His background as teacher will serve at pulpit

by PAUL MORTON

Associate editor

First United Methodist Church will get a new teacher -- make that pastor -- July 1 when Jim Ellison is installed as pastor there.

Ellison earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Cincinnati, then master's degrees in education from Xavier University, and divinity from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton. He said he did both master's programs simultaneously, so he's not sure which field he enjoys more or came to love first.

"They kind of grew up at the same time," Ellison said. "I finished the education program a little before the divinity program. I was probably born a teacher. In fact, I was teaching swimming lessons this morning."

His first pastorate was in Kirkpatrick and Claridon Township in Marion County, Ohio, in 1980. Due to a policy within the United Methodist Church to reassess pastoral assignments each year, Ellison moved several times over the past 30 years.

"More times than I care to remember," he said.

He served at one time as the director of the Wesley Foundation on the campus of West Georgia College, and taught several years while ministering. He also worked as a reporter for the Delaware Gazette in Delaware, Ohio, for a short time.

He came to his current church, Cambridge Ninth Street UMC, only one year ago. But he said he is ready to move on.

"When I came here last year the church had a number of issues we needed to work through," Ellison said. "But we've made good progress in a lot of those areas, so I'm comfortable leaving at this time."

He said his view on ministry has always been to respond with compassion to those who are in need. He said ministry does not require a professional, so he puts on his teaching hat again.

"I'm kind of a pragmatist; you do what needs to be done," Ellison said. "And part of that is teaching people to do ministry themselves. Ministry is basically responding to needs we perceive."

He said his leadership style tends to be democratic, in that he encourages participation and the initiative of others. He likes to work with small groups to foster the ideas of others.

"We're all in the same boat together," he said. "I feel strongly that in the eyes of God, we're all equal."

For recreation, he enjoys bicycling and water sports. He's certified to teach canoeing and kayaking, and he's certified in water safety instruction.

He also enjoys music, especially the mountain dulcimer.

Ellison and his wife Sylvia have been married five years. She teaches in the school of communication at the University of Akron.