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 |
| Jeffrey Croft | Thoburn UMC | South Forest | 8/1/24 |
| Tom Fish | Bolivar UMC | South Forest | |
| Joyce Hoile | Western Reserve UMC | Central Valley | 6/1/24 |
| Julie Kirker | North Canton Grace & Simpson UMCs | Central Valley | |
| David Rinkes | Powhatan & Amity UMCs | South Forest | |
| David St. Aubin | Family Leave | South Forest | |
#BeUMC
“Why am I United Methodist? Because we are including everyone,” said Pastor Jeri Johnson of North Industry UMC. “I was raised in the church and was lifted up for leadership at a very young age. As an adult, I was included in committees, involved in United Methodist Women, and felt a part of the church family.”
E-mail Brett Hetherington to schedule a time to share your story of how your life has been transformed through the ministries of The United Methodist Church.
View #BeUMC stories & the EOC #BeUMC website.
Our EOC podcast, Storyboard: Faith Witness Transformation, explores what it means to #BeUMC.
Episode 36 is titled “Belonging & Inclusion: An In-Depth Look at Discipleship, Economic Justice, and Combatting Racism”. Multicultural Ministries Director Will Fenton-Jones leads a discussion with Rev. Dr. Sidney Williams Jr. and Rev. Michael Anthony Howard exploring the Church’s role in reaching, ministering with, and transforming communities through pro-racial equity networks, engaging in civil rights work, and combatting the impacts of redlining and segregation.
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.
Bishop’s Office
General Conference Summary Resource
Click the link below to download and share a summary resource offering information about legislation approved by General Conference and links to official, credible websites of The United Methodist Church where you can learn more. During the May 18 Post-General Conference Information Session hosted by Bishop Tracy S. Malone and members of the East Ohio Conference delegation, the bishop shared her intent to provide this document.
Download and share the General Conference Summary Resource.
Annual Conference 2024
Both Clergy Executive Session (June 12) and Annual Conference (June 13-15) are at the John S. Knight Center in Akron, Ohio.
Watch Annual Conference on Livestream
The sessions and services of Annual Conference 2024 can be viewed on livestream, which can be viewed by clicking the Livestream link on the AC 2024 website, http://www.eocumc.com/eoac24.
Annual Conference 2024 Website
The most up-to-date information about Annual Conference 2024 is posted on the AC 2024 website. There you can:
- view and download the Pre-Conference Workbook, found under the Resources tab.
- view and download the agenda, found under the Resources tab.
- learn about the worship service speakers, the clergy who will be commissioned or ordained, and those who are retiring.
View the Annual Conference 2024 website.
Check-In for Clergy Session & Annual Conference
Again, this year, there is no onsite registration. At check-in each AC member who registered by the deadline will receive their name badge, their voting device, and a packet of documents. Check-in will take place in front of the box office inside the John S. Knight Center at these dates/times:
Wednesday, June 12 7:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Wednesday, June 12 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday, June 12 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 13 7:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Friday, June 14 7:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Annual Conference Worship Services
Thursday, June 13 @ 9:00 a.m.
Service of Commemoration & Holy Communion
Preacher: Bishop Tracy S. Malone
Friday, June 14 @ 9:00 a.m.
Morning Worship
Preacher: Rev. Allison LeBrun
Saturday, June 15 @ 9:00 a.m.
Morning Devotion
Preacher: Rev. Philip Wilden
Saturday, June 15 @ 2:30 p.m.
Service of Commissioning, Ordination and Retirement
Preacher: Bishop Lanette Plambeck
Click on the Speakers tab of the AC website to learn more.
Wholeness, Well-Being & Resilience Education Sessions
Rev. Dr. Ronald Bell, director of Healing and Resilience for Discipleship Ministries and The Upper Room, will lead these two sessions during Annual Conference 2024:
• Friday, June 14 @ 11:15 a.m.
A Theological Framework for Emotional Freedom
• Saturday, June 15 @ 9:45 a.m.
God’s Image in Broken Clay
Annual Conference Offering
This year’s Annual Conference offering will benefit three ministries, with each receiving one-third of offering:
- All In Community
- Royal Family KIDS Camp
- Bishop’s Discretionary Fund
The offering will be received the afternoon of Thursday, June 13 but you can contribute to the offering prior to, during, or after Annual Conference by making an online donation or mailing a check to the East Ohio Conference lockbox.
Learn more and donate to the Annual Conference offering.
