August 4, 2025

EOC News

#BeUMC

Storyboard: Faith Witness Transformation
Episode 64 My Call Story: Alex Milne

Storyboard: Faith Witness Transformation is a podcast highlighting ministries across the East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church that are transforming lives locally, nationally, and globally. Produced twice-a-month by EOC Communications, each podcast episode focuses on one of the core values of the #BeUMC campaign: Disciple Making; Belonging & Inclusion; Influence, Connection & Impact; and Experience of God through The United Methodist Church.

In Episode 64 “My Call Story: Alex Milne” Alex shares about his long battle with Rheumatoid Arthritis, how it has shaped his walk with Christ, his service in the church and his call to help others who have chronic pain.

“When you deal with a physical condition or an ailment you tend to do things different from most people. You have to greet each part of the day with, ‘how can I make this work?’” he shared.

As part of his call to serve others Milne has written a book about his own journey with RA which encourages a need to connect with God as part of the journey.

“He’s going to lift us up, carry us through, put someone or multiple people in our path at different times when we need them the most to help us. But I also believe that God meets us part of the way. We need to do our best, do what we can.”

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

Celebrating Methodist Missions in Ohio, Korea & Beyond – August 4-6
You can view livestream of the services and sessions of the Ohio-Korea missions celebration recognizing the 140-year legacy of Mary Scranton and her son William Scranton.

Opening worship is at 6:30 p.m. today.
Morning worship is at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday this week.
Plenary sessions begin at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.

Supported by their Methodist Episcopal Church congregation in Cleveland, Ohio, William Scranton and his mother Mary Scranton arrived in Korea 140 years ago. They were lay people who answered God’s call to serve people they had never met in a country they had never visited.

The Scranton’s championed the people of Korea. Their lives modeled the Wesleyan tradition of the Methodist movement that had been introduced in the peninsula country the year before their arrival. William and Mary worked tirelessly in helping establish churches, schools and clinics in Korea, laying groundwork that continues to impact lives today more than a century later.

View the livestream of the Ohio-Korea missions celebration.

Mission Engagement

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: Dinner & Discussion – August 25
Christ UMC (3625 W. 138th St., Cleveland, 44111) will host the All In Community Dinner & Discussion from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Monday, August 25. There is no cost for the meal, but you are asked to register online in advance to assist the meal planners. The dinner and discussion will provide attendees with an opportunity to better understand how to navigate Ohio’s criminal justice system with loved ones, congregants, and neighbors.

Learn more and register on the Events Registration page of the EOC website.

AIC: Leadership Lab – September 13
All In Community Leadership Labs are environments for Matthew 25 co-laborers who minster with justice-involved persons and/or who are transforming their own justice-involved journey. This second Leadership Lab, “The Joy and Agony of Servant Leadership”, focuses on why joy is critical to servant leadership. It is scheduled for Saturday, September 13 from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the West Ohio Area Center (32 Wesley Blvd., Worthington, 43085). There is no cost to attend but you are asked to register online in advance. If you have questions about the Leadership Lab, please e-mail Camisha Chambers, the nurturing coordinator.

Register for the Leadership Lab.
Download the Leadership Lab flyer.

Building Bridges of Opportunity Community Experience – September 24-25
The annual Community Experience is where Ohioans find their passion, purpose, place, and people with whom to co-labor in building bridges of opportunity for our family, friends and neighbors returning home after being incarcerated. Each year, over 400 participants leave the community experience prepared and properly positioned to effectively strengthen Ohio’s reentry continuum of care with local coalitions, community members, agency partners, and organizations.

The theme of this year’s community experience is “H.O.M.E. for the Future”. Join us in creating a community response that will offer Hope, Opportunities, Mentoring, and Encouragement (H.O.M.E.) with our justice-impacted neighbors. From educational plenary sessions to collaborative environments, September 24 will be online from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. September 25 will be in-person from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at seven different locations around Ohio, including Cleveland, Portage County, and Youngstown. The cost to participate is $10 and includes lunch on the in-person day. If you have questions about the community experience day, please e-mail Reba Collins, All In Community coordinator.

Register for Building Bridges of Opportunity Community Experience.
Download the Community Experience flyer.

