MTSO alumni and students ordained and commissioned by United Methodist conferences

Methodist Theological School in Ohio celebrates the ordination and commissioning of its alumni and current students by nine conferences of the United Methodist Church. The ceremonies were held during annual conferences over the past two months.

The listing below is compiled alphabetically by conference.

Detroit

The following were commissioned as provisional elders:

• MTSO student Robert A. Miller Jr., pastor at Plainfield UMC and Trinity UMC in Fowlerville.
• Alumnus Rahim Omar Shabazz, pastor at Poseyville UMC and Saginaw West Michigan Avenue UMC.
• Alumnus Brian Gregory West, pastor of Laingsburg UMC.

East Ohio

Two MTSO alumni were ordained as elders:

• Paula Archdeacon, pastor at Columbiana UMC.
• Lenore Robinson, pastor of Ashland Emmanuel UMC.

Alumna Carrie Antczak, associate at Bay UMC in Bay Village, was commissioned as a provisional deacon.

Three alumni were commissioned as provisional elders:

• Patrice Brewer, pastor of Church of the Redeemer in Cleveland Heights.
• David Hull-Frye, pastor at Woodsfield UMC.
• Samuel Troyer, pastor at Apple Creek UMC.

Indiana

The following alumni were ordained as elders:

• Colin Christopher Cress, associate pastor of discipleship of Plainfield UMC.
• James Hiram Higdon, pastor of Fountain UMC and Oak Grove UMC in Corydon.

John Edgar Huff was commissioned as a provisional elder. He is pastor of Brook UMC.

Kentucky Annual Conference

Courtney Spear was ordained as a deacon. She has been appointed to an extension ministry at Valley Hope Centre.

Susquehanna (Pennsylvania)

Kristin Wall-Love was commissioned as a provisional elder. She will serve as pastor of Hope UMC in Port Trevorton.

West Michigan

Alumna DeAnn J. Dobbs, pastor of Indian River UMC, was ordained as elder.

West Ohio

These three MTSO alumni were ordained as elders:

• April Blaine, lead pastor at Summit on 16th UMC in Columbus.
• Nancy Day-Achauer, pastor at St. Mark's UMC in Columbus.
• Paul Ernst, pastor at North UMC and Parkview UMC in Columbus.

MTSO alum Julia Nielsen, who was ordained as deacon, is minister at Hilltonia UMC and New Horizons UMC in Columbus. She also serves as executive director of the Greater Hilltop Area Shalom Zone, which provides economic, cultural, religious and social activities that enhance the quality of life in Columbus's Hilltop area.

These three MTSO alumni were commissioned as provisional elders:

• Christopher Henderson-Johns, who serves Anderson Hills UMC in Cincinnati through the West Ohio Annual Conference residency program.
• Dawn Marie Swartz, who serves New Dover UMC and Ostrander UMC.
• John Wooden, pastor at Stone Village Church in Columbus.

West Virginia

Richard Basil Waller, pastor of Mt. Union UMC in Pliny and Buffalo UMC, was ordained as an elder.

Joseph Bruce Allen Hill was commissioned as a provisional elder. He is associate pastor of Johnson Memorial UMC inHuntington.

Yellowstone

These two MTSO alumni were ordained as elders:

• Jeremy Scott, pastor at Evangelical UMC in Billings, Mont.
• Darla "Dolly" Rae Collins, who is pastor of Shelby, Sunburst and Valier UMCs in Montana.

Methodist Theological School in Ohio prepares leaders of many faith traditions for lives of significance in service to the church and the world. The school offers master's degrees in divinity, counseling ministries, theological studies and practical theology, as well as a Doctor of Ministry degree. For more information, visit www.mtso.edu.

CONTACT:
Danny Russell, director of communications
drussell@mtso.edu, 740-362-3322