The Gulf States Mennonite Conference Executive Committee has announced Jeff Landis as the next conference minister. Landis began the part-time role on Aug. 1.

A task force consisting of Carol Roth, Mike Clymer, Milli Floyd and Horace McMillon worked to determine what responsibilities the conference minister position should include. Gulf States had been operating without a conference minister for four years.

“Being as small as our conference is at present, we took our former leadership council and conference minister job description that was held by former pastors and combined them into one position,” said Roth, who is moderator of Gulf States. “We are sensing the need for a conference minister position to provide support to our pastors and to represent Gulf States Mennonite Conference in the broader scope of Mennonite Church USA.”

Roth said Landis’ position is a “pilot” that will be evaluated in a year.

“I care about the pastors. I care about the conference. I love the people of Gulf States,” Landis said. “I’m excited to be a part of continuing to hold together this wonderfully diverse group of people.”

Landis, who lives in Meridian, Mississippi, and attends Jubilee Mennonite Church, previously served as conference moderator and executive committee representative. He and his wife, Cheryl, were co-directors of Pine Lake Fellowship Camp. Landis served as a youth leader and then youth pastor at Jubilee Mennonite Church.

Currently, Landis is a teacher in the Lauderdale County School District in Mississippi. He is married to Cheryl Freed Landis and has three children: Katya, Joshua and Matthew and a granddaughter, Teagan.