Conference Executive Staff

James Bushfield

Phone: 317-924-1321
Jim Bushfield was ordained an Elder in the South Indiana Conference in 1980. He was first appointed to Indianapolis’ Good Shepherd in 1975. He has since served Rockdale/New Trenton, Veedersburg, Methodist Temple in Evansville, Milroy, Fairview in Bloomington, Meridian Street in Indianapolis where he served as associate pastor, superintendent of the Columbus District, and Director of Connectional Ministries for the former South Indiana Conference before his current appointment. Bushfield holds M. Div. and D.D. degrees from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. In addition to his pastoral duties, Bushfield co-authored in 1994 with Deborah Bushfield, his wife, the book, Things They Never Taught You in Seminary. Bushfield and his wife Deborah are natives of Indianapolis; the two met as youth during a Methodist Youth Fellowship event at Woodside UMC.

Jennifer Gallagher

Phone: 317-924-1321
Jennifer Gallagher is a Certified Public Accountant with experience in auditing, tax preparation and financial statement compilations. From 1999 to 2004, she served as the controller of the South Indiana Conference and since 2004 has served as treasurer of the South Indiana Conference before taking her current position. A native of Somerset, Pa., she holds a B.A. in Business Administration with a double major in accounting and finance from the University of Pittsburgh. She is married to Ryan Gallagher. They are parents of five children: Carter (10), Sam (10), Jack (8), Riley (8), Olivia (5). The Gallaghers enjoy family time at home and watching children’s sports events.

Dan Gangler

Phone: 317-924-1321
Dan Gangler was ordained an Elder in the Nebraska Conference in 1978 and has served as a pastor of United Methodist churches in Illinois and Nebraska before becoming the Director of Communication in 1983 of the Nebraska Conference. Since leaving Nebraska in 1994, he has served as associate editor of The United Methodist Reporter, a national newspaper based in Dallas; managing editor of The Disciples, the former national magazine of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), director of communication for the Christian Church Finance Council and director of communication for the Indiana Area before his current appointment. In 2006, he transferred his membership to the South Indiana Conference. Gangler, a native of Peoria, Ill., is a graduate of Illinois State University, B.S. in Education; Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill., M.Div. and Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Mo., D.Min. He is married to Enid Gangler and is the father of three adult children who live in Texas.

Mark Gough

Phone: 317-924-1321
Mark Gough was ordained as an Elder in the North Indiana Conference in 1979. During his ministry in Indiana, he has served congregations and other appointments at Millgrove-Union Chapel, Muncie High Street as associate, Muncie Center Chapel, Benjamin-Allan Associates, Associate Director of Local Church Ministries CCOM, Bristol House Ltd., Fort Wayne Taylor Chapel, Goshen First United Methodist Church and Director of Connectional Ministries for the former North Indiana Conference before his current appointment. Even though a native of Winterset, Iowa, he spent his boyhood years in Indiana, before moving to Florida at 16. He returned to Indiana at 19. Gough is a graduate of Anderson (Ind.) University, B.A.; and United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, M.Div. He is married to Paula Gough. They have 14 children, four biological sons, 9 adopted daughters and 1 son from Russia, Ukraine and Latvia, and four grandchildren.

David Owen

Phone: (317) 924-1321
David V. W. Owen was born in San Jose, Calif. and moved with his family to southwest Indiana at the age of four. He considers Lyons, Ind. his hometown. He is a graduate of Indiana State University with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and of Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Ky. (M.Div.). He was ordained an Elder in the South Indiana Conference in 1976 and has served United Methodist churches at Lewis and Shady Grove, the Little York-Zion-Vienna parish, Jacobs Chapel, Acton and Christ UMC in Westfield. He also has served as chaplain at the University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis East District Superintendent and Director of Congregational Development for the South Indiana Conference. Owen is an avid sailor and bicyclist. With his wife June, they have participated in a number of Volunteer In Mission programs and enjoy participating on a regular basis. His favorite snack food is peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, which he claims he could eat daily.

Brent Williams

Phone: 317-924-1321
Brent Williams is a native of Memphis, Tenn. Before coming to his present position, he served 23 years as assistant treasurer and treasurer of the former North Indiana Conference, eight years in local church Christian education and 15 years in retail, credit and banking. He holds a B.A. in Christian Education from the University of Oklahoma, Calvary Bible College, a M.A. in Christian Education from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and a M.B.A. from Indiana Wesleyan University. He is married to Kathy Williams. They have three children, Tim, Cari, Ryan, one deceased child, Brady and one grandchild, Brady. Brent’s interests beyond the conference include: gardening, golfing, movie going, and reading autobiographies.