The Lubbock District is comprised of 59 churches of all sizes in an expansive
geographical area within proximity to Lubbock, Texas. 

 

Our mission is to provide service and leadership to enable the United Methodist Church
in the Lubbock District to be in Ministry to the Church and to the world.
 

If you are a pastor we invite you to check here often for updates and information. 
If you are looking for a church home we invite you to explore our web page and
link to a pastor or church close to you.

 

 

 

Bishop D. Max Whitfield

 

 

     Bishop Whitfield presides over the New Mexico and Northwest Texas Conferences.

    Bishop Max Whitfield, an Arkansas native, earned his bachelor’s degree from Arkansas State University, a Master of Divinity from Perkins School of Theology, and a Doctor of Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary.  He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity from McMurry University.

      In July 2000, he was elected to the episcopacy and assigned as Bishop of the Northwest Texas and New Mexico Area. Before Whitfield's election as a Bishop of the Church, he served in the North Arkansas Conference.  He served on the General Board of Global Ministries, the National Shalom Committee, and the General Commission on Religion and Race.  Whitfield served on various Annual Conference Boards and Committees in the North Arkansas Conference.  He also served on the board of directors of Hendrix College, Mount Sequoyah Conference and Retreat Center, and Mount Eagle Christian Center.  In 1992, 1996, and 2000, he was a General Conference delegate.

     Whitfield presently serves on the General Board of Discipleship and as Chairperson of the Mount Sequoyah Board of Trustees.  He also serves on the Board of Trustees at Lydia Patterson Institute, McMurry University, and Southwestern University.

    He and his wife, Valerie, have five adult children and seven grandchildren.

 

Rev. Richard W. Edwards
District Superintendent
 contactus@lubdistumc.com

 Richard Edwards was born in Plainview, TX in 1951, raised in Tulia, TX, where he was a member of First UMC, and graduated from Tulia High School in 1969.

 

After receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Texas Tech University in 1973, he attended Perkins School of Theology, SMU graduating with a Master’s of Theology in 1978.

 

Before being appointed Superintendent of the Lubbock District, Richard’s appointments have included: Booker UMC, Booker, TX (78-81); First UMC, Olton, TX (81-87); First UMC, Muleshoe, TX (87-93); First UMC, Dumas TX (93-97) and as Sr. Pastor of St. Luke’s UMC, Midland, TX (97-08).

 

Reverend Edwards has served on numerous conference committees/boards and responsibilities including:

  • The Conference Council on Finance and Administration for 8 years including 4 years as chairperson

  • The Board of Ordained Ministry for 8 years - serving as chairperson of the continuing education committee and treasurer

  • The Conference Committee on Insurance for 8 years

  • The Conference Board of Higher Education for 6 years - serving as chairperson for 2 years

  • The Ceta Canyon Board of Trustees including serving as chairperson

  • The Conference Board of Pensions and Health Benefits during the past 4 years.

In addition he has served as chairperson for the Conference Committee on Worship, served on the Conference Ministry Team, the Bishop’s Dream Team, the Conference Committee on Nominations, the Bold New Directions Incubator and numerous district offices and as Alternate Delegate to General Conference and a delegate to Jurisdictional Conference

 

Richard is married to Jo Beth, a registered nurse, who worked as a staff nurse with Hospice of Midland before moving to Lubbock.  They have been married for 35 years and have three children:

  • Chris, a dentist who will be attending orthodontics school in Nevada, and his wife, Alison

  • Kevin, a computer software architect in Ft. Worth, TX, and his wife, Sally

  • Kimberly, who is a senior at McMurry University in Abilene, TX.