Random Thoughts from a Random Mind

About Julianne DiRocco Smith

I’m a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt. I was ordained a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America November 30, 1986. Starting out in the Northwestern Ohio Synod, I’ve served congregations in Ada (home of Ohio Northern University) and Upper Sandusky (nowhere near Lake Erie). In 2010 my husband and I moved to Poland (still in Ohio), outside of Youngstown, where I served Prince of Peace Lutheran for eight years.

In February, 2018 I moved from serving a congregation to serving as Director for Evangelical Mission for the Northeastern Ohio Synod. With a new bishop in 2020 came a new title: Assistant to the Bishop for Congregational Vitality and Director for Evangelical Mission; or, A2BCV and DEM of the NEOS in the ELCA.

I officially retired as of February 1, 2024. I do plan to do “something” after I’ve had some time off.

My husband Stuart is an hydrogeologist specializing in ground water and water wells. He has a business here in the U.S. and also one in Tanzania. We have two daughters, one granddaughter and one grand-dog. Only our cat Sparkles lives with us.

Find me…