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Rev. Woodberry new director of Mahoning Valley Association of Churches
By LINDA M. LINONIS
YOUNGSTOWN
The Rev. Dr. Robin Woodberry adds another responsibility to her list of multitasking today as she becomes the new executive director of Mahoning Valley Association of Churches.
The Rev. Mrs. Woodberry is assistant pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church, where she oversees church administration and the youth and children’s ministries. She also is involved in Church Women United Youngstown Area, serves on various community boards and is the wife of Anthony Woodberry and a mother of five.
Earlier this summer, the Rev. Robbin Del Nagro resigned as executive director of MVAC, a position she held for about a year. That move was prompted by a change at Poland Presbyterian Church, where she was asked to serve as temporary senior pastor. She was pastoral associate.
The Rev. Mrs. Del Nagro said she suggested Mrs. Woodberry to fill the position “I knew Robin from ACTION events,” she said. Mrs. Del Nagro said she had led a group from her congregation on a pilgrimage to churches of other traditions. They visited New Bethel Baptist, where Mrs. Woodberry spoke to them. “Robin has such a heart for ecumenical activities. I knew she would be perfect for the job,” Mrs. Del Nagro said. She also noted that Mrs. Woodberry has “experience and knowledge working with inner-city and outlying churches.”
Tom Sauline, MVAC president, said the board appreciated Mrs. Del Nagro’s suggestion and approached Mrs. Woodberry. “She has a passion for ecumenical relationships,” he said of the new director. “She’s committed to pursuing that through the body of Christ.”
Sauline said the board also was impressed by Mrs. Woodberry’s management skills and multitasking abilities. She submitted her resume and met with the search committee. Mrs. Woodberry was ordained in April 2005 and earned a doctor of ministry degree from Southern Bible Institute and Seminary in Augusta, Ga.
Mrs. Woodberry said that because New Bethel is an MVAC member, she was familiar with the organization. And she had worked with Elsie Dursi, who had served as MVAC director for 23 years. But, being involved in an organization and directing it meant different responsibilities, so Mrs. Woodberry talked it over with her family and New Bethel pastor, the Rev. Kenneth Simon. After getting that go-ahead, Mrs. Woodberry’s other concern was MVAC office hours. She acknowledged fitting that in could have been problematic but there are none. “With my iPad and laptop, it’s my office on the go,” Mrs. Woodberry said, noting much communication would be through emails and texts. “Technology lets you take the office with you anywhere.”
As for the job itself, Mrs. Woodberry said she was “caught off guard that someone noticed what I did” in ecumenical work. “I embrace the differences and similarities,” she said. “I firmly believe in the oneness that Jesus spoke about. ... And that has to exist among believers,” she said. She acknowledged “embracing the oneness” sometimes hits a snag in denominational differences. But, she said, believers can appreciate the diversity while avoiding fragmentation. “We’re all brothers and sisters in Christ,” Mrs. Woodberry said.
Mrs. Woodberry manages the roles of wife, mother, minister and community participant. “It’s juggling and multitasking,” she said. She noted in her own preaching, she discusses the importance of respecting and appreciating interfaith and ecumenical efforts.
She also noted that the late Rev. Lonnie Simon, who pastored New Bethel, left a legacy of interfaith work. “He lived it out,” she said, adding it was an example to her and the community.
Mrs. Woodberry will be installed at 4 p.m. Sept. 28 in First Presbyterian Church in Warren.