Continuing Board Members

Paul G. Cunningham was elected general superintendent in July 1993 after serving 30 years as senior pastor of College Church of the Nazarene in Olathe, Kansas. During his pastorate, Dr. Cunningham was instrumental in bringing MidAmerica Nazarene University to the Olathe area. He was president of the denomination's General Board at the time of his election to the general superintendency. He and his wife, Connie, have three grown children, Lori, Paul Mark, and Connie Jo, and seven grandchildren. James H. Diehl was elected general superintendent in July 1993 while pastoring Denver First Church of the Nazarene. Dr. Diehl pastored churches in Georgia and Iowa. He was also an administrator at MidAmerica Nazarene University and superintendent of the Nebraska and Colorado Districts. He and his wife, Dorothy, have four grown children, Jodi, Jim, Don, and David, and seven grandchildren. Jesse C. Middendorf was elected general superintendent in June 2001 while pastoring Kansas City First Church of the Nazarene. Dr. Middendorf also pastored churches in Tennessee, Kentucky, New Mexico, and Texas. He served in denominational roles as superintendent of the Northwest Oklahoma District, president of the USA National Board, and general secretary of Nazarene Youth International. He and his wife, Susan, have three grown children Jon, Marlo, and Jim, and four grandchildren. Jerry D. Porter was elected general superintendent in June 1997 while serving as superintendent of the Washington (now Mid-Atlantic) District of the Church of the Nazarene. Dr. Porter has ministered as pastor, missionary to the Dominican Republic, rector of the Nazarene Seminary of the Americas in Costa Rica, and director of the Mexico and Central America Region. He and his wife, Toni, were blessed with two children, Amy Jo, who passed away in 1995, and a married son, Bill.

 

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