Former General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ the Rev. John H. Thomas has had his ministerial standing reinstated by the Western Reserve Association of the Ohio Conference of the United Church of Christ.

The Rev. David T. Hill, acting chair of the Western Reserve Association Department on Church and Ministry, shared the Association's decision in a Jan. 20 email to the UCC's Ministerial Excellence, Support and Authorization Ministry Team, saying:

"Please be advised that the Department of Church and Ministry of the Western Reserve Association of the Ohio Conference of the United Church of Christ has reinstated the ministerial standing of Rev. John Thomas following his satisfactory completion of the prescribed program of growth."

Thomas, who served for 10 years as general minister and president, left office at the end of his term in September 2009. Due to term limitations, he was ineligible to seek re-election. Thomas is now a visiting professor in church ministries and special assistant to the president at UCC-related Chicago Theological Seminary.