SPRINGFIELD -- Bishop Frank J. Beard announced the appointment of the Rev. Stephen Granadosin, pastor of Industry and Vermont UMC's as Spoon River District superintendent, effective July 1.
"Steve was an easy pick for DS," Beard said in making the announcement. He is a man of integrity that has the respect of his peers and is a prayer warrior."
Born in the Philippines, Granadosin is no stranger to The United Methodist Church as his father, Paul Locke A. Granadosin, served as a bishop of the church in the Philippines, elected in 1968 until his death in 2001. His mother is a deaconess specializing in sacred music. He is married to the Rev. Cecilia Granadosin, an IGRC ordained elder.
Granadosin is in his 13th year of ministry in various capacities. He started as a lay missioner and a local pastor in Washington state -- experience which Beard cited as "invaluable to the Cabinet" as more and more local pastors are filling churches previously served by elders that have retired.
"As our Conference deploys more and more local pastors, Steve's gifts and experiences will help the Cabinet make better and more effective appointments."
While in Washington, he helped provide El Dios Viviente, a Hispanic ministry in Seattle with a venue for worship services. He was one of four pastors who formed a circuit that included the only United Methodist Church in Canada before it was chartered in 2006.
In the Northern Illinois Conference, Granadosin served as interim local pastor in Frankfort UMC and was an associate pastor of Glenview UMC. While there, he was instrumental in raising funds for the Philippines Central Conference Pension Fund through the General Board of Pensions.
Since coming to the IGRC, he has provided leadership through the Conference Board of Global Ministries in leading Volunteer in Mission teams to the Philippines. He has also organized joint youth gatherings and partnered in ministry with the former Nueva Vida Hispanic ministry in Beardstown.
Granadosin answered the call to ministry by attending the Course of Study at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and then moved on to obtain an M.Div. from G-ETS, graduating near the top of his class and receiving the Bishop Edsel A. Ammons Award for Racial Justice and Understanding. While at Garrett, he organized a prayer gathering of Muslim students at Northwestern and Garrett seminary students.
He has an undergraduate degree in psychology and worked seven years as a network administrator for a Bell Company and was a music minister and choir director for more than 20 years.
The Granadosins have three adult children and three grandchildren.