The River Conference of the Free Methodist Church

Appointed Leaders

Appointed Leaders

Assistant Superintendent

The Assistant Superintendent serves as an executive superintendent who focuses on conference operations, property related issues, legal issues, financial advancement for local churches, and serves on the conference administrative team.

Rev. Amelia Cleveland-Traylor, MD

Assistant Superintendent

Rev. Amelia Cleveland-Traylor, MD’s ministry responsibilities have included pastoral care, praise and worship leader, women’s ministry director, youth ministry, small group leadership, and faith and fitness. Amelia has had many years in pastoral, conference, and denominational leadership. She was Co-Superintendent of the River Conference between 2018 and 2022. In 2019 Amelia was elected to serve on the FMCUSA Board of Administration and currently chairs the Committee on Diversity and Justice. She has chaired TRC’s Ministerial, Education, and Guidance Board since 2018. Amelia was recently appointed to serve on the Board of Directors at Greenville University and Aldersgate School of Ministry. She has a heart for biblical justice and advocacy and is pursuing a Masters in Justice and Advocacy from Fuller Theological Seminary.

Amelia is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist who is taking a break from medicine to fully devote herself to serving the church. She is a fitness and sports enthusiast who works out at OrangeTheory several times per week. Her favorite football teams are the Cleveland Browns and The Ohio State Buckeyes. She and her husband, Michael, are the proud parents of two adult children. Matthew is a practicing attorney in New York City. Michaela is a law student at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois.

Appointed Leaders

District Superintendents

District Superintendents work in concert with the Conference Superintendent to implement the missional objectives of the conference. They lead the Life-Giving Leadership learning communities and assist local churches, leaders, and BOA’s with administrative and organizational structures. District Superintendents regularly encourage and counsel pastors, planters, and lay leaders in their districts.

Arizona District

Rev. Julie Gray

Arizona District Superintendent

Julie Gray has a life-long love for the Church, and a passion for the Bride of Christ to be a healthy instrument of transformation in the world.  Her 30+ years of ministry in diverse and multi-cultural churches have expanded that passion to include people of every language, nation, tribe and race that will be gathered around the throne of God. Her education includes time at Central Christian College of Kansas, Seattle Pacific University, Fuller Theological Seminary, Free Methodist Ordination coursework, and a Certificate in Spiritual Transformation from the Transforming Center, in Wheaton, IL.  Julie is currently Sr. Pastor at Phoenix Life Church, married to Marvin for 32 years, and loves to spend time visiting her kids and grandkids scattered across the country.

Boise District

John McGee

Boise District Superintendent

John McGee serves on the Board of the River Conference after recently serving many years on the MAC. He serves as the Local Leader for the Boise area and most recently as the Coordinator of the MEG Board. John was a delegate to the General Conference in 2019 and 2023.  John serves Deer Flat Church on the Finance Committee where he spent 6 years as a member of the Board. John is involved with community organizations such as Love Caldwell and the Downtown Caldwell Organization.  He served on the Board of the 2009 International Special Olympics and served his alma mater, the College of Idaho, as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees. He also served in the Idaho State Legislature from 2005 to 2011 as the youngest member of the Senate. He also served on the Caldwell City Council for 4 years. He and his wife, Hanna, live in Caldwell, Idaho with their two children, Madalyn and Maxwell.

Colorado District

Rev. Ebenezer Appiagyei

Colorado District Superintendent

Ebenezer Appiagyei is a dynamic leader who is dedicated to serving others. As an ordained Elder in the Free Methodist Church USA and a Trial Lawyer, he has combined his skills to make a difference. His previous leadership roles in the Ohio Conference and current position as Lead Pastor of Living Tower Free Methodist Church in Aurora, Colorado, and District Leader of the Colorado Region of The River Conference, highlight his ability to inspire and empower others. He is married to Angelina and they have three children. He enjoys reading, and quality family. He is a beacon of hope, a testament, and a strong advocate of “ The Beloved Community.”

North Texas District

Rev. Tim Greenawalt

North Texas District Superintendent

Timothy Greenawalt, has been in ministry for 43 years. He served as pastor in San Antonio, Texas for 15 years before moving to Rockwall in 1996. He is a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary and enjoys coaching soccer and playing his guitar. Pastor Tim has been married to his ministry partner and wife, Talena, for 46 years. They have three adult children and eight grandchildren.

South Texas District

Rev. Marianne Peña

South Texas District Superintendent

Marianne grew up in Miami in a pastoral home, where her discipleship began. Throughout her younger years she served her home church in many capacities including youth pastor and worship leader. In 2014, she and her husband, William, became lead pastors of New Vision Church in Hialeah, FL. Over their eight years as lead pastors, they helped develop leaders and a thriving bilingual ministry. In 2022, she moved to Spring, Texas with Will and their three boys to plant Essential Life Church. Marianne’s heart is to encourage others to grow in discipleship and reach their God potential. Marianne holds an MA in Organizational Management from Spring Arbor University and a Graduate Certificate in Discipleship & Spiritual Formation from Wesley Biblical Seminary. She also serves as the Co-Director of the Conexion Latina.

Rev. Will Peña

South Texas District Superintendent

William Peña, originally from Santiago, Dominican Republic, holds a BA in Physical Therapy from PUCMM. After relocating to Miami, Florida in 2006, he immersed himself in various roles within the church, serving as a worship leader, youth pastor, and eventually becoming a senior pastor. In 2022 he ventured to Houston, TX to plant Essential Life Church alongside his wife Marianne and their three boys. Today, William dedicates his time to coaching younger pastors and church planters while also contributing to Conexión Latina of the FMC.

El habla español.

Spokane District

Rev. James Leman

Spokane District Superintendent

James grew up a missionary kid on an Indian Reservation in eastern Montana. This childhood helped shape his worldview and his desire to see people come to a life-changing knowledge of Jesus. He felt called into full-time pastoral ministry as a freshman in college, but it took another eight years for him to end up in a church setting. He is excited about pushing and challenging people to order their entire lives around Jesus Christ. His heartbeat is connecting those who currently know and passionately worship Christ, and those who are willing to live in authentic community, with those who have not yet had their lives transformed by Jesus. James is also passionate about his family. He’s been married to Abby since 1999. They are blessed with two sons, Sam and JJ.

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