Bishop McKee Announces Changes To NTC Appointive Cabinet

Three districts to get a new superintendent when changes take effect July 1

PLANO – Bishop Michael McKee has announced changes in appointment that – effective July 1 – will affect three Cabinet positions:

• Rev. Debra Hobbs Mason, who has served as superintendent of the Metro District since July 2018, will become superintendent of the North Central District.
• Rev. Edlen Cowley, senior pastor at Fellowship UMC in Trophy Club since 2014, will succeed Rev. Hobbs Mason as Metro District superintendent.
• Rev. Cassie Wade, who has served as senior pastor at First UMC Decatur since 2019, will become superintendent of the East District.

Openings in the North Central and East districts are the result of Rev. Dr. Ronald D. Henderson and Rev. Dr. Vic Casad, respectively, completing eight years of service in their districts.

“Dr. Ron Henderson and Dr. Vic Casad have been valued colleagues over the last eight years,” Bishop McKee said. “Their wisdom and deep knowledge of the North Texas Conference has been beneficial to my work and the work of the Extended and Appointive cabinets. Each brought distinct understandings of the Christian faith and United Methodism. I have enjoyed working with them and am grateful to God for their witness and service.”

A third-generation Dallas native, Rev. Hobbs Mason earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Texas Tech before completing her Master of Divinity at Perkins School of Theology. She worked in advertising and later her father’s insurance and investment firm before being called to ordained ministry.

In 1995, she was ordained deacon and appointed as Associate Pastor to New World UMC in Garland. In 1997, she was ordained elder and appointed to First UMC Richardson. She served for 2 ½ years as Associate Pastor for Adult Ministries and was named Executive Associate Pastor in 1999, a title not previously held by a woman in the North Texas Annual Conference.

A graduate of The University of Texas at Dallas with a degree in Government and Politics, Rev. Cowley graduated from Perkins School of Theology with a Master of Divinity in 1999. He was ordained deacon in 2000 and ordained elder in 2003. In addition to his time at Fellowship UMC Trophy Club, Rev. Cowley has served in a variety of settings in the North Texas Conference: Assistant/Associate Pastor at St. Luke “Community” UMC (1994-2002) and Associate/Campus Pastor at St. Andrew UMC (2006-2014) in addition to starting two new churches: East Grand/Owenwood Foundry Church (2003-06) and St. Andrew Frisco/Connection UMC in Frisco (2010-2014).

Rev. Cowley currently serves as the chair of the Journey Toward Racial Justice coordinating team and is past president of the African-American Clergy Fellowship. He is a former member of the executive committee of the NTC Black Methodists for Church Renewal and also served on the NTC Black Church Initiative leadership team.

Rev. Wade earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from The University of Texas at Dallas in 1994 and a Master of Divinity degree in 2013 from Perkins School of Theology. Ordained Elder in 2015, she served as Associate Pastor at First UMC Sherman (2013-14) and Senior Pastor at First UMC Jacksboro (2015-19) prior to her appointment to First UMC Decatur.

Currently chair of the Northwest District Committee on Ministry, Rev. Wade also has served on the North Texas Conference Board of Ordained Ministry since 2016, including two years (2018-20) as director of Local Pastoral Education.

“Rev. Wade and Rev. Cowley bring unique skills and specialties to the work of the East and Metro districts and valuable experience that will be helpful not only to the Cabinet but also to the North Texas Conference,” Bishop McKee said. “I am glad they will be joining the rest of the team and continue to serve our churches, clergy and laity. Please pray for them as they will be transitioning into their new roles.”

Published: Sunday, March 7, 2021