Bishop Bridgeforth to appoint Rev. Mark Galang as Director of Discipleship and Congregational Transitions
Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth intends to appoint the Rev. Mark Galang as Director of Discipleship and Congregational Transitions for the Pacific Northwest Conference of The United Methodist Church, effective July 1, 2026.

In this role, Rev. Galang will help organize, develop, and nurture discipleship systems across the connection, equipping local churches and leaders to grow in faithful, intentional, and contextually relevant ways. His work will include accompanying congregations and faith communities as they navigate seasons of transition and change, whether that means shifting from program-sized churches to more familial expressions of ministry, or cultivating new and emerging forms of church within their unique contexts.
Rev. Galang brings a deep commitment to discipleship, a collaborative spirit, and a passion for developing leaders within diverse ministry settings.
He currently serves as District Superintendent of the Puget Sound District, a role he has held for the past eight years, where he has walked closely with clergy, laity and congregations through seasons of growth, transition, and renewal.
We give thanks for his faithful and steady leadership during his tenure as District Superintendent, and for the ways he has strengthened the life of the Church across the district. His experience in both local church leadership and connectional ministry reflects a heart for guiding communities through change while remaining rooted in the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
He will serve as part of the Office of Connectional Ministries, collaborating with conference leaders to resource and support the mission and vision of the Pacific Northwest Conference. He will also serve as a member of the Greater Northwest Area Ministry Cabinet, contributing to the shared discernment and leadership of the Church across the region.
This appointment reflects the Conference’s continued commitment to strengthening discipleship, supporting adaptive leadership, and walking alongside congregations as they respond to the changing and diverse landscapes of ministry with courage, creativity, and faith.
We look forward to the leadership Rev. Galang will bring and to the ways his gifts will help deepen the life and witness of the Church across the Pacific Northwest.
May God continue to shape us into a faithful and fruitful people, as we walk together in this new season of ministry.
Rev. David Valera
Executive Director of Connectional Ministries
Pacific Northwest Conference














