By Brett Hetherington*

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”  John 15:5-8 (NIV)

On a rainy Saturday that mirrored the emotions of many inside Faith United Methodist Church (Central Valley District) clergy and laity gathered to celebrate and say farewell to Bishop Tracy S. Malone.

The service was built around honoring Bishop Malone’s eight years of ministry within and to the East Ohio Conference, with music, Scripture, communion and testimonies. Her appointment to serve East Ohio was historic for two reasons: it was Bishop Malone’s first assignment as a newly consecrated Bishop, and she was the first female resident bishop of the Conference.

“At the 2016 NCJ Conference I was privileged to be the first person to officially say ‘Bishop Tracy Smith Malone,’” shared Dr. Maggie Jackson, who at the time of Bishop Malone’s assignment served as the chairperson of the North Central Jurisdiction Committee on Episcopacy. She spoke of Bishop Malone’s passion for Africa University, her commitment to The United Methodist Church, her compassion for those she served, and her dedication to self-care.

“She has a warm spirit and is an extraordinary preacher, with wisdom to help think through critical moments. The words of peace, justice, unity, respect and love are dear to her being. They are held close to her heart and provide guidance for her thinking. In front of these concepts is a heart open to Jesus Christ. She walks every day with God as her driver. I admire her ability to take care of her whole person.”

Pastoral care for the people of East Ohio was a significant part of Bishop Malone’s ministry. In a position that constantly demands administrative tasks be accomplished, speaking engagements to be honored and other various roles to be filled, the desire to be present in her people’s lives when they needed her was not lost on those who worked with the bishop.

Rev. Ed Peterson, executive assistant to the Bishop, spoke of what most people never see – what Bishop Malone does when she is not in the public eye. He shared of times he would see her leave the office at the end of a long day and instead of going home stopping to visit someone who was sick, not for just a quick stop or with a camera crew for a story, but just to be present – often for hours. “We measure a person’s character and integrity by what we see them say and do when everybody is watching. I say that the true measure of a person’s is revealed by what they say and what they do when no one is watching. And that is Bishop Tracy Smith Malone. Not just bishop. Not just pastor. But deeply caring and loving woman of God.”

Rev. Ed Fashbaugh, executive director of Connectional Ministries was one such individual to have been visited by Bishop Malone when he was hospitalized for months with COVID, and he shared what her ministry has meant. “You were the example of the love of Jesus not only in a time of crisis for I’ve had the joy of seeing this love lived out in your daily service to Christ’s holy church. To serve with you is to be in an ongoing workshop of Christ-centered servant leadership,” he said.

Bishop Malone did not simply work with clergy in her time serving the East Ohio Conference. She also built relationships with laity and was able to lift up many in their unique paths of ministry during her time in East Ohio.

“Laity has been given a voice and a seat at the table. Laity has been given the support and flexibility to balance a demanding career while maintaining important roles and involvement in the church. Laity has been given the opportunity to chair and co-chair committees at all levels within the Conference,” shared Kimberly Green, Conference lay leader. “We will forever cherish the relationships that you took so much time to establish.”

Those who were sharing memories and experiences of their time serving with Bishop Malone also elaborated upon the hope that she engendered during her time in East Ohio. Central to what Rev. Dawan Buie, president of the Black Pastors’ Fellowship, shared centered on the hope that she encourages in others. “Hope exuded and exudes from her being. She preached hope when she could have given in to despair. When I saw her smile, her joy gave me hope. That Bishop Malone smile could light up her soul. When I heard her messages, I heard hope. When I heard her thoughts about the future of The United Methodist Church, I heard hope because she has audacious faith in Jesus and that grounds her hope. For I am thankful for the hope she has given us,” he said.

Rev. Bruce Hitchcock, Cabinet dean and superintendent of the Northern Waters District, spoke of how Bishop Malone had been a guiding light through some of the dimmer days East Ohio has gone through over the eight years of her tenure. “You led us through some dark days, some ugly days. I remember a preacher saying to me ‘Things don’t look good for The UMC’ and I responded to the preacher ‘Are you kidding me?’ The UMC is fine. We have a future, and a hope always grounded in Jesus Christ. But if a church is smart enough to recognize and elect you as a Bishop, I’m not worried about the future of this church,” he shared.

Rev. Heidi Welch, chairperson of the EOC Committee on Episcopacy, shared that Bishop Malone taught her many important lessons, but her living example of what it is to be in ministry has perhaps left the biggest mark on her own life and ministry. “I will miss the way that you speak God’s love over me reminding me of my God-given gifts, somehow knowing when I need it most. And Bishop I just pray that I might be half a blessing to those I lead that you have been to me,” she shared.

A video tribute to Bishop Malone’s ministry was set up by Executive Director of Communications Rick Wolcott, who shared his gratitude to Bishop Malone for her partnership. “Over the past eight years you have continually reminded us of who we are and whose we are and what we need to do to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world,” he said.

Following the moving tributes to Bishop Malone, there was a Liturgy of Transition, and gifts were bestowed upon her and her husband Derrick. One of the gifts was a donation made in Bishop Malone’s name to the Lift Her Up campaign, which raises money for scholarships so that female students in a Zimbabwe refugee camp who have been accepted at AU will have the funds to enroll at the Pan-African United Methodist institution of higher learning. If you would like to make a donation to the Lift Her Up ministry, please click the link at the end of this article.

And then it was time for Bishop Malone to share one final message to the people with whom she has served and ministered the past eight years. The Bishop began by expressing deep gratitude for how her family had been welcomed by the laity and clergy of East Ohio. “You welcomed us, and we became family together. We will always be family because we are part of the family of God. We are brothers and sisters and siblings in Christ Jesus,” she said.

Bishop Malone also spoke fondly of all that she will take with her from East Ohio, carrying the memories and blessings she has gained, continuing to pray for churches, ministries and the ongoing work of disciple making. She asked for prayers for herself, for her family, for her work with the Council of Bishops and for the newly assigned bishop to the Ohio Episcopal Area Bishop Hee-Soo Jung and his wife. And she shared her gratitude for her time in the East Ohio Conference.

“To God be the glory for always doing something new. Always opening up paths and possibilities that never existed before. Always springing forth new life, new relationships, new ministries, new visions, fresh imaginations and above all hope. God is always doing something new, and it is always springing forth. I am eternally grateful for how God’s spirit has been at work through our journey together. And when I look back over these eight years of ministry, I can truly say that I am better, that my faith in Jesus Christ has grown deeper, that my leadership has been strengthened and my hope is renewed. I can say that all of this is because of the grace of God but because of our shared ministry together,” she concluded.

One final service of Holy Communion was led by Bishop Malone with her family serving as the communion stewards, and following her benediction a reception was held where individuals could meet with her, shake her hand, share a hug, and take a picture. An opportunity to say one final goodbye to someone who has meant so much to so many over the past eight years in East Ohio. Every person who was in the building was able to leave knowing that the final words Bishop Malone spoke in her benediction were true.

“And remember this. I will always love you, and there ain’t nothing you can do about it,” she said.

View the full service.
View the Flickr album.
Make a contribution to the Lift Her Up campaign.

The Conference Communications team would like to share other stories that highlight ways that each of us is answering the call of Bishop Tracy S. Malone to reach out to our communities in creative ways. Please e-mail your ministry story to EOC Executive Director of Communications Rick Wolcott at wolcott@eocumc.com.

* Brett Hetherington is the Communications specialist for the East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church.