Bishop Names Director of Diversity and Cultural Engagement

(Clockwise from left) Dr. Major L. Boglin, Glennis Eckels, Audrey Thompson, Scot Yarbrough and Vicki McCarthy.

Dr. Boglin brings experience to Horizon Texas Conference; Eckels, McCarthy, Thompson and Yarbrough added to staff

Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. has named Dr. Major L. Boglin to serve as director of diversity and cultural engagement in the Horizon Texas Conference, effective August 1, 2024. Boglin joins the conference with more than three decades of experience in organizational development, team building and diversity, equity and inclusion culture change.

Since 2001, Boglin, a licensed marriage and family therapist, has served as executive director of Genesis Center for Christian Counseling in Dunwoody, Ga. In this role, he guides organizational strategy and supervises a team of diverse therapists, delivering affordable mental health services and supporting individuals, couples, families and committees on their journey toward healing and growth.

Boglin has also worked as an external consultant in diversity, equity and inclusion since 2010 and serves as an adjunct professor of marriage and family therapy at Abilene Christian University. He holds multiple degrees and certifications, including a doctorate in family therapy from Texas Woman’s University, master’s degrees in religious education and marriage and family therapy from Abilene Christian University, a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies from Texas Christian University and a Certified Diversity Professional (CDP®) certification from the Institute for Diversity Certification.

“In a conference like the new Horizon Texas Conference, which encompasses a wide range of rapidly diversifying communities within its geographic bounds, it is a missional imperative that we bring on the best experts and leaders to guide our work in pursuing and embracing diversity,” Saenz said. "Dr. Boglin has a profound biblical understanding of diversity; he embodies the gifts of teaching, and he has the expertise we need for this important work. His experience as an external consultant and a Certified Diversity Professional will enable our conference to intentionally create and enhance welcoming environments where people from different racial, ethnic, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds can worship, serve and grow together in Christ. This will expand our capacity to better fulfill our mission of multiplying disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world."

“I am eager to assist the new Horizon Texas Conference in developing the intercultural capacity to bridge our significant differences and commonalities,” said Boglin. “By creating complete unity in our diversity, we present a more authentic witness to the world. Jesus prayed for this type of inclusive unity to exist in the church, where all are valued, respected and engaged in the ministry. This means helping the conference foster a climate of inclusion woven into all policies, practices, and procedures. I look forward to working with colleagues across the conference to realize this goal.”

The following individuals have also been hired for positions in the Horizon Texas Conference, to begin on August 1:

• Glennis Eckels, currently serving as administrative assistant/hospitality for the CTC, will join HTC as an administrative assistant specializing in statistics.
• Vicki McCarthy, who currently serves as NTC controller, will serve as HTC controller in the finance department.
• Audrey Thompson, who currently serves as Ministry Center coordinator for the NTC, will be the HTC’s general administrative assistant.
• Scot Yarbrough, currently staff accountant in the CTC, will join HTC as a senior accountant in the finance department.

More information about the unification process can be found here.

Published: Thursday, July 25, 2024