The Church of the Brethren has hired Joe Detrick as interim director for the Office of Ministry. He will begin in this position on June 22, working out of the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill., and from his home in Seven Valleys, Pa. This interim assignment is expected to continue for one year.
Detrick is a former district executive and brings related skills and experience to the Office of Ministry leadership position, including experience in pastoral placement and in training search committees, providing resources for conflict transformation and leadership development for pastors and church boards, developing a mission and vision process for a district board, coordinating Ethics in Ministry training, developing budgets, and interpreting and implementing church polity. He served in Southern Pennsylvania District as district executive minister for 13 years, 1998-2011, and more recently was interim district executive for Pacific Southwest District for a year from Jan. 2014-Jan. 2015.
He has served two pastorates, in Indiana and in Pennsylvania, totaling 16 years of pastoral ministry. From 1983-88 he was on the denominational staff as coordinator of orientation for Brethren Volunteer Service. He is an ordained minister and holds a master of divinity degree from Bethany Theological Seminary, and a bachelor’s degree from Manchester College (now Manchester University).