Appointments

Bishop Hee-Soo Jung announces the following clergy appointments and/or changes of status which, unless otherwise noted, are effective July 1, 2025.

2025 Appointments
Pastor	Appointment	District	Effective
Steve Bailey	Johnson UMC	Northern Waters
Edgar Brady	Painesville UMC	Northern Waters
Clarence Hensel	Mt. Vernon Hopewell & Mt. Vernon Green Valley UMCs	West Plains	2/1/2025
Brandon Keck	Carrollton UMC	South Forest	2/1/2025
Rebecca Stephens	Mayfield UMC – Associate Pastor	Northern Waters
Amy Vittorio	New Concord UMC	South Forest

View the complete list of 2025 Appointments and Changes of Status, including retirees and those concluding their ministry.

#BeUMC

Storyboard: Faith Witness Transformation
Episode 51 The UMC Responds to Disasters

Storyboard: Faith Witness Transformation is a podcast that shares how ministries across the East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church are transforming lives locally, nationally, and globally. Produced twice-a-month by EOC Communications, each podcast episode highlights one of the #BeUMC campaign core values that connect the people of The United Methodist Church:

• Disciple Making
• Belonging & Inclusion
• Influence, Connection & Impact
• Experience of God through The UMC

Episode 51 “The UMC Responds to Disasters” features a roundtable discussion with laity and clergy from four UMC conferences across three states who rolled up their sleeves and gave of their time and hearts to help with a short-term Emergency Response Team (ERT) trip in Georgia after the devastation of Hurricane Helene. ERTs exist for members to use their gifts and skills to assist after a disaster, providing emotional and spiritual support as an outgrowth of our discipleship. 

“You need some people on the team that know what to do and how to do it and can teach someone else. But anybody can join in doing what we do,” said Pastor Pete Elliott, who serves in the West Ohio Conference and was a member of the team to Georgia.

Learn more about Early Response Team ministries.
Listen to previous Storyboard podcast episodes.
View clergy and laity sharing their #BeUMC stories.

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

2025-2026 District Superintendent Appointments
Bishop Hee-Soo Jung announces appointments of district superintendents, effective July 1.

“I am so blessed by East Ohio Conference leadership and am thankful for their commitment to advancing our mission and vision for ministry,” Jung said. “Now we are moving to four superintendents in our Cabinet leadership, one in each district.”

The Central Valley District superintendent will be Rev. Cara Stultz Costello. Bishop Jung is appointing Rev. Edgar Brady to serve as pastor of Painesville United Methodist Church in the Northern Waters District beginning in July.

The Northern Waters District superintendent will be Rev. Angela Lewis. Rev. Bruce Hitchcock has announced he will retire at the end of June. He has served as a superintendent in three districts (Ohio Valley, North Coast, and Northern Waters) since being appointed to the Cabinet in 2018.

The South Forest District superintendent will be Rev. Laura White.

The West Plains District superintendent will be Rev. Kelly Brown. Rev. Nestor Nazario has announced he will retire at the end of June. He was appointed to the Cabinet in 2017 as superintendent of the Mid-Ohio District and later also served the Firelands District and the West Plains District. Rev. Donna Van Trees has announced she will conclude her ministry at the end of June. She has served two appointments since retiring in 2014: district superintendent associate of the Firelands District (2022-2023) and district superintendent associate of the West Plains District since January 1, 2024.

“I give thanks for the amazing leadership of the Cabinet. I love and respect their integrity and their love for Christ’s Church and our East Ohio Conference,” Jung said. “I ask you to join me in praying for our district superintendents and to support them as they serve the Church and prepare to transition into retirement and new opportunities after concluding active ministry.”

Read the appointment announcement release in its entirety.
View the list of 2025-2026 clergy appointments and changes of status.

Bishop Jung Days in the Districts
Bishop Hee-Soo Jung will spend a day in each district in the coming months.

• February 27 | UMC of Macedonia (Northern Waters)
• March 1 | Thoburn UMC (South Forest)
• March 10 | Ashland Christ UMC (West Plains)
• March 13 | Navarre Otterbein UMC (Central Valley)

On each of these days, clergy of the district are invited to join Bishop Jung beginning at 9:30 a.m. for a morning of worship and Bible study, followed by lunch, a session on district strategy and visioning, conversation with the bishop, and a closing worship service at 3:00 p.m. with communion. Laity of the district are invited to join Bishop Jung on these days at 5:00 p.m. for dinner followed by a worship service, Bible study, and a conversation on vision and ministry.

