Showing posts with label Elders. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elders. Show all posts

Thursday, July 7, 2022

2022 Class of Ordained Elders

2022 Class of Ordained Elders
l-r David McElwee, John Bondhus, Hannah Pratt Sledge,
Tammy Blose, Todd Christine


Ephesians 4:11-12 NLT

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.


Tammy Jane Blose 

was born in York, PA and is a graduate of Red Lion High School. She graduated from Millersville University and earned an MDiv from Princeton Theological Seminary. She is married to Chad. They have five children, Nathan, Joey, Sarah, Joshua, and David. She was recommended for ministry by Barts Centenary UMC, York District and is currently serving as their pastor. Her favorite scripture is “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.” (Matthew 7:7). Tammy says, “This has been the story of my journey of faith, Christ has led me, one step at a time, one moment at time.”


John Wesley Bondhus 

was born in Takoma Park, Maryland. He graduated from Cedar Brook Academy. His undergraduate degree is from the University of Baltimore. John earned an MDiv from Wesley Theological Seminary. John is married to Stephanie and they are expecting their first child. John was recommended for ministry by Glen Mar UMC in the Baltimore Washington Conference. He currently serves the United Methodist Church of Wellsboro, Williamsport District. His favorite scripture is 2 Corinthians 5: 16-19. John says, “Paul rightly speaks of the churches need to work toward a common good for all of God’s children, by being reconciled to each other  through the grace and love of Jesus Christ. It is now our job to make sure all of God’s children know that they are loved for the beautiful creation that they are.”


Todd Andrew Christine 

was born in Altoona, PA. He graduated from Tyrone Area High School and earned his undergraduate degree at Pennsylvania State University. His MDiv was earned at Wesley Theological Seminary. Todd is married to Autumn. They are the parents of Paytyn and Tristan. He was recommended for ministry by Bald Eagle UMC, Altoona District. Todd currently serves Grace UMC, Hanover in the York District. His favorite scripture verse is Ephesians 4:1. Todd says “It is a call to live in every way to love God through holiness of heart and life and in doing so participate in building Christ’s Kingdom on earth.”


David Ronald Andrew McElwee 

was born in Chambersburg, PA and graduated from York Suburban Senior High School. He attended Lycoming College and Cochise Community College. He earned an MDiv from Wesley Theological Seminary. David is also a military veteran. David is married to Samantha. They have two children, Abigail and Andrew. David was recommended for ministry by Park Avenue UMC, Chambersburg PA. David currently pastors East Salem/Otterbein Charge, State College District. His favorite scripture verse is Psalm 91:1-2. He says, “These are verses in which I took comfort while deployed overseas, and a reminder of God’s presence at all times and in all situations.”


Hannah Pratt Sledge 

was born in Franklin, PA and is a graduate of Franklin Area High School. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from Messiah College, and an MDiv from Wesley Theological Seminary. She is married to Kristopher, and they have a daughter, Lydia. Hannah was recommended for ministry by Harrisville UMC, Western PA Conference. She is currently serving Hope UMC, Mechanicsburg in the Harrisburg District. Her favorite scripture verse, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, says “pray continually.” She holds onto this verse because “Prayer is not something we do on occasion; prayer is a way of life that changes us and the world around us.”

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Congratulations to our 2021 Class of Elders!

Left to right: Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball, Rev. Daniel Wilt, Rev. Jason Schwartzman, Rev. David Layser, Rev. Kristopher Sledge, and Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi.

You can view the Ordination Service at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyG1NXxrB-I

Daniel L. Wilt was born in Altoona, PA, attending Altoona High School, University of Valley Forge and Wesley Theological Seminary. He was recommended for ministry by Second Avenue UMC, Altoona. He currently serves as pastor at St Paul’s UMC in Lewisburg in the Lewisburg District. His favorite scripture is John 15:15. “My faith begins and ends in relationship; rituals, traditions, songs, services, buildings, and all that are insignificant if I don’t remember the relationship.” 

Jason M. Schwartzman was born in New York, New York; attending St Raymond High School (Bronx NY), Caldwell College, and United Theological Seminary. Jason is married to Michelle and father to Dante and Jahnavi. He was recommended for ministry by Aldersgate UMC in York. He currently serves as pastor at Grace UMC, Lemoyne in the Harrisburg District. His favorite scripture is John 10:10. “This verse is an inspiration and a challenge to each of us to embrace the full spectrum of human experience.”

David N. Layser was born in Harrisburg, PA., attending Hershey High School, Messiah College and Asbury Theological Seminary. David is married to Emily and father to Julia, Edison, Gideon, and Joel. He was recommended for ministry by Fishburn UMC in Hershey. He currently is pastor of Trinity UMC, Danville in the Lewisburg District. His favorite scripture is John 15:5 “It reminds me that the calling of discipleship and ministry—with all its adventures, demands, and challenges—is most basically an invitation to abide in an ever-deepening relationship with Jesus, from which the good fruit of the Kingdom naturally grows. When I am really living like this (and there are many times I am not!), the pressure is off, life is abundant, and ministry is good.” 

Kristopher R. Sledge was born in Lewisburg, PA, attending Selinsgrove High School, Messiah University and Wesley Theological Seminary. Kris is married to Hannah and father to Lydia. He was recommended for ministry by Christ Community Church in Selinsgrove. He currently serves as pastor at The Journey in the Harrisburg District. His favorite scripture is from Romans 8:31. “In the midst of one of the darkest experiences in my life, Romans 8:31 gave me the deep assurance that even in the midst of trauma, God was present, caring, and indeed for me!”