We have received the news that Dr. Chris Heckaman will no longer be serving as our Miami Valley District superintendent. As of July 01, he will be serving as senior pastor at Trinity UMC in Columbus. (He'll be able to rub elbows with Robert McDowell at nearby Lancaster)
Replacing Rev Chris will be Dr. Jocelyn Roper. Some information on Dr. Roper is contained in Bishop Palmer's recent announcement:
"Bishop Gregory V. Palmer announced today that The Rev. Dr. Jocelyn M. Roper will be appointed conference superintendent of the Miami Valley District in the West Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church, effective July 1, 2014. Rev. Roper will follow the Rev. Dr. Christopher Heckaman who will become senior pastor at Trinity United Methodist Church in Columbus after a five-year appointment leading the district.'
"Roper, who grew up in Springfield, Ohio and is a lifelong United Methodist, currently serves as the Director of Diversity Initiatives for the West Ohio Conference. Prior to that she was the Assistant to the Superintendent in the Ohio River Valley District for seven years. Rev. Roper received her Bachelor of Science degree from Central State University, and both her Master of Arts in Theological Studies and Doctor of Missiology degrees from United Theological Seminary. She also served as Pastor of Mt. Healthy United Methodist Church and on multiple conference and district committees. Before becoming an ordained elder in the West Ohio Conference in 2000, Dr. Roper served the church as a community developer, a church and community worker, a deaconess and a diaconal minister. "
John Fristoe, NL Editor
