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Court, Humphrey and Stultz to be appointed as
District Superintendents
Bishop John Hopkins intends to appoint Reverends
Steven Court, James Humphrey and Valerie Stultz to the
East Ohio Conference Cabinet effective July 1. They will
serve the Southern Hills, Three Rivers and Canal
Districts respectively.
District superintendents are appointed by the bishop and
provide spiritual and administrative leadership to the
entire annual conference and serve on the bishop’s
cabinet, which works as a unit on developing the
ministerial appointments to local churches and extension
ministries.
Court to lead Southern Hills
District
Born in Galion, Ohio, Court was confirmed in St Paul’s
UMC and has always been active in the local church as
well as community service organizations.
After earning a Bachelor of Science in Business
Administration from The Ohio State University, he worked
for Exxon Chemical Americas as a systems analyst and
section supervisor in New Jersey and Texas. “I enjoyed
the teamwork, challenge and rewards of corporate life,
but God called me to something more meaningful and
lasting than profitability.”
Court has served as a United Methodist pastor for 20
years including Allerton / Norton and Hope, NJ as well
as Senecaville / Mt Ephraim charges and currently
Strasburg UMC. He received a Masters of Divinity from
Drew Theological School in Madison NJ.
Court is a member of the Annual Conference secretarial
staff, disaster response committee, and is a Natural
Church Development coach. He has also served on the
district committee of ordained ministry, district youth
coordinator and other district leadership. He previously
served the Northern New Jersey annual conference on the
Board of Global Ministries as well as the conference
nominating committee.
He has been active in missions and community outreach
including United Methodist Volunteers in Mission work
teams, community service boards, Interfaith Response to
Ohio Disasters, Rotary, and Habitat for Humanity where
he currently serves as president of Tuscarawas Valley.
“I am humbled and honored to be asked to serve as a
superintendent,” Court said. “This will be an exciting
and challenging time. I pray that we will work and grow
together in mutual ministry bearing fruit worthy of
Christ.”
He and his wife Elsa enjoy cooking, fellowship and
community events. They have three children: Katherine,
Daniel, and Susan who is married to Dan Clewell.
Katherine plans to attend Otterbein College. Susan and
Dan Clewell attend Ohio Northern University.
Humphrey to lead Three Rivers
District
Humphrey was raised on a Columbiana county farm with
three older brothers. A magna cum laude graduate of
Mount Union College, Humphrey received a Bachelor of
Arts degree with a double major in Religion and
Sociology. He received a Master of Divinity Degree from
Asbury Theological Seminary. He also attended the Beeson
Institute for Advanced Church Leadership.
Humphrey, who is currently serving the Doylestown United
Methodist Church, has more than 25 years of pastoral
experience. His previous appointments include the
following churches: Shelby Trinity, Toronto First,
Canfield, and Coalburg.
He has been active on numerous conference and district
boards and committees including the Conference Personnel
Committee, Conference Council on Youth Ministries,
District Youth Coordinator, Conference Board of Global
Ministries, Board of Ordained Ministry, and Conference
Pastoral Advisory Committee.
“I am very thankful for all the experiences I have had
in my five local church appointments. They have all been
wonderful experiences and as each one was different, I
learned and grew in many ways that I think will help me
as a DS,” Humphrey said. “I look forward to working with
and sharing in the ministry of the wonderful and
talented pastors and people in Three Rivers District.”
An avid traveler, Humphrey also enjoys music, both
singing and playing the keyboard.
Stultz to lead Canal District
Raised in Chagrin
Falls, Ohio, Stultz attended Ohio Wesleyan
University and graduated from the State University
of New York at Plattsburgh. Valerie taught in the
public schools, both in the classroom and as a tutor
of children with learning disabilities.
Prior to her entrance into seminary, she trained
volunteers for a crisis intervention, information
and referral service. She also served as an alcohol
and drug counselor for Delaware County. Stultz
received two degrees from The Methodist Theological
School in Ohio: a Master of Divinity and a Master of
Arts in Liturgical Arts. She also holds a Doctor of
Divinity Degree in Leadership from Wesley Seminary.
Currently serving The United Methodist Church of
Berea, her previous appointments include Kilbourne
UMC, Main Street UMC in Mansfield, Trinity UMC in
Orrville and the superintendency of the Mount Vernon
District. Stultz defines her ministry as being
called to connect persons to Christ. She delights in
working in a community that invites all persons to
stretch and grow in love and grace.
“After the shock of receiving Bishop Hopkins’
invitation to lead the Canal District abated and the
anticipatory grief of leaving my beloved
congregation began to subside, inklings of curiosity
and joy swept through my soul. From past experience
I know these inklings to be a signal of God’s call
and claim upon my life. Therefore, I am both humbled
and grateful as I accept our bishop’s invitation to
become the Superintendent of the Canal District.”
Stultz and her husband Buck are the parents of three
adult children.
Bishop John Hopkins said “I am thankful for the
gifts, experiences and spirit that Steve, Jim and
Valerie are bringing as spiritual leaders to the
annual conference, their respective districts and to
the cabinet.” |
