Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball is pleased to announce it is her intention to appoint Rev. Neil A. Leftwich as a Conference Superintendent assigned to the Northern District area effective July 1st.
Bishop Steiner Ball writes that “I find Rev. Leftwich to be first and foremost a Spiritual Leader who knows the importance of being connected to God and building relationships with all God’s people. Rev. Leftwich has exemplified the Great Commission and the Great Commandment in the mission and ministry of Christ. Moving out beyond the walls of the congregations, he has served to empower the Church as a whole to go make disciples of Jesus Christ.”
Rev. Leftwich is a graduate of Penn State and Methodist Theological School in Ohio. He brings a rich experience of ministry and community engagement in divergent settings: western Pennsylvania, southwestern US, and the greater Morgantown area.
Rev. Dr. Joe Kenaston, Dean of the Cabinet, is excited to welcome Rev. Leftwich to the Cabinet. Rev. Kenaston said, “Neil is a thoughtful, compassionate, and dedicated person of faith and prayer. He will bring a passion to reach and make disciples and share the mercy of Christ in ways that uplift and transform people and communities. You can tell he gets along well with all people because he is a Penn State grad who has thrived in Morgantown. Neil has Cabinet experience and his immersion in the WV and Appalachian culture will make him an invaluable member of the Cabinet.”
By way of introduction, Rev. Leftwich shares the following message:
Friends,
“I thank my God every time I remember you…”- Philippians 1:3
It is a blessing to be welcomed onto the Appointive and Extended Cabinets, into the Northern District area, and to be a member of the West Virginia Conference. I have been serving in ministry full time for 30 years. Thankfully, I’m married to Judy McFarland, a native of Wheeling, WV, and we are blessed with two sons and one grandson.
It was a privilege to serve three churches in the Western Pennsylvania Conference, followed by a call to the Desert Southwest Conference for 14 years, where I served three churches and as a District Superintendent. After experiencing several changes in our family, it became obvious that God was calling me to the Mountain State where I could not only serve God, the church, and community but help care for my family.
It has been an honor and privilege to serve Spruce Street United Methodist Church and now very humbling to be invited to serve on the cabinet by Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball.
How wonderful it is to experience the continued warmth, welcome, and generosity of my West Virginia sisters and brothers in Christ! Judy and I look forward to being on the journey of faith and ministry with all of you.
God’s grace and peace to you,
Neil