YOUNGSTOWN Shared ministry links city, suburban congregations

The new pastor will serve two congregations.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR RELIGION EDITOR
YOUNGSTOWN -- The new pastor in town stands with his feet firmly planted in both the inner city and the suburbs.
The Rev. Kelly Marshall has been called to serve the congregations of the Mahoning Valley Episcopal Shared Ministry.
That means he will be the rector of St. James Church, 7640 Glenwood Ave., Boardman, and St. Augustine Church, 614 Parmalee Ave., Youngstown.
St. James has a mostly white congregation and St. Augustine has a mostly black congregation. Both congregations are mostly middle age or older.
St. James has about 100 baptized members and an average Sunday attendance of about 60 people. St. Augustine has about 50 baptized members and an average Sunday attendance of about 30 people.
The plan was approved in June of 2001, and it has taken this long to find a full-time minister.
The Rev. Mr. Marshall arrived recently from the Diocese of West Virginia, where he said he had been dividing his time between three churches in three mountaintop communities.
How it works
Shared ministries were created to help deal with a shortage of ministers. Churches in shared ministries can maintain their own programs and services and have joint programs and services.
In theory, a pastor in a joint ministry divides his time based on the amount each church contributes to his salary.
The Rev. Mr. Marshall said he was taking a different approach in serving the two churches.
"What needs to get done gets done," he said.
Since the plan was approved, the two churches had interim ministers who held joint worship and Bible study. The location alternated between the churches.
In a statement, the MVESM said it "links urban and suburban congregations in an effort to increase understanding and develop common mission, while strengthening both congregations in the process."
Revitalization efforts
The Rev. John Horner, the pastor of St. John's Episcopal Church in Youngstown, is the head of the deanery, or district, of area Episcopal churches. The Rev. Mr. Horner is also the chair of the Wick Neighbors, which plans to redevelop Smoky Hollow to revitalize Youngstown.
There have also been talks about revitalizing the area around the St. Elizabeth Health Center near St. Augustine.
Mr. Marshall said the Rev. Mr. Horner had briefed him. He added that is isn't clear yet what roles St. James and St. Augustine's may play in redevelopment efforts.
But Mr. Marshall brings expertise in a variety of ministries, including a focus on congregations in transition. He has also worked with Living Stones, a group of Episcopal and Anglican Church of Canada dioceses with many small churches.
The new rector also had an urban academic chaplaincy at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University, been the chaplain to a community-based medical mission in Belize, and developed and gave seminars on AIDS education. He obtained funds to teach Appalachian children to play the dulcimer to increase their appreciation of their heritage.
Mr. Marshall also has area ties. He a native of Kittanning, Pa., studied psychology at Slippery Rock University and theology at Duquesne University, where he also taught.
Bishop David Bowman of the Diocese of Ohio will officiate at the liturgy of Celebration of a New Ministry at 7 p.m. Thursday in St. James Church. Bishop John H. Smith, the retired Bishop of West Virginia, will preach. The combined choirs of St. James and St. Augustine will sing. A reception will follow.
wilkinson@vindy.com