Speaker

Rev. Karen Burtner Graham

Rev. Karen Burtner Graham is pastor of Lakeside United Methodist Church (Firelands District), to which she was appointed in 2018. Ordained an Elder in 1987, she previously served Tiro UMC (1984-1990), Mogadore UMC (1990-2000), Streetsboro UMC (2000-2005), Church of the Redeemer in Cleveland Heights (2005-2012), and New Concord UMC (2012-2017).  

Throughout her pastoral ministry, Graham has served on several boards and committees, including the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, the Conference Episcopacy Committee, District Lay Servant, District Superintendency and Finance Committees, and each district Committee on Ministry. She was named the Canal District Pastor of the Year in 2005, and the North Coast District Pastor of the Year in 2010. 

Graham is a member of the 2019 class of Leadership Ottawa County and currently serves as a compass group coordinator and as a trainer in the principles of the Rule of Christ. She is also chairperson of the East Ohio Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships, which received a local initiative grant from the Council of Bishops for the 2018-2019 year to develop information cards about OCUIR to be shared with congregations and annual conferences. 

She earned her undergraduate degree from Earlham (IN) College and her Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt University Divinity School.