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 |
| Linda Baker | Highlandtown, Rileys, & Salinesville UMCs | MV | |
| Greg Bush | Scio UMC | OV | |
| David Clarke | Willard Grace UMC, Associate Pastor and New Haven UMC | FL | |
| Insook Do | Braceville UMC | MV | |
| Lindsey Funtik | Polk UMC | MO | |
| Randy Mercer | Beckett & Pleasant City UMCs | SH | |
| Beth Ortiz | EOC Director of Strategic Ministries | ||
| Micahel Padula | Willard First UMC | FL | |
| David Rinkes | Dungannon, Macksburg, & Mary Reed UMCs | SH | |
| Jessica Schnegg | Lorain Lighthouse, Associate Pastor | FL | |
| Richard Smith | Brookfield UMC | MV | |
| Sandy Stover | Blooming Grove & Ebenezer UMCs | MO | |
| Jim Szakacs | Concord Hope Ridge UMC | WR | |
| Jim Westerman | West Salem & Homerville UMCs | FL | |
| Matthew Williamson | Gustavus Federated Church | WR |
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.
Annual Conference 2021
Christ Alive in Us! – June 16-19
The worship services and business sessions of this year’s conference will be live from the John S. Knight Center in Akron with clergy and lay members of Annual Conference participating remotely via Zoom video conferencing.
The tentative agenda, Pre-Conference Workbook, speaker and classes bios and more can be viewed on the Annual Conference 2021 website.
Practice Webinar & Voting Sessions Scheduled
In the next few days Annual Conference members who registered for this year’s conference before the May 14 deadline will receive their voting credentials and information about practice webinar and voting sessions. AC voting members are asked to participate in one of the three sessions, scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 26; 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 2; and 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 5.
Camps & Retreat Ministries
Register for Summer Camp Today
It is not too late to register for Summer Camp 2021. There is room for you at Camp Aldersgate, Camp Asbury, and Camp Wanake.
At East Ohio Camps, we have been making and maturing disciples of Jesus Christ for more than 60 years. Our hope is that you and your family will become a part of this rich history by participating in the 2021 Summer Camp program. Our prayer is that East Ohio Camps will become a spiritual home for your family. You belong at camp this summer and every summer. There is still room for you!
Visit the EOC Summer Camps website to learn more and to register online. Call the Camps office at (800) 831-3972 ext. 108 to get a brochure.
Young People’s Ministries
YAC will be hosted on the interactive event platform Hopin from 1:00-3:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 12. The platform provides for live components, break out rooms, live chat, polls, prayer room, and so much more. Cost is just $20 per person.
Register by May 28 to get your Party Box in time for YAC. Party Boxes will include t-shirts, lanyards, and other items to enhance your virtual experience. These boxes will be delivered or shipped to your church.
Missions
Midwest Mission Collection Update
We’re less than a month away from our annual summer collection for Midwest Mission Distribution Center (MMDC). Have you started collecting items yet? EOC Missions asks churches to bring your collected items to the drop-off locations across the East Ohio Conference beginning June 7, the week before this year’s Annual Conference.
View the list of needed items and the drop-off locations.
New Virtual Mission Journeys
Plan now so that you can join in one of the two newly scheduled virtual mission trips. The virtual trip to Guatemala begins Sunday, June 13 and the virtual Liberia trip starts Wednesday, June 23.
Learn more about and register for the trips.
In-Person Mission Journey to Lake Charles, LA – Oct. 18-22
Strongsville UMC is partnering with area UM churches on a long-term recovery United Methodists Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) journey to Lake Charles, Louisiana. Our EOC team will provide relief to those still displaced from their homes after both Hurricane Laura and Hurricane Delta ravaged the area last August. The only skill required for this outreach is a strong desire to reach out to these folks in the name of Christ and bring them hope. There are many places and ways for you to serve!
An informational meeting is scheduled for Sunday, July 11 at 6:00 p.m. at Strongsville UMC (13500 Royalton Rd., Strongsville). You may attend the meeting in-person or via Zoom. If you have questions about the trip, please e-mail Becky Zatezalo or call her at (440) 476-8248.
Register by July 7 to attend the meeting.
North Coast of Haiti Mission Journey Recap
Four lay members recently traveled to Dondon, Latannerie, and Cap-Haitien in Haiti as part of the North Coast of Haiti mission project (EOC Advance Fund 9947).
Read the report from Tim Persons.
#StillInMission – May 27
Despite the pandemic, United Methodist missionaries remain deeply engaged in work around the world. Normally, a number of them “itinerate” each year to visit the churches and individuals that support them in ministry. COVID-19 has put a stop to most travel but that doesn’t mean the missionaries aren’t available to meet virtually! Each month, we invite four missionaries to be in conversation with laity and clergy throughout the church to share the joys and challenges they’ve experienced. Rev. Dr. Tammy Kuntz, coordinator of the North Central Jurisdiction United Methodist Volunteers in Mission, will moderate the May 27.
Disaster Response
UMC Providing COVID-19 Relief in India
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is assisting two partners in India to provide ventilators, hospital beds, money and more to help combat the dire COVID-19 crisis there.
Relaxed restrictions and new, more virulent strains of the coronavirus have contributed to the crisis that recently saw more than 3,000 COVID-19 deaths per day and more than 300,000 cases every 24 hours, according to the Washington Post.
Read more about the work of UMCOR in India.
Donate to the UMCOR COVID-19 Response Fund.
