April 6, 2020

EOC News

2020 Appointments

Bishop Tracy S. Malone announces the following 2020 clergy appointments and/or changes of status, effective 7/1/20 unless otherwise noted.

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

Pastor Appointment District Effective
Carolyn Baker Apple Creek UMC CN  
Jeff Conley Justus UMC – Lay Pulpit Supply TW  
Nancy Conley Mt. Zion UMC TW  
Rebecca Evanoff Lexington & Fairhope UMCs TW  
Neal Keller Lake Brady UMC CN  
Cindy Midlick Columbiana First UMC MV  
Shane Russo Braceville UMC MV  
Kyle Tennant Champion Otterbein UMC & Regeneration Faith Community MV  
Karen Truett New Life UMC – Lay Pulpit Supply TW  
Julia Wertz Easton UMC CN  
Bohyun Yu Paradise Hill, Mansfield Korean & Adario UMCs MO  
Hyeran Yu Mt. Zion UMC MO  

Visit the 2020 Appointments and Changes of Status page of the Conference website to read the Cabinet’s Core Values for Making Appointments and to see the lists of appointments, retirements, and those who are concluding their ministry.

EOC Guiding Principles

A Reminder to EOC Pastors, Congregations, and Faith Communities
As we adapt our ministries to reach out in new creative ways during the COVID-19 pandemic, we live out our guiding principles:

Communications

COVID-19 Ministry Resources
Visit the coronavirus (COVID-19) resources page of the Conference website for the latest information from Bishop Tracy S. Malone about ministering to our congregations and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also included on the page are:

  • guidance from Bishop Malone and the Cabinet,
  • the list of online EOC worship services,
  • creative ideas for participating in worship without gathering publicly,
  • information from agencies and ministries of The United Methodist Church,
  • latest information from the Ohio Department of Health, including the new Together Ohio resource created to coordinate relief efforts in our State.
  • updates from the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization,
  • and more.

Streaming and Podcasting License
To legally livestream and/or post music of any kind (hymn, anthem, prelude, postlude, offertory, etc.) to a church website or social media channel, each EOC church/faith community MUST: 1) purchase its own Streaming and Podcasting license, and 2) stream/post only music from the catalog of the company from which it purchased the license. The Streaming and Podcasting License is an additional license to the CCLI and CVLI licenses that each church has through the Conference office.

Two companies are currently offering promotions to assist churches during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Conference Communications office has licenses from both companies because one (CCLI) has more hymns in its catalog while the other (One License) has more anthems, preludes and postludes.

  • CCLI Streaming and Podcasting License is offering a 20% discount to EOC churches/faith communities that purchase the license by calling customer service at (800) 234-2446.
  • One License Streaming and Podcasting License is offering the first month free for any church/faith community that does not currently have a the basic One License reprint license (similar to the CCLI license EOC churches already have) and before April 15 purchases it online at onelicense.net using the code CRVS20. After purchasing the basic license, the church will also have to purchase the One License streaming and podcasting license.

Refresh your knowledge about copyright licensing on the Conference website.

Ministering During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Earlier today the Communications office posted an article written by an EOC chaplain serving the caregivers, staff and residents of a senior living community.

In the past few weeks we’ve reported on:

The Communications office wants to feature the ways that you and your church or faith community are ministering to others during these difficult days of isolation. E-mail Director of Communications Rick Wolcott with details about the bold new ways you are reaching others for Christ in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Change in Events Request
Please e-mail Sean Williams if you cancel an event, reschedule one, or change it to a Zoom meeting. We need your assistance to ensure that visitors to the online calendar on the Conference website continue to receive the up-to-date information they rely on and expect. Thank you.

Financial and Administrative Services

Families First Coronavirus Response (FFCRA) Act
The Employees Right poster for the First, the new Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) Employees Right poster must be posted in a conspicuous place on your premises or e-mailed/mailed to employees who do not work on the premises.

The downloadable poster – and a link to the complete FFCRA Act – are posted on the COVID-19 resource page of the Conference website.

