By Rick Wolcott*
Bishop Tracy S. Malone called to order the 54th session of the East Ohio Annual Conference with 445 clergy and 471 laity gathered in the John S. Knight Center in Akron, Ohio.
Service of Commemoration and Holy Communion
“God’s love never stops working and God’s call never disappoints,” Bishop Malone shared during her sermon in the Service of Commemoration and Holy Communion.
The service recognized 48 clergy, spouses, and laity who entered the Church Triumphant since last year’s Annual Conference.
View and download the Service of Commemoration and Holy Communion.
Episcopal Address
Throughout the Episcopal Address on the first day of Annual Conference 2023 Bishop Tracy S. Malone reminded those in attendance at the John S. Knight Center and those viewing online, that “our mission is yet alive!” She emphasized that point by highlighting creative new ministries and innovative ways that local church congregations in the East Ohio Conference are engaging in discipleship in their communities. The bishop also shared a video provided by Africa University showing the construction progress of the new dormitory for female students that is made possible by the $1.5 million raised and collected through the East Ohio Conference Teach • Reach • Bless campaign.
“Now is the time for us to focus forward. This is a time of remarkable opportunity in the life of The United Methodist Church,” declared Malone.
“We can no longer focus our attention and give energy to those who have chosen to withdraw or disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church. We grieve the loss. We pray for them, and we bless them on their journey. We must focus our attention on who is staying in The United Methodist Church and keep our eye ever vigilant on our mission and on our vision,” Malone said.
“Friends now is the time. Let us no longer look back in the rear-view mirror dwelling on our past but let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus on the road that God has paved and is paving ahead of us. Let us trust where the spirit of God is leading us. God is always making things new! And while we don’t know what the future holds, what we do know is that God holds the future. And our lives, and the future of this beloved United Methodist Church, is in God’s hands. So let us pull together and let us seize this kairotic moment to seek and live into the new thing that God is doing among us,” Malone said.
View and download the Episcopal Address.
Celebration of Retirement
The Annual Conference celebrated the ministries of the 40 clergy who are retiring this year after having served a combined 1,084 years in local church and extension ministry. In her message to the retirees, Bishop Tracy S. Malone thanked the clergy for their dedicated ministry and for the care they gave to those they served and served with.
“You have held the hands of people, God’s people, in your sacred hands and hearts,” the bishop said.
View and download the Celebration of Retirement.
Service of Commissioning and Ordination
Day 2 of Annual Conference concluded with the ordination of nine clergy as full members and the commissioning of five clergy as provisional members. Rev. Jay Rundell, president of Methodist Theological School in Ohio offered advice and a challenge to the Class of 2023 during his sermon titled “Receiving the Mantle”.
“You do have to find your way. We’re here to get you on that way, but you’re going to have to find your way. You’re stepping into a tradition, and that’s important but that doesn’t mean your steps are directed for you. The history of the church, what we impart to you now, it’s important, but history books are not blueprints or road maps. We need you to forge new paths, and we need you to build bridges that will allow people to actually follow you. We need you, friends, to pick up your mantle. We need you to be faithful. We also need you to surprise us. We need you to pick up a mantle, and we pray that you will be blessed as you are, and, in who you become.”
View and download the Service of Commissioning and Ordination.
Cabinet Report
In her report on behalf of the Cabinet, Rev. Abby Auman, dean of the Cabinet and superintendent of the Mahoning Valley District, shared about cooperative parishes, new ministries, and creative ways that congregations are using their buildings in new ways partnering with community groups to reach people in an ever-changing world.
“We believe that the God who has preserved the church for 2,000 years did not lead us this far to leave us now! But we also know that this church doesn’t look like it did 2,000 years ago, or 50 years ago, or even 10 years ago. So, as we seek the direction of the God who makes all things new, we are trying new things,” Auman said.
Re-Districting
As part of the Cabinet report, Rev. Kelly Brown, superintendent of the Three Rivers District and co-superintendent of the Ohio Valley District, presented a proposal to re-district the East Ohio Conference from 10 districts to four effective January 1, 2024.
