Pastoral Transition
Introducing our New Senior Pastor: Pastor Lisa Degrenia
We are so excited to welcome our new, Senior Pastor, Lisa Degrenia!
Pastor Lisa and Ed will be with us in worship on Sunday, July 6, where we will have the opportunity to hear her preach. Then the following Sunday, July 13th, we will host a welcome reception for her after the 9am service and after the 10:30am service in the Dining Room.
Here are two ways we could use your help!
- We need some helpers to unload the moving truck and unpack some items at the parsonage on Saturday, June 21st, from 9am to 12pm. It's limited to eight people because we don't want to overwhelm Pastor Lisa with too many people at once. Water, Gatorade, and pizza for lunch will be provided. Use the button below to sign up!
- We have a meal train for Pastor Lisa and Ed, plus a couple of shared meals with the staff during her first week in the office. If you can provide a meal, use the button below to sign up.
Use the buttons below to help give Pastor Lisa and her family a warm Suntree welcome!
Click here to sign up to make a meal!
Click here to help with the move!
Important Dates:
- Pastor Lisa's First Sunday | July 6th
- Pastor Lisa's Welcome Reception | July 13th | After the 9am service and after the 10:30am service
Hey Suntree family, we are overjoyed to share some exciting news with you!
Beginning in July, we will welcome Rev. Lisa Degrenia as our new Senior Pastor at Suntree United Methodist Church. Rev. Lisa brings with her a deep love for God, a heart for ministry, and a passion for building a Christ-centered community.A Florida native, Rev. Lisa has faithfully served in the Florida Conference since 2000. She got her start in ministry as the music Director at Temple Terrace UMC, and soon began to feel a call to pastoral ministry. Lisa earned her Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School and was ordained as an Elder in 2000. She also currently serves as a national team leader with The Caring Congregation, equipping churches to offer intentional and compassionate care.
Rev. Lisa is also a gifted preacher, teacher, and writer. Her leadership style is grounded in compassion and collaboration, and she describes herself as a “midwife” in ministry — helping to birth new life in people, congregations, and communities. She believes wholeheartedly in the power of grace and belonging, and she’s excited to grow with us in faith and mission. She and her husband, Ed — a retired U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sergeant and current Risk Manager for the City of Port Orange — have two daughters, two sons-in-law, a grandchild, and another grandbaby on the way!
Pastor Lisa will join us starting July 1st, and her first Sunday in worship at Suntree will be July 6th. Please join us in praying for Pastor Lisa, her family, and both congregations involved in this transition. We are excited to receive Pastor Lisa and her family as we enter this next season of ministry!
United Methodist Church Transition Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
How are Pastors in the United Methodist Church Appointed? In the United Methodist Church, pastors are appointed by the Bishop and the cabinet (the District Superintendents) in consultation with the Staff Parish Relationship Committee (SPRC) of the local church. The SPRC outlines the ministry of the church, and the qualities needed in the new pastoral leader to lead the church forward in fulfilling that ministry. The Bishop and Cabinet know and assess the clergy available for a new appointment. Then the Bishop and Cabinet deliberate, pray, select, and then send the best clergy leader available to lead the church forward. This is different from the “call” system where local churches interview and select their own pastor after a lengthy search process.
Who is our District Superintendent? Rev. Dr. Sharon Austin currently serves as the East Central District Superintendent, and she is responsible for working with Suntree UMC SPRC and representing Suntree in the appointment making process. She has already begun this conversation with SPRC, and that consultation will continue over the coming months.
When does the Cabinet meet? There are several Cabinet appointment making sessions scheduled for this year: February 10 - 12, March 3 - 6, and March 27.
When will we know who our new Senior Pastor is? Once all the appointments have been confirmed, first with pastors and then with SPRC’s, the public announcement of Suntree UMC’s new senior pastor will be made on Sunday, April 27. Until “Announcement Sunday”, the appointment conversations and consultation process remains confidential and SPRC will not be able to share any information.
Will this change affect the Associate Pastor or other staff positions? No. Pastor Bailey will remain the Associate Pastor, and all other staff positions will remain the same.
When will our new Senior Pastor start? The new pastor will begin their service at Suntree as of July 1, 2025. Appointments are made each calendar year which means that at any time, a pastor can be reassigned to a new church. However, the Bishop and Cabinet recognize the importance of longer tenures for senior pastoral leaders and therefore support longer appointments whenever possible.
Transitions Resources
Below are some resources to help us navigate this transition together well.
7 Steps to an Ideal Transition Brochure