2010-Present    Interim Minister
Trinity Church, United Church of Christ
8101 Manchester Ave NW
Canal Fulton OH 44614

Joined with the congregation to work their way through the transition from one pastor to the next. We are hoping to rekindle enthusiasm and energy for this congregation with a great deal of unrealized potential.

2007-Present    Congregational Consultant & Ministerial Coach
Pro-Vision
4123 Monterey Dr
Medina OH 44256

Provide consulting services to churches and non-profit organizations using Appreciative Inquiry to help organization discover its core values, and develop a new sense of vision and anticipation regarding organizational change and future planning.

As a Ministerial Coach, I use Emotional Intelligence and Appreciative Inquiry to help pastors and other leaders grow and discover their own potential for excellence.

See my Consultant and Coach page for more details.

2008-2010    Interim Minister
Emmanuel United Church of Christ
6656 Center Rd
Valley City OH 44280

Served as interim as EUCC conducted its search for a full-time called minister. Working with Appreciative Inquiry we conducted a congregation wide study to identify the core values, dreams and vision held by the congregation. I lead the core leaders of the congregation through a course in conflict management. After 15 months the congregation voted to call a new minister.

2007-2008        Designated Pastor
New Vision United Church of Christ
3129 Market Ave N
Canton OH 44714

I spent a year as the designated pastor a New Vision UCC. This radically inclusive new church start is proud to be an Open and Affirming, Just Peace, Environmentally conscious congregation. While at New Vision, I led the church through a process of self assessment and discovery that lead to a clear and concise vision statement. We also reorganized in order to more effectively focus the church’s efforts on evangelism and church growth.

2007-2007        Interim Minister
First United Church of Christ
280 E Market
Warren OH 44481

Use my skill and training in Appreciative Inquiry and Emotional Intelligence to help this small inner city congregation located in economically depressed area to re-envision its future and prepare for calling its next full-time and permanent pastor. Part-time position. I was with First UCC for ten months from February through November.

2004-2007        Interim Conference Minister
Illinois South Conference
1312 Broadway
Highland IL 62249

Served as Executive Minister for this organization consisting of 87 United Church of Christ congregations in the southern third of Illinois. Provided staff supervision, strategic planning (using Appreciative Inquiry) and helped heal after breach of trust by previous Conference Minister. Moved conference through a period of intense anger, financial crisis in preparation for calling a new permanent Conference Minister.

2003-2004        New Church Start Interim Pastor
25 Marion St
Princeton IL 61356

Organized initial group of people forming a new United church of Christ congregation. Provided healing and pastoral care following severe conflict in previous church. Helped congregation prepare for and call its first permanent pastor.

2000-2003        Minister and Team Leader
Parish Life and Leadership Ministry Team (PLL)
Local Church Ministries (A Covenanted Ministry of the United Church of Christ)
United Church of Christ Denominational Offices
Cleveland OH

Trained trainers; organized organizations; consulted w/ consultants as executive team leader for denominational agency w/ responsibility for leadership development & congregational vitality.

Designed & formed new agency after denominational reorganization and restructure. Configured, recruited & called entire 16-member team. Developed leadership, trained, coached, oriented 15 staff new to national staff work. Identified & engaged consultants to supplement team building & organization formation effort.

Led strategic planning for all 110 staff of LCM and Board of Directors in the face of declining financial resources & staff reductions.

Wrote, edited, published several major resources for the denomination related to organization systems and leadership. Developed & lead a major consultation process re ministerial formation & leadership development for the church. Nation-wide program involving hundreds of key leaders throughout mainland, Puerto Rico & Hawaii. Involved about a dozen major gatherings w/ creation of numerous sub groups & networks over ten-year period. Facilitated hard & often contentious debate & strategic planning between/among persons w/ very different expectations & perspectives.

Consulted w/ national and regional church leaders re professional ethics of church leaders and impact on organizational vitality.

Developed resources & trained middle judicatory staff in congregational consultation & intervention following ethical violations by key leaders, conflict & other “challenging” situations.

1994-2000        Minister for Church Life and Leadership
Office for Church Life and Leadership
United Church of Christ Denominational Offices
Cleveland OH

Consulted nationwide w/ middle judicatories. Developed policies, systems & procedures related to congregational vitality & leadership development.

Designed & conducted numerous training events.

Wrote, edited, produced resources related to organizational systems & leadership development.

Collaborated w/ practitioners in research & program/resource design/development.

1988-1994        Associate Conference Minister
Western Association
Minnesota Conference United Church of Christ
Alexandria MN

Congregational consultant & conflict intervention. Pastoral care & consultation to clergy & lay leaders.

Recruited, trained & formed teams of fifty employed & volunteer leaders annually.

Developed church based programs, resources,  & processes in response to sexual abuse crisis. Worked with MN state council of churches and broader ecumenical community.

Trained religious leaders of middle judicatory re consulting & intervention following sexual abuse. Nation-wide program sponsored by National Council of Churches (USA.)

1986-1987        Pastor of multiple staff congregation
First United Church of Christ
Burlington IA

Helped bring old history of leadership ethical violations to the surface & assisted church leaders in assessing need to address deep-seated dysfunction.

1974-1986        Solo Pastor & Larger Parish Team Member
St Paul’s United Church of Christ
Pioneer Larger Parish
Woodsfield OH

Reconciled Congregation following conflict with previous pastor.

Consulted with six congregations in Monroe County OH re community organization & community-based mission and development

Brought medical clinic & doctors to the area.

Mediated threatened teacher strike.

Volunteer firefighter: department office & state certified county trainer.

1971-1974    Pastor small rural yoked parish
Wentworth Congregational Church
West Rumney Community Church
Wentworth & West Rumney NH

Pastored and lead 2 very small churches in New England rural Appalachia.

Community activities: Volunteer firefighter. Initiated training program in volunteer fire department. Contributed to its renewal and rebirth.