2021 Appointments

Bishop Tracy S. Malone announces the following 2021 clergy appointments and/or changes of status. Appointments are effective July 1, 2021 unless otherwise noted.

Move Out: Monday, June 28                      Move In: Tuesday, June 29

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
David Andrews	Bunker Hill UMC	MV
Lawrence Carnes	Waterford & Batemantown UMCs	TR
Ryan Cockrill	Bell Chapel UMC	OV
Dan Edwards	North Industry, Waco Epworth & Mt. Zion UMCs	TW
Jeffery Harrison	Ebenezer UMC (Virginia Conference)
Garland Harvey	Main Street UMC	MO
Jake Heskett	North Canton Faith United & Crystal Park UMCs	TW
Jeri Johnson	North Industry, Waco Epworth & Mt. Zion UMCs	TW
Gregory Kendrick	Cory UMC & Glenville Strategic Ministry	NC
Amanda Moseng	Church of the Saviour UMC, Associate Pastor	NC
Kory Rowland	Uhrichsville First UMC and Tippecanoe & Pleasant Grove UMCs	TW/TR
Shane Russo	Niles First UMC	MV
Steve Stultz Costello	North Canton Faith United & Crystal Park UMCs	TW
Jan Walsh	Shreve UMC, Associate Pastor	CN
Bohyun Yu	Willard Grace & New Haven and Mansfield Korean UMCs	FL/MO
Frank Zugaro	Damascus UMC	MV

Visit the 2021 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.

Teach • Reach • Bless

Your Donation Can Change a Life
Increasing enrollment at Africa University and a lack of on-campus housing means that some students commute from remote areas and find affordable off-campus housing, putting female students at risk of living in and being subjected to untenable situations. Each new donation, and each payment of a commitment, to The Teach • Reach • Bless campaign moves the East Ohio Conference one step closer to collecting the needed $1.5 million dollars to build and furnish a residence hall for 90 female students at the University.

Ground cannot be broken for construction of the new residence hall until the entire $1.5 million needed to build and furnish the residence hall is collected and sent to Africa University. Currently, $633,287.86 needs to be collected to reach the campaign goal.

A challenge gift from Rev. Bill & Marty McFadden will add $1 to every $3 donated in 2021. If you made a financial commitment to the campaign, you are asked to prayerfully consider paying the commitment in full by the end of 2021, if possible. If you have not yet made a financial commitment to the campaign, you are invited to make a financial donation during 2021.

Make a financial donation to the Teach • Reach • Bless campaign.

View the lists of campaign donors.

Annual Conference 2021

Agenda and Pre-Conference Workbook
The Pre-Conference Workbook will be mailed the week of April 26. The pdf of that publication is currently available on the Annual Conference 2021 website under the Resources tab. The tentative agenda of this year’s session of Annual Conference is also available for viewing on the site.

Presentations and worship for Annual Conference 2021 Christ Alive in Us! will be live from the John S. Knight Center in Akron. Lay and clergy members of Annual Conference will participate remotely via a Zoom webinar and will vote online. The sessions and services will be livestreamed on the Conference website.

Note that this year’s Annual Conference will open with the Service of Commissioning and Ordination at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 16 and during the Board of Ministry Celebration of Retirement at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 17 both the Class of 2021 and the Class of 2020 retirees will be recognized in-person.

Registration for both Annual Conference 2021 and for this year’s Clergy Executive Session ends on Friday, May 14. Register for AC 2021 and Clergy Executive Session.

View the Annual Conference 2021 website.

Camps & Retreat Ministries

Bring on Summer Fun at Camp
Register now for the best week of your summer … your year … your life! Camp Aldersgate, Camp Asbury, Camp Wanake and Institute are waiting for your registration.

Visit the EOC Summer Camps website to find all that you’ll need to register online, or you can request a Summer Camp brochure by e-mailing the Camps office or calling (330) 499-3972 ext. 108.

Young People’s Ministries

Youth Leaders May Book Club
Don’t miss May’s book club Leading Small by Reggie Joiner. Let’s learn together how to lead effective small groups, especially now that we are not able to gather in large numbers!

View the times of the Youth Leaders Book Club.

Youth Leaders Coaching Program
The past year has been challenging to say the least. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives and our ministries, but we have also learned some lessons about what is truly important in youth ministry. Many of us are looking towards a relaunch of our youth ministry, because we cannot just go back to doing what we have always done. Leaders from the Holston, East Ohio and South Carolina Conferences have come together to create a coaching program to help youth leaders rethink, refocus, reimagine and relaunch ministries.