Bike Hope Love Tour – September 7-13
Bike Hope Love (formerly Pedaling Parsons) will ride in West Virginia September 7-13 to raise money for South Street Ministries children and youth programs in Akron. The program, offering messaging for children to give them positive direction, includes open gym with meals, a tutoring program, and ways for kids to help fix-up used bikes and earn one for their own use. Both Bike Hope Love (Fund 9180) and South Street Ministries (Fund 9195) are East Ohio Conference mission partners.

This fully supported ride includes a lunch stop and two refueling/hydration stops along the way. Overnights will be in churches, so you will need to pack air mattresses and sleeping gear along with your personal items. We will leave Tallmadge UMC on Sunday, September 7 at 1:00 p.m. and return to Tallmadge UMC around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 13. If you have questions about the ride, please e-mail Rev. Scott Low.

To help you with planning, here are the miles and the foot climb for each day of the trip: Day 1 (64 / 3,276), Day 2 (55 / 3,100), Day 3 (50 / 4,200), Day 4 (62 / 4,922), Day 5 (67 / 2,439).

Register by making a $250 donation to Bike Hope Love (Fund 9180).
Donate to South Street Ministries (Fund 9195).

For questions about Mission Engagement ministries and opportunities, please e-mail Mariellyn Grace, Connectional Ministries office Mission Engagement director, or visit the Mission Engagement pages of the Conference website.

Disaster Response

Ohio Disaster Response Team to New York – September 14-18
Bob Catchpole, Central Valley District disaster response co-coordinator, is leading a disaster response team from Ohio to New York September 14-18. The team will use chainsaws, clean up debris, stop damage, and may make repairs where possible for multiple locations in Oneida, Madison, and Tioga counties southeast of Syracuse. This area experienced severe storm damage and flooding in June. The team will be housed in basic facilities using local churches. Both UMCOR Early Response Team (ERT) certified and non-ERT trained volunteers are welcome.

Complete this form if interested in participating on the team.

Engagement with Children, Youth and Young Adults

Youth Leader Training Day – August 23
If you work or volunteer with youth ministry in your local church, you are invited to our next Youth Leader Training Day. We will gather from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 23 at Montrose Zion UMC (565 N. Cleveland Massillon Road) in Akron. Our theme is “Practical Discipleship: Helping Over-Scheduled Youth Develop a Faith that Sticks.”

Cost for the training day is $10/person, which includes lunch.

Learn more and register on the Events Registration page of the EOC website.

For questions about Engagement with Children, Youth and Young Adults opportunities, please e-mail Ann Marie Carley, director of Engagement with Children, Youth, and Young Adults in the Connectional Ministries office. You may also e-mail Tim Beck, associate director of Engagement with Youth, or visit the Engagement with Children, Youth, and Young Adults pages of the Conference website.

Camps & Retreat Ministries

EOC Camp Sites Can Host Your Church Retreat
As Summer Camp 2025 is winding down, local church planning for this fall is ramping up. Consider Camp Wanake, Camp Asbury, and Camp Aldersgate as host sites for your small group retreats. Camps & Retreat Ministries offer year-round accommodation for small and large group gatherings.

Camp Aldersgate sits on the shore of Leesville Lake near Carrollton. Camp Asbury is near Hiram in Portage County. Camp Wanake is in Amish Country near Beach City. If you have questions about scheduling a retreat at one of our sites, please e-mail the Camps office or call us at (330) 499-3972 ext. 139.

Learn more about hosting a retreat at one of our camps.

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

Clergy

Generosity Summit – September 15-16
The United Methodist Foundation of West Ohio (UMFWO) Generosity Summit September 15-16 in Toledo features two full days of teaching on stewardship, clergy financial education, church finance, and investment best practices provided by speakers from across the connection of The United Methodist Church. The event will be held at the beautiful Maumee Bay Lodge & Conference Center on Lake Erie. The cost is $350 for a single-occupancy room, with lower prices for those who will share a room.

Scholarships for the Generosity Summit are available to cover the cost of the registration, which includes meals. Please e-mail Susan Black for an application from UMFWO. Please e-mail Rev. Brian Sheetz for an application from the Methodist Foundation of Ohio.

Register for the Generosity Summit on the EOC Events Registration page.

Flourish: Clergy Retreats – November 4-6 & February 2026
All clergy – local pastors, Deacons and Elders – are invited to rest, reflect, and reconnect with your calling at a Flourish retreat. The Board of Ministry members know that ministry can be exhausting and full of noise. Flourish offers a sacred pause – an opportunity to disconnect from the busyness and distractions and reconnect with the Spirit’s movement in your life.