Learn more and register to attend a District Day Apart with Bishop Jung.

Living the Dream

Service to Celebrate Legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – February 23
The East and West Ohio Conferences of The United Methodist Church are coming together to honor the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a joint worship service on Sunday, February 23 at Garfield Memorial United Methodist Church in Pepper Pike.

The theme of the day hosted by Bishop Hee-Soo Jung is “Living the Dream: Bold Faith, Hopeful Future”. The 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. service will focus on building Dr. King’s vision of a beloved community rooted in justice, love, and hope.

The keynote speaker will be Bishop Julius C. Trimble, General Secretary of the General Board of Church & Society of The United Methodist Church. The service and the bishop’s message will inspire participants to carry forward Dr. King’s God-given vision of unity and hope. An informal reception offering light refreshments and opportunities for fellowship and conversation will follow the service.

The service will be live-streamed on the East Ohio Conference website to allow broader access for those unable to attend in-person.

Learn more about the February 23 service.

Annual Conference

Annual Conference 2025 – June 12-14
The theme for Annual Conference 2025 is “Rise Up, Beloved: Trust in God’s Promises”. The services and sessions of AC 2025 will be grounded in the words of Mark 5:35-43 (NIV).

New Places, Spaces and Opportunities for AC 2025
The 56^th session of Annual Conference will meet at a new location: the College of Wooster campus.

• Morning worship, the Service of Commemoration and Holy Communion, and the Service of Commissioning, Ordination, and Retirement will be in McGaw Chapel where AC members and guests will sit in pews.
• Business plenary sessions will be on the indoor track and courts of the natural light-filled Gault Recreation Center inside the Scot Center where AC members will sit at classroom tables.
• Parking on campus is free.
• Attendees will have the option of paying to stay on campus in residence halls or at one of several hotels in town that will provide room blocks at reduced rates for Annual Conference.
• The Conference and the College are coordinating an on-campus meal plan option for those attending Annual Conference.
• Online registration for AC 2025 will open in April.

Financial & Administrative Services

Year-end Reports Due TODAY
Please check to be sure that your local church year-end report has been completed in the AC Stats portal. Your report is not complete until you press the green submit button. Today, Monday, February 3 is the deadline for all local church year-end reports to be submitted.

The January 6 E-News contained information about today’s deadline, announcing that the original deadline date of January 18 published in The Conference Journal had been extended until February 3.

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.

Connectional Ministries

Apply for East Ohio Ministry Micro Grants by March 3
If you are looking to launch a new ministry, the East Ohio Conference Board of Congregational Development and the Connectional Ministries office can help bring that vision to life with a micro grant of up to $2,000.

Micro grants are for new ministries – ones that are less than two months old or have yet to begin – that seek to:

• reach people outside the church community,
• focus on relationship-building, and
• fulfill the mission and vision of the East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church within the local context. 

Examples of previous ministries which received fundings are dinner churches, playground ministries, public worship, arts ministries, and learning series for community issues. If you have questions about micro grants or your church ministry, please be-mail Rev. Beth Ortiz, director of Strategic Ministries in the Connectional Ministries office.

Apply for a micro grant by March 3.
Learn about other available grants, scholarships, and financial aid.

Retreat for Clergy Spouses – March 7-9
Join spouses of clergy from across many denominations for a March 7-9 retreat hosted at Wanake Camp and Retreat Center in Beach City. The retreat will be a time of fellowship, support, fun, and worship for clergy spouses, who hold a unique position in the life of the Church. The cost of the retreat is $135. If you are the spouse of a United Methodist Church clergyperson, the cost is just $100 thanks to a generous donation from the East Ohio Conference. First-time clergy retreat attendees are eligible for a $50 discount. To receive the discount code, please e-mail Jeannette Burkhardt. The deadline to register is Friday, February 21.

Register on the Events Registration page of the EOC website.

For questions about ministries of the Connectional Ministries office, please e-mail the Rev. Ed Fashbaugh, executive director of Connectional Ministries, or visit the Connectional Ministries pages of the Conference website.

Missions & Community Engagement

Resourcing Churches and Non-Profits – February 13
You are invited to discover best practices to resource and equip local churches and non-profits for thriving. Make plans to be part of the conversations from 9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 13 at the UMC of Macedonia. Our time together will help create stronger boards, work toward sustainable funding, build courage for asking for funding and support, discover creative solutions to God-size dreams, and expand your capacity for searching for and writing grants. The keynote speaker will be Felecia King, director of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives for the Ohio Governor’s office. This event is not just for United Methodist churches. All churches and non-profit organizations are invited to attend, which is free with lunch included. You must register online by Friday, February 7. If you have questions about the event, please e-mail Rev. Kathy Dickriede, director of Missions & Community Engagement.

