McCord Named to Campus Ministry Staff

General Secretary Jerome King Del Pino is pleased to announce the appointment of the Rev. Michael McCord as director of Campus Ministry Resources and Training in the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry’s Division of Higher Education.

McCord joins GBHEM on May 1, upon the recommendation of the search team and approval of the appointment by Bishop James R. King.

Rev. Michael McCord

“With this appointment, we continue to strengthen the Board’s commitment to campus ministry and chaplaincy as integral to The United Methodist Church’s mission in higher education,” Del Pino said. “Michael brings unique gifts and experiences through his work as a founding campus minister at the Wesley Foundation at Mercer University, Macon State College, and Wesleyan College.”

McCord was appointed in 2002 to start a Wesley Foundation at Mercer University with a $10,000 grant. A small board was formed and three students were recruited. That Wesley Foundation now serves more than 260 students on three campuses in Macon, Ga.– Mercer, Macon State, and Wesleyan.

Through his work at the Wesley Foundation, McCord has gained an in-depth knowledge of the work involved in building, developing, and maintaining a fruitful campus ministry. He has used these experiences to mentor and train other campus ministers around the nation.

McCord has served as a consultant for two campus ministry events, the Retreat at Student Forum and the biennial United Methodist Campus Ministers Association gathering. An ordained elder in the South Georgia Annual Conference, he received a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mercer University.

In his role as director of Campus Ministry Resources and Training, McCord will oversee the development of a comprehensive program for resource development and training of campus ministers and chaplains and continuing formation of campus ministry professionals. That includes development of materials for both print and electronic publication, training for new campus ministers and chaplains, and resources and training for annual conference Boards of Higher Education and Campus Ministry.

He will also work with international student movements to promote their effectiveness and develop resources that are relevant in multicultural settings across our global church. In addition, he will handle assignments associated with implementation of GBHEM’s Strategic Plan.