Today, the Georgia United Methodist Foundation announced Carol Johnston as its senior vice president, chief financial officer, and treasurer. Carol, who currently serves as associate vice president and controller for the Foundation, will succeed Russell Jones upon his retirement on June 30, 2024. The Foundation is working to fill the Controller position and further enhance our financial expertise.

Carol Johnston

Carol will assume responsibilities currently held by Russell on July 1, 2024. In addition to 13 years of experience as the Foundation’s associate vice president and controller, Carol is a former CPA and brings more than 35 years of experience in non-profit work and a distinguished background in banking to the CFO role. 

As tenured members of the Foundation’s finance team, Carol and Russell have worked together for more than a decade.  Today, the Foundation has 234.7 million dollars under management due in large part to the partnership between Russell and Carol.

“Russell Jones has served as the financial backbone of the Foundation for 25 years. He has shared his financial talent and business acumen as a steadfast leader of the Foundation. His deep knowledge of software, systems, and financial instruments has served the Foundation well during his tenure. He has helped shepherd the Foundation through many significant changes and his counsel will be greatly missed.” Katrina Voegtlin, Chairperson of the GUMF Audit/Finance Committee. 

Under Russell’s leadership, the Foundation introduced its loan program which currently has over 42 million in loans throughout the state of GA. He also led the transition of the Foundation’s trust administration to in-house, the ongoing expansion of its investment offerings, and played an instrumental role in the merger of the North and South Georgia United Methodist Foundations, which exist today as the Georgia United Methodist Foundation. 

Russell Jones

“In addition to 25 years with the Foundation, Russell served seven years as Assistant Treasurer of the NGA Conference. Russell’s work is greatly appreciated by Methodists throughout the state of Georgia. Russell will be missed at the GUMF, but we celebrate his retirement with his wife Jann.  We hope that they will enjoy may years together in the North Georga mountains!” Elizabeth Coppedge-Henley, President and CEO of the Foundation.

At GUMF our purpose is your mission.  We are grateful to be in ministry with you as we continue to provide faith-based financial solutions for investing, lending, training and planned giving that support the mission of the church. 

For more information about the Georgia United Methodist Foundation, contact Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Coppedge-Henley at elizabethch@gumf.org.