Dear People of God in Southern Ohio,
This month, I will celebrate one year as your bishop – a role and responsibility I am honored to hold and steward. Over this past year, we’ve sought to connect and prayerfully listen with one another about the mission to which God calls us in this place for this time. We have restructured diocesan staff to support that mission, with staff members now serving in more accountable ministry teams and oriented as equippers of local ministry. To that end, it brings me great joy to share that I have called two incredible leaders to join our diocesan staff.
James Hudgens
First, the Rev. Gerardo Romo Garcia has accepted a call to serve as our Missioner for Latino Ministries, a new full-time role on the Ministry Team of our diocesan staff. As the missioner, he is charged to equip lay leaders and clergy in our diocese engaged in existing and emerging Latino ministries, serving as primary developer, assessor, and connector. This includes caring for local and diocesan development of formation, evangelism, and stewardship among and for our Latino populations and faith communities.
Gerardo has over twenty years of experience in ministry, as chaplain, parish priest, church planter, and diocesan staff, serving in the Dioceses of Mexico, Birmingham (Church of England), Los Angeles, and Long Island. Most recently, Gerardo served as the Bishop’s Vicar for Hispanic Ministry, developing a new worshipping community and resource center among the immigrant Latino community in the East End of Long Island. He has engaged in study and training with the Seminario de Aguascalientes (B.A. in Philosophy), Universidad Intercontinental (Theological Studies), Seminario de San Andres (M.Div., Anglican studies), and the International Franciscan Study Centre in Canterbury (Certificate in Franciscan Studies). He and his three dogs – Holly, Max, and Noodles – will live in Cincinnati. Gerardo will work on-site at our diocesan office in Cincinnati and travel throughout the diocese supporting the work of our congregations.
Gerardo begins this new role on February 1st. He can be contacted at gromo@diosohio.org.
Second, James Hudgens has accepted a call to serve as Assistant for Congregations and Transitions, a full-time role on the Congregations team of our diocesan staff. As the assistant, he will provide general administrative support for congregational development, transitions, the Commission on Ministry, the College for Congregational Development (CCD), Safe Church, parish stewardship and grants, and other related projects with and for the Congregations Team.
James comes to our diocese with extensive experience in administrative support, coordination, project management, and office systems. Most recently, he served as Senior Specialist in Diversity and Inclusion at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. He holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Cincinnati and a certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace from the Muma College of Business at the University of South Florida. James and his family reside in Cincinnati and are members of Calvary Episcopal Church in Clifton.
James begins this new role on February 3rd. He can be contacted at jhudgens@diosohio.org.
I am grateful for these leaders’ calls to serve God and the people of our diocese in these new positions. Please join me in enthusiastically welcoming Gerardo and James to our staff and to our diocese!
Yours in Christ,
The Rt. Rev. Kristin Uffelman White
X Bishop
The Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio
