Speaker

Rev. Karen Oehl

Rev. Karen Oehl is lead pastor of Gay Street UMC (Three Rivers District) in Mount Vernon. She served six years as superintendent of the Mid-Ohio District prior to her current appointment.

A second-career pastor, Oehl taught middle school social studies for five years before attending seminary. Her first appointment in the East Ohio Conference was to Wooster UMC, which she served for three years before being appointed to serve Marshallville and Easton UMCs. She later served Apple Creek UMC and Brecksville UMC before being appointed to the Cabinet in 2011.

Oehl grew up going to church camps every summer, and that passion became her path to involvement in the East Ohio Conference. She currently serves on the Three Rivers District Committee on Ordained Ministry, and as a clergy delegate to the postponed 2020 Jurisdictional Conference. She previously served as a delegate to the Special Session of General Conference in 2019 and as a reserve delegate to General Conference 2016 and a delegate to Jurisdictional Conference 2016.

A native of Pittsburgh, Oehl earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Wooster and a Master of Divinity from Methodist Theological School in Ohio. She loves reading, writing, cooking, watching birds, walking in the woods, and spending time in Vermont.

She and her husband Chris are the parents of two adult daughters.