Financial & Administrative Services
Peace with Justice Sunday – May 30
Peace with Justice Sunday supports programs that advocate for people at home and around the world. The special offering during services on May 30 will enable The United Methodist Church to continue to address diverse issues such as immigration, economic empowerment, nutrition, peace, racial justice, the death penalty, and leadership development.
On Peace with Justice Sunday, we give so that all of God’s children have adequate access to homes, jobs, food, clean water, health care, and more. In doing so we honor the dignity of every individual made in God’s image. Through your giving good news is proclaimed to – and experienced by – people here in the U.S. and around the world.
Download Peace with Justice Sunday resources.
Health Benefits
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
During May Wespath shines a light on mental and behavioral health and highlights how to remove the stigma surrounding mental health issues. Data from Optum, the Employee Assistance Program offered through HealthFlex, shows that for clergy, anxiety, depression, work/life balance, and relationship issues were reported as top factors contributing to mental and emotional stress over the past year. This is not surprising, given that clergy have been on the front lines of the pandemic. This has required major changes in ministry, altering worship, pastoral care, funerals, meetings and more. In addition, the polarization of political and societal issues may have added to the stresses within the congregations and communities you serve.
Read the May Wespath e-news highlighting the importance of mental health.
Advocacy
MFSA AC 2021 Zoom Program – June 14 @ 7 p.m.
Rev. Derek Kubilus, pastor of Uniontown UMC, is the keynote speaker for the Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA) Annual Conference 2021 Zoom program at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, June 14. Kubilus will speak on “Condemning QAnon” while challenging participants to “walk alongside its victims.” He has hosted a podcast on QAnon and was featured in a recent “60 Minutes” segment on the topic.
Join the MFSA Zoom conversation June 14.
Laity
Mission u 2021 – July 12-24
This year’s Mission u, There’s Far More Here Than Meets the Eye, like many activities in our lives, has moved online. While virtual, we are still creating spaces for spiritual community, lifelong friendships, lessons that change us and our communities, and spiritual practices that arrive when we need them most. In a time when it looks like things are falling apart on us, God’s grace is still unfolding, and life is being made new!
Learn more and register for Mission u. Courses are available for adults, youth, and children.
Spiritual Formation & Christian Education
Virtual Ministry Fair
Find out what Spiritual Formation Ministries is all about at our Virtual Ministry Fair the week of Annual Conference. Each day the week of June 13-19 we will premiere a one-minute video on our EOC Spiritual Formation Ministries Facebook page that explains an area of Spiritual Formation Ministries. Each day, the first two people to comment on each video will receive a prize box of interesting things. Watch and learn … and, maybe, get a prize!
Visit the EOC Spiritual Formation Facebook page.
Media Center
The Media Center has recently acquired the following resources:
- Thriving in Love & Money helps you think through your own underlying attitudes about money. But it doesn’t stop at just understanding your partner; this curriculum will give you practical steps toward coming together as a couple around money.
- The Black Church; This Is Our Story. This Is Our Song chronicles the rich history of an institution at the heart of the African American experience and takes viewers on a journey through time, focusing on the key events, charismatic figures, political debates, and musical traditions that have shaped, and been shaped by the Black Church.
- Pursued; God’s Relentless Love for You explores God’s great love for us from Genesis to Revelation. See that God passionately pursues people who do not deserve His love, and you are one of those people!
- 40 Days Through the Book | Mark; In the Company of Christ guides us through the Gospel of Mark as Mark takes the early Christians back to the basics. In his rapid-fire account, he pulls no punches in answering questions like: Who is this Jesus? What does he expect of me? Is suffering a normal part of the Christian life?
To reserve these or other resources, call the Media Center at (800) 831-3972 x139 or send an e-mail to ageorge@eocumc.com. Browse the resource catalog at www.rqmweb.com/eocumc.
Credit Union
Get Out of Debt (GOOD) Loan
Gain peace of mind when you schedule a free, no obligation debt checkup. 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 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.
Home Equity Loans
The Christian Family Credit Union Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) allows members the ability to leverage the equity in their homes to fund a variety of needs. Home repairs, debt consolidation, adoptions, and more. Call our loan officers in Cincinnati at (800) 373-1059 and our loan officers in North Canton at (888) 651-0971.
Message in the Movies
The Truffle Hunters
The hunters are all older Italian men in their 70s and 80s. and seem not only dedicated to their singular vocation but also secretive about their favorite hunting spots, preferring to go out in the dead of night for most of their forays. The film also introduces us to some of the people who serve as go-betweens to get the product to the highest bidder. Not surprisingly, the marketplace does not seem to reward these men for their efforts; no one becomes rich hunting for truffles.
The most amusing and memorable scenes in this movie are the moments that depict the love between hunter and dog. They eat meals together, bathe together, and care for one another. The dogs are so prominent in The Truffle Hunters they merit a mention in the closing credits cast list. If you’ve ever wanted to see the world from a dog’s point-of-view, the filmmakers even have a couple of scenes in which a Go Pro camera is attached to one of the pack and we can race through the forest just a foot or so above the ground.
Classifieds
Details of listings may be found here.
Positions Available
- Custodian – Mayfield UMC in Chesterland
- Director of Music for Sanctuary Services – Church of the Lakes UMC in Canton
- Coordinator of Children’s and Youth Ministries – Millersburg UMC
- Office Manager/Bookkeeper – Grace UMC in Coshocton
- Director of Children’s and Youth Ministries – Bay UMC in Bay Village
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 Tuesday, June 1, 2021.
Deadline for submission is Thursday, May 27, 2021. Send articles to swilliams@eocumc.com.
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