West Coast Mennonite Central Committee board of directors announced Nate Yoder as West Coast MCC executive director, starting June 1 and based in Reedley, Calif.

Yoder was born in Alabama and raised in central Ohio. His father was a Mennonite pastor. He received his master of divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Ky.; and completed a doctorate of ministry with a focus on para-church executive leadership at Denver (Colo.) Seminary.

Yoder served as senior pastor at New Danville (Pa.) Mennonite Church, Palmyra (Pa.) Brethren in Christ Church and Wainfleet (Ont.) Brethren in Christ Church.

In addition to his 14 years of pastoral service, Yoder served for four years as bishop of the Atlantic Conference of the Brethren in Christ Church in the U.S. West Coast MCC board chair Sunoko Lin of Lake Balboa, Calif., said this regional leadership role, working with a diverse group of churches, uniquely prepared Yoder for the executive director position.

Yoder said he is excited about joining the West Coast MCC leadership team and working to expand the good work of MCC in the region, in the U.S. and internationally.

In his role, Yoder will oversee a staff of 11 people relating to Anabaptist congregations in nine states and carrying out regional work especially focused on restorative justice and immigration direct services and education, as well as peacebuilding along the Mexico-U.S. border. West Coast MCC also operates the MCC (More than a Cup of Coffee) Café and the Mennonite Quilt Center, both in Reedley. West Coast MCC is one of four regional MCC offices in the U.S. MCC works in about 60 countries in relief, development and peacebuilding in the name of Christ.

Yoder is married to Grace Yoder and they are parents of three teenage children: Hannah, Kyle and Kory.

The board expressed its appreciation to Aminata Dieye of the West Coast MCC staff for her service as interim executive director since December 1, 2014.