2019 Appointments and Changes of Status
Bishop Tracy S. Malone announced the following clergy appointments and/or changes of status since publication of the February 4 E-News. Unless noted otherwise, appointments are effective July 1, 2019.
Districts: (CN) Canal · (FL) Firelands · (MO) Mid-Ohio · (MV) Mahoning Valley · (NC) North Coast · (OV) Ohio Valley · (SH) Southern Hills · (TR) Three Rivers · (TW) Tuscarawas · (WR) Western Reserve
| 2019 Appointments | |||
| Pastor | Appointment | District | Effective |
| Christine Bell | Ontario UMC | MO | |
| Tom Fish | Winfield UMC | TW | |
| Matt Garrabrant | Navarre Otterbein UMC | TW | |
| Paula Marbury | Keene UMC | TR | |
| Ben Weisbrod | Church of the Cross UMC | MO | |
View the complete list, including retirees and those concluding their ministry. 2019 Appointments and Changes of Status
General Conference
A Special Session of General Conference has been called for February 23-26 in St. Louis, Missouri to receive and act upon a report from the Commission on a Way Forward and recommendations of the Council of Bishops.
General Conference will begin with a Day of Prayer on Saturday, February 23 to pray for the Special Session and to find a Way Forward that will maximize the Church’s witness and mission in the world.
Visit the new Special Session pages on the East Ohio Conference website to:
- View the live stream of all sessions/services.
- Get the latest news from the floor of GC.
- See messages from Bishop Malone.
- Read synopses and in-depth side-by-side comparisons of the three proposed plans
- And more.
Annual Conference
The housing and registration packet for Annual Conference 2019 will be mailed on February 27, and the AC website will also go live that day.
Annual Conference 2019 will be the third session using our quadrennial theme Bearing Fruit that Lasts: Called, Committed, Connected. When we gather at Lakeside Chautauqua June 10-13 we will highlight the joy of making a commitment to take up residence in God’s love and extend that love to others.
Camps and Retreat Ministries
Become Part of our Summer Camp Staff
The staff is a cornerstone of the ministry of East Ohio Camps. Our summer program requires a great number of staff members to be successful. We are looking for outstanding Christian women and men for summer staff positions. We offer great Christian community, excellent training, free room and board, opportunity for ministry, and growth in leadership skills. We are looking for counselors, lifeguards, program staff, food service, administration and maintenance. Learn more apply to join our team.
Think About How Your Children Will Spend Summer Vacation
Camping can satisfy what children need! They experience faith, responsibility, and cooperation as part of a caring community. They experience self-esteem as children of God. In a world where it is hard to be a kid, and to be a parent, let East Ohio Camps be your partner in faith and the development of your child. With hundreds of events to choose from, one will be right for you and your child! Sports! Drama! Water! Horses! Great Places! Great Experiences! All with trained, caring staff. Contact your local church, call the East Ohio Conference Camping Office at (330) 499-3972 ext. 108, or visit us on the web at www.EOCSummercamps.org.
Missions
2019 Liberia Partners Summit – April 4-5
Reconnect with our Liberian friends, meet new people who partner in Liberia, get updates on the ministry priorities of the Liberia Annual Conference from Liberian presenters, and discover new ministry opportunities in Liberia when we meet at Garfield Memorial Church in Pepper Pike from 9:00 a.m. Thursday, April 4 through 9:00 p.m. Friday, April 5.
Your participation in this gathering with Liberia ministry partners from Ohio, Michigan, North Carolina and many other UMC conferences and countries will help us better-coordinate and maximize our mutual efforts in evangelization, education, health care, agriculture, leadership growth and economic opportunity in Liberia. Consider inviting at least one additional person to come to the event with you. By expanding the circle of participants, we can further enhance our mutual disciple making ministry and mission with our Liberian brothers and sisters.
Learn more and register by March 15 to receive the discounted Courtyard Cleveland Beachwood hotel rate. E-mail Jason Hockran, jason.hockran@handhent.com, or Kathy Dickriede, kdickriede@gmail.com with any questions.
ERT Recertification Class Offered
If you’re a certified United Methodist Committee on Relief Emergency Response Team (UMCOR ERT) member who hasn’t been trained in nearly three years, it’s time for a recertification class. The next class is Saturday, February 23 at Andover UMC. The ERT recertification class will include a review of the current ERT training and team guidelines, along with providing the ERT Team Leader and Site Assessment training modules. Learn more and register by February 20.
Spiritual Formation
Inclusive Church Workshop March 14
Who is missing from your congregation? Studies indicate that families with children with autism are almost twice as likely to never attend church or other religious services. Children and adults with other disabilities, such as anxiety, physical/developmental delays, attention deficit disorder, and sensory challenges also do not attend.
Join us at North Canton Faith UMC on March 14 (8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.) for Special Needs Across the Ages: Becoming an Accessible, Inclusive Congregation Where All Belong. The day will feature a keynote speaker, vital conversations, and workshops to empower our congregations to become churches where persons of all abilities belong.
The cost of $20 includes lunch (vegetarian and gluten-free options). Learn more and register.
