FYI

www.ridgecrestumc.com

The following is an article that was published in the CONTACT--the newsletter of the Oklahoma Conference of the UMC

OKC Church Co-Op Gets Volunteer Leader

Written: 6/13/2008

By AMELIA BALLEW

The Oklahoma City Cooperative Urban Parish (CUP) has named Jim Hill to serve as its volunteer executive director.

He is the fifth leader of CUP. Twenty-six churches and five agencies comprise the ecumenical organization.

Rev. Hill’s role was announced at a CUP Executive Committee meeting on April 23. Dale Tremper had been leading the Parish on a volunteer, interim basis since June 2007. Rev. Tremper is the full-time executive director of Skyline Urban Ministry.

One of Hill’s duties will be to conduct a fall fund-raising campaign, focused in October, as the Parish seeks to re-establish its financial base. The executive committee hopes to raise enough funds for a paid part-time directorship.

Planned activities include: a Parish worship service in September, a Parish mission event in October, and the funding drive.

The Parish members also continue efforts to develop an urban internship program, in cooperation with leaders of the Wimberly School of Religion, Oklahoma City University, and Saint Paul School of Theology.

Hill will work for CUP from his current office at OKC-Ridgecrest UMC.

"It is an honor to be named the executive," Hill said about his role with CUP. "I am merely the latest in a line of directors who have sought to do God’s will in this urban area of Oklahoma City. I pray that I might live up to the tradition and spirit of those leaders."

He explained, "The cooperative ministries are intended to renew congregations, build community in the Parish area, and change and improve the lives of people in the area."

He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Central Oklahoma. Before being called into ministry, he taught history and coached debate at Mustang High School for seven years.

Hill was called to the ordained ministry in 1991 and attended Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colo.

While in Denver, he served as associate pastor at Emmanuel UMC, an urban church. He earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1994. In 2007, he earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Brite Divinity School, at Texas Christian University.

In Oklahoma, he was appointed to Warner UMC and the Wesley Foundation at Connor State College.

Hill began serving at Ridgecrest in 1998, and he became active in the Parish organization within a few months of his appointment. He has been a longtime member of the Executive Committee, served on the Finance Committee, and participated in numerous outreach efforts by the Parish.

From 2002 to 2004, Hill was part-time executive director of CUP Mobile Meals, which coordinated the food-delivery ministries throughout Oklahoma City and the county.

Jim and Lu Ann Hill married in 1984 and have three children. She is a teacher at Edgemere Elementary in Oklahoma City.

For information, contact Hill at 405-943-9536 or ridgecrestumc@sbcglobal.net.