Bishop L. Jonathan Holston, resident bishop of the South Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, has appointed the Rev. Jim Arant, a conference congregational specialist, as interim director of Conference Connectional Ministries. The appointment is effective March 9, 2020.
Rev. Arant will succeed the Rev. Kathy James, who has served as director of Connectional Ministries since 2012 and is taking an appointment as director of church relations with Epworth Children’s Home.
Rev. Arant was born in Columbia, South Carolina, and graduated from Florence-Darlington Technical College in 1974 with an associate of science degree in civil engineering technology and from Scarritt College in 1978 with a bachelor of arts degree in social welfare and in 1979 with a master of arts degree in Christian world mission.
Rev. Arant was consecrated as a diaconal minister in 1988 and ordained as a deacon in 1997. Prior to his 14 years as a congregational specialist, he served 17 years as associate director for the Nurture Area of the Conference Council on Ministries – the forerunner to Connectional Ministries. Before his appointment to the Council on Ministries, Rev. Arant served Central UMC-Spartanburg and three churches in the Florida Conference.
In addition to Rev. Arant’s work in local churches and on conference staff, he has served in many ways, including as a delegate to one General Conference and two Jurisdictional Conferences. He also has served as a member of the Association of Christian Educators of the Southeastern Jurisdiction.
Rev. Arant is married to the Rev. Ruth H. Arant, a retired deacon. They have two children – Rev. Brian Arant, pastor of Main Street UMC in Abbeville, and Lindsey Arant, who is a first-grade teacher – and five grandchildren. He enjoys playing golf, gardening and woodworking.
