Appointments
Bishop Tracy S. Malone announces the following clergy appointments and/or changes of status which, unless otherwise noted, are effective July 1, 2023.
| 2023 Appointments | |||
| Pastor | Appointment | District | Effective |
| Gordon Blickle | Streetsboro & Twinsburg Faith UMCs | NC | |
| Kenn Curren | Loudonville, Lakeville, Perrysville, Bigelow, Moreland, Apple Creek, Fairview, & Mt. Hope UMCs | TR | |
| Jennifer Darling Mellott | Loudonville, Lakeville, Perrysville, Bigelow, Moreland, Apple Creek, Fairview, & Mt. Hope UMCs | TR | |
| John Fitch | Salineville UMC | MV | |
| Jill Scott | Mayfield UMC, Associate Pastor | WR | |
#BeUMC
“I was born and raised in The United Methodist Church and it was The United Methodist Church that nurtured me and helped me to grow into the person I am today,” said Rev. Deb Quillen, pastor of Coshocton Grace UMC. “One of the things that really makes me love being United Methodist is our Social Principles and our wanting to serve the community and to reach out and care for others. I just am really drawn to that, and it has been a great part of my ministry.”
She is one of many East Ohio Conference clergy and laity sharing the ways our denomination is making a daily difference in their lives and in their ministries. E-mail Brett Hetherington, EOC Communications specialist, to arrange a time to share your #BeUMC story of the ways your life is being transformed through The United Methodist Church.
View #BeUMC stories & the EOC #BeUMC website.
Storyboard: Faith Witness Transformation
Each episode of our East Ohio Conference podcast, Storyboard: Faith Witness Transformation, explores what it means to #BeUMC.
Episode 11 is titled “Influence, Connection and Impact: Annual Conference Offering Challenge”. It revisits the challenge made by Bishop Tracy S. Malone to clergy and laity prior to this year’s Annual Conference to bring to the June 8-10 session at the John S. Knight Center in Akron a generous donation to support this year’s offering.
For questions about Communications ministries such as the #BeUMC campaign, live-streaming, licensing, social media and more, please e-mail Rick Wolcott, executive director of Communications, or visit the Communications pages of the Conference website.
Annual Conference
Annual Conference 2023 Faith Hope Love
“Our mission is yet alive,” declared Bishop Malone during her Episcopal Address. “Now is the time for us to focus forward. This is a time of remarkable opportunity in the life of The United Methodist Church.” The 54th session of the East Ohio Annual Conference met June 8-10 at the John S. Knight Center in Akron.
Annual Conference members:
- approved re-districting the East Ohio Conference from 10 districts to four districts effective January 1, 2024,
- approved a 5% increase across all pastoral minimum salary categories,
- approved the 2024 Conference budget of $9,428,531, which is a reduction of 3.5% from the 2023 budget,
- approved the disaffiliation agreements of 237 churches effective the end of June 2023, and
- approved three resolutions.
The services and celebrations of Annual Conference 2023 commemorated 48 saints who joined the Church Triumphant since last year’s conference; commissioned five clergy as provisional members and ordained nine clergy as full members; and celebrated the ministries of 40 clergy who are retiring this year.
View and download the AC 2023 recap video.
Read the AC 2023 recap article.
Visit the AC 2023 website.
View the list of disaffiliated churches.
Annual Conference 2024 is June 13- 15 at the John S. Knight Center in Akron.
Area Center
Area Center Closed Monday, June 19 for Juneteenth
On June 19, 1865, two-and-a-half years after the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect, federal troops under the command of Union Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas. They brought a life-changing message for the estimated quarter-of-a-million slaves in the state: “All slaves are free” and entitled to payment for their labor. This important day in history became known as Freedom Day, or Juneteenth, now a U.S. federal holiday.
In observance of Juneteenth, the East Ohio Conference office in North Canton will be closed on Monday, June 19.
Financial & Administrative Services
HealthFlex Participants Can Avoid a Higher Deductible
By completing the Blueprint for Wellness & Health Check by August 31, HealthFlex participants can avoid paying a higher deductible in 2024. For couples receiving HealthFlex benefits, both spouses need to complete the Blueprint for Wellness & Health Check by the deadline to avoid paying a higher deductible next year.
You can sign-up to complete the Blueprint for Wellness at a Quest Diagnostics location nearest to you or download the Blueprint form and have your primary care physician complete it. The information generated by the test is very thorough and once it is entered into your account at Wespath, it will automatically update the data in your Health Check.
Benefits Access Mobile App Shutting Down Effective July 1
Given the improved mobile-responsive nature of the Wespath Benefits Access participant website, and the limited functionality of the Benefits Access mobile app, the app will be decommissioned effective July 1. The subscribers of the app were notified of this pending change in an e-mail on May 5. Please e-mail Robin Whitacre, EOC Benefits manager, with any questions about these or other changes or call her at (800) 831-3972 ext. 151.
Access the Wespath Benefits Access website.
For questions about Financial & Administrative Services ministries and opportunities, please e-mail Vera Rebrovich, executive director of Financial & Administrative Services, or visit the Financial & Administrative Services pages of the Conference website.
Missions & Community Engagement
Meet Missionary Patrick Booth on June 29
Global Ministry Missionary Patrick Booth is itinerating in East Ohio June 27-July 2 before returning to Cambodia, where he works with Project ARK. Its mission is to tackle poverty as a culprit of human trafficking by equipping and restoring livelihood and dignity through the construction trade while introducing quality, affordable family homes into the Cambodian real estate market.
