Bishop Tracy S. Malone appointed the Rev. Cindy Patterson as Board of Ministry Administrative Coordinator, effective January 1, 2019.

The part-time, 20-hours per week Board of Ministry Administrative Coordinator position was created by an action of Annual Conference 2018 that did not increase the apportioned budget.  Patterson will partner with the Board of Ministry to create systems that support the culture of call and excellence in the lifelong journey of ministry in the East Ohio Conference; support recruitment efforts of the Board across a diverse population of potential clergy; facilitate candidacy work conversation among local churches, district Committees on Ministry and the Board of Ministry; and maintain clergy and financial records.

“I am excited,” Patterson said.  “To me, this has come full circle from first seeing the need for the position when I served on the Board of Ordained Ministry in the late 1990s and early 2000s to now being appointed to fill the newly-created position and being able to partner with the Board to do this important work.”

“Rev. Cindy Patterson brings to this new position an in-depth understanding of the role and work of the Board of Ministry and experience in serving on the Board of Ministry.  Cindy’s strong administrative and people skills, and her proven track record in developing systems, will help to facilitate and strengthen the Board’s work,” Malone said.

The Board of Ministry Administrative Coordinator will be under the supervision of the Assistant to the Bishop the Rev. Dr. Gary George and amenable to Board Chair the Rev. Cara Stultz Costello.

“The Board and I are excited for the many ways that this new position has the potential to steward and multiply clergy relationships within our covenant community,” Stultz Costello said.

An ordained Deacon, Patterson is Conference secretary and served 17 years at Northampton UMC (Canal District), first as children’s pastor and then associate pastor, prior to being appointed Board of Ministry Administrative Coordinator.  Her first appointment in the East Ohio Conference was as director of Christian Education at Dover First UMC (Tuscarawas District).  She has also served New Philadelphia First UMC (Tuscarawas District) during her 32 years of ministry in the Conference.

Patterson earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from Youngstown State University and a Masters in Christian Education from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary.  She and her husband Dale are the proud parents of two adult daughters.