Endorsements

“I am excited and blessed to celebrate our delegation’s endorsement of Dr. Aleze Fulbright. He continued, Aleze is the type of leader needed in this moment, for a time such as this, in The United Methodist Church. Her visionary leadership and deep faith will help us all move forward in the mission. Our delegation, in their overwhelming support of her endorsement, saw in her what I see in her, hopeful leadership for a hopeful future in the Church.”

Rev. Russ Abel
Superintendent of the East District and Chairperson of the 2020 Delegation

“Dr. Fulbright has been a strong leader and advocate for laity in the Indiana Conference. Her ongoing support of the Lay Servant Ministry program and leadership in these areas have been instrumental in empowering laypersons to discern and live out their call to ministry. She is able to recognize each individual’s giftedness and, in turn, encourage them to use these gifts for ministry in their unique context.”

Kim Arnott
Indiana Conference Director of Lay Servant Ministries and 2020 Jurisdictional Conference Delegate

“I’ve had the blessing, like many others, to benefit from Dr. Fulbright’s leadership. It’s an absolute joy to know that our Indiana delegation has endorsed her for the office of bishop. Aside from the deep symbolic significance of the Indiana Annual Conference endorsing an African-American woman for the episcopacy, our North Central Jurisdiction and our entire global connection bears more fruit due to Fulbright’s gifts of strategic, straight-talking, authentic, Christ-centered leadership.”

Rev. Ronnie Bell
Senior Pastor of Cumberland United Methodist Church in Indianapolis and 2020 General Conference Delegate

“She has that rare leadership gift that allows her not only to cast a vision, but to understand the details needed to bring that vision to fruition. But hers was never a tunnel vision: Her openness to new ideas and of varied viewpoints made her a pleasure to work with. She knew how to build a team and direct it to carry out that vision, how to inspire and care for the people on that team. She did it with clear instruction, compassion, humor, and dedication. A flaw of many strong leaders is their personal ambition. I never saw evidence of that flaw in Dr. Fulbright. Her goal was always to carry out the conference and church mission, not to carry out a personal agenda. Therefore, I found her to be a “predictable” leader, meaning that it was easy to understand where she would stand on an issue in light of the church’s mission.”

Mr. Ed Metzler
Former Secretary to the Bishop (11 years) and Administrator of Ministerial Services (3 years) in the Indiana Annual Conference

“Rev. Dr. Aleze Fulbright will be a great Bishop for the next expression of the United Methodist Church. We are so delighted to endorse her. Her experience in leadership and spiritual development will help fashion and encourage UMC pastors and local ministers in serving ALL of us. She has such a way of actively listening to uncover the talents and gifts God has given others, then celebrating those gifts and encouraging that person to share and maximize those talents. She lives John 10:10- ‘I have come that they may have life abundantly.’ She keeps it all so ‘real and relevant.'”

Mr. Albert Hildago
Lay member of Broadway UMC and 2020 NCJ Jurisdictional delegate

“As a life-long United Methodist layperson, local church and conference staff person and delegate to General Conferences, it is my great honor to write a letter of support and endorsement of Rev. Dr. Aleze Fulbright to be elevated to the Episcopacy. I have witnessed Dr. Fulbright’s leadership in her presence as a mentor, employer, and interaction with colleagues. I have learned and watched as Dr. Fulbright demonstrated high levels of organizational management, attention to detail, relationship building, conflict management, inspiring messages, and necessary course correction. Dr. Fulbright leads with the greatest of integrity, commitment, and faithfulness. She casts or captures a vision, sets goals, recruits the team and navigates progress to fruitful outcomes. Dr. Fulbright believes in the people she serves with, celebrates their victories and learns with them through their missteps. One of the greatest and most sustaining lessons I have learned from the leadership and example of Dr. Fulbright is self-care, sabbath and healthy boundaries. As the calling of ministry, especially when lived out as one’s profession is prone to be highly demanding, unpredictable and seemingly endless, Dr. Fulbright consistently modeled and intentionally held us accountable to sabbath. She fosters a work environment of healthy professional challenge balanced with sustainable expectations.”

Mrs. Kelly Carpenter
Associate Director for the Center of Leadership Development, North Texas Conference and 2020 Delegate to General Conference.