Clergy

Sexual Ethics Boundary Training
Sexual ethics boundary training is required for all clergy under appointment in, or through, the East Ohio Conference. Healthy boundaries sustain personal and ministerial relationships and bring joy to ministry.

Senior Director of Sexual Ethics and Advocacy for the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women Becky Posey Williams will lead Integrity in Ministry: Boundaries and the Importance of Self-Care training from 9:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. on:

• Wed., Sept. 11, at Lorain Lighthouse UMC
• Thurs., Sept. 12 at Boardman UMC
• Fri., Sept. 13 at Shreve UMC
• Sat., Sept. 14 at Newcomerstown Christ UMC

Click here to register online by August 31.

Young People’s Ministries

National Youth Workers Convention – Nov. 21-24
Hey youth leaders! Are you ready for a FUN weekend away to gather new ideas, experience awesome worship, and connect with other youth leaders? Are you ready for a weekend that you don’t have to plan?

Then join United Methodist youth leaders from across the denomination November 21-24 in Tampa, FL for the National Youth Workers Convention We Are in This Together. Hear from David Crowder, Doug Fields, Albert Tate, Nona Jones, the Skit Guys and more – and hangout in the EOC hospitality room where you’ll support one another and debrief, eat, and fellowship together.

Use the EOC youth workers promotional code DENOMfriend19 to receive discounted rates of:

• $229/person – Registration
• $30/person – Deep Dive pre-convention breakout sessions
• $15/person – Comedy Night tickets

Learn more and register.

E-mail Kaye Wolfinger, kayew@eocumc.com, if you have been in youth ministry for less than five years and receive free event registration – meaning you will only have to pay for travel/lodging/food.

E-mail Char Messenger, char@dueber.org, to check on carpool and roommate options.

Stay Connected: High School Class of 2019
Pastors and youth leaders are reminded to forward this link https://forms.gle/HM9W5ZSYpRC1jCCQ9 to ALL Class of 2019 seniors and parents in your congregation or faith community. This will help us connect those students with campus chaplains to aid the transition into their next phase of life. Forwarding the link will also assist pastors in preparing their charge conference reports.

Financial and Administrative Services

Financial Wellness Workshop – September 27
Review/evaluate your current financial status in a Board of Benefits workshop Friday, Sept. 27 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Westbrook Park UMC.

In partnership with Wespath Benefits, EY Financial Services will give presentations on Estate Planning, Social Security and Retirement, and Dissolving Your Debt. The rest of the day will include an overview of Conference-sponsored benefits.

Learn more and register online.

SEATING IS LIMITED!  All attendees – including spouses – must register in advance. No walk-ins will be accommodated. Questions? Call (800) 831-3972 for Betsy (ext. 103) or Robin (ext. 151).

Spiritual Formation and Christian Education

Share Your Story
Join us for a training event for church leaders – clergy, local pastors, staff, lay leaders, teachers, Bible Study leaders, volunteers, etc. – to learn how to equip people to tell their story.  Your congregation will benefit by participating because when we are able to share our stories, we can build relationships and lead others to Christ.

Sponsored by the Spiritual Formation & Christian Education Committee of the East Ohio Conference and the East Ohio Chapter of CEF (Christians Engaged in Faith Formation), this event will be held from 10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. on the following dates, allowing participants to choose the date/location that best fits their individual schedules:

• Thurs. , Sept. 26 – North Canton Faith UMC
  Learn more and register.
• Sat., Nov. 9 – Coshocton Grace UMC
  Learn more and register.

The cost is $25 and includes resources and boxed lunch.

Multicultural Vitality

Community Discussions about Housing in Akron – September 24
This eight-session study, guided by the Bible and the book Evicted by Matthew Desmond, will meet the fourth Tuesday of every month from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the YMCA Cascade Village to discuss housing issues in Akron. The study is hosted by the East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church and the United Church of Christ. Learn more and register.

Black Theologian Day – October 5
This year’s Black Theologian Day: Understanding a Black Theological Perspective is Saturday, October 5 from 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at Garfield Memorial UMC in Pepper Pike. The guest theologian is Leah Gunning Francis, vice president for Academic Affairs and dean of the faculty at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. Her message Committing to God’s Call is based on Esther 4:12-15. Learn more and register.

Discussing Gun Violence
Recent events have again reminded us of the tragic consequences of gun violence. Our baptismal vows call us to “renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world” and “resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.” East Ohio Annual Conference passed resolutions in 2018 and in 2019 calling each of us to “examine, publicly discuss, and participate in identifying and promoting realistic options.” View those resolutions and other resources on the Church and Society pages of the Conference website and then be bold and courageous in gathering people in every community to have conversations about gun violence.

United Methodist Women

Crisis at the Borders Faith Talk – August 29
United Methodist Women invite you to join in a Zoom video conference call focusing on the crisis at the border. The conversation will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 29. All are welcome to participate.

Deaconess Cindy Johnson will discuss how the training United Methodist Women provides enables its members to serve at such a time as this. She will discuss what is needed to address global migration and offer tips on what each of us can do to help; whether we live in a border community or not.

You do not have to have loved ones who are immigrants to imagine the desperation of people at our borders. You simply must have the capacity to see the humanity of others. Learn more and register.

Missions

United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM)
Prayers for Puerto Rico and the work of the Methodist Church in Puerto Rico continues! Partnering with local folks rebuilding from Hurricane Maria and folks from East Ohio being the hands, feet and heart of Jesus is on the move! Are you ready to be a part of the relief efforts?

Puerto Rico – January 14-21, 2020
Team Leader: Brett Bartels bwb1028@gmail.com | Cost: $1,500
Canal District UMVIM Team for long term recovery in partnership with REHACE and the United Methodist Church of Puerto Rico.
Informational UMVIM team meeting Thursday, August 29 at 7:00 p.m. at Hudson UMC.

Puerto Rico – February 6-13, 2020
Team Leader: Tom King kings7565@gmail.com | Cost: $1,500
Team of 8-10 members will be working under the direction of ReHace, Inc. of the UMC of Puerto Rico to repair houses damaged by Hurricane Maria in 2017. We will be hosted and housed by a Methodist Church or Retreat Center.
Informational UMVIM team meeting Thursday, August 29 at 7:00 p.m. at Hudson UMC.

Peru – July 6-17, 2020
East Ohio Peru Medical UMVIM Journey
Team Leader: Carmen Kluth and Kathy Dickriede kdickriede@gmail.com | Cost: $2,300
Serving in the Cusco region, where Machu Picchu and other wonderful Incan sites are located. Medical focus, specifically nursing, psychology, ophthalmology, OBGYN & pediatrics services.
Information meeting on Sunday, September 8 at 3:00 p.m. at Mogadore UMC. Contact Kathy Dickriede if interested.

North Central Jurisdiction Mission Ambassadors Summit – October 28-30
Join us at the Lake Lucerne Retreat Center in Neshkoro, WI to learn more about global health, mission and justice, volunteers in mission, disaster response and to spend time with mission leaders from across the North Central Jurisdiction for a time of renewal, learning, connecting, and advocating. Presenters include Brandolyn Pope, Jeremy Bassett, Don and Nancy Morgan, Amy Valdez Barker, Tom Farley, David Scott, and more. Learn more and register.

Primetimers 2020 Schedule
Primetimers offers educational and mission service experiences for older adults. The 5- to 10-day events offer educational forums, cross-cultural exposure, faith-filled reflection and greater exposure to the work of The United Methodist Church and the church universal. In 2020 opportunities include mission service events to Tucson, Arizona; Prague, Czech Republic; Holy Land: Nazareth, Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Learn more.

Media Center

The Media Center recently acquired the following resources:

• Among the Many; Wisdom, Companionship, and Hope for Those Who Have Lost a Loved One to Drug Overdose offers hope for anyone grieving the death of a person due to opioid overdose.
• Asphalt Gospel shows connections with countless people who had previously felt all alone and alienated by religion and surprising dialogues with people with opposing viewpoints.
• Your Life with Christ; Grow; Know; Live is perfect for new believers, not-yet-believers, and Christians who want to be refreshed in their faith.
• Faith and Reason Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 featuring noted scholars in round table discussions.
• Stories Jesus Told; How to Read a Parable explores six of Jesus’ stories to understand how to read them, interpret them, and understand what they mean for our own lives today.

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

Good Boys
It would be going after low hanging fruit to tell you to avoid Good Boys because of its crude language and sex-related humor. (The producers and marketing team for the movie have already done that.) However, to focus exclusively on the offenses of this film would overlook the current culture that prepared the way. We are living in a crude, dirty, and hurting time. Prime time shows are chock-full of offensive subject matter. The omnipresent TV-MA rating allows rough talk and crude storylines to enter the family living room. Politicians (of both major parties) swear openly at rallies and claim the high ground. Recreational marijuana, vape pens, and fruit-flavored malt beverages court the youth marketplace. Victoria’ s Secret and Adam and Eve are nationwide brands that knowingly advertise sex-related products on television. The internet creates an open marketplace for pornography, racism and intolerance.

This is the world that Max (Tremblay), Lucas (Williams) and Thor (Brady Noon) live in. These three guys have been friends since childhood and call themselves The Beanbag Boys. They’re all 6th graders preparing for the big move into middle-school, and they observe older kids swearing, drinking, doing drugs and acting tough. None of them misbehave in front of their parents but (around each other) feel free to let the F-bombs fly.

Read entire review.

Credit Union

Labor Day Closing

All offices of The United Methodist Financial Credit Union will be closed on Monday, September 2 in observance of Labor Day. Members may view share account balances, transfer funds, and pay bills anytime through our website, www.umethodist.com, or our mobile app.

Events: August 26 – September 8

Click to view East Ohio Conference Calendar

• Thurs, Aug 29
  Cross-Racial Cross-Cultural Learning Cohort @ East Ohio Area Center
• Aug 29 & Sept 6
  Open Gym Basketball for Youth @ University Circle UMC
• Fri, Sept 6
  Firelands District Catalyst Vision Day @ Norwalk First UMC
• Sat, Sept 7
  Navigate Learning Cohort @ University of Mount Union Chapel
• Sun, Sept 8
  Mission Auction @ York 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:

• Raymond L. Tucker, retired Elder, died August 16.
• Mary Lou Franklin, surviving spouse of the Rev. Dr. Wilbur B. Franklin, died June 22.

View obituaries

Classifieds

Details of listings may be found here.

Positions Available

• Spiritual Growth and Formation Specialist – United Methodist Women
• Ministries Assistant – Twin Falls UMC
• Church Administrator – Willoughby UMC
• Youth Ministry Coordinator – Strasburg UMC
• Administrative Assistant – Strasburg UMC
• Organist/Accompanist – First UMC of Ravenna
• Director of Young People’s Ministries – Geneva UMC
• Pianist – Geneva UMC
• Children’s Education Director – Damascus UMC
• Worship Leader – New Washington UMC
• Office Manager – Uniontown 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 of the E-News is Monday, September 9, 2019.

Deadline for submission is Thurday, September 5, 2019. Send articles to swilliams@eocumc.com.