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 |
| George Lee | Ontario UMC | West Plains | |
| Darlene Robinson | Cory & St. Matthew UMCs | Northern Waters | |
#BeUMC
“I am United Methodist because of community. I grew up going to church with my Grandma and as I grew I had many vacant roles filled by people in the church,” said Rev. Alexandra Parisher. “I am thankful for The United Methodist Church and the role it’s played in teaching me about community in the world and in my life.”
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 37 is titled “Influence, Connection & Impact: Biking Ministries Reaching Communities for Jesus Christ”. Missions & Community Engagement Director Rev. Kathy Dickriede leads a discussion with clergy and laity of South Street Ministries, Bike Hope Love, Brecksville UMC, and Link Up of Harbor and Bridge about how each is teaching about Jesus while fixing and providing bicycles in their communities.
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
Faith Hope Love: Annual Conference 2024
The 55th session of East Ohio Annual Conference was held June 13-15, 2024, at Akron’s John S. Knight Center. The theme for the three days of Holy Conferencing was “Faith Hope Love”. Services and sessions were grounded in the prophetic promise recorded in Isaiah 40:31 (NIV).
In her Episcopal Address Bishop Tracy S. Malone encouraged clergy and laity to read ¶105 of The Book of Discipline outlining The Theological Task of the Church.
“We endeavor through the power of the Holy Spirit to understand the love of God given in Jesus Christ. We seek to spread this love abroad. As we see more clearly who we have been, as we understand more fully the needs of the world, as we draw more effectively upon our theological heritage, we will become better equipped to fulfill our calling as the people of God,” Malone said. “Brothers and sisters, siblings in Christ, the renewal and unity of the Church is all of our work to do.”
Annual Conference approved a $8,237,340 budget for 2025 (a 20% reduction from 2024); raised by 5% the minimum salaries for all categories of clergy; approved Phase 1 of the Simplified Accountable Structure form of governance for East Ohio Conference leadership; approved three resolutions, and much more.
View and download the AC 2024 recap video.
Read and download the AC 2024 recap article.
View and download videos of and from AC 2024.
View and download photos of AC 2024.
Return Voting Devices to the Area Center
Annual Conference members who accidentally took their voting device with them upon leaving Akron should turn in the device to the Area Center as soon as possible. The East Ohio Conference Area Center is located at 8800 Cleveland Avenue NW in North Canton, 44720.
Clergy Robe Left at Annual Conference
A clergy robe was left in the John S. Knight Center after the Service of Commissioning, Ordination, and Retirement. Call Executive Director of Communications Rick Wolcott, (330) 499-3972 ext. 118, to identify the robe and arrange picking it up.
Annual Conference 2025
The dates for the 56th session of Annual Conference are June 12-14, 2025.
Missions & Community Engagement
Anti-Racism Cohort Interest Survey
The East Ohio Conference is offering three opportunities for you to be involved in our work as United Methodists to Stand Against Racism. Make plans now to be part of an anti-racism cohort that offers a time for honesty and authenticity, vulnerability and courage, as we spend time learning, being accountable, coaching, and creating a safe space for intentional learning and sharing. It will be a time of discovering how to do the anti-racism work of re-telling our stories, building relationships and connection, and repairing and reinvesting with people in our past and current world. Cohorts will operate under a covenant of confidentiality.
The cohorts will meet virtually twice a month for three months and each session will be about 90 minutes. There may be a field trip or in-person meeting at the end. Each of the three cohort options need six to 12 interested participants before they can move forward. The cost of the cohorts is to be determined. The three cohort options are:
- Fall cohort that would meet in September, October, and November of this year.
- Winter cohort that would meet in January, February, and March of 2025.
- Summer cohort that would meet in June, July, and August of 2025.
If you are interested in participating in one of the three anti-racism cohorts, please click the link below and denote which cohort you prefer. This is an interest survey, not a registration form.
Anti-racism cohort interest survey.
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
There is Still Room for You at Summer Camp 2024
Do you know a child you want to have a life-changing experience at camp this summer? There is still room at camp. 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.
Clergy
Clergy Days Apart – September 4 & 24
This year’s Clergy Days Apart will be Wednesday, September 4 at Wanake Camp & Retreat Center and Tuesday, September 24 at University Circle UMC. Make plans now to be available for one of those days. As it becomes available, additional information will be published in future issues of E-News.
United Women in Faith
Mission u – July 19-21
Mission u’s and its 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.
Celebrations of Life
Please pray for the families of:
- David Bloor, retired Elder, died June 10.
- Terry E. Litton, retired Elder, died May 25.
- Melvin W. Lindberg, retired Elder, died May 23.
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
- Head Custodian – Bay Village UMC
- Church Treasurer – Independence UMC
- Director of Modern Worship – Mentor UMC
- Youth Director – Mentor UMC
- Pastor of Visitation – Mentor UMC
To submit a classified ad please e-mail swilliams@eocumc.com.
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Deadline for submission is Friday, July 5, 2024. Send articles to eoccommunications@eocumc.com.
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