Bishop Tracy S. Malone announces the following clergy appointments and/or changes of status which, unless otherwise noted, are effective July 1, 2024.
| 2024 Appointments | |||
| Pastor | Appointment | District | Effective |
| Joseph Carney | Amherst UMC | West Plains | |
| Joyce Hoile | Western Reserve UMC | Central Valley | |
| Thomas Jones | Kelleys Island Zion UMC | West Plains | |
| Scott McCutcheon | Extension Ministry: City of Hope Cancer Center (AZ) | 2/21/2024 | |
| Jonah Mitchell | Kilbourne UMC | West Plains | |
| Ruth Roth | Brighton & Rochester UMCs | West Plains | |
| Darla Schnegg | Vienna & Coalburg UMCs | Central Valley | |
| Henry Walter Spaulding III | Galena UMC | West Plains | |
| Karen Wolcott | Medical Leave | Northern Waters | |
#BeUMC
“I am a United Methodist because I fell in love with the theology of grace. That is the one thing that attracted me to this denomination at the very beginning and has continued to nurture and develop my faith walk since then and is the reason that I stay a United Methodist,” said Rev. Jenny Whitmore, pastor of Ashland First UMC.
E-mail Brett Hetherington to schedule a time to record your 1- to 2-minute video sharing your story of how your life has been transformed through the ministries of The United Methodist Church.
View #BeUMC stories & the EOC #BeUMC website.
Each episode of our East Ohio Conference podcast, Storyboard: Faith Witness Transformation, explores what it means to #BeUMC.
Episode 32 is titled “Belonging & Inclusion: All In Community Ministry”. One in 31 Ohioans is in jail or prison or out on probation and last year 18,000 people returned to Ohio communities after being released from prison. This episode features clergy from East Ohio sharing about All In Community, a modern-day, Biblical response to the impact and aftermath of incarceration.
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 2024
Annual Conference 2024 – June 13-15
Annual Conference members will gather at the John S. Knight Center in Akron for the 55th session of East Ohio Annual Conference. Registration opened April 1 and will close May 17.
Register for Annual Conference 2024.
If you are not a member of Annual Conference representing your church or district, you can watch the services and sessions of conference via livestream on the AC 2024 website. You also have four AC-related opportunities in which you can participate those days at the John S. Knight Center:
- Sign-up to be a volunteer at AC 2024 by completing this volunteer interest survey.
- Sign-up to sing in the AC 2024 choir by e-mailing Joe Leaman, this year’s AC choir director.
- Sign-up for one or more of the 12 special events meals with guest speakers by e-mailing Melanie Thomas, Connectional Ministries office administrative assistant, or calling her at (330) 499-3972 ext. 102.
- Donate items to the Midwest Mission truck, which will be onsite at the John S. Knight Center Thursday, June 13 (8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) and Friday, June 14 (8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.). View the list of needed items.
Learn more on the Annual Conference 2024 website.
Book a hotel room at a specially discounted AC 2024 price.
General Conference
Postponed General Conference 2020 – April 23 – May 3, 2024
The next General Conference of The United Methodist Church will convene at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, April 23 – May 3, 2024, with delegates from Africa, Europe, Asia and the United States participating.
The East Ohio Conference will be updating daily the happenings at General Conference on the EOC General Conference 2020 webpage and the EOC website homepage. The livestream of the Conference will also be available starting Tuesday, April 23 at 2:00 p.m.
General Conference 2020 Livestream Page
Learn more about postponed General Conference 2020.
Bishop’s Office
April 28 is Second Chance Sunday in Ohio
Bishop Tracy S. Malone encourages clergy to include information about All In Community Ministry in services on Second Chance Sunday, April 28.
Missions & Community Engagement
April is Second Chance Month in the United States
One in 31 Ohioans is in jail or prison or out on probation and last year 18,000 people returned to Ohio communities after being released from prison. All In Community Ministry, a partnership ministry of the East Ohio Conference and the West Ohio Conference, is a modern-day, Biblical response to the impact and aftermath of incarceration.
April is Second Chance Month, which began in 2017, and April 28 is Second Chance Sunday across the State of Ohio. “We are in a season that we’ve just finished of Lent, and redemption, and lament, and forgiveness, and repentance, and doing a new thing, and new life. We all as Christ’s followers claim that for ourselves and for every single person who God created. Second Chance Month is an opportunity for this work of All in Community to be lifted up and highlighted and carried out,” said Rev. Kathy Dickriede, Connectional Ministries office Missions & Community Engagement director.
