The J. Roger and Joan Skelley Watts Collection

John Roger Skelley-Watts (Watts) was born on January 26, 1949, in Nashville, Tennessee. He received his undergraduate degree in Psychology from the American University in 1971. He graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1974, after a brief hiatus in 1972 wherein he assisted Andrew Young in his successful congressional campaign in Atlanta, Georgia, writing of his experience in his senior thesis on Christian Political Ethics (under the mentorship of Rev. Dr. Edler Hawkins). While at Princeton Theological Seminary, he was actively involved in the student government coalition, acted as the cartoonist for student publications including the Viewpoint and the Apocryphon. His robust PTS legacy includes the creation of the Hodge Hall Ratus VI and co-authoring The Course Book student evaluations. J. Roger Skelley-Watts went on to be ordained at the United Methodist Church Tennessee Annual Conference in 1972, pastoring at several UMC sites in Ohio and going on to receive a Doctorate in Ministry before his retirement in 2013.

1949 (January 26)

Born, Nashville, Tennessee

1971

Graduated, B.A., American University

1972

Andrew Young Campaign, Georgia

Ordained Deacon, Tennessee Conference UMC

1974

Graduated, M.Div., Princeton Theological Seminary

Pastor, Pitman UMC, NJ

1975

Pastor, Westbrook Park UMC, Ohio

1977

Ordained Elder, East Ohio UMC

1978

Director, Bolivar-Zoar Youth Center, Ohio

1982

Co-Pastor with Joan Skelley-Watts, Alliance Christ UMC, Ohio

1988

Executive Director, Stuebenville Urban Missions Minutes, Ohio

1990

Graduated, D.Min., Boston University School of Theology

1992

Pastor, Concord Hope Ridge UMC, Ohio

1993

Cleveland District Associate, Ohio

2002

Pastor, Huran UMC, Ohio

2018

Retired

Joan Elizabeth Skelley-Watts (Skelley) was born on June 27, 1950, in Royal Oak, Michigan. She received her undergraduate degree in Music and Literature from Indiana University in 1972. She graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1975, receiving the William Tennent Scholarship in May 1973. Joan Skelly-Watts was ordained a deacon at the United Methodist Church East Ohio Conference in 1975, and an elder at the 1977 Conference. While at Princeton Theological Seminary, she was actively involved in student government and performed with the orchestra, including a Mozart violin recital. She was mentored by Dr. Freda Gardner. Skelley-Watts was ordained a Deacon of the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1975 and went on to serve many UMC locations in Ohio before retiring in 2013.

1950 (June 27)

Born, Royal Oak, Michigan

1968

Graduated, Interlochen Music Academy

1972

Graduated, B.S., Indiana University

1975

Graduated, M.Div., Princeton Theological Seminary

Ordained Deacon, East Ohio Conference UMC

Pastor, Bolivia, Ohio UMC

1977

Ordained Elder, East Ohio Conference UMC

1982

Co-Pastor with J. Roger Skelley-Watts, Alliance Christ UMC, Ohio

1988

Pastor, Steubenville Lebelle View, Ohio UMC

1991

Superintendent, Painesville District, Ohio

1997

Pastor, Rocky River Rockport UMC, Ohio

2005

Pastor, Vermilion Grace UMC, Ohio

2013

Retired