The North Central Jurisdiction United Methodist Volunteers in Mission board is honored to announce that Tammy Kuntz will be the new coordinator.  She will begin part-time training in November and on January 1, 2017, will assume her role as UMVIM-NCJ coordinator, succeeding Lorna Jost who is retiring after 13 years of service.

“What an honor, what an honor, this is all so overwhelming,” she told those gathered at NCJ RoundUP when the announcement was made August 4. “I look forward to working with you.” 

Kuntz is a provisional deacon appointed to the East Ohio Conference as the UMVIM Coordinator and to First UMC of Mansfield as mission interpreter. Currently a member of the UMVIM board for the North Central Jurisdiction, she previously served the Firelands District of East Ohio on the Mission Committee and as a Peace with Justice advocate.  She also served as a Youth Work Mission team leader. 

Kuntz served the local church as UMW vice president, choir director, and youth leader. She is on the board of directors of United Christian Ministries at Kent State University, where she works as an assistant professor in Music Education. Her favorite mission sites include the Akron-Canton FoodBank, Midwest Mission Distribution Center, and the Manos Juntas Mission in Rio Bravo, Mexico.

Married to the Rev. Donald Kuntz, she has two adult children and four grandchildren.  Kuntz has a Doctor of Philosophy of Music Education.  Her call to Deacon ordination became evident through many types of mission journeys.

“As team leader, I encourage others to share in the joy of being in mission with our neighbors around the world,” she said. 

We are thrilled to continue our assistance to teams who travel near and far being Christ’s hands and feet in a variety of mission experiences.   Please join the board in welcoming Tammy Kuntz as the new UMVIM-NCJ coordinator, effective January 1, 2017.