Rev. Doreen Smalls, an ordained elder in the South Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, serves as pastor of M.L. Harris UMC and the Regional Vice President of the Georgia United Methodist Foundation. With 21 years of experience in local churches and extension ministries, she has held several leadership positions, including Associate Director of Connectional Ministries, Conference Secretary of Global Ministries, Southwest District Superintendent, Northwest District Superintendent and Director of Lending for the Georgia United Methodist Foundation. She has served as senior pastor at St. Mary’s Circuit (Carnegie UMC, Greater Pinkney UMC, Pinkney Chapel UMC), Grace UMC and Asbury UMC.

 

Rev. Smalls is deeply committed to the mission and ministries of the United Methodist Church. Before her current role, she served as the Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Georgia United Methodist Foundation. Additionally, she represented the South Georgia Annual Conference at the General Conference and the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference as the head of the delegation.  She has also actively participated in various district and conference committees, including the Board of Ordained Ministry, Board of Missions, Resolutions Committee, and Conference Finance and Administration.

 

Prior to full-time ministry, Doreen had a successful career in healthcare finance and management and last served as a fraud investigator for Medicare.

 

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Personnel Management and Finance from the University of South Carolina and a Master of Divinity in Pastoral Care and Psychology of Religion from Interdenominational Theological Center/Gammon Seminary.

 

In her free time, Rev. Smalls cherishes spending time with her family and enjoys leisure travel.