Bishop James R. King, Jr. has announced the projected appointment of one new District Superintendent. Dr. Edwin M. “Buddy” Cooper, currently senior pastor of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Columbus, will become the Columbus District Superintendent, succeeding Dr. Shane Green. 

Current Columbus District Superintendent Dr. Green, now in his third year of service to the Columbus District, is projected to serve St. Paul UMC.

Dr. Cooper and Dr. Green will begin serving in their new appointments following June’s Annual Conference session.

“The appointment-making process is covered in prayer,” Bishop King said. “Dr. Cooper has served St. Paul United Methodist Church and this annual conference well.  I am grateful that he has agreed to serve alongside me in this superintending role.”

A graduate of Fort Valley High School, Middle Georgia College, Georgia Southern University and Emory University, Dr. Cooper has served St. Paul UMC for nearly 14 years. During his almost 38-year career in appointive ministry, he has also served Pittman Park UMC in Statesboro, the Crawford County Circuit, East Macon UMC, Christ Church UMC in Albany, Christ Church UMC in Warner Robins, Waycross First UMC, and Central UMC in Fitzgerald.

“I look forward to serving with our appointive cabinet in the coming year,” said Dr. Cooper. “It is my hope to be an effective member of the team Bishop King has put together to guide and direct the ministry of the South Georgia Conference. I am honored to have been selected to serve in this position of trust. I look forward to learning the work to which I am being appointed.”

Married to the former Sheila Diane Davis of Powersville, Dr. and Mrs. Cooper have two children, Edwin M. Cooper, III and Charlotte Diane Cooper McDonald.

An avid traveler, Dr. Cooper, 59, has made several trips to the Holy Land and each year leads a study group overseas to experience the people, religion, and history related to a specific time in Christian history.  This year he and the group will travel to Sicily and Malta.

He is also the author of three books, “31 days in the Holy Land,” which chronicles his travels in Israel and Egypt; “When you have the final word,” a book about conducting eulogies; and “Who are we? Thinking theologically about our lives,” a study in Christian discipleship. 

Dr. Cooper has held numerous leadership positions within the Conference, including chair of the evangelism committee, conference registrar for the Board of Ordained Ministry, and as the chairman of the Wesley Glen Ministries board of trustees.

Those interested in following the appointment-making process may access currently projected appointments by going to the conference website (http://www.sgaumc.org/pages/detail/388).

All appointments appearing online are considered firm projections pending the official announcement at the conclusion of the Annual Conference session on June 5 in Macon.