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
Wayne Clark	Damascus UMC	MV

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.

A Message from Bishop Malone and the Cabinet
Bishop Tracy S. Malone and the Cabinet will no longer offer a Conference-wide recommended phase for the reopening of our EOC church buildings because each local church and faith community is in a unique setting and in locations with varying contextual realities.

We urge local church leadership to be diligent in creating, implementing, and communicating guidelines for when and how worship services and small group gatherings can more safely meet again in-person. Task groups should use the Guidelines for the Phased-in Reopening of EOC Church Buildings in conjunction with information from their county health department in developing the guidelines for context.

Read the statement in its entirety.

Financial & Administrative Services

Support Conference Ministries Online
The Conference has added a second way to make online donations to the life-changing ministries of The United Methodist Church. Both options are processed in a safe and secure manner using Vanco Services.

Local churches and faith communities can continue to make online apportionment payments by clicking here.

Now individuals can make online donations to support Conference initiatives like Teach • Reach • Bless,  East Ohio ministries, Advance Specials, UMCOR, Special Sunday offerings and more by clicking here.

Online donations can be accessed from the Conference homepage and under both the Financial & Administrative Services tab and the Missions tab.

Camps & Retreat Ministries

Quarantine in Nature at Family Camp
East Ohio Camps is now offering family camp options at Camp Aldersgate, Camp Asbury and Camp Wanake! If your household is getting cabin fever after months of sheltering in place, take a family camping vacation at one of our EOC Camps & Retreat Ministries camp sites.

“The camp put out so many things for us, and the staff took such great care of us. It was as if we were actually at church camp, and we did everything you normally would there except we did it as a family. Way better vacation than going somewhere like Myrtle Beach and far safer,” said the Rev. Brandon Keck of the experience he and his family shared at Camp Aldergate Family Camp.

“Being able to worship through scripture and song in the midst of God’s creation was extra special after worshipping online for so many months. The talks we had around the campfire brought us together while keeping us a safe distance from people outside our household,” said Katie Colbow, who stayed at Camp Wanake Family Camp with her husband and their daughter.

Learn more about this exciting new Family Camp opportunity.

To ask questions and make reservations: call the Aldersgate office at (330) 627-4369 or send an e-mail; call the Wanake office at (330) 756-2333 or send an e-mail; or call the Asbury office at (330) 569-3171 or send an e-mail.

Advocacy

Stand Against Racism Resource Debuts
Bishop Tracy S. Malone, the Extended Cabinet, and East Ohio Conference laity and clergy are making our voices heard as we and our brothers and sisters in Christ across The United Methodist Church stand against racism. The Conference website has a new Stand Against Racism resource that offers information and downloadable content including:

• small group studies and videos,
• podcasts,
• recommended reading for children, young adults and & adults,
• resources from UMC agencies, and
• more.

The resource is on the homepage of the Conference website and is also located under the Advocacy tab, under the Resources tab, and on the sidebar of the Multicultural Ministries page.

View the new Stand Against Racism resource.

Virtual Multi-week Study Offered: Starting a Journey of Reconciliation
The East Ohio Multicultural Vitality office and the Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA) invite you to participate in the multi-week study “Starting a Journey of Reconciliation.” This interactive virtual study seeks to enlighten and empower participants toward reconciliation and restorative justice as united people of God that we might grow into a healthy, wholesome beloved community.

This study will examine United Methodist and Christian tenets on racial justice; consider disparities and injustices in such areas as healthcare, education, and criminalization examined by respected authorities. It will enlighten and seek to empower participants to see and seek the envisioned beloved community and will invite participants to reflect and be part of weekly conversations via Facebook and Zoom to explore racism’s impact in our own communities.

The study begins at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, August 3. Use this Zoom link to participate and join the private Facebook group to engage in conversation throughout the week.

Communications

Online Conference Calendar
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of events and meetings across the East Ohio Conference, so the Communications office has temporarily moved the online Conference calendar to the lower left quadrant of the website. In its place in the center column of the page is the new Stand Against Racism resource.

Credit Union

Recreational Vehicles: The Fun Starts Here
The United Methodist Financial Credit Union offers a variety of lending options to fuel your summer fun. From campers to motorcycles to boats, we’ve got you covered. Call Christine or Terry today to start the process that will get you into your new summer excursion. Christine Fairhurst is in our North Canton office and can be reached at (800) 831-3972 ext. 104, or you can call Terry Laws in our Cincinnati office at (800) 373-1059 ext. 15.

Media Center

The Media Center has recently acquired the following resources:

• The Art of Hospitality Implementation; A Practical Guide for a Ministry of Radical Welcome guides a local church in the artform of creating radical hospitality that infiltrates the heart and culture of the entire church.
• Fight to Flourish helps you make the most out of your struggle because a flourishing life in every season is worth fighting for.
• The Three-Mile Walk; The Courage You Need to Live the Life God Wants for You presents the three key attributes you need to fully engage your mission – courage, holiness, and faith.
• Proverbs: Pathways to Wisdom explores the context, language, and interpretation of the book of Proverbs. Investigate an array of verses to reveal literary and historical details that supply profound insight into familiar passages.

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

Hamilton
To create such a rich canvas of history while using hip-hop, jazz, and musical theater tunes is one thing. To bring to life a play that is patriotic and hope-filled at a time such as this is a miracle. The show has already created memorable catchphrases as “Immigrants get the job done” and “Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?”

Hamilton reminds us of the cost of freedom that was a part of the birth of our nation, and the inclusive cast of Black, Latino and White actors celebrates the diversity that has always been a part of the United States and our best shot at reclaiming the potential of democracy. Take the time to watch it soon.

Read entire review.

Classifieds

Details of listings may be found here.

Positions Available

• Campus Minister – The UMC of Berea
• Interim University Chaplain – The University of Mount Union
• Chief Financial Officer – The New England Conference of The United Methodist Church
• Executive Director  – Canton Calvary Mission

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

To Subscribe

To 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, July 27, 2020.

Deadline for submission is Thursday, July 23. Send articles to swilliams@eocumc.com.