Considering rapid changes in our church and culture, Bishop Tracy S. Malone had convened a task group of a diverse group of clergy and laity from across the East Ohio Conference to look at current trends and realities. The task group then provided a written recommendation to Bishop Malone and the Cabinet. The work of the task group was guided by these three values: flexibility, creativity, and courage.
“In presenting this proposal, we are asking that we commit to making room for flexibility in our system so that we can grow stronger and get better at living into our shared vision and mission and our connection with each other. By supporting this proposal, we commit together to become more flexible so we can become stronger and live into a future of creative ministry with courage,” Brown said.
The proposal was approved by Annual Conference members. Brown then called to order the gathering of the 10 district conferences of the East Ohio Annual Conference, which voted to dissolve the 10 district unions by June 1, 2024.
“As part of the process for establishing new districts in the East Ohio Conference, the existing district unions in each district need to be dissolved by action of the district conferences,” Brown shared.
At its fall retreat Cabinet will begin the work of drawing the boundaries of the four districts.
Friday Morning Worship
“If we want to sure‘nuff move within our Conference, if we want to move in The United Methodist Church, if we want to move, y’all, it’s going to begin with prayer,” declared Rev. Angela Lewis, Canal District superintendent, during her sermon Friday morning to begin Day 2 of Annual Conference. “And, yes, when we get up off our praying knees, if you will, we’ve got to go out into the community. If we want to effect some change, we’ve got to know what God wants us to do and we can’t do that if we’re not praying!”
View and download the Friday morning worship service.
Saturday Morning Worship
“Because God is with us there’s more to the story than today’s challenges,” said Rev. Dr. David Palmer, senior pastor of Kent First UMC, in his sermon during the morning worship service on Saturday, June 10.
“When you are facing an enormous challenge, if you have hope, that hope enables you to persevere. At the same time, if the challenge persists, if trouble mounts, perseverance is the key to keeping hope alive,” Palmer shared.
View and download the Saturday morning worship service.
Faith Working Through Love Teaching Session
The second day of business began with a video presentation from Dr. David Fields, the ecumenical staff officer for Faith & Order and Theological Dialogue for the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church. Titled Faith Working Through Love, the presentation explored the teachings and practices of our Christian faith that underscore our core theological convictions as United Methodists. Dr. Field concluded his presentation with five questions for clergy and laity to consider including, “How can you equip and enable The United Methodist Church to become a church in which people experience the transforming grace of God that leads to lives characterized by faith working through love?”
View and download Dr. Field’s Faith Working Through Love Teaching Session.
Disaffiliated Churches
The afternoon session of Day 1 began with the opening of the corporate meeting during which Annual Conference members voted to approve the disaffiliation agreements of 237 churches effective the end of June 2023. When the new church year begins July 1, 414 of the current 651 churches in the East Ohio Conference (64%) will continue to be United Methodist churches. That includes 37 of the current 49 large membership churches (76%) with average worship attendance of 100 or more, 222 of the 326 churches (68%) with an average worship attendance of 26-99, and 155 of the 276 small membership churches (56%) in the Conference that average 25 or fewer people in worship.
“Lighthouse churches and Oasis groups across the East Ohio Conference are actively welcoming those who choose continuing to be a United Methodist even though the church they attend is one whose members have voted to disaffiliate,” shared Rev. Randy May, president of the Conference Board of Trustees.
Lighthouse Churches and Oasis Groups
Rev. Beth Ortiz, Connectional Ministries office Strategic Ministries director, presented information about Lighthouse churches and Oasis groups, two ministries serving as beacons of light for those on a pilgrimage seeking a new church home because their church is disaffiliating from The United Methodist Church.
“Like an oasis on the journey, this is not meant to be the final destination but a place to rest and heal along the journey. Oasis groups are small groups that ideally meet outside the church walls where clergy and members can meet on neutral ground for healing, connection, prayer, and study,” Ortiz shared. “And we have Lighthouse churches which are congregations who are deeply committed to the United Methodist Church, who are hospitable to guests and these churches, who are already excellent in so many ways, have committed to continue to seek their own path towards perfection through a series of trainings on hospitality, on moving a guest to fully-welcomed member of the faith community, on leading through change with grief therapy tools and more.”
