NEWS

Bishop John L. Hopkins announces two cabinet appointments effective July 1

Bishop John L. Hopkins announces the appointments of two new members to the cabinet of the East Ohio Conference.  Reverend Karen Oehl will serve as Mid-Ohio District Superintendent while Reverend James F. Winkler will become Superintendent of the Ohio Valley District. 

Rev. Winkler is finishing his fifth year as senior pastor at Wadsworth United Methodist Church (Canal District).  He has also served a two point charge at Deerfield/Pricetown (Mahoning Valley), 7 years as the associate pastor at Brecksville UMC (North Coast District) and 11 years as senior pastor at Ontario UMC (Mid-Ohio).

A graduate of Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston, MA, Rev. Winkler is concluding his seventh year as Conference Secretary and also served as delegate to both General Conference and Jurisdictional Conference in 2008.
"Jim is a proven servant leader in East Ohio,” says Bishop Hopkins.  “His pastoral record has been outstanding and his faithfulness to Christ is reflected in his gracious personality.  In his work as our Conference Secretary, we have seen the careful way he helps others in their ministry."

Rev. Oehl is completing her fifth year as senior pastor at Brecksville United Methodist Church (North Coast District).  After graduating from the Methodist Theological School in Ohio, Rev. Oehl served a two point charge at Marshallville/Easton (Canal District) and then 4 years at Apple Creek UMC (Canal District) before arriving in Brecksville.

She is part of the secretarial staff each year at Annual Conference and has also served as chair of the Conference Leadership Recruitment Committee (2000-2004) and as chair of the Conference Camps Commission (1988-1992).  

"Karen is an excellent pastor who has provided effective leadership to churches of various sizes in East Ohio,” says Bishop Hopkins.  “Her love of Jesus Christ and His Church is evident in her positive style of encouraging others in ministry.  I look forward to having her on the cabinet."
Rev. Oehl will follow Reverend Dr. Margaret Streiff as Superintendent of the 80 church Mid-Ohio District.  Rev. Winkler succeeds the retiring Reverend Kim L. Anderson in overseeing the 96 churches of the Ohio Valley District.

Bishop Hopkins has high praise for both outgoing superintendents saying, "Kim and Peggy have effectively helped our churches and pastors serve Jesus Christ in a rapidly changing time.  I am deeply grateful for their selfless, courageous ministry to the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. "

The new appointments take effect July 1, 2011.