| CFO/Treasurer resigns By Erik AlsgaardUMConnection staff The Rev. James Knowles-Tuell, the Baltimore-Washington Conference Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since 1997, submitted his resignation to the Conference Council on Finance and Administration and Bishop Felton Edwin May on Sept. 30. I accepted his resignation with regret, said Bishop May. Under Jims leadership, our conference has been challenged to think about stewardship theologically. He has a strong sense of advocacy and social justice, and has worked hard at strengthening ties between our conference and the Zimbabwe Conference, especially in the areas of stewardship development and finance. As an ordained elder, Knowles-Tuell also requested to be placed on a voluntary leave of absence. Bishop May, the Baltimore-Washington Conference district superintendents, and the Executive Committee of Conference Board of Ordained Ministry approved the leave, under the rules of the 2000 Book of Discipline. Knowles-Tuell was on sabbath leave at the time of his resignation. That leave began June 20 and ended Sept. 22. Knowles-Tuell was on vacation from then until Sept. 30. Conference employees and staff were told the news on the afternoon of Oct. 1 at the Conference Center. In the Baltimore-Washington Conference, the treasurers position is administered under the direction of the personnel committee of CFA. That committee met Oct. 1 to discuss the future operation of the treasurers office. Brought praised the current treasurers office staff and the staff of the Pensions and Health Benefits office Martha Knight, Pier McPayten, Veta Sparrow, Connie Collins, Azad Mirza, Carole Silberhorn, Carol Price, Kathy Selph and Linda Gamble for doing an excellent job through this time of transition.  Knight will serve as interim CFO and McPayten will serve as interim treasurer, Brought told the staff.
A nation-wide search for a new CFO/treasurer will begin immediately, said Brought. We have confidence in our staff and their ability to keep the conference in good stead, said Brought. CFA is sure that the office of the CFO and treasurer will continue to serve the conference at a high level of efficiency and integrity. | 
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