The program is free and consists of four group Zoom calls and four individual coaching sessions. The first round of cohort has been so successful, that we will start another group in June. If you are interested in learning more, please fill-out the interest sheet.

Youth Annual Conference 2021
Youth Annual Conference is June 12 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. We are still working on logistics to offer three face-to-face locations. Registration will open soon. Please watch E-News and social media for updates.

Missions

Mission News
Be sure to visit our Mission News page for more missions related news, like grants for Migration Ministries and upcoming events.

Conference Advance Specials Updated
The Mission Awareness Committee has published the updated list of Advance Specials and encourages churches and individuals to support them by volunteering, sending financial support, and praying for them. The Committee has approved one new Advance Special, Christian Children’s Home of Ohio (EOC Fund 9977), and has discontinued the following Advance Specials:

• Kenmore Free Store, Akron (EOC 9920), which did not apply for renewal.
• Masindi Educational Ministries, Uganda (EOC 9192), which did not apply for renewal.
• McKinley Community Outreach Center, Willoughby (EOC 9966), which did not apply for renewal.
• Neighborhood Community Development Center, Steubenville (EOC 9112). Donors who wish to support NCDC can use Urban Mission 9107 and designate it for NCDC.

Learn more about Advance Specials and how to become an Advance Special.

Disaster Response Plan Updated
The Disaster Response Committee has been working since last fall to update the step-by-step guide for church leadership to follow in the event of a disaster. It has been approved by Conference Council on Ministries Committee and is now available on the Disaster Response webpage.

Virtual Ministry Fair
As part of Annual Conference June 16-19, the Board of Missions is inviting missions and ministries with connections to their district or the Conference to submit flyers for the Virtual Ministry Fair. June 2 is the deadline to submit flyers. E-mail Amy George for full details.

Epworth Center Mission Mondays Recap
In March, Director of Missions & Community Engagement the Rev. Kathy Dickriede, hosted mission day trips to sites throughout East Ohio. One of the participants, Kimberly Perkins Cheng, shared a great story about her experience at Epworth Center in Bethesda, Ohio. Visit the Mission News page for her complete recap.

Meet UMC Missionaries from Around the World
#StillInMission was started last year by Global Ministries to encourage churches and laity to stay connected with UMC missionaries serving around the world during the pandemic. The next #StillInMission event is scheduled for April 29. These events are free, but registration is required.

Learn more and register.

Global Ministries

Earth Day Worship Resources
Rev. Jenny Phillips, senior technical advisor for Environmental Sustainability at Global Ministries has curated the following resources for Earth Day, Thursday, April 22:

• a videoed sermon by the Rev. Phillips entitled “Somewhere Better Than Here.” It is available with and without subtitles.
• a videoed reading of Luke 24:36b-48, read by General Secretary of Global Ministries and UMCOR Roland Fernandes. It is available with and without subtitles.
• a videoed litany read by four of our United Methodist missionaries. It is available with and without subtitles.

Note that pdf text documents of these materials are also available.

View and download the Earth Day 2021 worship resources.

Spiritual Formation

Spiritual Formation Network Gatherings
Are you involved in spiritual formation and Christian education? Then, join your friends and colleagues for devotions, support, question-asking and -answering, and sharing ideas. The next Zoom gathering of our network will be at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 29. Invite any of your friends and colleagues involved in spiritual formation and Christian education. 

We gather every three weeks – alternating between Tuesday mornings at 9:00 a.m. and Thursday afternoons at 1:00 p.m. E-mail Rev. Gary Jones for the Zoom invitation to join in. The next few gatherings are: 

• April 29 @ 1:00 p.m.
• May 18 @ 9:00 a.m.
• June 10 @ 1:00 p.m.

Media Center

Media Center Coordinator
Amy George has been selected to succeed Susan Arnold as the Media Center coordinator in the Conference Council on Ministries (CCOM) office. She will assume this responsibility on May 1.

George brings experience in providing general support for the Media Center, Camps, and CCOM administrative areas. She is very familiar with the membership and day-to-day operations of the Media Center. In addition to her work, George is active at Church of the Lakes UMC in study groups, children and youth ministries, and with Royal Family Kids Camp. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Ohio Northern University.

She will report to Rev. Gary Jones, director of Spiritual Formation. Her phone extension will change from 133 to 139 and her e-mail address will continue to be ageorge@eocumc.com.