The Act provides that employees of covered employers are eligible for:

  • Two weeks (up to 80 hours) of paid sick leave at the employee’s regular rate of pay where the employee is unable to work because the employee is quarantined (pursuant to Federal, State, or local government order or advice of a health care provider), and/or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and seeking a medical diagnosis; or
  • Two weeks (up to 80 hours) of paid sick leave at two-thirds the employee’s regular rate of pay because the employee is unable to work because of a bona fide need to care for an individual subject to quarantine (pursuant to Federal, State, or local government order or advice of a health care provider), or to care for a child (under 18 years of age) whose school or child care provider is closed or unavailable for reasons related to COVID-19, and/or the employee is experiencing a substantially similar condition as specified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Secretaries of the Treasury and Labor; and
  • Up to an additional 10 weeks of paid expanded family and medical leave at two-thirds the employee’s regular rate of pay where an employee, who has been employed for at least 30 calendar days, is unable to work due to a bona fide need for leave to care for a child whose school or child care provider is closed or unavailable for reasons related to COVID-19.

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Securities (CARES) Act
EOC churches and faith communities that maintain their previous 12-month staffing levels through June of this year may be able to benefit from a forgivable loan available as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Securities (CARES) Act. Before proceeding with filling out an application for the loan, clergy are instructed to contact their district superintendent.

Information about the loan and the CARES Act is posted on the COVID-19 resource page of the Conference website.

Wespath Benefits and Investments  0g challenged at this point in time. Stress manifests itself differently for most people and even if we think, “we’ve got this,” it has a way of showing itself.

The important thing here is that your children, regardless of their age will take their cues from you about how to manage their emotions. Check your coping skills, do you have appropriate outlets for support? They can’t be your support system and you will be modeling for them how to connect with people who will be good supports. We also model outlets for stress, hobbies, exercise and other activities. Answer their questions, but don’t elaborate with unnecessary details. There is a fine balance between reality, possibilities and maintaining hope. The reality is that we don’t know what the future holds, but together we can navigate whatever that becomes.

Read the article in its entirety and visit the Pastoral Care pages of the Conference website.

Camps & Retreat Ministries

East Ohio Camps Friends,

We are continuing to work through the day-to-day revelations about the COVID-19 pandemic and are watching for guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, the Ohio Department of Health, our peers and advisors, and, most importantly, the guidance of the Holy Spirit. As we gather more information, we are moving closer to decisions about the summer programs at East Ohio Camps. We covet your prayers as we wrestle with decisions that impact the safety of campers, guests and staff. Please hang in there with us and pray with us as we work to protect the longevity of the Camps & Retreat Ministries in East Ohio.   

In this uncertain time, we want you to know that you are in our prayers. We understand the challenges, stresses and difficult decisions that your family faces right now. In these hard times we can all depend on a God who is with us always and whose love is steadfast. Like you, we look forward to a brighter day, when routine living again becomes comfortable and we are free to gather with one another.

Blessings to You and Yours!

Jurisdictional Conference

NCJ 2020 Postponed
In a letter to North Central Jurisdiction delegates and alternates to NCJ 2020, NCJ Secretary the Rev. Paul White stated, “all US Jurisdictional Conferences for 2020 are postponed.”

White continued, “Once the dates for the General Conference are finalized, the Council of Bishops will set the date for the Jurisdictional Conference. The plan is for the Commission on General Conference and the Council of Bishops to release a combined announcement of both dates in the very near future.”

Read the letter in its entirety.

Media Center

The Media Center recently acquired the following resources:

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 Message in the Movies banner (colorful film strip


I Still Believe
Jeremy Camp’s fan base no doubt saw this movie in theaters when it opened in mid-March; now it is currently available to rent online. I know that this movie already has its defenders as a moving tearjerker, but sometimes there is a wide gap between the film that you think you are seeing and the film that you are actually watching.

The movie wants to engage us in deep theological questions about faith and healing, but fails to stick the landing, with a sentimental explanation for a deep tragedy that just doesn’t bear serious scrutiny.

I Still Believe could still lead to deeper discussions about faith and love. Without question, its heart is in the right place and you may still get something good from your viewing. But be prepared to grapple as well with what this film fails to deliver: a mature Christ-centered theology of redemptive suffering.

Read entire review.

Obituaries

Please pray for the families of:

  • Corrinne Gardner, spouse of the Rev. Edward Gardner, died March 30.
  • Donald A. Lautzenheiser, retired Associate Member, died March 19.
  • Joseph A. Smolka, spouse of Pastor Teresa Smolka, died March 16.

View obituaries

Classifieds

Details of listings may be found here.

Positions Available

  • Administrative Assistant – Canton Calvary Mission

To submit a classified ad please e-mail swilliams@eocumc.com.

To Subscribe

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Deadline for submission is Thursday, April 16. Send articles to swilliams@eocumc.com.