Dear People of God in the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio,
I am delighted to share that two faithful leaders in our diocese have answered calls to serve on our diocesan staff, joining our team that is working to serve and equip the leaders of our congregations for local, transformative ministry.
First, Sarah Beegle, who has demonstrated immense skill and care for our communities through her two years as our transition ministry assistant, has agreed to serve as executive assistant to the bishop. This is a crucial role in the Office of the Bishop, responsible for my calendar and correspondence, organizing logistics around diocesan governance, supporting me in my pastoral care of our clergy community, ensuring proper procedures at our diocesan convention, assisting with canonical record keeping, and much more.
Since 2022, as assistant for transition ministry, Sarah has contributed to the work of our congregations, our formation office, our Commission on Ministry, and the Faith in Life commission. Prior to coming to the diocese, she worked as the administrative assistant in the clinical engineering department within the TriHealth Hospital system in Cincinnati. A lifelong Catholic, she and her family are active in their parish where she teaches religion classes for seventh graders. She has always been familiar with The Episcopal Church, having participated in youth programs with her cousins at All Saints Episcopal Church in her hometown of Portsmouth, Ohio.
Sarah graduated from Shawnee State University in Portsmouth. She and her husband, Brent, live in Northern Kentucky with their three children, Meredith, Carleigh, and Anderson, where they are “constantly on the move” for school activities and sports.
Sarah will transition to her new role tomorrow, October 15th. She can be contacted at sbeegle@diosohio.org.
Second, the Rev. Melanie Slane has accepted a call to serve as our diocesan transition minister, supporting and guiding our congregations, clergy, and lay leaders through periods of transition in leadership and ministry. As part of the new congregations team, the transition minister provides essential resources, consultation, and process-facilitation to ensure smooth and effective calls to ministry in the diocese, whether in the search for new clergy, the discernment of vocational calls, or in the reimagining of church leadership roles.
Melanie is a lifelong Episcopalian, growing up at Grace Episcopal Church in St. Louis, MO. Her nomadic spirit and love of Jesus led her to serve as a missionary in the Philippines as part of The Episcopal Church’s Young Adult Service Corps. Since her ordination to the priesthood, Melanie has served three congregations: Church of the Epiphany in Washington, DC, Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Webster Groves, Missouri, and most recently, the Church of the Redeemer in Hyde Park, Cincinnati. She has served the diocese for a number of years as the ecumenical and interfaith officer, connecting to a number of state-wide and church-wide networks and organizations.
She holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Missouri and an M.Div. from Virginia Theological Seminary. Melanie is married to the Rev. Christopher Slane, an Episcopal priest, Ph.D. student, and the priest-in-charge of St. Andrew’s, Evanston. They live in Cincinnati with their two sons, Constantine and Aristotle, and they love to travel, play sports, and make music as a family.
Melanie will conclude her ministry with Church of the Redeemer on Sunday, October 27th, beginning this new role on November 13th. After she begins in November, her email address will be mslane@diosohio.org.
Please join me in enthusiastically welcoming these amazing leaders to their new roles. I am deeply grateful for their willingness to serve on my staff and to serve the communities that are the Diocese of Southern Ohio.
Yours in Christ,
The Rt. Rev. Kristin Uffelman White
Bishop of the Diocese of Southern Ohio
