Member Profile: Ron Dauphin

Meet Ron Dauphin, our newly-elected Board Chair and second-newest WACC member. Ron grew up in New Orleans and says he felt the call to ministry as a teenager, though he fought that holy nudge for several years. He graduated from Centenary College in Shreveport, still not sure what path he would choose. Ron completed a Master of Divinity at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, where his preaching professor was Fred Craddock. After his ordination as a United Methodist minister, Ron knew that he found his vocation.

He served a Methodist congregation in Louisiana for 12 years and discovered he had a special touch for fundraising. With this gift in mind, he moved to Elyria in 1996 and became Director of The Foundation at Wesleyan Village, where he served for 11 years.

Following his position at Wesleyan, Ron was ready to find a church but found the Methodist discipline of itineracy would present difficulties as a single father with two children. Faithful to his call, Ron chose to return to his childhood church, now the United Church of Christ. He served as pastor of the Olmsted Community Church in Olmsted Falls and retired after 12  years.

After leaving pastoral ministry, Ron said he needed a plan and a way to serve where needed. He contacted Global Ministries, received training, and was sent to Italy to be alongside persons seeking refuge and asylum. He came home for a break after six months, just as COVID hit, which ended his overseas work.

Upon returning home, he began looking for a church community. Hoping to find a congregation that focused on community and local mission, he discovered Washington Avenue Christian Church and joined—when we were online only—on August 30, 2020.

Don’t think that Ron is relaxing post-retirement. He has completed training and serves as a Guardian Ad Litem in our judicial system. In addition, he helped WACC by leading our Lenten Study. On July 1, he began serving as the Chair of the Board at WACC.

Ron loves to travel, too. He recently had a wonderful visit to Sweden with his daughter, son-in-law, and two cute granddaughters. He was able to tour numerous interesting and beautiful places, including a side trip to Denmark.

Do say hello to Ron on Sunday. We are so glad that he is living out the next chapter in his calling at Washington Avenue Christian Church.