District Leadership - Harbor District

Rev. Edie Gleaves, Harbor District Superintendent

The Reverend Edie Gleaves has been blessed to Edie serve the Lord Jesus Christ in a variety of ministry settings since her ordination as an elder over thirty years ago. Edie comes to the position of Superintendent of the Harbor District after having served as one of the pastors in the district – Associate at Wrightsville UMC. She was appointed to Wrightsville UMC after serving with the General Board of Global Ministries, as Deputy General Secretary for Mission Personnel. While at GBGM, her passion for mission was lived out through heading the unit which recruits, trains, sends and supports domestic and international missionaries. Other appointments include serving; as Pastor for Resurrection UMC in Durham (during which time she was awarded the district evangelism award); as NC Conference staff giving leadership to the Office of Multicultural Relations, Spiritual Formation, and Social Concerns; as Associate Pastor at North Raleigh UMC; and her first appointment as the Pastor for Cokesbury UMC in Raleigh. A native of Maxton, NC, Edie attended Maxton High School, received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Wake Forest University in Winston Salem, and her Masters of Divinity from Duke University seminary in Durham.

Reverend Gleaves shared words of a hymn at the gathering where she was welcomed to the District. ‘As a fire is meant for burning, with a bright and warming flame, so the church is meant for mission, giving glory to God’s name.’ She said the hymn’s words…”thrill me because every time I hear them they call me back to my calling–my calling as a Christian, to my calling as a member of Christ’s body – the church, to my calling as one set apart as clergy in the United Methodist Church, and now to my calling as Superintendent of the awesome Harbor District.” These words and the United Methodist Church’s call to “Make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world” will be guiding principles for her work here.

Mary Hartsell, Gateway/ Harbor Administrative Assistant to the DS

Mary was born and raised in Aberdeen, North Carolina and has been a life-time member of the United Methodist Church. Graduated from Sandhills Community College with an Associate Degree in Computer Engineer. Mary has served with NCCUMC Disaster Ministry for the last 4 years working with survivors that were affected by the Hurricanes. Mary is also been active in the UMC through Conference Committees and Local Churches. She has served as the Gateway District in the last 4 years in various ways.

Mary is married to Lloyd for over 40 years and has twin daughters (Samantha and Jessica) and two grandchildren (Madelyn and Aiden). Mary enjoys the mountains, music, and being with her family.

Lynn Shuffler, District Lay Leader

Lynn grew up in New Bern, North Carolina where she attended New Bern High School and Baptist Hospital School of Nursing. She moved to Wallace in 1969 and has called it home ever since. Formerly an early childhood education professional, Lynn’s experience as a local church Lay Leader spans some 18+ years. She has also served in variety of other local church leadership positions to include: Sunday School Teacher; Lay Member to Annual Conference and Financial Secretary. Lynn is a graduate of the NC Conference’s Academy for Leadership Excellence Fellows Program, the Lay Academy of Christian Witness and has completed numerous district and conference training courses.

Lynn is a certified Lay Speaker and has led a ladies interdenominational Bible study for the past 9 years. She has been involved in lay speaking for 20+ years. Lynn has served as the Harbor District Lay Leader since 2012 and serves on the Conference Board of Laity, the Harbor District Board of Laity, the Harbor District Mission Strategy Team and the Harbor District Committee on Superintendency. She considers it a joy and privilege to serve in these positions. Lynn is married to her high school sweetheart, Jimmie Shuffler. They have two sons, a daughter and six beautiful granddaughters. Lynn’s greatest joy is spending time with the girls. She and Jimmie also enjoy singing in the choir together at Pine Valley UMC.

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