Visit the EOC All In Community ministry webpage.
Northeast Reintegration Center Visit Day – May 16
All East Ohio laity and clergy are invited to visit the Northeast Reintegration Center (2675 E. 30th St., Cleveland) from 5:30-8:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 16. This is a ministry opportunity in partnership of the Connectional Ministries office Missions & Community Engagement team, All in Community, and The Fredrick Douglass Project for Justice. Registration is required – and space is limited. On the registration link please indicate “UMC” in the group/institutional affiliation box and select “NE Reintegration Center” as the location.
Register on the Events Registration page of the EOC website.
West Side Community House Day of Giving – May 21
West Side Community House (Fund 9933, an EOC Health & Well-Being agency is having its first annual Day of Giving on Tuesday May 21. West Side Community House is one of the oldest settlements located on the west side of Cleveland. Birthed out of the ministry of the United Methodist Deaconess Women, services are delivered via three departments for the elderly and other aging adults with disabilities, families, and children/youth. For 134 years and counting, this organization has stood the test of time and provided hope, healing, fellowship, and resources to the city’s most vulnerable residents. For more information, e-mail Rachelle Milner, West Side Community House director or call her at (216) 771-7297 ext. 325.
Learn about and support West Side Community House.
Learn about Health & Well-Being ministry partners.
EarthKeepers Application Opens on June 1
Global Ministries EarthKeepers is a training program that equips U.S.-based United Methodists to launch and grow environmental projects in their communities. Topics include eco-theology, antiracism, community organizing, and project planning. During the training, all participants plan a project. Applications for the October 3-6 training open on June 1.
Learn more about EarthKeepers training opportunities.
Poverty Simulation Kits Available
The Connectional Ministries office has a poverty simulation kit available for use during church, community, youth, and college ministry events. Using the kit provides a powerful 2.5- to 3-hour experience living a life in someone else’s shoes trying to manage unemployment, unstable work, housing insecurity, childcare, and agency visits on the limited resources of time, cash and transportation. E-mail Rev. Kathy Dickriede, Connectional Ministries office Missions & Community Engagement director to schedule a poverty simulation experience enabling you to step into this space for discovery, advocacy, and empathy in your ministry setting.
Visit the EOC Bridges Out of Poverty webpage.
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.
Earth Day
EOC Embraces Earth Day: A Journey of Stewardship and Justice
This Earth Day, April 22, East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church clergy and lay persons are invited to deepen your commitment to God’s creation, aligning with our shared values of stewardship and justice. Reflecting on last year’s impactful “Perspectives: Caring for God’s Creation” event, we are reminded of the urgency and interconnectedness of climate action, justice, and our faith.
As stewards of the earth, we’re called to action by UMC guiding resolutions on environmental justice and care. The “Caring for Creation: A Call to Stewardship and Justice” resolution emphasizes our role in safeguarding the planet, advocating for sustainable living, and addressing climate change as a matter of faith and justice. Similarly, “Environmental Racism in the U.S.” highlights the disproportionate impact of environmental degradation on communities of color, urging us towards systemic change and advocacy.
In this spirit, we encourage our community to celebrate Earth Day through:
- engagement in local cleanup efforts – joining or organizing community cleanups in parks, beaches, or neighborhoods.
- participation in EarthKeepers programs – learning about eco-theology and community organizing to launch sustainability projects in your area.
- educational workshops and webinars – expanding your knowledge on environmental issues and focusing on how they intersect with racism, poverty, and global health.
- advocacy for environmental justice – using your voice to support policies and practices that protect the environment and promote equity.
- sustainable living choices – committing to personal actions such as reducing waste, conserving water, and supporting renewable energy.
This Earth Day let’s embody our faith through actions that honor God’s creation and work towards a just, sustainable world for all. Together, we can make a difference, one step at a time.
Read the article “Perspectives: Caring for God’s Creation”.
New Creation Care Webpage on the EOC Website
A new online resource for those interested in Creation Care within our community is available on the Missions & Community Engagement page of the East Ohio Conference website. There you will find tools, resources, and inspirations to guide your environmental journey.
Visit the EOC Creation Care webpages.