The Media Center has recently acquired the following resources:

• Jesus In Me; Experiencing the Holy Spirit as a Constant Companion teaches us how to get to know the Holy Spirit and apply the skills of asking and listening as we work through selected scriptures about the Holy Spirit.    
• 40 Days Through the Book: Romans; In the Grip of Grace helps us to more actively engage with God’s Word by understanding its background and culture and applying it in a fresh way to our lives. The core idea of Romans is that we are saved by grace, through faith.
• Forward; Discovering God’s Presence and Purpose in Your Tomorrow examines Philippians 3:12-14 and offers six practical insights with a step-by-step plan for letting go of what’s behind you and discovering God’s plan for seizing tomorrow.
• Breakthrough; Finding Freedom in Christ shows us that even the believers in the early church struggled to let go of rule-keeping and performance in order to embrace God’s free gift of grace. Let go of feeling like you are not a “good enough” Christian and find freedom in Christ by studying Paul’s letter to the Galatians.

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.

Credit Union

The Get Out of Debt (GOOD) Loan
Gain peace of mind when you schedule a free, no obligation debt check-up. The Christian Family Credit Union will review your current loans and credit cards to ensure you’re paying the lowest rates on your debt. Speak to a Member Service representative today to find out how our Get Out of Debt Loan can help you. Rates are as low as 5.99% APR*.

*Annual Percentage Rate (APR). Advertised rate is based on excellent credit history and discount. Membership and other qualifications apply. The interest rate you receive will be determined by your credit worthiness. Maximum term is 36 months, with a maximum amount of $10,000.

Receive a .25% discount on an approved Get Out of Debt Loan when you set up or have an existing automatic deposit in your Christian Family Credit Union checking account of at least $500 per month with the automatic loan payment. If at any time the automatic loan payment deposit discontinues, the automatic deposit discount rate will no longer apply and the rate will adjust accordingly. Loan proceeds must be used to pay off an existing debt from another lender. Offer is for a limited time and may be withdrawn by the credit union without notice. Other terms and conditions may apply.

Message in the Movies

Quo Vadis, Aida?
Quo Vadis, Aida? is a fact-based reenactment set in Bosnia, July 1995. Aida (Djuricic) is a translator for the United Nations peacekeeping force in the small town of Srebrenica. When the Bosnian-Serb army takes over her Muslim town, her family is among the thousands of citizens looking for shelter in the UN camp. To stay in town is to face certain death, but there is no way that the camp can accept more than a couple hundred people.

Aida finds herself caught in the middle of growing tensions between the Dutch UN military force, Serbian military leaders, and the citizens of her home town. Most of the film is centered on the decisions that she must make to protect her family while also striving to meet the demands of those around her. Before her current job Aida was a school teacher and her husband Nihad (Bajrovic) was a high school principal. One of the first things that Aida has to figure out is how to get Nihad and their two adult sons into the camp. Then she has to figure out ways to protect them once they are inside.

Read entire review.

Obituaries

Please pray for the families of:

• Edgar Farmer, retired Elder, died March 29.
• John Topping, spouse of the Rev. Carol Topping, died December 2, 2020.
• Dawn Kent, spouse of the Rev. Bruce Kent, died April 6.
• Patricia Blackwell, surviving spouse of the Rev. William Blackwell, died March 25.
• Jack L. Dearth, retired Elder, died March 31.

View obituaries

To submit the obituary of an EOC clergy, clergy spouse, or surviving spouse, family should contact Melissa McGee, Executive Secretary to the Bishop, by phone at (330) 499-3972 ext. 112 or via e-mail.

Classifieds

Details of listings may be found here.

Positions Available

• Staff Chaplain – TFC Global Ministry
• Custodian – North Industry UMC in Canton
• Ecumenical Staff Officer – The Council of Bishops of The UMC
• Administrative Assistant – Gay Street UMC in Mount Vernon
• Choir Director – Christ UMC in Cleveland
• Two (2) Summer Associates – Crossroads UMC in downtown Canton
• Director of Christian Education and Program Coordinator – Brunswick UMC
• Pianist/Organist – Trinity UMC in Mount Gilead

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

Items Available/Wanted

Windham UMC (Western Reserve District) is in need of a gently used upright piano for it’s sanctuary

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, May 3, 2021.

Deadline for submission is Thursday, April 29, 2021. Send articles to swilliams@eocumc.com.