A familiar face in the Office of the General Assembly is taking on the leadership role in Mid Council Ministries. Jihyun Oh, who currently serves as the OGA manager of call process support and teaching elder ministries, has been named director.
Oh is an ordained teaching elder/minister of Word & Sacrament who came to ministry as a very early third career student. Prior to coming to the Office of the General Assembly, she served congregations as interim pastor, associate pastor, and parish associate. She also served the patients, families, and staff in the intensive care unit of a Level I Trauma hospital as a chaplain.
“I am passionate about rethinking the mission and ministry of churches and pastoral leaders to meet the transformative and reformative challenges of Christ’s Church within a society in transition, and also how we participate in the journey of sanctification, in being formed in the likeness of Jesus Christ,” she said.
Oh is a graduate of Columbia Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and holds a master’s in finance from Florida International University and bachelor’s degrees in biology and German studies from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
She has been using her skills in biology and finance for ministry through technology and website consulting, as well as organizational consulting, conflict mediation, and training. Oh is an ICF-trained coach and is working toward certification.
Oh has been working on plans to overhaul Church Leadership Connection (CLC), the computer database and matching system that allows call seekers to connect with churches and church-related organizations that are looking for pastors or staff members.
She says she’s looking forward to the challenges and opportunities to serve in her new role.
“I think part of our current work is to proactively imagine ways to bridge the gap between the Church that was and the Church that is and is still becoming. I am excited to be called to this new work with amazing colleagues and in support of the Stated Clerk’s vision for a 21st century PC(USA),” Oh said. “I am equally excited to be collaborating with mid council leaders as they rethink mission and ministry in their own contexts for this time.”
The Reverend Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the PC(USA), says he is excited to see what Oh brings to the table.
“Finding the right person to direct Mid Council Ministries has been a point of prayer since I came to the OGA three years ago,” he said. “I believe God has led us to the right person at the right time to build this important ministry and I look forward to working with Jihyun in the months and years to come.”
Oh is Korean American, whose parents share time between Korea and Atlanta. She has an uncle and a cousin who are also ministers in the PC(USA).
Oh will begin her new job July 1.