Learn more about Lighthouse churches and Oasis groups.
Closed Churches
“We know it can be very painful for congregations to let go of places that have been meaningful to them and that have represented their faith journeys. We want to acknowledge that grief,” said Rev. Kelly Brown, representing the Cabinet during the corporate meeting in sharing about the ministries of the churches that were closed by action of the body. “But foundational to our faith is the understanding that death not only marks an end, but it also represents the possibility of a new beginning – for resurrection to take place. For the enthroned Christ who makes all things new is always at work transforming what appears to be dead into new, living realities.”
Churches that closed this year are: Union Pisgah UMC (Firelands District), Struthers UMC (Mahoning Valley District), Lowellville UMC (Mahoning Valley District), Elyria Asbury UMC (North Coast District), Bray’s Chapel UMC (Ohio Valley District), Oak Grove UMC (Ohio Valley District), Sandyville UMC (Tuscarawas District), Salem UMC (Three Rivers District), and Blissfield UMC (Three Rivers District).
Minimum Salaries for Clergy
Annual Conference members approved a motion from the Commission on Equitable Compensation to increase minimum salaries 5% across all pastoral categories. Minimum salaries in 2024 will be:
- $46,698 for full, associate, and provisional members,
- $41,967 for full-time local pastors who have completed Course of Study, and
- $39,604 for full-time local pastors who have not completed Course of Study.
2024 East Ohio Conference Budget
Annual Conference members approved the proposed 2024 budget of $9,428,531, which is a reduction of 3.5% from the 2023 budget.
One Matters: Discipleship Ministries Award
On the final day of Annual Conference Rev. Ed Fashbaugh, executive director of Connectional Ministries, introduced Jenn Allen of Discipleship Ministries who presented the One Matters: Discipleship Ministries Award to Pastor Charlene Thomas and Rev. Amy Vittorio, who, together are the pastors of five churches in the Firelands District: Sycamore UMC, Union-Salem UMC, Tiffin St. Pauls UMC, Republic Trinity UMC, and Melmore UMC.
Missions and Ministry Opportunities
Three dozen local church, district, East Ohio Conference, and United Methodist Church ministries were on hand in the John S. Knight Center during Annual Conference 2023 fostering relationships with clergy, laity, and one another to reach new people, young people, and more diverse people.
Annual Conference Offering
The Annual Conference 2023 offering (Fund 9214) supports:
- EOC Volunteers in Mission Fund 9643 supporting travel of and materials for East Ohio Conference missions teams organized by a United Methodist Volunteers in Mission-trained team leader.
- Heart 4 the City (Fund 9941) which is building the front porch to the kingdom of God by prioritizing relationships and establishing programs addressing needs in the city of Akron.
- Bishop’s Discretionary Fund used by Bishop Tracy S. Malone to support ministry needs that impact countless lives each year.
Donate to the Annual Conference offering.
Resolutions
The Annual Conference approved three resolutions:
- Resolution 2023-01: “Advocating for the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families Living Under Israeli Military Occupation”
Be it resolved that the East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church: Joins the United Methodist General Board of Church & Society, as well as numerous other Christian denominations and organizations, in endorsing H.R. 2590, Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act. - Resolution 2023-03: “Supporting the Christmas Covenant”
Now, therefore be it resolved: we, the East Ohio Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church support the Christmas Covenant legislation in full, including the creation of a US Regional Conference. - Resolution 2023-04: “East Ohio United Methodists Against Hate Crimes”
Therefore, be it resolved: that the people of the East Ohio Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church publicly and swiftly condemn acts of hate violence, with special concern given to those in our geographic jurisdiction, so that the world may know that Christ’s people are opposed to such violence and so that the victims and their communities may know that we stand with them. We urge that a task force will be formed to create a Statement concerning this. That Statement of support would be made available to members of the congregations of East Ohio Conference and their neighbors to sign.
The Annual Conference did not approve one resolution:
Annual Conference 2024 is June 13-15 at the John S. Knight Center in Akron.
*Rick Wolcott is executive director of Communications for the East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church.
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