Council Member Profile: Joel Meeker

Joel Meeker was born in Wisconsin in 1961. His father, George Meeker, listened to Herbert Armstrong on the radio in the 1940s, entered Ambassador College in 1950, and was among the early ministers to be ordained in this era of the Church.

Joel Meeker attended Ambassador College in Pasadena from 1980-85, participating in service projects in Thailand, France, Switzerland and Scotland. He graduated in 1985, after serving as student body president his final year.

After graduation he married Marjolaine Dubois, an Ambassador graduate from Montreal, Quebec. The couple moved to France where Joel was ordained to the ministry in 1986. Until 1994 they served congregations in Marseilles, Narbonne, Metz, Strasbourg, Mulhouse and Colmar, France. They directed the French youth camp program from 1990 to 1994. The Meekers' daughters, Fiona and Tatiana, were born in Strasbourg during this period.

While in France, at the request of Ambassador faculty members, Mr. Meeker completed a licence ès lettres (bachelor's degree), and a maîtrise ès lettres (master's degree) in modern literature at the Université des Sciences Humaines in Strasbourg. His master's dissertation was received with the highest honors accorded by French universities.

In 1994 the Meekers left the employ of the Worldwide Church of God over doctrinal differences and returned to the United States where Joel enrolled in a doctoral program in French literature at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. The Meekers joined the United Church of God shortly after its founding in 1995.

In 1996 Joel cut short his degree program in order to serve the Church in French-speaking Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. As initial coordinator of the United Youth Corps International Service projects, Joel organized young-adult projects in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America.

He is pastor for French-speaking areas in Europe, Africa and the Caribbean, serving members in more than a dozen countries. He is editor of French-language publications, including the French magazine Bonnes Nouvelles, the member newsletter Renouveau and other literature. He spends four to six months each year traveling internationally. In addition to serving as chairman of the Ethics, Roles and Rules Committee of the Council of Elders, and on the Council's Media and Communications Committee, he also serves on the media steering group.

Marjolaine has a master of education degree and teaches high school French. The Meekers currently make their home in the Cincinnati area.

Mr. Meeker's personal interests include military history, English and French literature and scuba diving. UN