Register on the Events Registration page of the EOC website by February 7.
Download the event flyer.

Green Church Initiative Training – February 23
Laity and clergy of the East Ohio Conference are invited to participate in the inaugural Green Church training offered by our West Ohio Conference partners in ministry. Come learn how your church can make decisions that can positively impact the environment. Green Church training is Sunday, February 23 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at the Urban Farm Church in Columbus. You must take one other person from your church with you to the training. The cost to attend is $50 for each team. Plans are being made to host a Green Church training in East Ohio later this spring.

Register on the Events Registration page of the EOC website.

All In Community
All In Community (AIC) is a joint ministry of the East Ohio and West Ohio Conferences of The United Methodist Church, and a conference Advance mission partner (EOC Fund 9984). Its purpose is to engage individuals, churches, criminal justice professionals, and community leaders at the local level to restore hope and to support healing in the lives of those involved in the criminal justice system. If you would like to receive email updates on the ministry’s work, please  e-mail Melanie Thomas, administrative assistant in the Connectional Ministries office, and she will add you to the mailing list.

Learn about and support All In Community ministry.

AIC: Wellness Wednesdays Begin February 26
All In Community Wellness Wednesdays provide an online opportunity for individuals ministering to those impacted by the criminal justice system to come together for real-time conversation and education around creative ways to care for themselves. This online opportunity takes place from 12:30-1:30 p.m. on the last Wednesday of every month. There is no cost, but you do need to register to receive the meeting link.

Learn more and register for the meeting link.
View the introduction video.

AIC: Community Family Forum – March 26
The All In Community Family Forum will provide information to help families who are committed to assisting a loved one being released from prison. Join the Ohio Office of Reentry to get information, ask questions, and participate in discussions on March 26 from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. at New London UMC (58 E. Main St., New London, OH 44851). There is no cost to attend but you do need to register in advance.

Download the Family Forum flyer and register to participate.

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.

Multicultural Ministries

Black History Month Week 1 Focus: The Black College Fund
The Black College Fund was established by The United Methodist Church in 1972 as part of our commitment to racial justice and equity in education. The fund supports the 11 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that are related to The United Methodist Church. HBCUs were established in response to the racism and segregation that prevented Black students from having the opportunity for higher education.

The East Ohio Conference, through our apportionments, financially supports the Black College Fund to continue to make a difference in the lives of students today. Each year at Annual Conference we are intentional about highlighting the Black College Fund by inviting a student ambassador from a United Methodist-affiliated HBCU to share how the Black College Fund has personally impacted their education and their future.

View Cedric Doaks’ message to Annual Conference 2019.

You are encouraged to watch and incorporate the videos into a worship service and/or a small group conversation about the Black College Fund and our United Methodist Church HBCUs.

Learn about and support our UMC Black College Fund.
View the 2022 Black College Fund 50^th anniversary video.
Read “The Black College Fund: Celebrating 50 years of Excellence in Leadership”.
Read “Celebrating Black History Month in East Ohio: A Month of Learning, Reflection, and Action”.
Visit the EOC Black History Month resource page.

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

Consider How Your Congregation’s Children Will Spend Their Summer!
Camping can provide what children truly need: a chance to grow in faith, learn responsibility, and build cooperation within a supportive community. At Summer Camp kids discover their self-worth as beloved children of God. In a world that presents challenges for both kids and parents, let East Ohio Camps be your partner in nurturing the spiritual and personal growth of the children in your congregation.

Summer Camp offers great places and great experiences guided by trained, caring staff. If you have questions about camp and/or would like to request a brochure, please e-mail the Camps office or call us at (330) 499-3972 ext. 139.

Learn about and register for Summer Camp.

Join Our Summer Camp Staff 
Camp Aldersgate, Camps Asbury, and Camp Wanake are seeking summer camp staff age 18+ who are positive, adaptable individuals who love God, care for kids, and enjoy the outdoors. Internships are available, providing valuable experience that enhance your resume. Share this information with someone you believe would be a great summer staff member. If you have questions, please call or e-mail the camp sites:

• Camp Aldersgate: (330) 627-4369; e-mail
• Camp Asbury: (330) 569-3171; e-mail
• Camp Wanake: (330) 756-2333; e-mail

Apply to be a Summer Camp staff person.

