Worthington Preschool

Pastor Nominating Committee

candidates
Updates
Meet the pnc
WPC’s Pastor Nominating Committee, representatives of the whole congregation and elected by the congregation, convened in June 2024 with the purpose of discerning God’s purpose in calling the right candidate to lead our congregation forward with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love.
The PNC meets weekly and will continue work with all due deliberation and discernment until the right candidate is found, seeking to hear the call of Christ and “to participate in God’s own choice” for our next pastor.

The Search Process

Search Process

How Can You Help?

Identify potential candidates
 for the PNC
Review PNC updates
Ask Questions, understanding that the process is confidential
Pray for the PNC
Be patient as God's will makes itself known to us

Updates from the PNC

Pastor Nominating Committee Update
February 19th, 2025
Pastor Matt Reeves has accepted our call to become the next Senior Pastor and Head of Staff at Worthington Presbyterian Church! This call was extended following a compelling majority vote during a special congregational meeting on February 16. Pastor Matt will officially start his role at WPC on May 1....
Pastor Nominating Committee Update
February 12th, 2025
Hear firsthand why our candidate feels God leading him to our church. Our candidate addresses the congregation and shares his calling in a video....
Pastor Nominating Committee Update
February 5th, 2025
To hear about our candidate’s impact through leadership and mentoring, follow this link to a video from one of our candidate’s references. This video will be played in the Hazelton Fellowship Hall following the February 9 Worship Services....
Pastor Nominating Committee Update
January 30th, 2025
The Pastor Nominating Committee would like to joyfully share the news that we have unanimously chosen a candidate and announce that Session has approved a congregational meeting to be held in the sanctuary on Sunday, February 16 after the 10am worship service to vote on our candidate for Senior Pastor / Head of Staff. ...
Pastor Nominating Committee Update
January 9th, 2025
Responded to two self-referred candidates who posted their interest in the Church Leadership Connection (CLC) system. We have approximately 90 candidates in our candidate list......

Potential Candidates

Thank you for your interest in WPC and our Senior Pastor/Head of Staff Postion
"In Christ's love, we connect, serve and transform." This is the mission statement of WPC. We are a dynamic, regional congregation whose vision is to love God; to nurture faith and spiritual growth; and to welcome, embrace, and serve each other, the community beyond, and a world we cannot yet imagine.
We believe that no matter what our backgrounds or our experiences, we're all beloved children of God, interconnected through Jesus Christ. Empowered by God's Spirit, and in gratitude for the love God has shown us, each of us can make a difference in the world around us in ways large and small.
WPC will thrive with a Senior Pastor who has the gift to engage current membership, connect with all ages, bridge generations, and inspire the participation of younger members within the congregation. We desire a strong preacher who can deliver relatable messages from the pulpit, connecting the Bible to our current lives and situations.
Our congregation and staff need someone with compassion and empathy to help nurture us; someone who is also a good listener and a thoughtful human being. WPC has been blessed with a talented staff and group of volunteers with a variety of skill sets. Consequently, the Senior Pastor does not need to have every skill or wear “multiple hats.”
Rather, we seek a leader who will inspire a team of staff and congregants with a variety of gifts, helping align them to our mission, and letting them shine and be creative to serve the Lord, each other, and the greater world.
The Senior Pastor will need to be a collaborator, team builder, connector of people, and visionary while also having the ability to hold others accountable in a productive, respectful way.
does this sound like you?

Learn more about WPC

about the position
Mission study
Annual report

Meet the PNC

Bill Gilbert, Chair and Ruling Elder

Bill Gilbert

Chair, Ruling Elder
Bill has been a WPC member for 24 years and recently retired as a project management consultant. He has held many committee and leadership roles at WPC and enjoys biking, golfing, and running. He’s married to Jill and has two kids, Ashley and Luke.
Noel Abrokwa

Noel Abrokwa

Deacon Representative
Noel joined WPC in Oct 2020 and has 20 years of nursing experience. He serves as a deacon, assists with youth and immigrant services, and enjoys traveling, reading, and swimming. He’s married with three kids: Noella, Felix, and Nicholas.
Elizabeth Jewell-Becker

Elizabeth Jewell - Becker

At Large 1
Elizabeth and her family joined WPC in fall 2021. As a "PK" (preacher's kid), Elizabeth has served the church in a variety of leadership roles throughout her life. A former chair for the General Nominating Committee, she’s also a 26-year nonprofit veteran and enjoys gardening, reading, and walking.
Tracey MacDowell

Tracey MacDowell

At Large 2
Tracy has been a WPC member for 38 years and is a CPA at OhioHealth. She’s served as an Elder and on various committees. Tracy enjoys reading, pickleball, and traveling. She’s married to Andy and has three children: Ellie, Mitchell, and Katie.

Ryan Mehl

At Large 3
Ryan joined WPC in Feb 2017 and is now a director at Cushman & Wakefield. He's been a committee member, teacher, and volunteer. He’s married to Ann and has two kids, Wes and Britt.
Duane Cable

Duane Cable 

At Large 4
Duane has been a WPC member for 31 years and is a retired insurance manager. He’s a deacon board moderator and enjoys photography and biking. He’s married to Kathy and has two children and a granddaughter, Eva.
Josh Bodnar

Josh Bodnar

At Large 5
Josh joined WPC last year and is a tenor section leader in the Chancel Choir, a youth leader, and a scripture reader. He has a master’s in Higher Education Administration and directs BuckID at OSU. An Eagle Scout, he loves camping, hiking, and swimming, and has been a Track & Field official for over 20 years. He also enjoys spoiling his cat, Smokey.

Contact the PNC

If you are interested in learning more about WPC to discern if the Spirit may be leading you to us, we would love to get in touch. Contact us using the form below, which will be sent directly to Bill Gilbert, committee chair.
Contact Us