The West Ohio Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church recognized Ohio Northern University Chaplain Rev. Dr. David MacDonald earlier this month.

MacDonald is the 2017 recipient of the Francis Asbury Award for Campus Ministry.

The award recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to fostering United Methodist ministries in higher education.

The presentation was made during the final afternoon of the 2017 West Ohio Annual Conference at Lakeside, Ohio, on June 7.

There are 162,842 members 1,568 clergy in the 1,020 churches within the West Ohio Conference.

MacDonald was ordained as elder in the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church in 2008.  He has served churches in Niles, Marshallville, and Edison, Ohio, as well as Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK. 

He is a graduate of Mount Union College, Methodist Theological School in Ohio, and Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.

In addition to serving as university chaplain, he coordinates Get Connected ONU, an online volunteer management system on campus.