Sandusky, Milan churches get new pastor

SANDUSKY — The new pastor of two area churches seeks to unite them with the community. Since July 1, Rev. Diane Bell has spent much of her time getting to know the congregations of Sandusky's Trinity United Methodist and Milan's Edison Memorial United Methodist churches. She replaces Trinity's Don Kuntz and Edison's Barbara E. Stephens-Rich. "This is the first time these churches are being put together with the same pastor," Bell said. "I'm excited to have both churches. We have plans to worship with each other and we're just learning how to be together." Bell has 27 years of pastoral experience. Her resume includes stops in Colorado and Utah before requesting to move back to Ohio to be closer to family. She served at churches in Lodi and Steubenville before moving north to Erie County. Each week, Bell divides her time between both churches. She spends Mondays and Tuesdays at Trinity Methodist and Wednesdays and Thursdays at Edison Memorial. On Sundays, Bell starts her day at Edison Memorial Methodist at 9 a.m. with an hour break in before Trinity's 11 a.m. service. "I'm trying to see if it will work out," Bell said about her schedule. With the ongoing pandemic, people can virtually attend services at both churches with available live streams. In-person attendance ranges from 30 to 40 people each Sunday — and just as many, or more, tune in online. "Online worship is giving the flexibility people need during the pandemic," Bell said. "Getting our vaccinations has helped immensely to get back in-person, but some cannot be vaccinated, like young children." For Bell and people of faith, being separated from parishioners during the pandemic forced her to persevere. "The pandemic has really challenged us to keep our personal relationships with Christ first without the aid of the church," she said. "It challenged us to stay faithful without the support and fellowship that we're used to. "I had to dig deeper inside myself," she said. "You didn't realize how much fellowship and community really do sustain you. We need each other." Among Bell's goals in her new role include finding what needs are most prevalent in the community and figuring out ways to address them. Trinity Methodist, for instance, is already involved with Care and Share, a Sandusky-based nonprofit that distributes food, clothing, linens and housewares to people who need help. "Methodists are always engaged in helping local nonprofits and supporting them," Bell said. She informally invited the larger community to explore what Trinity and Edison United Methodist churches have to offer. "People are welcome to worship with us, whether in-person or online and see what we're about," she said. Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com and follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood