2019 Appointments and Changes of Status
Bishop Tracy S. Malone announced the following clergy appointments and/or changes of status since publication of the April 29 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 |
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| Pastor | Appointment | District | Effective |
| Craig D’Anniballe | Manchester UMC | CN | |
| Sandra Dennis-Greenberg | Garrettsville, Windham, & Nelson Cooperative Parish UMCs | WR | |
| James Ellison | Lockwood UMC | CN | |
| Van Fisher | Barnesville First & Batesville UMCs | SH | |
| Barry French | Niles First UMC | MV | |
| Kyle Gould | Aldersgate UMC | TW | |
| DeBorah Graham | Ashtabula First UMC | WR | |
| Karen Hollingsworth | Mentor Plains UMC | WR | |
| Roxann Kovacik | Hopedale & Bloomingdale UMCs | OV | |
| James Lance | Martel, Canaan & Sixteen UMCs | MO | |
| Clarence Brian Martin | Boundary & Denmark UMCs | MO | |
| Richard McCartney | Crestline First UMC | MO | |
| Donna Mills | Chapel Hill & Three Crosses UMCs | MO | |
| Vicki Muth | Jewett UMC | OV | |
| Elgan Reynolds | Willowick Shoregate UMC | WR | |
| Darla Schnegg | Jerusalem UMC & Epworth Center | SH | |
| Path Smith | North Lima Calvary & New Waterford UMCs | MV | |
| Jim Spatholt | New Hope UMC | MV | |
| Tom Sulzer | Southington & West Farmington UMCs | WR | |
| Richard Thewlis | Garrettsville, Windham, & Nelson Cooperative Parish UMCs | WR | |
| Dale Warrick | Somerton UMC | SH | |
| Bill Westling | Riverview UMC | OV | |
| Jenny Whitmore | Main Street UMC | MO | |
2019 Retirements |
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| Pastor | Retiring From | District | Effective |
| Barbara Deibel | Honorable Location | CN | |
| Robert Ireland | Extension Ministry | NC | |
| Kristin McKinley | Honorable Location | MO | |
| Jennifer Olin-Hitt | Extension Ministry | CN | |
| Thomas Thomas | Yorkville/Rayland UMCs | OV | |
| James Woods | New Alexandria/Georges Run UMCs | ||
2019 Concluding Ministries |
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Clergy who are retiring from an appointment they accepted after having previously retired; and retiring Local Pastors who have either not completed the five-year Course of Study or have not served 10 years of service without interruption as an Episcopal-appointed Local Pastor. |
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| Pastor | Retiring From | District | Effective |
| Diane Casavecchia | Chardon UMC | WR | |
View the complete list, including retirees and those concluding their ministry. 2019 Appointments and Changes of Status
Clergy Executive Session May 20
Clergy Executive Session will take place Monday, May 20 from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. in the John C. Myers Convocation Center on the main campus of Ashland University.
This is the second year East Ohio Conference clergy will meet together in an intentional way as a visible and tangible expression of their commitment to foster relationships and live into their clergy covenant of “Our Life Together on the Vine” (John 15:1-17).
All commissioned and ordained clergy are expected to be in attendance for the full day, which will include worship, a time of shared learning, a business session, and a plated lunch.
Walk-in registration is available. Online registration has closed.
Annual Conference
Special Event Meals
May 20 is the deadline to register for these special event meals at Annual Conference:
- Monday, 8:00 a.m. – Fellowship of Associate Members Local Pastors FAMLP (Wellness Center)
- Monday, 11:30 a.m. – The Gathering of Lay Servants (Wesley Lodge)
- Monday, 5:30 p.m. – CORR/Church & Society Banquet (Wesley Lodge)
- Tuesday, 12:00 p.m. – Youth Leaders Luncheon (Wellness Center)
Delegates for General/Jurisdictional Conferences
When members of Annual Conference meet at Lakeside Chautauqua June 10-13 they will elect delegates to the 2020 General and Jurisdictional Conferences. Lay and clergy voter guides will be posted on the Annual Conference 2019 website on Wednesday, May 15.
Financial and Administrative Services
HealthCheck No Longer Offered at Annual Conference
The EOC Board of Benefits has made the difficult decision to terminate sponsoring the HealthCheck blood draw that was paid for from Fund III and has been available at Annual Conference since 2001. Because the current HealthFlex benefit plan offers the Blueprint for Wellness blood draw (see next article), it was determined that having both programs is not cost effective for the Conference. We thank everyone who participated in this long-standing program and wish you good health in the future!
Blueprint for Wellness Blood Draw
The Blueprint for Wellness (BFW) blood draw – very similar to the HealthCheck blood draw, with some added features – is available to HealthFlex participants and their spouses. This includes clergy, lay employees and retirees younger than age 65 currently enrolled in the HealthFlex Plan. The BFW will be offered at Annual Conference, but you must first make an appointment online. Participants can also participate in this blood draw at a Quest facility near their home. Please educate yourself on this program by visiting the Blueprint for Wellness page of the Conference website. Check it out!
Schnegg Named Epworth Center Interim Director
Bishop Tracy S. Malone will appoint Pastor Darla Schnegg as interim director of the Epworth Center (Southern Hills District), effective July 1. While guiding the ministries of the Epworth Center, located in Bethesda, she will also serve as part-time pastor of Jerusalem UMC. Schnegg will succeed Deaconess Sherri Buehl, who is moving with her husband, Ted, to his next pastoral appointment in the Firelands District.
“Darla brings a love for the Lord and passion for missions! Her personal connection to The United Methodist Church in southeast Ohio helps to make this a smooth transition. She has skills in administration and in teaming up with leaders from various denominations, experience as an LPN and EMT, and a variety of other gifts,” said the Rev. Gail Angel, superintendent of the Southern Hills District.
Read the release in its entirety.
Camps and Retreat Ministries
New Skills, New Experiences, New Friends!
A great way to spend your summer! Summer camp is all about having fun, and exploring faith in a community of friends. Come make new friends and meet old ones. For more information 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.
Camp by the Numbers
The average American youth spends:
- 270 minutes watching TV a day
- 4 minutes playing outside a day
- 5 hours a day on electronics
- A week at camp provides 10,080 minutes away to consider, to dream to believe that they are loved and created for a purpose.
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 to learn more.
Missions
Early Response Training – June 14 at Lakeside Chautauqua
The next Early Response Team (ERT) training is at Lakeside Chautauqua on Friday, June 14, the day after Annual Conference concludes. This training is for people who are eager to respond to immediate needs after floods, hurricanes, fires, and more. Natural disasters will happen, and God needs people ready to respond.
Is God calling you to be an agent of transformation, aid, relief, and compassion in a time of crisis? Hurricane season will be upon us in the fall and we’ll need able-bodied people with training and willing hearts, ready and prepared to respond. Upon successful completion of basic training and a background check, you’ll receive a badge from United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) that certifies you as an ERT member. Sign up now to be a part of efforts for life-giving ministry when it happens! Learn more and register.
United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM)
Are you looking for a place to serve in mission? Disaster events are a common occurrence, and when we hear of the devastation we often feel a desire to serve the site we see on the news. Disasters that were once on the front page of your news feed are still in need of help, compassion, healing, and hope. There are many families waiting to return to their homes from events that occurred two to three years ago. Click this link to find long-term recovery locations in need of home repair and restored lives.
Emsizini Students Place Second at Music Competition
The partnership between the Emsizini School in Zimbabwe and the East Ohio Conference continues to bear fruit in new ways. Students of the school placed second in a music competition – finishing just a ½-point out of first place! Funds donated by Mansfield First UMC (Mid-Ohio District) and United Methodist Women of the Three Rivers District supported the students’ preparation for, and travel to, the competition.
School Headmaster Moyo and the students thank the East Ohio Conference for our continuing partnership. Rev. Russ Ham of Macedonia UMC (Canal District) and John Parker, of Mayfield UMC (Western Reserve District), are leading trips to Zimbabwe this month. Please keep the teams and the Zimbabwe Conference in your prayers. If you would like to know more about how to get involved in this ministry, e-mail John Parker at parkerja89@gmail.com.
