2022 Appointments
Bishop Tracy S. Malone announces the following 2022 clergy appointments and/or changes of status. Each is effective 7/1/22 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 |
| Pamela Buzalka | Mogadore UMC | CN | |
| John Carpenter | Cardington First UMC | MO | |
| Michael Law | Chapel of the Cross UMC | CN | |
| Jennifer Darling-Mellott | Moreland UMC | TR | |
| Donna Mills | Rootstown UMC | CN | |
| Samuel Mohn | Vienna & Coalburg UMCs | MV | |
| J. Harlen Rife | Greensburg UMC | CN | |
| Thomas Scott | Richmond UMC | OV | |
| Sheryl Seitz | Galion St. Paul UMC | MO | |
| Hyeran Yu | Wellington First UMC | FL |
Visit the 2022 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
AC Registration & Hotel Reservations Begin April 1
This is not an April Fool’s Day joke! Friday, April 1 is the first day to:
- register for Annual Conference,
- register for Clergy Executive Session, AND
- book an Annual Conference hotel room at a discounted EOC rate.
The Conference has worked with the Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau to secure blocks of rooms at nine hotels for those in need of housing during Annual Conference. Guests will book their own rooms but can do so at discounted EOC rates. The reservation links for the participating hotels will be posted on the Annual Conference 2022 website, which goes live on Friday, April 1.
The AC 2022 website will also have the link to register for this year’s conference. Clergy will be able to register for both Annual Conference and Clergy Executive Session from the same link. Registration opens on Friday, April 1 and closes on Friday, May 13.
Again, this year:
- all registrations will be done online,
- each person registering must have their own unique e-mail address, and
- there will be no registrations after May 13, including no onsite registrations.
Annual Conference is Thursday, June 9 through Saturday, June 11 at the John S. Knight Center in Akron. All AC plenary sessions and worship services will be available to view via livestream. Clergy Executive Session is Wednesday, June 8, and is not livestreamed.
Spring District Conferences
Each spring clergy and laity leadership from each church in a district meet to conduct necessary work of that district. The district superintendent presides over the spring district conferences, which will meet in-person on the following dates:
- North Coast District @ Cory UMC
April 9 9:30 a.m. Register - Firelands District @ Norwalk First UMC
April 23 9:00 a.m. Register - Tuscarawas District @ Crossroads UMC
April 23 10:00 a.m. - Southern Hills District @ Mid-East Career Center
April 24 2:00 p.m. - Mid-Ohio District @ Ashland First UMC
April 24 3:00 p.m. - Ohio Valley District @ Scott Memorial UMC
April 30 10:00 a.m. - Western Reserve District @ Mayfield UMC
April 30 10:00 a.m. - Three Rivers District at Coshocton Roscoe UMC
May 1 2:00 p.m. - Mahoning Valley District @ Salem First UMC
May 1 3:00 p.m. - Canal District @ Uniontown UMC
May 14 10:00 a.m.
Clergy
Last Day to Register for the Clergy Day Apart is TODAY, March 21
Bishop Tracy S. Malone invites all East Ohio Conference clergy actively serving in ministry to come together for a day of rest and renewal on Saturday, April 2 from 9:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at Faith UMC (300 9th St. NW, North Canton, 44720).
Clergy are serving and leading in stressful, exhausting, and difficult times. This Clergy Day Apart, designed by a team of active clergy, is an opportunity to feed your soul through reinvigorating worship, fellowship, self-care, and conversation. Clergy will hear a validating and empowering message from featured speaker the Rev. Twanda Prioleau and will participate in engaging breakout sessions designed to help you reflect, reconnect, re-center, and revel in your ministry. Rev. Prioleau is pastor of Christ UMC in East Baltimore, MD and author of the book Breathe: A Pastor’s Journey to Wholeness.
Bishop’s Office
To download this message for use in your church, click the share icon in the top right corner of the player window. Next, click the Vimeo video page link in the share options. On the video page, click download underneath the video.
A Conversation on COVID-19 Vaccines
The United Methodist Church has made it a missional priority to educate people about the COVID-19 vaccines and to make the vaccines accessible to everyone. By providing people with information about the vaccines we are empowering them to understand how to protect themselves, their families, their congregations, and their communities.
In the video above, Bishop Tracy S. Malone and Dr. Samantha Gunkelman of Akron Children’s Hospital have a conversation addressing facts and misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccines. The conversation is being offered as a resource to pastors, congregations, and faith communities of the East Ohio Conference so that we can make better informed decisions and choices and help to educate others.
Shared Ministry & Stewardship
An Apportionment Message from Bishop Tracy S. Malone
To download this message for use in your church, click the share icon in the top right corner of the player window. Next, click the Vimeo video page link in the share options. On the video page, click download underneath the video.
