United Methodist Church Appoints General Counsel
Evanston, Ill. - Two prominent Methodist associate general counsels take leave the following February. Jim Allen of Columbia S.C. accepts one of two vacant positions at the United Methodist Church's finance and administration agency.
Dave Ullrich served the General Council in conjunction with the Council of Bishops Fair Process Task Force, lead the cabinet and Board of Ordained Ministry in the Central Pennsylvania Conference and provided leadership at the National Association of Annual Conference Treasurers.
Ullrich leaves to work as the associate general counsel in Chicago for his current denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
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Michele Thorne has resigned to work part-time with her husband in law practice, and to spend more child with her child.
Their successor, Jim Allen will begin his duty as the associate general counsel in early February.
Allen had previously served the United Methodist Church as chancellor of the South Carolina Annual Conference since 1995, as delegate to the 2000 General Conference and Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference, and member of the Fair Process Task Force.
He lead the legal forums held for conference chancellors by the general council's Legal Department, conducted training for laity, clergy conference and local church officers and seminarians on various topics. He also served as assistant counsel in church trials for five annual conferences.
"We are pleased to have Jim as a colleague on the Legal Department staff," stated Irene Howard, general counsel. "His strong legal background and experience in the United Methodist Church are extraordinary assets, especially as we seek to increase our direct support to annual conference chancellors. I look forward to his contributions to our work on behalf of the denomination."
By Pauline C.
