Westerville Community United Church of Christ

MEET OUR STAFF

Sharing the Ever-widening Circle of Christ's Love

JAY GROAT

Pastor

Jay Groat has served at Westerville Community United Church of Christ since 2013. Prior to moving to Westerville, Jay served as Senior Pastor at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Akron, Ohio from 2000-2013, was Senior Pastor at St. Paul’s Community Church in Homewood, Illinois and was as an Associate Pastor in Riverside Presbyterian Church in Riverside, Illinois.

Jay and his wife Vicki have been married since 1982. They have one son, Jackson, a recent graduate of The College of Wooster.

A native of Marysville, Jay is a 1980 graduate of Mount Union College. He received both his Master of Divinity and his Doctor of Ministry in Preaching from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago.

SIGRID ROTHER

Pastor

Rev. Dr. Sigrid Rother has served at Westerville Community UCC since 2002. Her focus in ministry is teaching and preaching.

Sigrid received her theological education in Germany and also in England. She received a Th. M. in 1997 from Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI, and a Doctor in Ministry in Preaching in 2003 from Chicago Theological Seminary.

A devoted mother and wife, Sigrid has been married to Thomas Cochrane since 1996. They have two teenagers, Peter and Anna. In her free time she likes to walk, read, cook and travel.

Michael Melfi

Director of Youth Ministry

We are happy to welcome Michael as our new Director of Youth Ministry. Michael, a graduate of Indiana University, has a Bachelors of Arts in History and Religious Studies. He, his wife Laura and their dog Karma enjoy traveling and hiking.

HAROLD STEINDAM

Pastor Emeritus

Raised in a family that was an active part of St. John’s United Church of Christ in Genoa, Ohio, Rev. Steindam began to feel an interest in and then call to ministry at a very early age, and received much encouragement and many opportunities as he grew up. He graduated from Defiance College with a major in Philosophy and Religion and then entered the Methodist Theological School in Delaware, Ohio. While in his first year there he was called to his first church in 1973, commencing more than 40 years in ministry.

His pastoral service culminated in serving Westerville Community United Church of Christ, beginning when it was still in its early years and having the challenges and joys of being part of its growth in membership, stewardship, and most of all mission for nearly 23 years.

Harold and his wife Jenny enjoy traveling, bird watching and mission work.