Joel attended Belmont and John H. Patterson High Schools between 1954-1957. During his High School career, Joel achieved many goals and honors including: 11 Letters in Basketball, Baseball and Tennis, Most Outstanding Student, National Honor Society, Class President, Commencement Speaker, and Valedictorian.
Joel earned a BS in Business Administration, majoring in Economics and minoring in Statistics, at Miami University. As a graduate, Joel earned a Master of Divinity from United Theological Seminary, a Master of Personnel Counseling and Master of Guidance Counseling from Wright State University, a doctorate in Campus Ministry and Counseling from the Methodist Theological School in Ohio, and a doctorate in Counseling and Clinical Psychology from the Consortium on Higher Education through Ohio State University.
As a pastor, Joel has served, grown, and built many congregations – some churches being over 1500 members. His career includes:
Belmont (Dayton) 1961
Trinity (Dayton) 1967
William Street (Delaware) 1972
Church of The Master (Westerville) 1979
Sylvania First (Sylvania) 1988
Maple Grove (Columbus) 1992.
Joel technically “retired” for two weeks before returning to ministry. As a retiree, he has served a number of one-year pastoral assignments such as Jeffersonville, Circleville, and Marion Prospect Street. From 2005-2018, Joel served as Administrative Director and Administrative Chaplin of Wesley Glen and Wesley Ridge Retirement Campus’ in Columbus and Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
In 2019, Joel was assigned to Peachblow United Methodist Church where he remains in service. At the time of this writing, Joel has been in continual pastoral service and ministry for just over 63 years.
Joel has fathered three children: David, Douglas and Jennifer. He is step-father to Bethany, Julie, Amy and Jeffrey. Joel remains close friends to his sister, Cindy, who also lives in Ohio.