Clergy Appointments

Bishop Escobedo-Frank intends to appoint The Rev. Blair Trygstad Stowe as Assistant Dean for Co-Curricular Development and Assistant Professor of the Practice of Ministry at ½ time to Claremont School of Theology in the West District and as student at ½ time to Boston University School of Theology as of May 19, 2025.

Bishop Escobedo-Frank intends to appoint Pastor Joyce Latu as pastor to Kona UMC in the Hawaii District as of July 1, 2025.

Bishop Escobedo-Frank intends to appoint The Rev. John Yohan Yoon as pastor to Sierra Madre UMC in the East District as of July 1, 2025. The Rev. Jae Duk Lew has been appointed as pastor to Ridgecrest UMC in the North District as of July 1, 2025.

Bishop Escobedo-Frank intends to appoint The Rev. Melissa MacKinnon as Interim Director of Field Education to Claremont School of Theology at ¼ time, Change Manager to the North District Union at ½ time, and Wildfire Recovery Support Coordinator to Altadena UMC at ¼ time as of July 1, 2025.

Bishop Escobedo-Frank intends to appoint Pastor Lavaka Malakai as pastor at ½ time to Waianae UMC as of July 1, 2025. Pastor Olivia Latu will enter the retired relationship as of July 1, 2025.

Bishop Escobedo-Frank intends to appoint The Rev. Hyun Seob (Ralph) Kwon as pastor to Woodland Hills UMC in the North District as of July 1, 2025. The Rev. Seung-il Whang will enter the retired relationship as of July 1, 2025.

Bishop Escobedo-Frank intends to appoint Ms. Maria Perez Longley as associate pastor at ¾ time to Aldersgate UMC of Tustin. Ms. Longley will be consecrated as Provisional Deacon at this year’s Annual Conference.

Bishop Escobedo-Frank intends to appoint The Rev. Dr. Eugenio Raphael as pastor to St. Paul’s UMC of San Diego in the South District as of July 1, 2025. Rev. Raphael has been serving as interim pastor in retirement as of October 2024.

Bishop Escobedo-Frank has approved the loan of Pastor Glenn Hoskins under 2020/24 BOD P318.4. Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth intends to appoint Pastor Hoskins as pastor to Arlington United Church in the Puget Sound Missional District of the Pacific Northwest Conference as of July 1, 2025.

Bishop Escobedo-Frank intends to appoint The Rev. Jae Duk Lew as pastor to Ridgecrest UMC in the North District as of July 1, 2025. The Rev. Wesley B. Elmore will enter the retired relationship as of July 1, 2025.

Bishop Escobedo-Frank intends to appoint Pastor Hee Kyun (Steve) Noh as pastor to Olive UMC in the Hawaii District as of July 1, 2025. The Rev. Dr. Jinho Han will be on medical leave as of July 1, 2025.

Bishop Escobedo-Frank intends to appoint The Rev. Dr. Soomee Kim at ½ time to La Habra UMC in the East District as of July 1, 2025. The Rev. Karen Tannheimer will return to the retired relationship to the annual conference as of July 1, 2025.

Bishop Escobedo-Frank has appointed The Rev. Diane Davis as Director of Children’s Ministries to Hope UMC of San Diego in the South District as of March 1, 2025.

Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank intends to appoint The Rev. Cate Luehr as pastor to La Mirada UMC at ½ time in the East District as of July 1, 2025. The Rev. Luehr is a member of the ELCA denomination and will continue in her position in the ELCA’s Pacific Synod.

Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank intends to appoint Pastor Mosese Taufalele Jr. as pastor to Wahiawa UMC in the Hawaii District as of July 1, 2025.

Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank intends to assign Ms. Lavinia Taukolo as lay person assigned to Kahalu’u UMC in the Hawaii District as of July 1, 2025. Pastor Mosese Taufalele Jr. has been appointed to Wahiawa UMC in the Hawaii District as of July 1, 2025.

Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank intends to appoint The Rev. Luan-Vu Tran as pastor to Garden Grove UMC at ¾ time and as Assistant District Director for the South District at ¼ time as of April 1, 2025. He currently serves as pastor to Garden Grove UMC at full time.

Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank intends to appoint The Rev. Lea M. Booth as pastor to Harris UMC in the Hawaii District as of July 1, 2025. Rev. Dr. Frances Wiebenga will return to the retired relationship to the annual conference on July 1, 2025.

Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank has appointed The Rev. Nelson Castorillo as pastor to Temple City First UMC at ½ time and interim pastor to Montebello UMC at ½ time in the East District as of March 1, 2025.

Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank intends to appoint Pastor Jennifer Scott as pastor to Trinity UMC of San Diego in the South District as of July 1, 2025. Rev. Lea M. Booth has been appointed to Harris UMC in the Hawaii District as of July 1, 2025.

Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank has appointed Pastor Lesa Renae Smith as interim pastor to Grace UMC of Los Angeles in the West District as of March 1, 2025. Rev. Dr. Lydia Waters was serving in retirement as pastor to Grace UMC until her passing on February 20, 2025.

Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank has appointed The Rev. Kevin Kim Wright as interim associate pastor to Hollywood UMC at ¼ time in the West District and as Chief of Staff to the Point Foundation at ¾ time as of March 16, 2025.

Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank has appointed The Rev. Dr. Krista Givens as pastor to First UMC of North Hollywood in the North District as of January 1, 2025. Prior to this appointment, Rev. Givens was serving at GBGM as Pastor for International Ministry at La Siesta Evangelical Church in Spain.

Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank has assigned Mr. Arthur Richardson as LPA at ½ time to UMC of Twentynine Palms in the East District as of January 1, 2025.