The Loyola Retreat House in Clinton, Ohio will host a Flourish retreat this November (4–6) and next February (10–12). There is no cost to attend, but space is limited so register soon. Meals and lodging are included. All you need to bring is yourself and a willingness to be present with God and with others on the journey. If you have questions about and/or wish to register for the retreat, please e-mail Rev Beth Ortiz. 

Whether you’re seeking rest, clarity, or simply space to listen, Flourish invites you to explore where God is calling you next. You don’t have to figure it out alone. Come. Rest. Listen. Flourish.

Laity

Laity Convocation – August 15-16
Join with lay people from across the State of Ohio at Worthington UMC for a celebration of our faith and community. This event is designed for all members of the church who are not ordained clergy to connect with fellow lay church members, participate in workshops, and grow in your faith. There is no cost, but you need to register online in advance, and don’t forget to book a hotel room.

Learn more and register on the Events Registration page of the EOC website.

The Expanding Connection Book Club – August 19
The online Expanding Connection Book Club is open to all laity and clergy across Ohio. The club next meets on Tuesday, August 19 from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. – and will meet at the same time on the third Tuesday of each following month.


The purpose of the club is to broaden our connection with one another and the larger world through books. On August 19 we will discuss five children’s books chosen from the United Women in Faith reading program that will engage readers in real-life topics. The August books are Sitti’s Bird: A Gaza Story, The Tower of Life, Berry Song, Until Someone Listens, and Love is Loud. If you have questions about the book club and/or need the link to participate, please e-mail Julie Carter, Faith Formation & Lay Ministries director in the Connectional Ministries office.

Certified Lay Ministry Academy Retreat – September 5-6
East and West Ohio Conference laity are invited to the Certified Lay Ministry (CLM) Academy Retreat September 5-6 at the West Ohio Area Center (32 Wesley Boulevard) in Worthington. Certified Lay Ministers are trained and equipped to fulfill their distinct God-given calling. Supervised by a clergyperson, They provide missional leadership and enhance team ministry in congregations.

If you have questions about the Certified Lay Ministry Academy, please e-mail Kathy Moore. Those who register online will receive Information for making discounted hotel reservations ($99).

Register for the Certified Lay Ministry Academy.

Celebrating Laity Ministry This Fall
As Christians, we are all called to the work of mission and ministry – not just clergy. Each of us has a responsibility to proclaim the Good News and reach out to others in love. Ministries of the laity include lay leaders, lay servants, Sunday school teachers, small group Bible study leaders, deaconesses, home missioners, and other roles not held by ordained clergy.

The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2020/2024, ¶ 264.2 states that Laity Sunday is a special Sunday “to celebrate the ministry of all Christians”. Traditionally observed on the third Sunday in October, Laity Sunday celebrates the deeply held deep conviction that all people are called to participate in God’s mission and live out this calling through the ministry of the church.

The theme for Laity Sunday 2025 is “Be Strong in the Spirit” based on Ephesians 3:16. Resources for planning this Special Sunday service will be shared in a future E-News issue and posted on the Conference website.

View October 19 resources from Discipleship Ministries of The UMC.

For questions about Lay Ministry opportunities, please e-mail Julie Carter, director of Faith Formation & Lay Ministries in the Connectional Ministries office. You can also select from ministries linked under the dropdown menu of the Laity tab on the Conference website, www.eocumc.com.

Events: August 4 – August 17

Click to view East Ohio Conference Calendar.

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:

  • Elizabeth D. Stone, retired Clergy, died July 26.
  • Joyce L. George, clergy spouse, died July 29.
  • Patricia Reiter, retired Associate Member, died June 10.

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

  • Administrative Assistant – Geneva UMC
  • Head Custodian/Facilities Manager – Faith UMC in North Canton
  • Weekday Evenings Custodian – Faith UMC in North Canton
  • Sunday Custodian – Faith UMC in North Canton
  • Director of Music – Ontario UMC
  • Bookkeeper – The Nehemiah Mission of Cleveland
  • Contemporary Worship Leader – Crosspoint UMC
  • Childcare Providers – Elevate Life Network, a mission of Westbrook Park UMC

Positions Available

  • 40 blue copies of the 1989 The United Methodist Hymnal available – Faith UMC Cambridge

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, August 18, 2025.

Thursday, August 14, 2025 is the submission deadline for the next E-News. Send articles to eoccommunications@eocumc.com.