Bishop Names Next Executive Assistant to the Bishop and Next Director of Connectional Ministries

Bishop Robin Dease has announced two new cabinet-level appointments effective July 1, 2024.

Rev. Dr. Rodrigo Cruz will serve as the next Executive Assistant to the Bishop and Rev. Laurie Moeller will serve as the next Director of Connectional Ministries. 

"I am very excited to be working with these two leaders who both have a love for the local church that will continue even as they serve in new roles," said Bishop Dease.

Rev. Dr. Rodrigo Cruz
Rodrigo was born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico where he practiced criminal law before transitioning into full-time ministry in 2006.

After moving to the United States with his family, he joined the North Georgia Conference, serving at Northbrook UMC, the church that the Cruz family dearly loves and considers their home church.

Rodrigo received his Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary in 2012, became an Ordained Elder in The United Methodist Church in 2015, and received his Doctor of Ministry in Church Leadership Excellence from Wesley Theological Seminary in 2016.

In January of 2016, Rodrigo and his family launched, in their living room, a multi-ethnic movement of faith called The Nett Church, in Gwinnett County. The vision of the church is for Nations to Experience Transformation in Jesus Together, while reflecting on Sunday mornings the diversity of the school systems from Monday through Friday.

In 2020, Rodrigo was appointed Superintendent of the Central East District of the North Georgia Conference overseeing churches in Gwinnett, Barrow, Walton, Oconee, and Clark County, while continuing as lead pastor of The Nett UMC.

In 2022, The Nett was named one of the top 100 reproducing churches in the country by Outreach Magazine. Currently the church is doing ministry on five unique campuses across Gwinnett County. In 2019 and 2023, Rodrigo was voted by the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as one of the 50 most influential Latinos in the State of Georgia.

Rodrigo is married to Kelly, a California native and Preschool Director, and together they have 5 children RJ (18 years old), Natalia (15 years old), Gabriel (12 years old), Benjamin (9 years old), and Jona (4-year-old). 

He follows Rev. Dr. Terry Walton who has announced his retirement as of June 30. 

Rev. Laurie Moeller
Laurie joins the Office of Connectional Ministries having served as senior pastor of Northbrook UMC in Roswell since 2017, a church known for its outreach, showing love for its community, developing and sending leaders, and its strong United Methodist connection. 

She is a graduate of Texas Christian University and received her Masters of Divinity in 1997 from Candler School of Theology, Emory University. 

In her career, Laurie has served at Level Creek UMC in Suwannee, Mt. Zion UMC Marietta, Brookhaven UMC Atlanta, Marietta First UMC, Stripling Chapel UMC Carrrollton, and First UMC in Ponca City Oklahoma.

She is married to Rev. John Moeller, also an elder in the North Georgia Conference, who serves as the CEO of Inspiritus, a nonprofit organization working to help people in the midst of crisis. 

They have two daughters, Anna Kate, who is a senior at Mississippi State University, and Sara who is a freshman at Ole Miss. 

Laurie follows Rev. Blair Boyd Zant and Rev. Brian Tillman who each carried a portion of the work of Connectional Ministries in their portfolio. Blair begins an appointment as senior pastor of Chamblee First UMC and Brian begins an appointment as pastor of Central UMC Atlanta as of July 1.