Three individuals representing various locales in Ohio were recently elected to the United Church Homes Board of Directors. Columbus residents Rev. John H. Cramton and Rev. Phil Hart, and Sandy Lindahl of Lakewood are the new directors. Each is active in working with issues related to healthcare and senior housing.

John Cramton has served as staff chaplain at Kobacker House Hospice for five years, and previously served in chaplain/pastor capacities for multiple organizations in the Columbus area, including Riverside Methodist Hospital, Mt. Carmel West Hospital and North Congregational UCC. He also served as a volunteer chaplain for Kobacker House for six years beginning in 2002.

Prior to pursuing his ministry, Rev. Cramton worked in human resources and staff training for large, multinational firms. He has also been an active advocate with multiple task forces and boards associated with issues related to homelessness and the LGBT community, most recently as an initiator/co-leader of “Called to Be,” a symposium on transgender issues in Columbus.

Sandy Lindahl has served as the Commissioned Minister for Holistic Stewardship for the Eastern Ohio Association of the United Church of Christ since January 2013. She’s worked in multiple advancement/ stewardship capacities for various organizations associated with the United Church of Christ, including the Ohio Conference, United Church Funds, the Stewardship and Church Finances Ministry, and the Commission on Development.

She’s also worked in the private sector for both state agencies (the Trust for Public Land) and for educational organizations, The College of Wooster and The Ohio State University. She brings to the UCH Board extensive experience in capital campaigns, major gift appeals, planned giving and endowments.

Rev. Phil Hart joins the UCH board of directors as an ex officio member, by virtue of his position as the Ohio Conference minister for the United Church of Christ. Rev. Hart has earned multiple graduate degrees in divinity, theology and organizational communications.

He has served many roles: local pastor, professor of theology and communication, and interim conference minister for the Ohio, Illinois and Northern California Nevada Conferences of the United Church of Christ. He has also held positions in nonprofit and social welfare that include time with children’s services as an investigator, and director of professional development for the National Youth Advocate Program.

He is highly regarded for his innovative approach to solving issues, and has worked extensively in advocacy roles for human services.