A native of Painesville, Booth will give presentations at several United Methodist churches in the East Ohio Conference during his visit. He will also participate in a lunch mission presentation at the East Ohio Conference Area Center from 11:45 a.m.-1:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 29. Clergy and laity are invited to attend the lunch to learn more about Booth’s ministry in Cambodia and ways that you, your family, and your church can partner in it. The lunch is free, but space is limited so please RSVP by June 26.
Register to attend the June 29 luncheon on the Events Registration page of the EOC website.
View the dates/times/locations of Patrick Booth’s presentations in East Ohio.
Learn about and support the ministry of missionary Patrick Booth.
EarthKeepers Training – October 5-8
If you’d like to act on the call to care for God’s creation, the Global Ministries’ EarthKeepers program can help you make a lasting difference. EarthKeepers is a training program that equips laity and clergy to launch and grow environmental projects in your community. When you become an EarthKeeper, you receive training in project planning, community organizing, ecotheology, and anti-racism. You also connect with a whole community of United Methodists who are passionate about caring for the earth and will receive ongoing project support and technical guidance as you carry out your project. EarthKeepers training is scheduled for October 5-8 in Birmingham, Alabama, Denver, Colorado, and Hartford, Connecticut.
For questions about Missions & Community Engagement ministries and opportunities, please e-mail the Rev. Kathy Dickriede, Connectional Ministries office Missions & Community Engagement director, or visit the Missions & Community Engagement pages of the Conference website.
Camps & Retreat Ministries
Give a Child a Life-Changing Experience This Summer
There is still time to register to attend Summer Camp 2023. Summer Camp in East Ohio means fun for children, youth, and adults of all ages with memories to last a lifetime. There is an event for everyone at East Ohio Camps. From swimming to canoeing to stargazing to sports to praise, there is plenty of outdoor fun available for everyone. Let East Ohio Camps be your partner in faith. If you have questions about Summer Camp 2023, call your local church or call the Camps & Retreat Ministries office at (800) 831-3972 ext. 108.
Learn more and register for Summer Camp 2023.
For questions about Camps & Retreat Ministries opportunities, please e-mail the Rev. Gary Jones, Connectional Ministries office Camps & Retreat Ministries / Spiritual Formation & Christian Education director, or visit the Camps & Retreat Ministries pages of the Conference website.
Clergy
Fall Clergy Day Apart – September 30 & October 4
All active East Ohio Conference local pastors, associate members, Deacons, and Elders (full- or part-time) are invited to participate in a one-day retreat at Camp Wanake, on either September 30 and/or October 4. Take a break from the stressors and the to-do lists and join with others in worship, relaxation, and community. Both days will be very similar, but you are welcome to register for both if you wish.
Learn more and register on the Events Registration page of the Conference website.
Laity
2023 Lay Servant Ministries Catalog
The 2023 Lay Servant Ministries catalog is now available. The UMC has three categories of lay servant: certified lay servant, certified lay speaker, and certified lay minister. Training courses are held at churches around the East Ohio Conference, usually in the spring and fall.
View the catalog and learn more about Lay Servant Ministries.
For questions about Lay Servant Ministries opportunities, please e-mail Amanda Armstrong, director of Lay Servant Ministries, or visit the Lay Servant Ministries pages on the Conference website.
United Women in Faith
Mission u – July 21-22
The theme for Mission u July 21-22 at the University of Mount Union is Living the Kin-dom: Exploring the Lord’s Prayer as a Spiritual Practice for Social Transformation. For Jesus, the kin-dom was not simply something to talk about but something we could live and experience. From the Lord’s Prayer to the beatitudes to the parables, this good news is at the heart of Jesus’ preaching, teaching, and ministry. Come! Let’s explore together the heart of Jesus’ good news and what fresh vision it offers us as we seek to be in mission today. Attendees do not need to be from your church or even United Methodist.
All women, and girls K-12, are welcome to Mission u, which will begin with dinner on Friday, July 21 and conclude at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 22. All age groups will study the Lord’s Prayer and all age groups will come together for meals and worship. This is a wonderful time to encourage kids and youth to learn more about their faith and the importance of relationships in the church.
Learn more and register on the Events Registration page of the Conference website.
Events: June 12 – June 25
Click to view East Ohio Conference Calendar.
- Thursday, June 22
Celebrate Arts Series presents Tuba Concert Picnic
To submit your event to the East Ohio calendar use this form. (The East Ohio Conference only accepts East Ohio United Methodist local church, conference and general UM events for listing on the Conference calendar.)
Celebrations of Life
Please pray for the families of:
- Carlton Young, retired Elder, died May 21.
- Virginia Schreckengost, surviving spouse of the Rev. George Schreckengost, died May 12.
- Earl H. Bailey, Jr., retired Elder, died May 27.
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
- Contemporary Worship Leader – Kent UMC
- Assistant Custodian – Kent UMC
- Musician – Lockwood UMC in Akron
- Classroom Staff Member – Children’s Place Learning Center (CPLC), The UMC in Stow
- Cook – Children’s Place Learning Center (CPLC), The UMC in Stow
- Director of Music and Organist – Church of the Saviour UMC in Cleveland Heights
- Director of Children’s and Youth Ministries – Bay UMC in Bay Village
Items Available/ Wanted
- Baldwin Pipe Organ – Lockwood UMC in Akron
To submit a classified ad please e-mail swilliams@eocumc.com.
To Subscribe
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Deadline for submission is Thursday, June 22, 2023. Send articles to swilliams@eocumc.com.
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