Members of Ohio Conference congregations who volunteer their time play a vital role in Conference life. Without the help of numerous volunteers, many of the programs and functions of the Ohio Conference could not take place.

Much of the work of Ohio Conference is done by the Leadership Team, the Ministry Development Team, the Credentialing Ministry, the Stewardship Ministry and the Gifts Discernment Ministry. Delegates at Annual Conference Assembly affirmed the following individuals for service:

Assistant Moderator

Name: Paula Snyder Belousek
Home congregation: Salem Mennonite (Elida)
Occupation: Pastor
Previous service: This will be my third term as assistant moderator and chair of Ministry Development Team. I have also served on the Missional Resource Team and have been a mentor to several outstanding female pastors/chaplains.
Family information: Married to Darrin. Mom to a middle schooler and an exchange student from Thailand.
Goals: To journey with Ohio Conference as the Spirit leads. To plan exciting, spiritually enriching and educationally stimulating programing that supports the Conference’s mission. Continue investing in female leaders and supporting the Conference’s anti-racism work.
Hobbies/special interests: Traveling, sampling cuisines from other cultures, walking, reading

Ministry Development Team — Witness Focus
Name: Joel Shenk
Home congregation: Toledo Mennonite
Occupation: Pastor
Previous service: Ministry Development Team (MDT), Missional Conference Planning Team, Strategic Planning Task Force
Family information: Wife – Emiley; two daughters, Roslyn (12) and Lizette (9)
Goal: To be more prayerful in how I approach the work of MDT
Hobbies/special interests: Fly fishing and fly rod building

Ministry Development Team
Name: Alan Kauffman
Home congregation: Oak Grove Mennonite (West Liberty)
Occupation: Farm consultant
Previous service: Member of Ministry Development Team

Ministry Development Team
Name: Marilyn Rossiter
Home congregation: Orrville Mennonite
Occupation: Music teacher, retired pastor
Previous service: Pastor of Summit Mennonite in Barberton, member of Gifts Discernment Ministry
Family information: I have been married to my husband, Hank, for 49 years! We have two daughters and sons-in-laws and five grandchildren.
Goals: My hope is that we can attract more enthusiastic workers of all ages in the work of peace and agape love for all peoples.
Hobbies/special interests: Ping pong, teaching music, watching birds

Credentialing Ministry — Chair
Name:  Doug King
Home Congregation: Tedrow Mennonite (Wauseon)
Occupation: Pastor
Previous service: I have served three congregations in three different MC USA Conferences over the last 25 years in the roles of youth and young adult pastor and lead pastor. I have served on the Ohio Conference Credentialing Ministry Team for two terms, served as mentor for three young Ohio Conference pastors, and am on the planning team for the upcoming Pastor-Spouse Retreat to be held in November 2023.
Family information: Paula is my wife of 26 years. Our children are Danielle, Megan and Trevor.
Goals: My goal is to continue getting to know and encourage our credentialed pastors and leaders in Ohio Conference.  I long for women and men called by God to serve as healthy, long-term pastors in healthy congregations.
Hobbies/special interests: Hanging out with the family, hiking, biking, gardening and being a weather spotter for the National Weather Service

Credentialing Ministry
— Credentialing Representative to Leadership Team
Name: Rachelle Lyndaker Schlabach
Home congregation: Millersburg Mennonite
Occupation: Co-pastor
Previous service: Worked 18 years for Mennonite Central Committee in their Washington, DC office.
Family information: Married to Keith; two young adult children
Goals: Make connections with others in the conference; bring my perspective as a newly-credentialed pastor to the Credentialing Ministry process
Hobbies/special interests: Walking my dog, cooking, cheering for my favorite sports teams

Credentialing Ministry
Name: Dee Custar
Occupation: Retired pastor
Previous service: Served as pastor of Salem Mennonite (Waldron, Michigan), member of Credentialing Ministry

Stewardship Ministry — Chair
Name: Andrew Blount
Home congregation: Bethel Mennonite (West Liberty)
Occupation: Non-profit administrator
Previous service: Chair of Stewardship Ministry

Stewardship Ministry
Name: Carolyn Kopec
Home congregation: Sharon Mennonite (Plain City)
Occupation: Banking associate

Gifts Discernment Ministry — Chair
Name: Jared Chase
Home congregation: Sharon Mennonite (Plain City)
Occupation: Lead pastor
Previous service: I served as youth pastor at Sharon for almost 10 years before being called into the lead pastor role. I have served a number of different teams that planned events for Conference life.
Family information: Sarah and I have been married for 17 years, and we have three wonderful children. Emma is our oldest. She is 14 and will be starting high school in the fall. Noah is 11, and Julia just turned 5 and will be in school all day every day in the fall.
Goals: Continuing to cast a broad net to increase the amount of people faithfully serving God at a Conference level. I would love to see new people in leadership roles bringing their fresh ideas as we continue this period of discernment.
Hobbies/special interests: I have a lot of hobbies. I like to play golf and coach my son’s baseball team.  I also really enjoy getting excited about what my kids are excited about: watching Emma perform in the arts, Noah on the athletic field and Julia bossing her older siblings around. Currently the hobby that is at the top of my list is being a personal chauffeur for all three of my children.

Gifts Discernment Ministry
Name: Marion Beyeler
Home congregation: Orrville Mennonite
Occupation: Retired from Everence
Previous service: Served as elder at Orrville Mennonite. For Ohio Conference, served as moderator and as a member of the Stewardship Ministry.
Family information: Married to Jane (an MCC volunteer). Our children are Nan, who lives in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania; Ben and Rachel, who live in Goshen, Indiana; and Brian, who lives in Akron, Ohio. We also have nine grandchildren.
Goal: To be a part of the Ohio Conference community, helping others serve as they are called
Hobbies/special interests: Being with family, eating, MMN SOOP service, golfing, gardening

Gifts Discernment Ministry
Name: Erin Dye
Home congregation: Oak Grove Mennonite (West Liberty)
Occupation: Social worker/therapist
Previous service: Member of Gifts Discernment Ministry

Gifts Discernment Ministry
Name: Erin Unruh
Home congregation: Salem Mennonite (Kidron)Occupation: Pharmacy technician

Gifts Discernment Ministry
Name: Hardaye Ramjit
Home congregation: Lee Heights Community Church (Cleveland)
Occupation: Pastor
Previous service: Member of Gifts Discernment Ministry