Bishop Gregory V. Palmer has announced Rev. Mark Chow will serve as Scioto River District Superintendent effective July 1. He replaces Rev. Calvin Alston who has indicated his intention to retire at the end of the conference year. Chow will continue to serve as the district superintendent of the Hocking River District.

“I am humbled and honored to serve the people of both the Scioto River and Hocking River Districts,” Chow said.  “With your prayers and God’s grace, I look forward to this opportunity to serve God.”

Bishop Palmer met with the district superintendency committees ahead of the announcement. Both districts are similar culturally and regionally.

“Mark has served all over West Ohio. It is hard for me to think of anybody who exudes servant leadership more than Mark,” said Bishop Palmer.

Chow holds a Bachelor of Arts in speech-theater from Ohio Northern University and a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary. He was ordained an elder in the West Ohio Conference in 1989.

Born in Iowa, Chow and his family lived in Pennsylvania and Kentucky before moving to Ohio where his father, the late Rev. W. Jing Chow, served several churches in the West Ohio Conference.

He is married to Nancy Schumacher-Chow. They are the parents of four adult daughters: Jayme, Jenn, Deborah, and Molly. They are also grandparents to Henry and Rachel.