January 22, 2017
 
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
 
Greetings in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
 
After prayerful discernment and proper consultations in accordance with The United Methodist Book of Discipline, I am pleased to announce the appointment of the Rev. We Hyun Chang as District Superintendent of the Metro Boston Hope District, effective July 1, 2017. Rev. Chang follows Interim District Superintendent Rev. Dr. Ronald Wilson, who has filled the position since Sept. 1, 2016.
 
The MBH District sought a district superintendent who would be both a strong spiritual and social justice leader as well as an out of the box thinker with administrative gifts and a desire to work with laity.  I am confident that Rev. Chang has the gifts and experience needed to lead this district well and am excited that We’s presence in the Cabinet will help us remain conscious of social justice issues.
 
Rev. Chang currently serves as senior pastor of Belmont-Watertown (MA) United Methodist Church in the Metro Boston Hope District where he helped oversee the merger of two congregations that included 25 recovery groups as part of its ministry and mission.
 
Prior to his current appointment, Rev. Chang served as pastor at Faith UMC, Chicopee, MA; Wesley UMC, Concord, NH; and First UMC, Manchester, NH, where he led the congregation to begin ministry with the homeless, opening a community day service center with ecumenical and community partners.
 
Chang has a passion for peace in the Korean peninsula, where he was born. He led the United Methodist
Korean Peace Plan from 2012-2016.
 
He was instrumental in organizing and launching New England's Justice for our Neighbors chapter, which serves immigrants in three communities. Additionally, Chang served on the New England Conference Strategic Planning Task Force. He was the first-elected clergy delegate to General Conference in 2012 and 2016.
 
Ordained an elder in 1999, Rev. Chang is a graduate of Boston University School of Theology where he earned an M. Div. He is married to the Rev. Dr. Yoo-Yun Cho-Chang, who serves as pastor of Woburn (MA) United Methodist Church. Their daughter Hope is finishing her first year in college.
 
I am also deeply grateful to Dr. Wilson for postponing his retirement to step into this interim role. He has gone above and beyond in serving on the cabinet and in his district these past few months. Please join me in prayer for the Changs, the Wilsons, the Belmont-Watertown congregation, and the Metro Boston Hope District, as they prepare for this transition in leadership.