Disaster Response
Learn How You Can Prepare to Respond When a Disaster Strikes
EOC Disaster Response Coordinator Rev. Steve Court offers these suggestions for those wishing to respond when disasters strike: “Visit the Disaster Response page of the East Ohio Conference website which lists ways to help and review the Disaster Response plan that is linked on that page. There is a page in the plan for each level of the Church: the Conference, the districts, and the local church. People can put together buckets, they can sign-up for training classes, they can volunteer, and they can participate in Volunteers in Missions trips for long-term assistance. We are a year removed from the train derailment in East Palestine, but the Church is still involved there giving spiritual and emotional care. If you’re available and want to spend the best week of your life helping others, contact us and we’ll find a place to send you.”
Read about Disaster Response Last Week in Southeast Ohio.
Learn more about EOC Disaster Response.
Thank You for Donating to Disaster Response in East Palestine
The EOC Disaster Response Committee has been active in supporting the East Palestine community in the wake of the train derailment that made national headlines in February 2023. Thanks to many years of support and networking, the United Methodist churches in the community were able to adapt quickly. The committee wants to thank everyone who donated to Disaster Response Fund 9200. The just over $13,000 donated was given to Centenary UMC in East Palestine, which split the funds with the community’s Emmanuel UMC. Funds were used to purchase home air filters, food, and water for residents.
Early Response Team (ERT) Training – May 11
The West Ohio Conference UMC invites East Ohio Conference clergy and lay persons to participate in a United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Early Response Team (ERT) training class on Saturday, May 11 from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. at Jerome UMC in Plain City. A four-hour recertification class will also be offered in the morning. West Ohio ERT trainers will teach participants how to assist survivors of natural disasters in their time of need. Trainees will learn how to provide a caring, Christian presence while taking steps to prevent further damage to the family’s personal property. Skills that are taught include tarping, debris removal, mucking out flooded homes, etc. FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) recognizes this training to enter a disaster scene. A background check is required, and a link to complete this will be provided upon registration. The cost is $40 for the Basic class and $35 for the recertification course. May 6 is the deadline to register for either course. ERT members are not required to be United Methodist but must deploy with a United Methodist-led team.
Multicultural Ministries
Just Action Book Discussion
The East Ohio Multicultural Ministries and the East Ohio Anti-Racism Task Force invite you to join in a book discussion of the book Just Action: How to Challenge Segregation Enacted Under the Color of Law. Two discussions are scheduled to take place via Zoom. The first is 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 30. The second is noon on Monday, May 6.
Register to receive the Zoom link for the book discussion.
Just Action Discussion Guide
Just Action Event to Address Redlining & Evictions in Akron – May 10
On Friday, May 10, 7:00 pm, at the Akron Summit County Main Library, Leah Rothstein (in-person) & Richard Rothstein (virtual) will join us to discuss their recent book Just Action. Just Action is meant as “a blueprint for concerned citizens and community leaders” to address ongoing issues caused by segregation enacted under The Color of Law.
Free book to keep given to the first 70 attendees!
Learn more about the May 10 Just Action event at the Akron-Summit County Library.
Read “United Methodists Stand Against Racism: May 10 Just Action Event to Address Redlining and Evictions in Akron.
For questions about Multicultural Ministries opportunities, please e-mail Will Fenton-Jones, Connectional Ministries office Multicultural Ministries director, or visit the Multicultural Ministries pages of the Conference website.
Camps & Retreat Ministries
Bring a Friend to Summer Camp 2024
Encourage the kids from your congregation to invite a friend to camp with them this summer. It is a great way for them to spread the Good News and make plans for a special summer with their friends. If you have questions or would like to receive a Summer Camp 2024 brochure, call the EOC Camps office at (330) 499-3972 ext. 139 or send us an e-mail.
Learn more about and register for Summer Camp 2024.
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.
Events: April 15 – April 28
Click to view East Ohio Conference Calendar.
- Saturday, April 20
Transition Training - April 25-27
Spring Flea Market - Saturday, April 27
Lay Servant Ministries Training - Saturday, April 27
Bridges Out of Poverty Training - Saturday, April 27
Lay Servant Advanced Class – Go Preach Pew to Pulpit - Saturday, April 27
Free Community Meal in Lakewood - Saturday, April 27
Nehemiah Mission Breakfast
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:
- Forrest Waller, 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
- Director of Youth Ministry – Mayfield UMC
- Treasurer – Perry UMC
- Director of Children’s Education – Gay Street UMC in Mount Vernon
To submit a classified ad please e-mail swilliams@eocumc.com.
To Subscribe
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Deadline for submission is Thursday, April 25, 2024. Send articles to swilliams@eocumc.com.
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