Nelson, who has served as director of Church and Society Ministries of the Central Conference, was notified of his selection late Sunday afternoon. His selection by the elected members of the Central Conference Executive Board will be presented for approval by Central Conference annual meeting delegates who will be reconvened in early January, according to Douglas Johnson, pastor of North Park Covenant Church and chair of the Central Conference and conference executive board.
If approved by conference annual meeting delegates, Nelson will replace retiring Central Conference Supt. Herbert M. Freedholm who will complete his service December 31. Nelson will continue to handle his numerous other conference responsibilities, including general conference work and his focus on urban and ethnic ministries, until the transition is completed.
“Jerome has keen insight when it comes to understanding the life and growth of diverse kingdom ministry,” Johnson said of Nelson’s selection. “He knows what it takes to enhance the Covenant as a multi-cultural body in meaningful ways.” Johnson also noted Nelson’s considerable business experience and more than 20 years of pastoral ministry as significant in his selection.
Johnson’s sentiments were echoed by the chair of the search committee, Janet Borggren, who describes Nelson as an individual of vision, passion and energy. “He has already established himself as a leader in the Covenant,” Borggren says of Nelson’s selection. “Our far-flung, diverse conference will benefit from Jerome’s talent at building connections. I am delighted to be recommending him to the Central Conference as our next superintendent.”
Borggren also paid tribute to the retiring superintendent, noting that “finding someone to follow Herb Freedholm was a daunting task. Our committee reviewed many ministry profiles and interviewed several highly qualified candidates. As a long-time Covenanter, I am thankful for the large number of gifted leaders in our denomination.”
Nelson is already familiar with the Central Conference, its staff and its ministries, having traveled extensively throughout the conference and having served as part of its staff. “We also feel he can be effective in working with the larger Covenant because of his deep-hearted affirmation of Covenant life, theology, history and polity,” Johnson added.
Although Nelson’s considerable pastoral and secular experience were the primary considerations in his selection, the fact that he also is a person of color adds to the importance of his selection, Johnson believes. “The question has been asked for some time: When will the Covenant affirm a person of color in a key conference leadership role?” Johnson noted. “We prayed through on this selection process, and Jerome’s name kept coming back to us.” If approved by conference delegates, Nelson will become the first African American conference superintendent in the Covenant’s history.
“I’m so grateful for the process that was used to select a new superintendent,” Nelson said today, stressing how important it was to him that a new superintendent be selected on the basis of qualifications and experience and his feeling of affirmation because of the executive board’s decision. “This also will give me an opportunity to honor Herb Freedholm who is largely responsible for moving the conference in the direction of increasing diversity.
“But, it also provides an opportunity to pursue new directions, too,” Nelson said, noting the year-long conference long-range planning process of which he has been a part. That process identified a number of goals, including church planting, improved connectivity among conference churches and between churches and conference staff, and the emphasis on revitalization of existing congregations. “We’ve got some great churches in the conference, very supportive churches, and I look forward to working with all of them in pursuing our goals.”
Nelson attended Purdue University studying business and received a degree in finance from American Institute of Banking in 1981, ministerial records show. He continued studies at Indiana University and received a degree in Christian Education from North Park Theological Seminary in 2002.
He was a vice president with TransWorld Bank from 1975 to 1985, worked with the AAA Chicago Motor Club from 1985 until 1990 and served as associate pastor of the Church of Gary Covenant Church from 1987 until 1999 when he accepted a position on the Central Conference staff. During his time with the conference office, he has also served as associate/co-pastor with Cuyler Covenant Church in Chicago.
He has been active with a number of ministries, including Covenant World Relief, the Paul Carlson Partnership, WellSpring Center for Hope, the Central Conference Church and Society Commission and the African American Ministers Association.
He and his wife, Joanne, have three children – Patrick, Jason and Sean – and reside in Chicago.
Copyright © 2011 The Evangelical Covenant Church.
