CHICAGO, IL (April 17, 2017) – The Board of Benevolence has nominated Roger Oxendale to be president of Covenant Ministries of Benevolence. The Covenant Annual Meeting will vote on his nomination in June.
Oxendale, a long-time Covenanter, has guided two children’s hospitals to national prominence. Most recently, he served as president of Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando, Florida, which opened in 2012. In just two years it was named one of the Top Nine children’s hospitals in the country by Leapfrog Group, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that monitors safety and quality in American acute care hospitals.
Among his previous positions, he served as the chief financial officer, chief operating officer, and then chief executive officer of the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. U.S. World & News Report has consistently named it among the nation’s ten best children’s hospitals.
Oxendale has been an active member in Covenant congregations and served as a lay member of the Board of Ordered Ministry. His corporate experience and faith commitment informed the decision of the CMB board, which acted as the search committee.
“After a thorough search process, the search committee recognized that not only does Roger have an incredible resume, which includes years of hospital administration and finance, he has a heart for serving the Lord and listening to his call,” said Jennifer Larson, CMB board chair.
Oxendale had retired in January 2016, but decided it wasn’t for him. “I have come to think about my intended retirement as a sabbatical,” he said after accepting the nomination. “Diane and I had a great time of travel and being with our three daughters and their families. But also during this time, God reminded me how much I loved working and leading within an organization to make a difference in its mission. I believe God has called me at this stage in my life to continue to serve the church, CMB, and the constituents we care for as we focus on our mission priorities.
Healthcare is in a period of great and uncertain flux, but Oxendale said, “My experience is that healthcare has always been changing and challenging, primarily because there are so many needs and opportunities to address with limited resources. I look forward to bringing together our best thinking to focus on expanding our services to meet the mission of CMB in new and creative ways as we extend our helping hand to the sick, disabled, aging, poor, and vulnerable.”
Oxendale has served a longtime volunteer leader for the Boy Scouts of America in Pittsburgh and Central Florida and said he is passionate about seeking better and more creative ways for society to better serve schools and develop youth programs.
Oxendale succeeds David Dwight, who will retire following the Covenant Annual Meeting.
