Church of the Brethren Newsline
\nMay\u00a022,\u00a02017<\/b><\/p>\n
Three districts in the Church of the Brethren have announced new leadership. David Banaszak has been hired to lead Middle Pennsylvania. Kris Hawk will be the new district executive minister for Northern Ohio. Tabitha H. Rudy is interim associate district executive for Virlina.<\/p>\n
Middle Pennsylvania<\/strong><\/p>\n David F. Banaszak has been called to serve as district executive minister for Middle Pennsylvania District, beginning Sept. 5. He currrently is pastor of Clover Creek Church of the Brethren in Martinsburg, Pa.<\/p>\n Banaszak was licensed at Windber Church of the Brethren in Western Pennsylvania District in 1985, and was ordained in 1993 at Clover Creek Church of the Brethren in Middle Pennsylvania District. He is a graduate of Penn State University, and received a master of divinity degree from Bethany Theological Seminary in 1992. He also has attended Eastern Mennonite Seminary.<\/p>\n His pastoral experience has included service at Church of the Brethren congregations in the districts of Shenandoah and Illinois\/Wisconsin, as well as Middle Pennsylvania. His leadership in Middle Pennsylvania has included serving as the district\u2019s Standing Committee Delegate, as Ministry Formation director, chair of the Ministers\u2019 Calling and Credentialing Team, and on the Ministers\u2019 Education and Support Team.<\/p>\n Northern Ohio<\/strong><\/p>\n Kris Hawk has been called as district executive minister of Northern Ohio District beginning June 1. She served as interim district executive beginning in 2016. Previously, she was the pastor of visitation at Akron Springfield Church of the Brethren.<\/p>\n Hawk was licensed at Akron Springfield Church of the Brethren in Northern Ohio in 2003, and ordained in the same congregation in 2008. She is a graduate of the University of Akron, attended Ashland Seminary, and graduated from the district\u2019s three-year reading course. In volunteer service to the church, she was moderator for the district in 2010, and from 1999 to 2006 she served on the district board, which she chaired 2002-06.<\/p>\n Her previous career was in nursing and health-care administration, including experience as a nurse with Summa Hospice, vice-president of Medicare Operations at Northeast Professional Home Care, and administrator of Family Home Health Services.<\/p>\n Virlina<\/strong><\/p>\n Tabitha H. Rudy begins June 1 as interim associate district executive minister for Virlina District, in a part-time position. Originally from Monte Vista Church of the Brethren in Franklin County, Va., she is a member of Ninth Street Church of the Brethren in Roanoke, Va. She is a 2017 graduate of Bethany Theological Seminary, where she earned a master of divinity degree. She also holds a bachelor\u2019s degree from Ferrum College and a master\u2019s degree from Hollins University. She taught at the high school level for several years, and also filled a summer pastorate in the district and an internship in the district resource center.<\/p>\n