A Budget Message from Conference Council on Finance & Administration
Rev. Dan Bryant, chair, CCF&A and Vera Rebrovich, director, Financial & Administrative Services
Someone once said, “change is inevitable, but transformation is optional!” Change is everywhere around us and, as a church, we understand that challenges are opportunities for renewal, rebirth and even transformation. Given the pandemic challenges, we continue to be awakened to God’s steadfast love. Being United Methodist offers an opportunity to touch lives both within our local communities and across the world. Friends, we are not alone in the struggle and looking back at 2021, we see so much for which to be thankful. God’s love remains steadfast!
We give thanks for the gift of 679 churches serving the mission field in East Ohio in 2021. We celebrate the faithful commitment of our local churches that paid 100% of their apportionments. We saw a 6% increase in local churches paying full apportionments. The changing seasons present many challenges for us as a Conference and, as many local churches step up in their giving, we acknowledge the reality that nearly 50 churches did not pay any apportionments – an amount equaling 5% of our budget. In 2021, 300 of our churches contributed toward the shared ministry challenge (Fund 7) which represented slightly more than 10% from the previous year. Many of our churches are bearing fruit even amid the changing landscape of hybrid worship and the continued challenge of reaching newer and younger people with the transforming message of God’s love. God’s love remains steadfast!
The pay-in rate from local churches to our East Ohio Conference budget was 79% in 2021 compared to 77% in 2020. Over $8.6 million was contributed to the mission and ministry of East Ohio. The increase in pay-in rate stops the decline we have seen over the past seven years. Every dollar contributed is a gift enabling the good news of Jesus Christ to be shared. God’s love remains steadfast!
The 2021 Conference budget was reduced by 5% so that local churches would have more available funds for their respective mission fields. CCF&A continues to monitor trends and examine budgetary needs as we head into this quadrennium. The postponement of General Conference until 2024 continues the challenges of navigating the financial implications of denominational changes that may come our way. We realize the coming years will bring both challenges and opportunities for the Conference to maintain the mission of making disciples amidst uncertainties of what the future holds. Yes, change is inevitable, but transformation is optional. We will continue to strive for transformation as we review financial trends, monitor our giving patterns, and adjust our Conference budget as necessary in the coming years. But we rest assured that God’s love remains steadfast!
The faithfulness of our local churches continues to be the focal point of transformative ministry and as we journey together in 2022, we pray that you will be encouraged by the continued movement of God’s Spirit guiding us in the uncertainties, decisions, and mission opportunities enabling all of us to share God’s love and witness to a world hungering for justice, peace, and compassion. God’s love remains steadfast!
Prayers for Ukraine
United Methodists Show Their Support for the People of Ukraine
Clergy and laity across The United Methodist Church continue to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine while showing their support for the Ukrainian people.
Bishop Eduard Khegay is resident bishop of the Eurasia Episcopal Area, which includes both Russia and Ukraine. In a Zoom interview with Rev. Dr. Fred Vanderwerf, a former UMC missionary in Ukraine, Bishop Khegay reflects on the war, the trauma Ukrainians are facing, how we might respond, and how he is personally wrestling with Russia’s future. View the interview of Bishop Khegay.
United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has prepared a guide to the history of Methodism in Ukraine and the best ways for people to help now.
United Methodist Communications has created a web resource of articles, Church leader statements, and social media graphics for churches to use in showing their support for Ukraine.
“Let us join our hearts as we continue to pray for peace in Ukraine. We pray for an end to war and violence!” said Bishop Tracy S. Malone. “We pray for the women, men, boys, and girls whose lives are threatened and well-being are at risk. We pray for the people of Ukraine, the people of Russia, for their countries and their leaders. We pray that the waging of war will be transformed into waging for peace. We pray for a change of hearts and minds of leaders, and we pray for peaceful dialogue instead of violence and war.”
Support Ukraine by donating to EOC Fund 1301.
Missions & Community Engagement
Bridges Training in Summit County Begins March 24
Bridges Training workshops teach how economic realities of poverty, middle class, and wealth impact individuals, communities, systems, and structures. To positively impact the education and lives of individuals in poverty, we must explore the way we think and behave. Bridges Summit County workshops offer a structure to help us assess the mindsets and world views we hold as individuals, institutions, and communities. It helps us define and visualize the experiences in economic class environments to better our understanding.
Rev. Kathy Dickriede, director of Missions & Community Engagement, says that this training will be beneficial for churches with missions in that it they can learn how to do no harm in their relationship with the people they serve.
US-2 Global Missions Fellowship Applications Due by March 31
If you are 20-30 years of age, like to engage local communities, connect the Church in mission, and grow in personal and social holiness, then you should consider applying to be a US-2 Global Missions Fellow. US-2 Fellows commit to serving two years in social justice ministry in the United States. Fellows partner with community organizations to address a variety of issues, including migration/immigration, education, public health, and poverty.
Learn more and apply by March 31.