Midwest Mission Collection Truck – June 13-14
The Midwest Mission collection truck will be outside the John S. Knight Center in Akron for you to donate life-changing relief items that United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) will provide to assist people in need both locally and globally. The truck will be in the South Broadway parking lot at the northeast corner of the Center on Thursday, June 13 from 8:00 – 5:00 p.m. and Friday, June 14 from 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. before heading to its next destination.
AC Blanket Collection for Refugees – June 13-15
The East Ohio Conference Order of Deacons invites you to bring a new blanket or a gently-used blankets that has been laundered to donate during Annual Conference. Collected blankets will be given to the International Institute of Akron, which is assisting refugees who are resettling in Akron, Ohio. Last year the Institute provided resettlement services to 523 immigrants and refugees and in March of this year welcomed 48 refugees from Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burma, and Honduras.
The Deacons will have a pick-up truck in the John S. Knight Center parking lot near the Midwest Mission collection truck during Annual Conference where you can donate your blanket.
Tell Your #BeUMC Story
The Communications team studio will be set-up in the second-floor rotunda to record your 1- to 2-minute #BeUMC story telling how your life has been transformed through the ministries of The United Methodist Church. E-mail Brett Hetherington to arrange the date/time during an Annual Conference break that you wish to have him record your affirming #BeUMC story.
Helpful Tips from the AC Program Committee
With Annual Conference just a few days away, the Program Committee thought it might be helpful to remind you to pack a few items that a will make the event a little more comfortable. This list includes:
- Seat cushion – The seats are padded but a little extra helps!
- Sweater or sweatshirt – The air conditioning is preset and works well!
- Phone cord and battery Pack – It is hard to admit we can be lost without our phones.
- Pens, pencils, and paper – You may not need extra but someone near you may.
- Refillable water bottle – Stay hydrated!
- Bible – Find Matt and he’ll share a story
- Printed or electronic copy of the Pre-Conference Workbook (if you requested a print copy when you registered, you can pick that up when you check in)
- Clergy robe for processing at Ordination
- Rain gear or umbrella
As you enter the John S. Knight Center, volunteers will greet you and direct you into the facility. The help desk will be staffed throughout Annual Conference to answer any questions you may have. Also, please remember to take a look at your registration to remind yourself of any luncheons you registered to attend. We look forward to seeing you in a few days!
Financial & Administrative Services
2025 DAC Finalized at General Conference
Meeting last month, General Conference finalized the Denominational Average Compensation (DAC) for 2025 at $80,003. This number is different than the $80,297 submitted by the March 15 print deadline for the Pre-Conference Workbook for Annual Conference. The CAC is unchanged from what is printed in the Pre-Conference Workbook.
Updates to Board of Benefits AC Report
Please be advised that during the Board of Benefits presentation on Saturday, June 15 updated information will be provided reflecting changes made by General Conference since the March 15 deadline for the Pre-Conference Workbook.
For questions about Financial & Administrative Services ministries and opportunities, please e-mail Vera Milanovic, executive director of Financial & Administrative Services, or visit the Financial & Administrative Services pages of the Conference website.
Camps & Retreat Ministries
Summer Camp is Underway!
Please Pray for our staff and campers as they enter this life-changing experience. Here is a sample prayer you may wish to use:
Loving God, you know how much camp and retreats have meant in our United Methodist heritage. So many people feel your touch when they are able to take time apart at camp or a retreat. May they reflect and grow in love with you. Send aid to those who need a camp experience and are met with roadblocks. Seek out those who need retreat and meet them on the path. Peel away the thick forests of our lives and offer us a clearing of our heads and hearts. This we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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.
Missions & Community Engagement
All In Community Ministry Monday – June 24
Join Dr. Camisha Chambers, the new Nurturing Community coordinator for All In Community, on June 24 from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. online as she shares some exciting opportunities to help you grow in cultivating nurturing attributes with self and with others. The event is free but you do need to register in advance to receive the link.
Learn more and register for the link.
Community Action Poverty Simulation – July 14
Poverty is a reality for many individuals and families. But unless you’ve experienced it, poverty is difficult to understand. The Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS) bridges the gap from misconception to understanding. CAPS is an interactive, immersive experience. It sensitizes community participants to the realities of poverty. This is a simulation, not a game. Your next opportunity to experience the poverty simulation is from 2:00-4:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 14 in a yet-to-be-named location in Akron. The simulation is free, but you need to register in advance. If you have questions about the Community Action Poverty Simulation, please e-mail Melanie Thomas, Connectional Ministries administrative assistant.
Register on the Events Registration page of the EOC website.
