Former Heartland District Superintendent Bill Dobbs officially took office as the clergy assistant to the Bishop on July 1. Reporter Editor RJ Walters recently caught up with him to see how he was adjusting, what he prides himself on, and what vision he has for the Michigan Area conferences.
Q: Did you ever aspire to be the clergy assistant to the bishop or was it something that just kind of came out of left field?
A: “The short answer to that is no, I never envisioned myself in this place and in this position. My whole vision for myself was focused on service to the local church and I was surprised when Bishop Keaton asked me to serve as a district superintendent in the Heartland District. I was planning on retiring from that position and looking forward to it — until the day in his office when he asked if I would be willing to stay on for a few more years to do this position. After prayer, we agreed.”
Q: Having had a few weeks to look around, what does the Michigan Area look like from the top of the mountain compared to being a DS, which you could say is halfway up the mountain? Are there any major surprises early on for you?
A: “The biggest difference is how much bigger the mountain is. The Heartland District was a fair-sized district geographically, but it was still only one part of the mountain, so I have a lot of new names and places to learn. I have an advantage in that I grew up in the Detroit Conference; my home church is Cass City and I served in as an officer in the youth fellowship in the Port Huron District back in the MYF days. I know some pastors and some place because of great memories, but I’m having to learn all new faces and new people — and that’s the steepest (part) of the learning curve as it’s attached to this job.”
Q: Just an individual, what are a few things you would like people to know about you that you feel helps define who you are?
A: “The first thing that some people who know me know and I would like others to know, is I am committed to family. I have four children and six grandchildren, I love spending time with them. I love music — I was a high school band director in a former career. And I love to be part of making music, interestingly enough not as a soloist, but as part of an ensemble; either a quartet or larger group where we can make music in harmony. And I love the church because it gives me the opportunity not only to make music, but to see so much of what we do in harmony.
Q: So when can we expect you and the Bishop to start musically collaborating together?
A: “We love to make music together. As part of both cabinets I look forward to being able to sing harmony to the Bishop.”
Q: Did you ever aspire to be the clergy assistant to the bishop or was it something that just kind of came out of left field?A: “The short answer to that is no, I never envisioned myself in this place and in this position. My whole vision for myself was focused on service to the local church and I was surprised when Bishop Keaton asked me to serve as a district superintendent in the Heartland District. I was planning on retiring from that position and looking forward to it — until the day in his office when he asked if I would be willing to stay on for a few more years to do this position. After prayer, we agreed.”
Q: Having had a few weeks to look around, what does the Michigan Area look like from the top of the mountain compared to being a DS, which you could say is halfway up the mountain? Are there any major surprises early on for you?
A: “The biggest difference is how much bigger the mountain is. The Heartland District was a fair-sized district geographically, but it was still only one part of the mountain, so I have a lot of new names and places to learn. I have an advantage in that I grew up in the Detroit Conference; my home church is Cass City and I served in as an officer in the youth fellowship in the Port Huron District back in the MYF days. I know some pastors and some place because of great memories, but I’m having to learn all new faces and new people — and that’s the steepest (part) of the learning curve as it’s attached to this job.”
Q: Just an individual, what are a few things you would like people to know about you that you feel helps define who you are?
A: “The first thing that some people who know me know and I would like others to know, is I am committed to family. I have four children and six grandchildren, I love spending time with them. I love music — I was a high school band director in a former career. And I love to be part of making music, interestingly enough not as a soloist, but as part of an ensemble; either a quartet or larger group where we can make music in harmony. And I love the church because it gives me the opportunity not only to make music, but to see so much of what we do in harmony.
Q: So when can we expect you and the Bishop to start musically collaborating together?
A: “We love to make music together. As part of both cabinets I look forward to being able to sing harmony to the Bishop.”
