by Dorothy Markulis

Reporter

Hudson -- The Rev. E. Sue Tinker has taken the reins of leadership at the Presbyterian Church of Hudson U.S.A.

This is the first pastorship for Tinker who was ordained April 27 at the Goodyear Heights Presbyterian Church in Akron. Members of the Hudson church participated in the ordination ceremony.

Tinker, a Stow resident, said she was director of information technology for an area business when there was a "call from God" to full-time ministry.

"I was working with the youth of the church and I just loved it," Tinker said.

She said the pastor at the Goodyear Heights Church asked her if she had ever thought about going to seminary.

According to Tinker, it took her years to respond to God's urging, but when she decided to go to pursue the ministry she was "very much at peace with my decision."

Tinker said she realized her work with the youth was "so much more important and rewarding" than what she was doing to earn a living. She gave up her lucrative business position and entered the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 2003. She graduated in 2006 with a master of divinity degree. She has a bachelor's degree from Kent State University.

"God's been very gentle with me, but it hasn't been easy," Tinker said.

Tinker's first sermon as an ordained minister at the Hudson church was May 4.

She was full of praise for her new congregation.

"These people are wonderful, very faithful to the word of God," she said. "They're inspiring."

Elder of the Hudson church Sue Lyons described her new pastor as "kind, compassionate and forward thinking. We are delighted she's become a part of our family."

Tinker will minister to a congregation of about 40 regular worshippers at The Old Church on the Green.

The congregation she serves left the church building on Boston Mills Road and Route 303 in 2006 after members of the Hudson Presbyterian Church of Hudson voted to disaffiliate with the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. The congregation meeting at The Old Church on the Green chose to stay with the Presbyterian Church U.S.A.

In a 2007 decision Summit County Magistrate John Shoemaker ruled the church property belonged to the Hudson Presbyterian Church of Hudson under the leadership of the Rev. Wayne Bogue.

That decision is being appealed by Eastminster Presbytery on behalf of Tinker's congregation. It is now before Summit County Court Judge Mary Spicer.

E-mail: dmarkulis@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3143