Rev. David Banks The Reverend David A. Banks has served Christ in vocational ministry since 1978 when he departed commercial construction to answer the call of his home church to become their youth director. He was licensed in 1984, ordained deacon in 1985, and ordained elder in 1987. God blessed him to serve seven local churches, six in North Carolina and one in Illinois. It was in Illinois that David completed his seminary studies at the Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Methodist studies were completed at Garrett Evangelical Divinity School. Life began for David in California. The family moved east, and, after a brief stop in South Carolina, he came to Southport, NC for tenth grade and from there to Raleigh where his decision to follow Christ came in 1972 as a senior in high school. Six years later, he married Jerri Moore of Morehead City whose family has lived in eastern NC since the early 1700s. For them, New Bern is home, although they plan eventually to return to Morehead City. Jerri and David have five adult children and three grandchildren. Time with David reveals his confidence in the Gospel as the power of God to salvation. There is great joy when persons come to faith in Jesus Christ and when local churches thrive in the purpose and promise of God. Many declare that Bible teaching is his strongest gift. In other activities, David is a very poor but happy golfer, an above average bowler, a rookie with a telescope, and a lover of the sounds and ocean. However, he has yet to catch and release his first blue marlin.

Reverend Kari Howard serves as the Vice President Pro-Tempore of the NC GMC. Born in Greensboro, NC to a Jewish father and Christian mother and raised in the Jewish faith, she gave her life to Christ at the age of 12. She has been a disciple of Jesus, and lover of the Scriptures and the Church since. Kari is married to J. F. Howard who is in his 40th year of pastoral ministry. They met at the church where Kari had given her life to Jesus and have been in ministry together since. They have 4 adult sons, 2 daughters-in-love, a granddaughter and a grandson. Kari;s dearest ministry was homeschooling their sons for 19 years during which time she answered her call to ordained ministry. She was ordained an elder in the UMC after earning her MDiv at Asbury Theological Seminary and inducted into the Theta Phi Honor Society. She served under appointment in the UMC from 2007- December 2022. Discipling people of all ages is Kari’s passion. She is a Ministry Development Coach, has served as a mentor for local pastors, Chair of the Leadership Development Team (LDT) and its grant committee, on the Connectional Table as well as serving as the WNC WCA Chapter President. Kari and her husband J. F. are co-authors of, “The Shepherd’s Staff: How to Pray for your Pastor” and “60 Days with God” which is a guided Bible reading plan to let God speak into the situations and circumstances of your life. Kari also wrote a study guide to accompany J. F.’s book, “Say What?: Understanding the Power of the Words We Speak.