Confirmation Weekend at Camp Wanake – February 21-23
Bring your Confirmation class for a weekend to remember exploring the United Methodist understanding of the sacraments, the ways we talk about and experience God, how we can connect with God in prayer, and the heritage and polity of The United Methodist (aka History & Polity). Our time for learning will be hands-on, engaging, and fun. One adult chaperone must be present for the weekend for every six youth of the same gender as the chaperone. The cost of the retreat is $169/youth ($149 before February 3) and $159/adult ($139 before February 3). If you have questions about this retreat, please call Camp Wanake at (330) 756-2333 or the East Ohio Camps office at (330) 499-3972 ext. 139.

Learn more and register online.

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.

Spiritual Formation & Christian Education

Spiritual Formation Network Gatherings – February 4
If you are involved in spiritual formation and Christian education, you are invited to join your friends and colleagues via Zoom for devotions, support, question-asking and -answering, and sharing ideas. We will next gather online on Tuesday, February 4 at whichever time (9:00 a.m. or 7:00 p.m.) is convenient for you. Invite your friends involved in spiritual formation and Christian education ministries to join you and us for this time together.

We will continue to meet on the first Tuesday of the month thereafter at 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. so that you can join whichever time works best for you that day. March 4 will be the day we meet next month. To receive the Zoom link, please e-mail Rev. Gary Jones, Camps & Retreat Ministries / Spiritual Formation & Christian Education director in the Connectional Ministries office.

For questions about Spiritual Formation & Christian Education ministries opportunities, please e-mail the Rev. Gary Jones, Connectional Ministries office Camps & Retreat Ministries / Spiritual Formation & Christian Education director, or visit the Spiritual Formation & Christian Education pages of the Conference website.

Laity

Lay Servant Ministries Trainings in February & March
Laity refers to the Greek word “laos” which means all the people of God. Laity in The United Methodist Church are empowered to serve through Lay Servant Ministries (LSM), which had its origins in early Methodism. John Wesley used lay people to preach, conduct worship, lead studies, and visit the sick and imprisoned. Those early leaders were called exhorters, forerunners of today’s lay servants. Today, those involved in lay ministry are charged to witness, lead, and have their service inspire others to a deeper commitment to Christ and more effective discipleship.

There are several LSM training courses offered in the East Ohio Conference in February and March. Taking a class will deepen your knowledge of the Church and open your eye to opportunities to serve. Please know that taking a class does not commit you to becoming a certified lay servant or certified lay speaker.

Learn more on the LSM Training page of the EOC website.
View the list of lay servant ministries district directors.

United Women in Faith

Submit a Workshop Proposal for the 2026 Assembly
“Dream it, Believe it, Do it!” is the theme of the 2026 United Women in Faith Assembly to be held May 15-17, 2026, in Indianapolis, Indiana. If you have a workshop you would like to have offered at Assembly you have until March 3, 2025, to submit your workshop proposal.

Workshops are a highlight of Assembly, providing participants with opportunities to explore a wide range of topics and deepen their engagement. United Women in Faith invites you to submit a workshop proposal that aligns with its mission and resonates with its community. There are three workshop categories: Inspire workshops deepen spiritual awareness and enrich the soul, Influence workshops focus on personal and professional development, and Impact workshops emphasize service, action, and advocacy. If you have questions about submitting a workshop proposal, please e-mail Jessica Tulloch, Assembly workshop producer.

Learn more and create a profile to submit a workshop proposal.

Events: February 3 – February 16

Click to view East Ohio Conference Calendar.

• Tuesday, February 4
  All In Community: Frankly Speaking with Four Friends
• Saturday, February 8
  Poverty Simulation
• Monday, February 10
  All In Community: HOPE Letters
• Thursday, February 13
  Resourcing and Equipping Churches and Non-Profits Workshop

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:

• James B. Wolf, retired Elder, died January 17.

View obituaries.

To submit the obituary of an EOC clergy, a clergy spouse, a child of a clergy person, or a 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

• Custodian – The United Methodist Church of Kent
• Director of Adult Choirs – Faith UMC in North Canton
• Kitchen Manager – Gay Street UMC is Mount Vernon
• Office Administrator – Avon UMC

To submit a classified ad please e-mail swilliams@eocumc.com.

To Subscribe

To subscribe to E-News and all East Ohio Conference news updates, enter your email address in the “Follow News via Email” widget on the right sidebar. Information from this E-News may be copied and used in your local church. The next scheduled edition of the E-News is Monday, February 17, 2025.

Thursday, February 13, 2025 is the submission deadline for the next E-News. Send articles to eoccommunications@eocumc.com.