Spiritual Formation Committee Book of the Month
We are reading, Hollow Faith: How Andy Griffith, Facebook, and the American Dream Dilute the Gospel, by Stephen Ingram, and discussing it as a committee. We feel this book is great for all church leaders and parents. It will help you refocus your ministry on the heart of the Gospel, weeding out cultural norms that have seeped into our distinctly-Christian theology.
Young People’s Ministries
Youth Leaders Network “Finding Your True North” Retreat
Join us March 15-16 at the Cambria Hotel in Uniontown for 24 hours of fellowship, worship and learning with other youth ministry leaders. Spend time exploring how we ground ourselves in finding our true north and how we help teens dealing with stress and anxiety do the same. Guest speaker is Curtis “CZ” Zackery. Learn more and register by March 1.
Pastoral Care and Counseling
Bi-weekly Resources
In the February 18 edition: Fear, anxiety, and violence are met with hope, peace, and love.
- SAVE-A-DATE: Pastoral Care Day-A-Part, May 16, 2019
- A Way Forward: Nothing to fear but fear itself
- Video: Perspectives on a Way Forward
- Freedom from Fear: A Story of Honduran Refugee Family
- Freedom from Fear: A Study of Fear
- Lenten Booklet: Finding Peace in Lent
- “I Love You” Meditation
- Meditation
- The Seeker’s Guide: Making Your Life a Spiritual Adventure
- Finding Peace Beneath Fear, Anxiety, Overwhelm Uncertainty and Doubt
- YouTube: Freedom from Fear
- Spiritual Enrichment Groups
- Listings of our Spiritual Directors
Contact Us
If you have any questions or issues you would like for us to address or would like to get email alerts when new resources have been posted please contact Howard Humphress at hkhumphress@gmail.com or use our quick contact form.
Media Center
The Media Center recently acquired the following resources:
- The Sermon on the Mount by Jen Wilkin navigates these three chapters as they were originally heard: as one cohesive, well-ordered message, intended to challenge us to think differently about repentance, salvation, and sanctification.
- I Said This, You Heard That: How Your Wiring Colors Your Communication explores how your wiring affects what you say, how you listen, and how others hear you.
- Called shows us how God interrupts the lives of ordinary men and women, calling and empowering them to lives of service they never would have imagined on their own.
- Jesus Challenge invites you to move from forgetfulness to remembering, from distraction to intentionality, and from self-sufficiency to God-reliance, so that you can live lives that center on loving God and loving others as ourselves.
To reserve these or other resources, call the Media Center at (800) 831-3972 ext. 139 or send an e-mail to sarnold@eocumc.com. Browse the resource catalog at www.rqmweb.com/eocumc.
Message in the Movies
Stan & Ollie
Stan & Ollie is, most of all, a touching depiction of a deep partnership and friendship. They rely on one another professionally and personally as an inseparable couple. The film also allows their spouses to demonstrate their support in amusing ways. The movie is honest enough to show the strain that is a part of close friendships and the ties that bind people close together.
There are so many predictable comedy-dramas and rom-coms every year but Stan & Ollie is not one of them; it is a unique treasure. It is clever and often laugh-out-loud funny, and John C. Reilly (in impressive makeup) and Steve Coogan inhabit their roles to recreate several classic routines.
This is one of the most entertaining films of 2019.
Events: February 18 – March 3
Click to view East Ohio Conference Calendar.
- Thurs, Feb 21
Tuscarawas District dCom - Fri, Feb 22
Lay Servant Training – Canal District @ Lockwood UMC - Sat, Feb 23
ERT Recertification Training @ Andover First UMC - Sat, Feb 23
Homemade Soup, Salad, & Dessert Dinner @ Manchester UMC - Fri, Mar 1
Creative Worship Workshop @ Tiffin Faith UMC - Fri, Mar 1
Tuscarawas District Youth Leaders – Coffee & Conversation @ Samantha’s Restaurant - Sat, Mar 2
Tuscarawas District Spring Conference & Leadership Training @ New Philadelphia First UMC - Sun, Mar 3
Facing Racism Lenten Book Study @ University Circle UMC
To submit your event to the East Ohio calendar use this form.
(The East Ohio Conference only accepts East Ohio United Methodist local church, conference and general UM events for listing on the Conference calendar.)
Obituaries
Please pray for the family of:
- Millard Mead, retired Elder, died January 31, 2019.
Classifieds
Details of listings may be found here.
Positions Available
- Nursery Caregiver – Grace UMC
- Education Program Assistant – Lakeside Chautauqua
- Programming Administrative Assistant/Project Coordinator – Lakeside Chautauqua
- Teen Program Coordinator – Lakeside Chautauqua
- Teen Program Leaders – Lakeside Chautauqua
- Chief Financial Officer – The West Virginia Annual Conference of The UMC
- Children’s Ministry Intern – New Waterford UMC
- Musical Director Intern – Centenary UMC Drama Camp
- Director of Praise Worship – Wintersville UMC
- Director of Teen Ministry – Medina UMC
- Preschool Administrator/Teacher – Rittman UMC
- Organist – Family of Faith UMC
To submit a classified ad please email swilliams@eocumc.com
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Information from this E-News may be copied and used in your local church.
The next scheduled edition of the E-News is Monday, March 4, 2019. Deadline for submission is Wednesday, February 27. Send articles to swilliams@eocumc.com.
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