DS Search Process
The Nominating Committee is sharing regular updates on the 2026 District Superintendent search process leading up to the election on September 22, 2026. You can continue to check back here for the latest information.
Posted June 10, 2026
District Superintendent Nominee Announcement
District Family,
This Nominating Committee began its work in the Fall of 2025 to identify the best possible nominee to serve as our next district superintendent. Using your insights and feedback from the district survey and business conference, a profile for our district and for the ideal superintendent were created by DEXCOM. These profiles have been foundational for our work as a committee on your behalf.
In all, we received 22 nominations (totaling 4 potential candidates) from you and added several potential candidates to that list as a committee. After vetting from the National Office, we reached out to about 15 potential candidates to inquire about their willingness to be considered for this important role. Those who were willing submitted resumes and responses to a couple of brief introductory questions about calling and district vision. They then submitted answers to a detailed questionnaire designed to assess their readiness, competency and capacity for the role of district superintendent.
This process led us to identify two extremely qualified and impressive candidates as finalists, both of whom were among your initial nominations. We met with these finalists, along with their wives, in person for lengthy interviews to get an even better grasp on their calling, alignment with and perspective on district vision, and fit with the profile created through your input. Each candidate demonstrated unique strengths and giftedness.
After extensive discussion and debrief as a committee, we took ten days to earnestly seek the Lord for clarity and direction, as well as discernment regarding the leader our district needs in this season. Coming together again as a committee, we thanked God for two terrific candidates, each of whom we all would have been delighted to serve under. Through prayer and discussion, a strong and unified sense of conviction, however, emerged within the committee regarding one candidate.
Therefore, after much prayer and discernment, we are very pleased to announce our nominee for the next Eastern PA District Superintendent: Alan Rathbun.
Having served in our district as a youth pastor, church planter, pastor and on district staff, Alan is uniquely aware of the opportunities, challenges and diversity of our region and its churches. Moreover, he has built meaningful relationships, along with the trust and respect of our workers. This was obvious by the number of nominations he received for this role. Likewise, he has shown the ability to do this across the board, from rural to urban locales as well as in cross-cultural settings. Alan has an obvious love for our district, its churches and workers.
Alan’s service on district staff over the last 12 years, working under both Nate Howard and Terry Smith, has also prepared him well for the role and function of district superintendent. He is deeply invested in the district vision and seeing it continue to be effectively implemented in order to empower churches to make disciples. He is committed to equipping pastors and developing leaders. Additionally, his gifting positions him well to serve as a shepherd, pastoring our district pastors. As official workers, you communicated this to us with clarity as the most important function of our next district superintendent.
Throughout the interview process, Alan demonstrated a combination of humility, wisdom, insight, alignment with district vision and a genuine shepherd’s heart that consistently resonated with the qualities identified in the district superintendent profile. For these reasons, we believe Alan is uniquely prepared to lead our district in this season and are honored to put his name before you as the nominee.
When we meet together as a district on September 22, 2026, at Immanuel Church in Mechanicsburg for district business conference, we will vote for our next District Superintendent. Alan’s name will be on that ballot. It is possible for you to make a nomination from the floor. However, for that to happen, several steps must be followed:
Those desiring to make a nomination must first secure the permission of the nominee.
Contact the District Office to get a copy of the candidate questionnaire.
The completed questionnaire, along with the candidate’s resume, should be sent to the office of the V.P. for National Church Ministries for approval.
If approved, the candidate will go through the proper vetting process necessary at the national level, after which their name would be added to the slate for the election.
All nominations from the floor must be submitted to the V.P. for National Church Ministries within 30 days of this notice (July 10, 2026).
At least 30 days in advance of the election (roughly August 22nd), a second reading of the Nominating Committee report will be distributed via email with any additional nominees.
Thank you all for your prayer support throughout this time. It has been a privilege for us to serve the district family in this way, and we continue to pray with all of you as we move toward this important election. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact any of us.
With gratitude,
Adam Eshbaugh, chair
Dan Min, vice-chair
Michael Carletti, secretary
Kevin Cornish
Paul Fuller
Xavier Godoy
Christine Prough
Nithin Thompson
Posted May 14, 2026
Final Stage in the DS Search Process
District Family,
Over the past several weeks, the Nominating Committee has continued its review and discernment process with the candidates who moved forward from the initial stages. After engaging with candidates, reviewing resumes and questionnaires, prayerfully evaluating responses, and spending considerable time in discussion together, we have now identified a small group of finalists who will participate in in-person interviews later this month.
