Laity Delegate profiles
General & Jurisdictional Conferences
Byrd L. Bonner
Travis Park UMC, San Antonio
Adult (31-60). General Conference and South Central Jurisdictional Conference delegate 1996, 2000. Reserve jurisdictional conference delegate 1992. Member, Commission on Pan-Methodist Cooperation and Union, 1996 to present. Member, conference Standing Rules Committee. Former elected director, General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns. Former member of the jurisdictional Committee on Episcopacy and Council on Ministries. Former chair, conference Council on Ministries and Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns. Executive director, United Methodist Church Foundation, attorney.
Jay Brim
Westlake UMC, Austin
Older adult (61+). General Conference and South Central Jurisdictional Conference delegate 2004. Jurisdictional conference delegate 1996, 2000. Conference lay leader and chair, Board of Laity. Founding board member and current treasurer, JustPeace, center for mediation and conflict transformation. Former elected director, General Council on Finance and Administration. Former chair, conference Council on Ministries. Former president, conference Council on Finance and Administration. Attorney.
Carol Loeb
Asbury UMC, Corpus Christi
Older adult (61+). General Conference and South Central Jurisdictional Conference delegate 2000, 2004. Jurisdictional conference delegate 1996. Elected director, General Commission on the Status and Role of Women. Member, jurisdictional Committee on Episcopacy. Chair, conference Council on Ministries. Former member, jurisdictional Mission Council. Former chair, jurisdictional personnel and Volunteers in Mission committees. Former conference lay leader and chair, Board of Laity. Retired small business owner and teacher.
Mark A. Nerio
University UMC, San Antonio
Adult (31-60). First-time General Conference delegate. Member, Southern Methodist University Board of Trustees and University UMC Administrative Board. Former elected director, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. Human resources executive.
Beverly S. Silas
First UMC, Austin
Adult (31-60). General Conference and South Central Jurisdictional Conference delegate 2004. Chair, conference Hardt Fund for Peace Committee. Member, Texas Methodist Foundation Board of Directors and First UMC Administrative Board. Former chair, First UMC Pastor-Parish Relations Committee. Director, communications and public strategies.
Tara L. Thronson
St. John’s UMC, Austin
Young adult (19-30). First-time General Conference and South Central Jurisdictional Conference delegate. Co-founder, Southwest Texas Conference Chapter, Methodist Federation for Social Action. Associate lay leader, St. John’s UMC. Member, St. John’s Committee on Lay Leadership. Former member, St. John’s Committee on Finance. Co-founder, New Young Adult Sunday school class at St. John’s. Project manager.
South Central
Jurisdictional Conference
Charles Akins
Wesley UMC, Austin
Older adult (61+). First-time South Central Jurisdictional Conference delegate. Member, conference Council on Ministries and Board of Laity. Austin District lay leader. Member, Wesley Administrative Board. Sunday school superintendent. Retired public school administrator.
Bill Ault
Coker UMC, San Antonio
Older adult (61+). General Conference and South Central Jurisdictional Conference delegate 2000, 2004. Member, San Antonio District Building and Relocation Committee. Former chair, conference Council on Ministries and Futures Committee. Former member, San Antonio District Missions Board. Former chair, Coker Administrative Board, Committee on Finance, Missions Committee. Retired business owner.
Inelda “Nellie” Gonzalez
First UMC, Lyford
Adult (31-60). First-time South Central Jurisdictional Conference delegate. Elected director, General Board of Global Ministries. Member, conference Board of Laity, Board of Global Ministries, Staff-Conference Relations Committee. Member, conference United Methodist Women Executive Committee. Member, First UMC Pastor-Parish Relations Committee. History, Spanish and English-as-a-second-language teacher.
Teresa L. Keese
First UMC, Brady
Adult (31-60). First-time South Central Jurisdictional Conference delegate. Member, conference Council on Finance and Administration. Chair, First UMC Nurturing Committee. Former chair, First UMC Administrative Board and Pastor-Parish Relations Committee. Sunday school teacher. Business manager.
Walt Lengle
Northwest Hills UMC, Austin
Youth (12-18). First-time South Central Jurisdictional Conference delegate. Conference summer youth ministry intern. Member, conference Youth Council on Ministries. Former junior counselor, conference Midwinter retreats and summer camps. Member, Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Incoming freshman,
University of Texas at Austin.
Rick Mantooth
First UMC, San Angelo
Adult (31-60). South Central Jurisdictional Conference delegate 2000, 2004. Member, San Angelo District Campus Ministry Committee. Former associate conference lay leader and member, Board of Laity. Former member, conference Small Church Membership Committee. Former San Angelo District lay leader. Former member, district Council on Ministries and committees on finance and superintendency. Former First UMC lay leader and chair, Staff-Parish Relations Committee. Radio broadcasting company chief operating officer.
Reserve South Central
Jurisdictional Conference
Dick Gilby
Coker UMC, San Antonio
Older adult (61+). Reserve South Central Jurisdictional Conference delegate 2004. Vice chair, conference New Church Development Commission. Vice president, Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas board of directors. Member, San Antonio District Committee on Ordained Ministry and Committee on Superintendency. Former San Antonio District lay leader. Former member, conference Board of Laity. Real estate broker.
Don Hand
Highland Terrace UMC, San Antonio
Older adult (61+). General Conference and South Central Jurisdictional Conference delegate 1972, 1976, 1984, 1988, 1992. Jurisdictional conference delegate 1980, 1996, 2000, 2004. Conference chancellor (attorney) 1992 to present. Chair, Highland Terrace Pastor-Parish Relations Committee. Former elected director, General Board of Church and Society and General Council on Ministries. Former San Antonio District lay leader. Attorney.
Saul Pacheco
First UMC, McAllen
Adult (31-60). South Central Jurisdictional Conference delegate 2004. Member, conference Board of Pensions. Former chair, conference Commission on Religion and Race. Former vice chair, McAllen District Committee on Superintendency. Member, First UMC Pastor-Parish Relations Committee. Sales.
Susan Sidney
First UMC, Cedar Park
Older adult (61+). First-time reserve South Central Jurisdictional Conference delegate. Conference United Methodist Women president. Member, conference Board of Laity, Standing Rules Committee, Nominations Committee. Former member, conference Council on Ministries, Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns. Former member, Austin District Council on Ministries. Math and computer
science teacher.
