Captain Carl Meuser, SPRC Chair

First United Methodist Church, San Diego

2111 Camino del Rio South

San Diego, California 92108

Dear Carl and the Congregation of   

First United Methodist Church, San Diego,

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. My thoughts and prayers are with you. It is with great joy that I inform you that after much prayer and consultation, it is Bishop Minerva G. Carca�o's intent to appoint the Rev. Craig Brown to serve as your pastor effective July 1, 2013.

Pastor Craig has served superbly several churches in the Conference since he was ordained. His strong gifts of preaching, his co-visionary skills together with his administrative abilities made a great impact in his former churches and communities. He has successfully led all three churches he has served as a senior pastor under appointment to increased growth across the board. Craig will value deeply the staff and leadership of the church. He will certainly affirm and add to our current ministries and outreach services while helping us realize even greater dreams.

The Staff Parish Relations Committee will work with me, my successor John Farley, and Pastor Craig to create as smooth a transition as possible. As a part of that transition, planned by the FUMC pastors and the SPRC, we will schedule opportunities to meet Craig and his wife Bettina after July 1. Between now and then, we encourage you to celebrate Rev. Jim Standiford, Mary Lou, and their years among you.

On behalf of our Bishop, I thank you for the great insights and prayers you have offered throughout this process and I anticipate even greater things from your congregation as we journey onward.

Warmly yours in the ministry of Christ,

Willard Buzz Stevens

Superintendent of the South District