Rev. Joe Monahan Joins Discipleship Ministries as Director of Stewardship and Generosity
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Discipleship Ministries is pleased to announce the appointment of the Rev. Joe Monahan as Director of Stewardship beginning August 1st, 2026.
Monahan brings nearly 25 years of pastoral leadership, stewardship expertise, and connectional ministry experience to the agency's work of equipping disciples and supporting congregations throughout The United Methodist Church.
Monahan joins Discipleship Ministries after serving local churches in Greater New Jersey for more than two decades, most recently as pastor of Medford United Methodist Church.
A native of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, Monahan earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech before beginning his career with IBM as an engineer and production planner in North Carolina. While active in ministry at Millbrook United Methodist Church in Raleigh, he discerned a call to ordained ministry and later earned a Master of Divinity degree from Drew Theological School. He also holds an Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising from the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving.
Ordained as an elder in the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference in 2007, Monahan has served appointments at Califon United Methodist Church, Succasunna United Methodist Church, and Medford United Methodist Church. His leadership experience extends beyond the local church and includes service on the Conference Council on Finance and Administration, Board of Trustees, Residence in Ministry leadership, clergy and candidacy mentoring, Local Pastor's School instruction, conference communications leadership, and numerous other conference ministries.
Among the accomplishments he is most proud of is leading Medford United Methodist Church through the construction of a new $2.8 million Family Life Center supported by a capital campaign exceeding $1 million.
Monahan also points to his involvement with Greater New Jersey's Journey of Hope initiative as especially meaningful. As the inaugural chair of the St. John's Stewards, he has helped oversee the return of church properties to the Lenni Lenape Nanticoke Tribal Nation as part of the conference's commitment to healing, reconciliation, and right relationship.
"My role is to help the Church at every level flourish by helping God's people share and steward the resources needed for ministry the Spirit is calling us to do” he said when reflecting on his approach for the position.
As Director of Stewardship and Generosity, Monahan will support churches, conferences, and ministry leaders as they cultivate faithful generosity and steward resources for mission and ministry.
In addition to beginning his work with Discipleship Ministries, Monahan will begin studies in the Master of Business Administration program at the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He sees the opportunity as another way to strengthen his ability to serve the church and support ministry leaders navigating complex organizational and financial challenges.
Monahan and his wife, the Rev. Kate Monahan, who serves as District Superintendent of the Delaware Bay District in Greater New Jersey, have two daughters, Zoe and Lilly, both currently pursuing their college education. The family also includes Simba, their Australian Cattle Dog.
They enjoy travel, cooking, the outdoors, and spending time at the Jersey Shore.
The mission of Discipleship Ministries is to support annual conference and local church leaders for their task of equipping world-changing disciples. An agency of The United Methodist Church, Discipleship Ministries is located at 1908 Grand Ave. in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, visit www.UMCdiscipleship.org, the Press Center at www.UMCdiscipleship.org/about/press-center or call the Communications Office at (877) 899-2780, Ext. 1726.