Bruce Cromwell
Superintendent
Superintendent Bruce Cromwell came to Kansas in 2018 to serve the Great Plains Conference, and also began serving the Mid-America Conference in 2020. He has over 3 decades of pastoral experience, serving 7 Free Methodist Churches in 4 states. An ordained elder since 1996, he holds a Ph.D. in Historical Theology from St. Louis University, with an emphasis on the Early Church.
Dr. Cromwell has served the Free Methodist Church as a board member for the African Immigrant Ministries, as Vice-President of the Free Methodist Urban Fellowship, and as President of the Impact:Europe board. He also has been a member of the denominational Board of Administration and currently serves as a member of the Study Commission on Doctrine.
Beyond this, he is a member of the board of trustees at Central Christian College of Kansas and serves as the Protestant Chair for the Catholic-Evangelical Dialogue, representing the Free Methodist Church on this nationwide network sponsored by the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops.
He takes seriously his call as an overseer to guard the faith, seek the unity, and to exercise the discipline of the Free Methodist Church, supervising and supporting the life, work, and mission of all the pastors, churches, and ministries throughout the Central Region Conference and beyond.
Dr. Cromwell and his wife, the Rev. Dr. Mindi Grieser Cromwell, have two sons and live in McPherson, Kansas.
Dr. Cromwell has served the Free Methodist Church as a board member for the African Immigrant Ministries, as Vice-President of the Free Methodist Urban Fellowship, and as President of the Impact:Europe board. He also has been a member of the denominational Board of Administration and currently serves as a member of the Study Commission on Doctrine.
Beyond this, he is a member of the board of trustees at Central Christian College of Kansas and serves as the Protestant Chair for the Catholic-Evangelical Dialogue, representing the Free Methodist Church on this nationwide network sponsored by the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops.
He takes seriously his call as an overseer to guard the faith, seek the unity, and to exercise the discipline of the Free Methodist Church, supervising and supporting the life, work, and mission of all the pastors, churches, and ministries throughout the Central Region Conference and beyond.
Dr. Cromwell and his wife, the Rev. Dr. Mindi Grieser Cromwell, have two sons and live in McPherson, Kansas.
Denise Abston
Conference Administrator
Conference Administrator Denise J. Abston brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this
important role. The first female ordained in the more than 100 year history of what was the Mid-
America Conference, she served as lead pastor for 4 churches in Oklahoma as well as in many
assistant roles. A member of both the Conference MEG/MAC and the BoA, she has also served as
the Assistant to the Superintendent for several years.
Dr. Denise received her Doctor of Christian Counseling degree from Omega Bible Institute and
Seminary, as well as a Masters of Arts in Leadership in Ministry from Greenville University. With her
education and experience she has taught courses primarily in philosophy and business at St. Gregory’s
University as an adjunct professor.
An office administrator and paralegal for the Oklahoma City law firm of Fenton, Fenton, Smith, Reneau
& Moon, she has served as the chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee for the Association of
Legal Administrators for the Oklahoma City chapter and was President of the chapter from 2014-2015.
Dr. Denise also serves on the Butterfield Memorial Foundation Board and is chair of its governance
committee.
Denise is happily married to her husband Chuck, who has been very gracious in allowing her a great deal
of freedom to explore all the avenues God has prepared for her. They have been married 38 years.
important role. The first female ordained in the more than 100 year history of what was the Mid-
America Conference, she served as lead pastor for 4 churches in Oklahoma as well as in many
assistant roles. A member of both the Conference MEG/MAC and the BoA, she has also served as
the Assistant to the Superintendent for several years.
Dr. Denise received her Doctor of Christian Counseling degree from Omega Bible Institute and
Seminary, as well as a Masters of Arts in Leadership in Ministry from Greenville University. With her
education and experience she has taught courses primarily in philosophy and business at St. Gregory’s
University as an adjunct professor.
An office administrator and paralegal for the Oklahoma City law firm of Fenton, Fenton, Smith, Reneau
& Moon, she has served as the chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee for the Association of
Legal Administrators for the Oklahoma City chapter and was President of the chapter from 2014-2015.
Dr. Denise also serves on the Butterfield Memorial Foundation Board and is chair of its governance
committee.
Denise is happily married to her husband Chuck, who has been very gracious in allowing her a great deal
of freedom to explore all the avenues God has prepared for her. They have been married 38 years.
Audrey Kaufmann
Conference Assistant
Audrey stepped into the role of administrative assistant for the former Great Plains Conference in 2021
after a career shift from working as a designer for an interior design business. She has been a member of
her local Free Methodist church since 2018 after attending for several years prior. Audrey loves being able
to support and assist the pastors and churches in the Central Region Conference so that together, we can
be more fruitful for the kingdom of God.
Audrey is married to Jordan and together, they have two children, Jack and Piper.
after a career shift from working as a designer for an interior design business. She has been a member of
her local Free Methodist church since 2018 after attending for several years prior. Audrey loves being able
to support and assist the pastors and churches in the Central Region Conference so that together, we can
be more fruitful for the kingdom of God.
Audrey is married to Jordan and together, they have two children, Jack and Piper.