Officers of the United Church of Christ

Learn more about the denominational leadership of the United Church of Christ, and see how the structure has evolved over the denomination’s history.

Our Current Officers

Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson

General Minister and President

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Rev. Shari K. Prestemon

Associate General Minister

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VACANT

Associate General Minister

2025

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General Minister and President:
Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson
Associate General Minister:
Rev. Shari K. Prestemon
Associate General Minister:
Vacant

2024

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General Minister and President:
Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson
Acting Associate General Minister:
Rev. Shari K. Prestemon
Associate General Minister:
Vacant

2023 – 2020

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General Minister and President:
Rev. John C. Dorhauer
Associate General Minister:
Rev. Traci D. Blackmon
Associate General Minister:
Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson

2019 – 2018

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General Minister and President:
Rev. John C. Dorhauer
Associate General Minister:
Rev. Traci D. Blackmon
Associate General Minister:
Rev. James Moos

2017 – 2016

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General Minister and President, Office of General Ministries:
Rev. John C. Dorhauer
Executive Minister, Justice and Witness Ministries:
Rev. Traci D. Blackmon
Executive Minister, Wider Church Ministries:
Rev. James Moos
Executive Minister, Local Church Ministries:
Rev. John C. Dorhauer

2015 – 2014

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General Minister and President, Office of General Ministries:
Rev. Geoffrey A. Black
Executive Minister, Justice and Witness Ministries:
Ms. M. Linda Jaramillo
Executive Minister, Wider Church Ministries:
Rev. James Moos
Executive Minister, Local Church Ministries:
Rev. J. Bennett Guess

(L to R): Revs. Carmen Lansdowne, Karen Georgia Thompson, John Dorhauer and Traci Blackmon, pray during the communion liturgy. Curly Stumb photo.
UCC General Minister and President Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson smiles and claps as she sits with her family during her installation Oct. 20 at Lakewood Congregational Church. Photo by Angelica Martinez.
Rev. Shari K. Prestemon is elected to the position of Associate General Minister during General Synod 35 in Kansas City, MO.
(L to R): Rev. Geoffrey A. Black, Rev. Cally Rogers-Witte, Ms. M. Linda Jaramillo, Ms. Edith A. Guffey, and Rev. Stephen L. Sterner
Photo from Office of Communication Photograph Files UC News (W. Evan Golder), UCC 2011.380.008, folder #31 – “John Thomas; Paul Sherry, 1999.

2013 – 2012

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General Minister and President, Office of General Ministries:
Rev. Geoffrey A. Black
Associate General Minister, Office of General Ministries:
Mr. W. Mark Clark
Executive Minister, Justice and Witness Ministries:
Ms. M. Linda Jaramillo
Executive Minister, Wider Church Ministries:
Rev. James Moos
Executive Minister, Local Church Ministries:
Rev. J. Bennett Guess

2011 – 2010

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General Minister and President, Office of General Ministries:
Rev. Geoffrey A. Black
Associate General Minister, Office of General Ministries:
Ms. Edith A. Guffey
Executive Minister, Justice and Witness Ministries:
Ms. M. Linda Jaramillo
Executive Minister, Wider Church Ministries:
Rev. Cally Rogers-Witte
Executive Minister, Local Church Ministries:
Rev. Stephen L. Sterner

2009 – 2008

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General Minister and President, Office of General Ministries:
Rev. John H. Thomas
Associate General Minister, Office of General Ministries:
Ms. Edith A. Guffey
Executive Minister, Justice and Witness Ministries:
Ms. M. Linda Jaramillo
Executive Minister, Wider Church Ministries:
Rev. Cally Rogers-Witte
Acting Executive Minister, Local Church Ministries:
Rev. Stephen L. Sterner 

2007 – 2006

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General Minister and President, Office of General Ministries:
Rev. John H. Thomas
Associate General Minister, Office of General Ministries:
Ms. Edith A. Guffey
Executive Minister, Justice and Witness Ministries:
Ms. M. Linda Jaramillo
Executive Minister, Wider Church Ministries:
Rev. Cally Rogers-Witte
Executive Minister, Local Church Ministries:
Rev. Jose A. Malayang

2005

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General Minister and President, Office of General Ministries:
Rev. John H. Thomas
Associate General Minister, Office of General Ministries:
Ms. Edith A. Guffey
Executive Minister, Justice and Witness Ministries:
Ms. Bernice Powell Jackson
Executive Minister, Wider Church Ministries:
Rev. Bennie Whiten
Executive Minister, Local Church Ministries:
Rev. Jose A. Malayang

2004 – 2003

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General Minister and President, Office of General Ministries:
Rev. John H. Thomas
Associate General Minister, Office of General Ministries:
Ms. Edith A. Guffey
Executive Minister, Justice and Witness Ministries:
Ms. Bernice Powell Jackson
Executive Minister, Wider Church Ministries:
Ms. Olivia Masih White
Executive Minister, Local Church Ministries:
Rev. Jose A. Malayang

2002 – 2000

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General Minister and President, Office of General Ministries:
Rev. John H. Thomas
Associate General Minister, Office of General Ministries:
Ms. Edith A. Guffey
Executive Minister, Justice and Witness Ministries:
Ms. Bernice Powell Jackson
Executive Minister, Wider Church Ministries:
Mr. Dale L. Bishop
Executive Minister, Local Church Ministries:
Rev. Jose A. Malayang

1999 – 1992

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President:
Rev. Paul H. Sherry
Secretary:
Ms. Edith A. Guffey
Director of Finance & Treasurer:
Rev. Doris R. Powell

1991 – 1990

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President:
Rev. Paul H. Sherry
Secretary:
Rev. Carol Joyce Brun
Director of Finance & Treasurer:
Rev. Doris R. Powell

