LAKELAND — Florida Conference Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker announced Feb. 24 his appointment of a new director of connectional ministries and district superintendent. Both appointments are effective June 1.

The Rev. Dr. Anne Burkholder, current superintendent of the Melbourne District, was appointed director of connectional ministries to replace Bill Walker, who is retiring. The Rev. Michael Oliver, pastor of Jacksonville’s Mandarin United Methodist Church, will replace Burkholder as superintendent of the Melbourne District.

Burkholder was appointed superintendent of the Melbourne District in 1999 while serving as executive director of the Association for Christian Training and Service in Durham, N.C., and teaching at Duke Divinity School on issues relating to the church and social change, diversity and community, and urban ministries. She has served as director of urban ministry programs in the St. Petersburg and Miami districts, as a consultant with transitional and troubled congregations, and as pastor of churches in St. Petersburg and Fernandina Beach.

“Dr. Burkholder possesses the gifts and skills that will enable her to be an excellent director of connectional ministries,” Whitaker said in an announcement to Florida Conference clergy. “Anne has a large vision of the mission of the church and a commitment to the transformation of congregations. She has superb skills in administration and creative leadership.”

Oliver has served the United Methodist Church for 26 years. He was associate pastor at First United Methodist Church, Seminole, and pastor of churches in Clearwater, DeLand, Titusville and Vero Beach. He was educated at St. Johns Community College in Palatka and the University of North Florida in Jacksonville and received his master of divinity from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology.

Oliver is currently serving on the Jacksonville District committee on ministry and the board of directors of the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home. He has also served on the DeLand District’s committee on superintendency and Wesley House board of trustees and the St. Petersburg District’s Council on Ministries. He served the conference through the Florida United Methodist Foundation, Council on Finance and Administration and Conference Council on Ministries.

“Mike will offer the pastoral sensitivity to clergy and congregations and the commitment to congregational transformation that are needed in the leadership of the Melbourne District,” Whitaker said. “His administrative ability and his personal knowledge of the district will be assets that will enable him to serve well as superintendent.”