General Board of Pension and Health Benefits Selects CFO

For Immediate Release
September 18, 2006

Contact: Colette Nies, Managing Director—Communications
(847) 866-4296 or cnies@gbophb.org

Evanston, IL—The General Board of Pension and Health Benefits of The United Methodist Church today announced the selection of Sharon E. Strother as chief financial officer, ending a months-long search. In her new position, beginning November 6, Ms. Strother will oversee the General Board's accounting and actuarial departments.

Ms. Strother comes to the General Board from the North Carolina Conference, Southeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church, where she has been treasurer, business manager and pension officer since 2002, and controller from 1990 to 2002. Prior to joining the conference, she was an in-charge auditor for McGladrey & Pullen, CPAs; the accounting manager for the City of Fayetteville, NC; an accountant/auditor for Cherry, Bekaert & Holland, CPAs; and an auditor for the North Carolina State Auditor's Department. She is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration from Methodist College, Fayetteville, NC.

"The selection of Sharon Strother caps a long search for this critical General Board position," commented General Secretary Barbara Boigegrain, chief executive of the General Board. "Her personal integrity, extensive financial background and demonstrated dedication to securing the financial future of clergy and lay workers in her conference make her well-suited to support the General Board in our mission of caring for those who serve."

About the General Board

The General Board of Pension and Health Benefits is a not-for-profit administrative agency of The United Methodist Church, responsible for the general supervision and administration of the retirement, health and welfare benefit plans, programs and funds for more than 65,000 clergy and lay employees of the Church.

The General Board manages and invests over $14 billion dollars in assets.

As a socially responsible investor, the General Board is actively involved in shareholder advocacy, proxy voting, portfolio screening and community investing.