Global Ministries #STILLINMISSION Online Chat with Missionaries – April 7
You are invited to an online conversation with missionaries at noon Eastern on April 7 to hear first-hand accounts of the day-to-day life of United Methodist missionaries around the world. #STILLINMISSION is a monthly Zoom event of UMC Global Ministries. On April 7 chat with:
- Katherine Parker – health, monitoring, evaluation and learning advisor with the United Methodist Mission in Nepal.
- Kyeong-ah Woo – consultant to the World Council of Churches assembly programs and workshops in Switzerland.
- Leonardo Garcia – clinical advisor with the East Angola Episcopal Area.
- M. Koffi Sachou – church and leadership developer/planter with the Central Africa Mission Initiative.
Informational Meeting for October Mission to Louisiana – April 24
A United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) long-term recovery journey to Lake Charles, Louisiana is planned for this October. Workdays will be October 24-28, with travel days preceding and following those dates. An informational meeting for those interested in participating on the trip will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 24 at Strongsville UMC and via Zoom. As a group, the team will coordinate travel with some driving together and some flying together. Food and lodging for Sunday night thru Saturday morning is only $100. Learn more by e-mailing Team Leader Becky Zatezalo or calling her at (440) 476-8248.
For questions about Missions & Community Engagement ministries and opportunities, please e-mail the Rev. Kathy Dickriede, director of Missions & Community Engagement, or visit the Missions & Community Engagement pages of the Conference website.
Credit Union
Last Chance for Auto Loans as Low as 1.99%
The Christian Family Credit Union is offering auto loans for new and used cars as low as 1.99% until March 31. This rate is good for new purchases or refinances from another lender. Save some money on your monthly payments or just pay off your car loan faster with this great rate opportunity. For more information, e-mail the Credit Union or call the office.
Also, some savings rates are on the rise. The Credit Union is now offering some certificate of deposit rates as high as 1.01% APY (terms 24 mos. and longer)! If you would like to know more about ways to maximize your savings, please call one of our offices or visit our website for the details.
Kingdom Work
Remember that when you do business with Christian Family Credit Union, you participate in the Kingdom building work and ministry of the Credit Union. We invite you to align your finances with your faith when you bank with Christian Family Credit Union.
Visit the Christian Family Credit Union online.
Media Center
The Media Center highlights these new resources:
- Live No Lies reveals how deceptive ideas are at work on our souls and provides practical tools to help you recognize these enemies, resist the lies they try to make you believe, and experience the peace that God intends you to have.
- The Last Supper on the Moon uses the 1969 lunar mission as an analogy of the metamorphosis that was unleashed by the man from Galilee. Along the way, he uncovers the remarkable “seven statements” that Jesus made from the cross, words that provide us everything we need in the chaos of our world to conquer judgment, persecution, anxiety, and pain.
- Don’t Believe Your Eyes reveals the myths that we believe about ourselves. Teens will discover that Jesus Christ is the only One who can cast our labels and disappointments aside and show us what it truly means to be loved.
- God of Freedom: A Study of Exodus shares that every book of the Bible tells us what is true about God. In Genesis, we see Him as Creator and Covenant Maker and in Exodus, we see Him as our strong Deliverer who sets us free from sin and death. This study teaches us how to live as those set free.
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.
Message in the Movies
Turning Red
This movie is filled with lush visual images, depicting 2002 Toronto in stunning detail (including a beautiful Buddhist temple) as well as some clever character designs.
Meilin (voiced by Rosalie Chiang) is the only daughter of Ming (Sandra Oh) and Jin (Orion Lee), a Chinese Canadian family. Ming dotes on her daughter and expects nothing but the best from her. It is apparent that Mei is only too happy to strive to be exemplary in overachievement, even if it tends to isolate her from a lot of the kids at school. She has her inner circle of BFFs, including Abby (Hyein Park), Miriam (Ava Morse), and Priya (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan).
Celebrations of Life
Please pray for the families of:
- Ronald L. Huff, retired Elder, died March 9.
- Loretta Hardman, surviving spouse of Rev. Rondal Hardman, died March 9.
- Rodney J. Warstler, retired Elder, died March 7.
- Alice Richardson, surviving spouse of Rev. Robert Richardson, died March 1.
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
- Director of Youth Discipleship – Canfield UMC
- Graphic Design Specialist – GCFA
- Music Director – Shoregate UMC in Willowick
- Handbell Director – Shoregate UMC in Willowick
- Praise and Worship Team Leader – North Canton Faith UMC
- Two PRN Chaplains – Lutheran Hospital
- Music Director – LaPorte UMC in Elyria
Items Available/Wanted
- Clinton UMC is looking for a used copy of The United Methodist Book of Worship.
- Painesville UMC is seeking good used hymnals for a homebound care ministry project.
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, April 4, 2022.
Deadline for submission is Wednesday, March 30, 2022. Send articles to swilliams@eocumc.com.
EAST OHIO NEWS 