A Diverse Community Where Life and Faith Meet

Who We Are

The people of Christ Church are committed to being "intentionally multicultural" in a church where our differences are not a source of division, but a way to grow together spiritually and to learn from each other.

As a congregation, we find diversity an important part of our lives. Many of us live in integrated neighborhoods, work or go to school in diverse surroundings, or are part of a multicultural family. Living diversity has enriched our lives and we seek that same environment at church and in our spiritual journey.

By our multicultural nature, Christ Church has its doors wide open to everyone. We invite you to come join us and add your voice to our celebration of differences.

About Our Pastor

Rev. Benjamin J. Black, III is a graduate of Baldwin Wallace College, Berea, Ohio, and Methodist Theological Seminary in Ohio (METHESCO). He also holds an MA in Political Science from the University of Akron at Akron, Ohio.

Before becoming a pastor, Ben was a Peace Corps volunteer to Lesotho, Africa from 1974–1976, and worked as Program Officer for the Cleveland Council on World Affairs from 1977–1988.

Prior to coming to Christ Church, Rev. Black has served four other congregations within the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church:

Pastor of Jewett (Jewett, Ohio) and Hopedale (Hopedale, Ohio) United Methodist Churches 1991–1994
Associate Pastor of Bordman United Methodist Church at Youngstown, Ohio 1994–1998
Senior Pastor of Grace United Methodist Church at Bucyrus, Ohio 1998–2003

Ben has been serving the needs of our congregation as pastor since 2003. He resides in Akron, OH.