NASHVILLE, Tenn. Sept. 14, 2016 – Sarah E. Wilke, Associate General Secretary and Publisher/World Editor of The Upper Room, is no longer employed by Discipleship Ministries of The United Methodist Church, effective immediately.
Upper Room Photo
Sarah Wilke
Following a complete review by the human resources department of a complaint filed against Wilke, the announcement was made by the Rev. Junius Dotson, General Secretary (CEO) of Discipleship Ministries.
United Methodist Insight inquired as to the specific nature of the complaint filed against Wilke, and received the following e-mail reply from Steve Horswill-Johnston, the agency's communications director:
"As you know, we do not discuss details of personnel complaints. I can say that the complaint has nothing to do with any criminal activity. This was a result of a lengthy review to the complaint."
“We wish Sarah well and appreciate her many gifts and efforts for The Upper Room and the whole of Discipleship Ministries,” Dotson said. “Sarah has tremendous leadership skills and has led The Upper Room through deep changes in religious publishing and has successfully realigned both the publishing and programming side of our work.”
Dotson said the agency will not be naming an interim Associate General Secretary.
“Instead, I’m asking the Management Team of The Upper Room to run the daily operations of the unit and report to me on a regular basis until an Associate General Secretary has been named,” he said.
Wilke assumed her position at Upper Room Ministries in 2009. Previously, she was head of UMR Communications, where she was the first woman to hold the CEO position in the 157-year history of the organization. Prior to her appointment at UMR Communications, she served as the North Texas Annual Conference's urban strategist for four years.