1989 – 1984

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President:
Rev. Avery D. Post
Secretary:
Rev. Carol Joyce Brun
Director of Finance & Treasurer:
Mr. Charles H. Lockyear

1983 – 1979

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President:
Rev. Avery D. Post
Secretary:
Rev. Joseph H. Evans
Director of Finance & Treasurer:
Mr. Charles H. Lockyear

1978

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President:
Rev. Avery D. Post
Secretary:
Rev. Joseph H. Evans
Director of Finance & Treasurer:
Mr. Charles H. Lockyear
Executive Associate:
Rev. Norman W. Jackson

1977

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President:
Rev. Robert V. Moss
Secretary:
Rev. Joseph H. Evans
Director of Finance & Treasurer:
Mr. Charles H. Lockyear

1976 – 1970

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President:
Rev. Robert V. Moss
Secretary:
Rev. Joseph H. Evans
Treasurer:
Mr. Charles H. Lockyear

Rev. Avery Post at General Synod 15
Rev. Robert V. Moss reading a copy of “Keeping You Posted”
Rev. Joseph H. Evans
(L to R): Ben Mohr Herbster, Louis Goebel, and James Wagner

1969 – 1968

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President:
Rev. Ben M. Herbster
Secretary:
Rev. Joseph H. Evans
Treasurer:
Mr. Charles H. Lockyear

1967 – 1962

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President:
Rev. Ben M. Herbster
Secretary:
Rev. Fred S. Buschmeyer
Treasurer:
Mr. Charles H. Lockyear

Fred Hoskins, President of the Congregational Christian Churches (L) and James E. Wagner, President of the Evangelical and Reformed Church (R) completing the union of their respective churches, shaking hands to confirm agreement.

1957: Formation of Leadership

On Tuesday, June 25,1957, at Cleveland, Ohio, the Evangelical and Reformed Church, 23 years old, passionate in its impulse to unity, committed to “liberty of conscience inherent in the Gospel,” and the Congregational Christian Churches, 26 years old, a fellowship of biblical people under a mutual covenant for responsible freedom in Christ, joined together as the United Church of Christ. The new church embodied the essence of both parents, a complement of freedom with order, of the English and European Reformations with the American Awakenings, of separatism with 20th-century ecumenism, of presbyterian with congregational polities, of neoorthodox with liberal theologies. Two million members joined hands.

The story of the United Church of Christ is the story of people serving God through the church. Co-President James E. Wagner, a graduate of Lancaster Seminary, parish minister, seminary professor, and instructor in Bible, brought intellectual and spiritual stature, wisdom and brotherly warmth to match the generous personality of Co-President Fred Hoskins, gifted Congregational Christian professor and pastor, of liberal theological orientation and consummate organizational ability.

Explore more ucc history
Rev. Avery D. Post at the South Africa Consulate Protest in 1984
Rev. Paul H. Sherry, Rev. Doris R. Powell, and Rev. Carol Joyce Brun
Rev. Robert V. Moss
(L to R): Mr. Charles H. Lockyear and Rev. Sheldon E. Mackey
Rev. Paul H. Sherry speaks at General Synod 22
(L to R): Ms. Edith A. Guffey, Rev. Stephen L. Sterner, Rev. Geoffrey A. Black, Ms. M. Linda Jaramillo, and Rev. Cally Rogers-Witte
Mr. Mark W. Clark
Ms. Olivia Masih White
Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson
Rev. Jose A. Malayang
Rev. Geoffrey A. Black and Rev. John D. Dorhauer
Rev. John H. Thomas
Ms. M. Linda Jaramillo
Mr. John W. Mueller
Rev. James Moos
Rev. James E. Wagner
Rev. Ben M. Herbster
Rev. J. Bennett Guess
Fred Hoskins at General Synod 3
Rev. Geoffrey A. Black
Rev. Norman W. Jackson with Rev. Avery D. Post
Rev. Doris R. Powell
Mr. Dale L. Bishop
Mr. Charles H. Lockyear
Rev. Shari K. Prestemon delivers her Nomination Speech at General Synod 35
Rev. Cally Rogers-Witte
Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson gives the State of the Church Address at General Synod 35
Rev. Carol Joyce Brun
Rev. Traci D. Blackmon
Rev. Thomas D. Garner
Rev. James E. Wagner
Rev. Ben M. Herbster
Rev. John D. Dorhauer at General Synod 30
Rev. Fred S. Buschmeyer (middle) with military chaplains
Ms. Bernice Powell Jackson
Rev. Bennie Whiten
Rev. Robert V. Moss (far right)
(L to R): Rev. Paul H. Sherry, Rev. John H. Thomas, and Rev. Geoffrey A. Black
(L to R): Rev. Ben M. Herbster, Daehler Hayes, Rev. Avery D. Post, Rev. Joseph H. Evans
Rev. Shari K. Prestemon at General Synod 35
(L to R): Rev. James E. Wagner, Fred Hoskins, and Unknown
(L to R): Rev. Jose. A. Malayang, Mr. Dale L. Bishop, Ms. Bernice Powell Jackson, Rev. John H. Thomas, and Ms. Edith A. Guffey
Installation Service of Rev. Robert V. Moss
Rev. Traci D. Blackmon speaks May 17 to a crowd in front of the U.S. Capitol gathered to push a new resolution on reparations. Photo by Jessica Quinn.
(L to R): Arie Brouwer (Reformed Church) with Rev. Avery D. Post during the El Salvador March in 1981
Ms. Edith A. Guffey
GMP-elect the Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson meets outgoing GMP the Rev. John Dorhauer on stage to embrace after Thompson’s election July 3. Curly Stumb photo.
Rev. Joseph H. Evans

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