The General Commission on UM Men has tapped Greg Arnold, a deployed staff member of the commission, to serve as general secretary.
Mr. Arnold, a 12-year Mississippi-based staff member, succeeds Gil Hanke who retired from the post in October. He will begin work November 1.
Greg Arnold
Greg Arnold has been selected to serve as top executive of the General Commission on United Methodist Men. (Courtesy Photo)
“The Search Committee selected Greg for the general secretary position because he is a true man of God,” said Dan Ramsey, chair of the Search Committee. “He has the energy and strong desire to spread the good news of Christ to all men, young and old, throughout the world.” Ramsey, a retired Houston police officer who served as president of the National Association of Conference Presidents of UM Men from 2013 to 2016, said Arnold was especially qualified for the position because of his extensive experience in the business world and ministry to men. “We are in a new beginning of leadership at the commission, and Greg is the right man to lead us forward in a new era in the life of the church.”
In the business community, Arnold founded and presides over healthcare companies with more than 300 employees spanning multiple states. In addition, he has a long track record of creating successful organizations and empowering leaders.
As a deployed staff member of the commission, Arnold developed resources and led workshops in each of the five U.S. jurisdictions. He also helped with national gatherings and worked with the commission to give birth to Strength for Service, Inc. “It was never a burden to take time away from my company to serve as a staff member,” said Arnold. “God blessed my family with a thriving company; it was my pleasure to serve any way possible.”
A graduate of the University of Alabama, Arnold also operates the Live Bold App for Christian Men. A free resource and the top app for Christian men with more than 38,000 members and 100,000 downloads. The app reaches men in 160 countries with devotions, prayer support, small group resources, podcasts, and coaching support.
Arnold has also helped other national men’s ministry organizations develop communication and social media strategies.
Arnold has experience at the local level as well. At age 15, he helped establish a Boy Scout troop and credits this experience as valuable lessons in leadership and to his success throughout his adult career. He has been an active participant in men’s ministry and leadership roles in his local church, St. Paul UMC of Ocean Springs, Miss. It was at St. Paul UMC where he piloted a modern version of UM Men which eventually gave birth to the Adventure Men discipleship model and men’s ministry program resource endorsed by the commission.
“Regardless of whether a man officially belongs to a church or has found himself to be unchurched, de-churched, or faith curious––he is searching for wholeness,” said Arnold. “There are too many men struggling with worry, isolation, and shame. It’s our mission to help them grow their relationship with Christ, find their way back to Christ, or introduce them to Christ for the first time.”
Arnold says equipping men to become faithful disciples of Jesus Christ will strengthen families, fathers, sons, husbands, brothers, grandfathers, mentors and help heal our communities and embolden the church.
“We will do our part, whether through men’s ministry or scouting ministry with valuable and effective resources.”
Arnold says he wants to serve “an international and multi-cultural body of God’s children at various ages and stages of Christian maturity so that each person can find their identity in Christ.”
“Greg is a gifted author, presenter and has a proven history with the commission,” said Gil Hanke, retiring top staff executive of the commission. “He brings many new gifts to the ministry.”
In announcing the appointment, Mississippi Bishop James E. Swanson Sr., president of the commission, said, “Greg Arnold’s natural ability to lean towards innovation enhances The United Methodist Church’s ability to reach men and offers opportunities for men to grow into strong disciples of Jesus Christ that will change this world.”
Veteran communicator Rich Peck, a retired clergy member of the New York Annual Conference, writes for the UM Men's Commission.