Please continue to pray for the finalists and their families, for wisdom and discernment for the committee, and for the Lord to make His direction increasingly clear as we move toward the final stages of this process.
Thank you so much for your continued prayers!
On behalf of the entire Nominating Committee,
Adam Eshbaugh, Chairman
Posted March 10, 2026
Next Stage in the DS Search Process
District Family,
As we continue seeking the Lord’s direction for our next District Superintendent, I’d like to share a brief update.
Upon receiving feedback from the National Office, the Nominating Committee contacted nominees to inform them of their nomination and to invite them to prayerfully consider moving forward in the process. For those who were open, we requested resumes and short answers to a handful of introductory questions.
After reviewing the responses, the committee has now narrowed the field and invited a smaller group of candidates to proceed to the next phase of the process. These individuals have been sent a detailed questionnaire designed to help us further discern their spiritual life, ministry experience, leadership capacity, and sense of calling in relation to the role of District Superintendent.
We will continue to do our best to keep you informed as the process moves forward. Please continue to pray for wisdom and discernment for the committee, for the candidates and their families, and for God’s clear direction as we move into this next stage.
On behalf of the entire Nominating Committee,
Adam Eshbaugh, Chairman
Posted January 19, 2026
Next Steps for the Nominating Committee
District Family,
Over the course of the last month, we have received over 20 nomination responses for our next District Superintendent. Thank you for engaging this process thoughtfully and prayerfully. The nomination window is now closed.
The names you submitted, along with those proposed by the Nominating Committee, have allowed us to develop a strong list of potential candidates. This list has been submitted to the National Office for review and vetting. Once their review is complete, our committee will contact each nominee to inform them of their nomination and inquire about their willingness to become a candidate. Our hope is complete this step by the end of the month, at which point the search will move into the next stage of candidate review and consideration.
We will do our best to continue to keep you informed as the process allows. Please continue to pray regularly for the committee and for God’s guidance throughout this process.
On behalf of the entire Nominating Committee,
Adam Eshbaugh, Chairman
*Please note: The National Office has requested that individuals do NOT notify those they’ve nominated.
Posted December 3, 2025
Update on District Superintendent
Search Process
District Family,
Next year, we will be electing a new District Superintendent. To that end, DEXCOM has appointed a Nominating Committee which, among other responsibilities, is tasked with conducting an exhaustive search for a viable candidate to serve as our next District Superintendent. This process will culminate in an election at our District Business Conference on September 22, 2026, at Immanuel Church in Mechanicsburg.
The Nominating Committee—consisting of the following members from across our district—has already begun meeting and praying together:
Adam Eshbaugh, chair - Hope Alliance Church, Bethlehem
Dan Min, vice-chair - State College Alliance Church, State College
Mike Carletti, secretary - Mosaic Alliance Church, York
Kevin Cornish - Harrison Valley Alliance Church, Harrison Valley
Paul Fuller - Citylight Church, Philadelphia
Xavier Godoy - El Camino, Chambersburg
Christine Prough - Pine Glen Alliance Church, Lewistown
Nithin Thompson - City Alliance Church, Williamsport
In the coming weeks, you will have the opportunity to submit nominations for District Superintendent. For now, however, we are writing to ask you to join us in committing to regular, concerted prayer. Pray for the Nominating Committee—that we would walk in wisdom, discernment, unity and a clear leading of the Holy Spirit. Pray also for the search process itself, that it will be effective, fruitful and bring great glory to God.
Our aim is to present a candidate to you by mid-summer who is uniquely suited to lead our district in this season. In coordination with DEXCOM, we have prepared a District Superintendent profile. Your input through the district-wide survey and conversation at District Business Conference was invaluable in helping bring clarity and precision to this document. We believe it accurately reflects the qualities and experience needed in our next superintendent. Please use it as a guide to your prayers—for our committee, and for the emergence of quality candidates for this important role.
Thank you for your faithful prayers for our district and those engaged in this process. We will be in touch soon and look forward to seeking God’s will together.
On behalf of the entire Nominating Committee,
Adam Eshbaugh, Chairman