District Superintendent

The Rev. Wanda Jean Taylor Bess was called to ministry in 1984.  She was ordained Deacon in the Texas Annual Conference in 2000 and Elder of the Texas Annual Conference in 2002.  Rev. Bess’s early education was in San Antonio, Texas and high school, Goliad, Texas. She attended HCC, Houston and Houston Graduate School of Theology. She is an alumni of (COS) Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX. Her home church is Windsor Village UMC, Houston, Texas where she accepted her call to ministry. Her tenure in ministry has been over 22 years. She served as the assisting pastor of Covenant Glen UMC, Missouri City, Texas  (1990 – 1993), full time associate pastor, Covenant Glen  UMC, Missouri City, Texas (1993 – 1997), senior pastor Boynton Chapel  UMC , (third ward) Houston, Texas (1997 – 2005),  senior pastor (multicultural Ministry) McCabe Roberts Avenue UMC, Beaumont, Texas (2005 – 2009), senior pastor Blueridge UMC, (Sunnyside) Houston, Texas (2009- 1014).  In connection with her appointment, she has served on numerous boards and agencies.  She has served on both the District and Conference Board of Ordained Ministry (2004 – 2008), Clergy Mentor (Residency), Conference Core Leadership Team, Black Methodist for Church Renewal, Vibrant Church Initiative, Lay Academy Initiative for young pastors, National Black Clergy Women and others.  On July 1, 2014, Rev. Wanda Bess was appointed by Bishop Janice Riggle Huie of the Texas Annual Conference, District Superintendent, an extension of the office of bishop.

She was married 38 years to the late John Arnold Bess, Houston, Texas. She has two daughters, Temeka Bess and Crystal Warner, five grandchildren. Her passion and ministry is to women who have been called to “Gods divinely inspired purpose.”

 Administrative Assistant

Debbie Keim is the Administrative Assistant for the West District Office.  She graduated from Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Texas with an Associates degree in Computer Science.   After college, she worked for several banks programming computers. She got married and put her career on hold in order to take care of her family.

While raising her children, she volunteered her time in the classroom and on various committees and boards in the military community.  After 17 moves in 26 years, Debbie and her family settled in College Station in 2004 when her husband, Colonel Steven Keim, was assigned to the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M University.  She worked as the Office Manager at A&M United Methodist Church in College Station for four years and then joined the staff of the West District in 2009.