean Witten is beginning his third term as a district superintendent, after leading the Sarasota and Orlando districts. Witten has also served churches in Lakeland, Alturas, Belleview, Juno Beach and Longwood during his 39 years with the United Methodist Church. He is a member of the board of directors of the Florida United Methodist Foundation and Development Fund and has served as cabinet liaison to the Commission on Equitable Compensation, Conference work area on evangelism and counseling network. Witten is currently serving as senior pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Palm Beach Gardens.