Bishop L. Jonathan Holston, resident bishop of the South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, has appointed the Rev. James Dickerson Dennis Jr. as superintendent of the Greenville District.
Rev. Dennis, senior pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in North Augusta since 2010, will succeed the Rev. George Howle after the 2019 Annual Conference. Rev. Howle has served the Greenville District as superintendent since 2014.
Rev. Dennis was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, and graduated from Wofford College in 1979 with a bachelor of science degree in biology (pre-med) and a bachelor of arts degree in religion (pre-ministerial).
He was ordained in 1982 following his graduation that year from Duke University with a master of divinity degree. Before his appointment to Grace UMC, Rev. Dennis served Main Street UMC in Greenwood, Trinity UMC in Bamberg, Gramling UMC in Inman, India Hook UMC in Rock Hill, Grace UMC in Charleston and the Hardeeville Charge.
In addition to Rev. Dennis’ work in local churches, he has served in many ways, including on district, conference and jurisdictional boards and committees on Ordained Ministry, Church Location and Building, and Communications. He has been a member of the Conference Relations Committee and the Extension Ministry Committee since 2013. He was the founding director of Salkehatchie Summer Service camps in Rock Hill, Spartanburg, Bamberg, Greenwood and North Augusta, and served as a trustee of Wesley Commons and was the first webmaster of the conference website.
Rev. Dennis is married to Caroline Love Dennis. They have three adult children and enjoy spending time with their seven grandchildren and riding motorcycles together. He is a lifelong photographer, and a serious cyclist – both road and mountain bikes – riding 2,500 to 3,000 miles a year.
