Church suspends official

CLEVELAND (AP) -- The United Church of Christ has suspended its top state official with pay after receiving a complaint about his behavior.
The Rev. David Schwab was put on leave in March pending an investigation of the alleged misconduct, which wasn't disclosed, church officials said Monday. He was installed six months ago as conference minister and executive of the 126,000-member Ohio Conference.
Representatives of the Indiana-Kentucky Conference will conduct the investigation, which could take several months.
Church officials can't discuss details of the complaint because of confidentiality provisions, said the Rev. William Hulteen, interim conference executive.
The Rev. Mr. Schwab is cooperating fully with the investigation, officials said.
A telephone message seeking comment was left early Tuesday at the Columbus office of the Ohio Conference. The national church, with 1.4 million members, is based in Cleveland.
Mr. Schwab also served in Ohio as the founding pastor of Lakeview United Church of Christ in Maineville, pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Fairborn and associate pastor at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Cincinnati.