Staff photo / Bob Coupland The Rev. Timothy McCollum recently was installed as the new pastor at Bazetta Christian Church. McCollum has been preparing for the Christmas season, which will be celebrated online like many churches in the area.

BAZETTA — Bazetta Christian Church has installed the Rev. Timothy McCollum as its new pastor.

An official installation ceremony was held recently for McCollum led by the Rev. Thaddeus Allen, regional minister of the Disciples of Christ Church. Also participating in the installation service was the Rev. Cynthia Klingemier, regional leader and elder of the church.

The ceremony took place in the parking lot and was shown via Zoom.

McCollum, of Orangeville, has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Akron, a Master of Divinity degree from Wesley Theological Seminary, a master’s degree in counseling from Walsh University, and a Doctor of Ministry from Ashland Theological Seminary.

McCollum has served in the ministry field for 20 years.

Prior to coming to Bazetta Christian Church, McCollum was the senior pastor at Grace United Methodist Church in Cocshocton.

In his spare time, McCollum enjoys cooking, working on cars and taking walks with his wife, Christy. They have two sons.

McCollum said Lutherans and Presbyterians have a call system when a position at a church is open, which often can take some time to fill. However, with Disciples of Christ, openings are filled quicker.

McCollum was hired over the summer and started in September.

“Up until this year I had spent 20 years with the Methodist Church. I knew it was time for me to make a change. I had a calling to serve the Disciples Church,” he said.

When he came to the Bazetta church, McCollum said there was an interim minister, Pastor Sandy Downs.

McCollum, who grew up in Canton, said he has served in Virginia and then for several Methodist churches across Ohio.

“When they (the church) called me for an in-person interview, it was out in the picnic pavilion in June. At that time, they were doing in-person services so the interview was held outside,” McCollum said.

He said he has found the congregation to be a very loving group of people.

“You can tell they really love their church and want to see something positive there,” McCollum said.

McCollum said when he first started at the church, they were holding drive-in services in the parking lot and worshiping on Zoom. The church reopened in late October but closed again in late November and returned to online worship on Facebook.

“This was a calling for me. I had an experience with God when I was in my 20s and a desire to enter seminary. While I wanted to see what seminary was like I was not really sure of being a minister. I was focused on getting my degree, but I felt that God was so powerful in my life.

McCollum said for 2021, many churches will need to decide what “the new normal is going to be.”

“The coronavrius has been going on long enough that people are really realizing that as much as we want to go back, we can’t. We have to see what does the new normal look like for the church families,” he said.

The church has a membership of more than 100 people.

McCollum explained his decision to go from a Methodist minister to the Disciples of Christ.

“The Disciples of Christ has a really big focus on the Lord’s table and the unity of faith that it calls all people to. The Disciples of Christ denominations seem more progressive.”

He said his goal for 2021 will be to help the members see the church really alive next year.

“People want to be here and make a difference. I am excited to see what that will be like and how things work out,” McCollum said.

He said entering 2021, services will be online.

“With the online services and program, we have people tuning in each day. There are so many ways to connect to people and help them out,” McCollum said, noting he shares a message online each day with the congregation.