Bishop Hee-Soo Jung has announced expanded roles for two Ohio Episcopal Area executive staff members to better equip and resource local church leadership for ministry in their communities.

Effective September 1:

• Rev. Karen Cook will serve as executive director of Connectional Ministries for both the East Ohio and West Ohio Conferences. She currently directs the Connectional Ministries Office of the West Ohio Conference.
• Rev. Ed Fashbaugh will serve as executive director of the new Office of Leadership Wellness and Renewal, serving both Conferences. He currently is East Ohio Conference executive director of Connectional Ministries.

“The guiding question should continue to be: ‘What structure best serves our mission, uses our resources wisely, reduces unnecessary duplication, and strengthens local churches across all of Ohio?’” Bishop Jung said of the new expanded roles on the Ohio Episcopal Area staff.

Connectional Ministries Office

The team of the Connectional Ministries Office supports and resources the ministries of laity and clergy in the areas of faith formation, mission engagement, multicultural ministries, camps and retreat ministries, and engagement with children, youth, and young adults.

“My passion is equipping and resourcing faith communities and congregations so they can be places where people know they are beloved by God, where their gifts are nurtured and celebrated, and where they understand that their presence matters. I believe the Church is strongest when we are connected and empowered to live out God's purpose together,” said Cook. 

Bishop Jung has charged Cook with listening to laity and clergy across Ohio, recognizing and honoring the distinctive histories, relationships, cultures, strengths, and practices that exist in each respective Conference. She will then work with local church and Connectional Ministries Office teams to develop something new that draws upon the best gifts of each Conference to develop a more collaborative ministry across the entire Ohio Episcopal Area.

“Karen has demonstrated a remarkable ability to care for many areas of ministry, connect people and programs, and help diverse leaders work toward a shared purpose. In her expanded role across the entire Ohio Episcopal Area, she will help us shape a shared connectional ministry ecology for East and West Ohio as we move toward a more unified and missionally focused future,” said Bishop Jung.

Office of Leadership Wellness and Renewal

In creating the new Office of Leadership Wellness and Renewal Bishop Jung is providing executive leadership to strengthen how the Ohio Episcopal Area calls, supports, sustains, and renews people for faithful and fruitful ministry. The goal is to cultivate healthier organizational cultures, stronger churches, and renewed expectations for what faithful and sustainable leadership can become throughout Ohio.

“I believe this new ministry has the potential to renew the entire Ohio Episcopal Area by extending intentional care, encouragement, and opportunities for renewal to both clergy and lay leaders,” said Bishop Jung. “In helping us develop a larger and more sustainable vision for identifying, forming, renewing, and caring for leaders over the long term, we have an opportunity to create institutional practices that nurture spiritual depth, cultural awareness, emotional resilience, holistic health, and faithful leadership for both present and emerging generations.”

In recent years, fewer people have chosen to enter ordained ministry, and many churches have lost gifted leaders to burn-out or poor health. The Office of Leadership Wellness and Renewal will prioritize the health and sustainability of leaders and the ongoing vitality of their call, gifts, relationships, and life in ministry. “Caring for the people who carry Christ's mission requires continual learning, shared discernment, and coordinated action,” said Fashbaugh. “The work of the Office of Leadership Wellness and Renewal is to develop and renew relationships with clergy and laity leaders, supporting and resourcing them so that they flourish through changing seasons of life, ministry, and culture.”