Pastoral Care and Counseling
Bi-weekly Resources
In the May 13 edition: Be Peace: A Clergy Retreat
- “Be Peace: A Retreat” May 16, 2019 — REGISTER NOW
- Pastoral Care and Counseling Future
- Annual Conference Spiritual Formation Gathering
- Disciplined Order of Christ Retreat
- From Disconnection to Connection
- The Obesity Code: Unlocking the Secrets of Weight Loss
- How to Intermittent Fast
- 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:
- Known By Name series focuses on women from the Bible through dramatic vignettes, spoken word poetry, and traditional Bible teaching. Explore the lives of women in the Bible who asked the same three questions women still ask today. How does everyone see me? How do I see myself? and How does God see me? Naomi, Rahab, Hagar
- And I Mean That in the Best Possible Way Anita Renfroe delivers a powerful dose of hilarity, her quirky insights on “Skin Tags & Yoga,” “Girl Problems,” “Raspberry Surprise,” “TV Ads,” “Dating/Save the Date,” and more will keep you chuckling all day long.
- Believe. Do. Salvation helps students uncover what salvation means to them — and to their faith. Sessions are centered on a specific assumption or statement to get youth talking about what salvation means to them in the context of that statement.
- UMW; A 150 Year Legacy of Giving Our All celebrates UMW in mission and calls us to participate in this life-changing mission through the intersections of service and advocacy, leadership development, spiritual growth, and educational experiences.
To reserve these or other resources, call the Media Center at (800) 831-3972 x139 or send an e-mail to sarnold@eocumc.com. Browse the resource catalog at www.rqmweb.com/eocumc
Message in the Movies
Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace is an amazing film in many ways and one that took over 45 years to see the light of day. Back in 1972 Aretha Franklin (31 years old at the time) had enough success and hit singles to pitch a different project. She would return to the gospel songs of her past (her father was the renowned Rev. C. L. Franklin from Detroit’s New Bethel Baptist Church) and record them live in a church setting. The venue would be New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. She would be accompanied by Rev. James Cleveland, considered the King of Gospel Music (and former choir director of her father’s church before moving to California) and the Southern California Community Choir. This combination would produce the double album “Amazing Grace” which would become the largest-selling live gospel record of all time (selling over 2 million copies).
The recording session was filmed by noted director Sydney Pollack to be aired as a television special but a technical glitch had the audio out of synch with the video. Although technology would eventually be created to fix this problem, Pollack’s death in 2008 and legal red tape created more delays until finally producer Alan Elliot managed to put together a 90-minute film that is now ours to enjoy.
Credit Union
Shared Branching
The United Methodist Financial Credit Union partners with over 330 credit unions nationwide to provide our members with more options to do your personal banking through the Shared Branching Co-Op Network!
All you need is this: Know your account number and have your government-issued photo ID ready when you walk in. Locate a branch near you on our website, www.umethodist.com.
Events: May 13 – May 27
Click to view East Ohio Conference Calendar.
- May 15 & 22
GriefShare @ Church of the Lakes UMC - Thurs, May 16
A Dog Obedience Workshop @ Smithville UMC - Fri, May 17
Gospel Blue Grass Jam @ Manchester United UMC - Sat, May 18
Transition Workshop @ North Canton Grace UMC - Sun, May 19
Messy Church @ Smithville UMC
(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 families of:
- D. Gary Klempnauer, retired Elder, died May 3.
- Virginia L. Carothers, surviving spouse of the Rev. Grant Carothers, died November 28, 2018.
Classifieds
Details of listings may be found here.
Positions Available
- Youth Director – First UMC of East Liverpool
- Organist – First UMC of East Liverpool
- Worship Leader – Trinity UMC
- Nursery Caregiver – North Canton Grace UMC
Items Available/Wanted
- Baby grand piano – Grandview UMC
- One cover for a 7’6″ grand piano – Union Hill UMC
To submit a classified ad please email swilliams@eocumc.com
To Subscribe
Subscribe to E-News and all East Ohio Conference news updates, enter your email address in the “Follow News via Email” widget on the right sidebar. Information from this E-News may be copied and used in your local church. The next scheduled edition will be the Annual Conference edition of the E-News on Monday, May 28, 2019. Deadline for submission is Thursday, May 23. Send articles to swilliams@eocumc.com.
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