Canton For All People Field Trip – July 16
All are invited to come and learn about Canton for All People (Health & Well-Being Partner Fund 9978) and the movement of creative partnerships, affordable housing, the opening of a grocery store in a neighborhood long experiencing food apartheid, and the faithful witness of the Crossroads UMC being an answer to prayers. Tuesday, July 16 from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at Crossroads UMC (120 Cleveland Ave SW, Canton OH 44702). The field trip is free, but you do need to register in advance.
Learn more and register for the Canton For All People field trip.
Bridges Out Of Poverty Fall Cohort Starts September 11
Bridges Out of Poverty offers a new way to view the issue of poverty through the Triple Lens approach of individual, community, and structural/policy. Participants will review poverty research, examine a theory of change, and analyze poverty through the prism of the hidden rules of class, resources, family structure, and language. This online cohort is for community leaders to learn to empower, lead, and facilitate the Bridges movement in their community. The cohort will meet online the first and third Wednesdays of the month beginning September 11 and concluding March 26, 2025.
Learn more and register on the Events Registration page of the EOC website.
Community Engagement Cohort Starts September 11
This cohort is designed to understand the scriptural foundation for community partnerships, discover the framework for community partnerships to create systemic change, and be accountable to develop a unique plan of action for community partnership and ministry in your local context. Meeting dates will be September 11 & 25, October 9 & 23, and November 6 & 20 from 9:00-10:30 a.m. over Zoom. A clergy and layperson from each faith community would be ideal. Led by David Hull-Frye and Kathy Dickriede. Free, but you do need to register in advance.
Learn more and register on the Events Registration page of the EOC website.
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.
Strategic Ministries
The Listening Church Workshop and Coaching
Was your church once a vibrant outpost in the community and now you feel like you barely know any neighbors? Do you feel like it’s time your church started a new community ministry, but you have no idea what to start? Would you like to be a better neighbor?
Spiritual listening can open new possibilities for vibrant ministry. It’s all about asking God to open your eyes and your ears, seeking to understand your community more deeply so you might add something of value. The Listening Church is a resource that guides church leaders through a community assessment process rooted in contemplative practices that helps churches understand their communities better and enable those churches to become spiritual homes for their immediate neighbors.
From August 13-15, this 2.5-hour workshop will be offered at six different locations around the East Ohio conference. In it the concepts and skills of being a Listening Church will be introduced. Following the workshop, there will be monthly Zoom calls to help deepen and utilize the trainings. In a culture where not being heard is a major reason for church flight and church/community disconnect, this workshop can be transformative for the local church, the people already within them, and the people they hope to reach with the Good News of Christ.
Luke Edwards, author of Becoming Church: A Trail Guide for Starting Fresh Expressions, is a United Methodist Minister and the associate director of Church Development for the Western North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church. Over the past six years he has helped launch countless micro faith communities across western North Carolina and North America. Trained as a social worker, he has spent the last 15 years exploring wholistic models of church-based community engagement. Luke has learned a few things along the way, but the most important lesson he’s learned is that healthy ministry begins with deep listening.
Register for these trainings by August 1 on the Events Registration page of the EOC website.
For questions about Strategic Ministries opportunities, please e-mail the Rev. Beth Ortiz, Connectional Ministries office Strategic Ministries director, or visit the Strategic Ministries pages on the Conference website.
United Women in Faith
Why is there a Mission u?
Mission u’s and their predecessor schools are significant in the growth of the women’s mission organizations and in our own faith journeys. United Women in Faith and its predecessor organizations have long understood that education is key to our discipleship – our relationship to God and to each other, and God’s love for all of creation. Education for mission helps us distinguish our cultural and personal assumptions from those of the dominant culture – to understand more deeply the Biblical mandates, God’s mission imperative and our response to it.
Join us at Mission u this year as we explore what it means to “Draw Closer to God and One Another.” We meet at the University of Mt. Union in Alliance. Check-in is Friday, July 19 at 3:00 p.m., Mission U ends Sunday, July 21, at Noon. This is a multi-generational event. Kids and youth, grades 1-12, have their own studies following the same theme. We eat, worship and fellowship together.
Jesus told his followers the kin-dom was among them (Luke 17:21). What does that mean? Who does Jesus say will inherit the kin-dom? How do we transform ourselves and our communities in ways that bring us closer to the kin-dom and the kin-dom closer to us? We will dive into these questions and more at Mission u 2024 as we examine Scripture together and join in worship, fellowship, and action.
Learn more and register for Mission u.
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Deadline for submission is Thursday, June 20, 2024. Send articles to swilliams@eocumc.com.
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