The United Methodist Church

Our mission is: to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Our vision for how we live into our mission is: to form disciples of Jesus Christ who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections.

#BeUMC

Storyboard: Faith Witness Transformation
Episode 72 Cooperative Parishes

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 72 “Disciple Making: Cooperative Parishes” Cabinet members Rev. Laura White, Rev. Kelly Brown, and Rev. Beth Ortiz share how cooperative parishes – churches grouped together as a missional unit – model the connectional DNA of The United Methodist Church.

White said, “You can still be you while being in ministry with other churches – and we were never meant to do ministry alone. Scripture is very clear on that. We are meant to be relational. We are meant to be supporting each other.”

Cooperative parishes have a history of impacting communities across the East Ohio Conference.

“I see it as our future. I see that it’s always been a part of who we are, we just got away from it and now its reemerging as a powerful way to do ministry,” Brown shared.

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.

Financial & Administrative Services

Local Churches Receive a Compass Holiday for 2026
Conference Council on Finance & Administration has approved local churches not being billed in 2026 for the flat rate, the 3% pensionable pay, and the 4% church match for the new Compass Clergy Retirement plan that begins January 1. The decision was made to give churches the opportunity to use some of the funds budgeted for Compass payments in 2026 on other ministry projects.

Churches will be billed in 2026 for CPP, if applicable, as well as clergy personal contributions, medical premium, and clergy HealthFlex elections.

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.

Discipleship Ministries

Is Your Church Property a Burden or a Blessing?
Church buildings are often both cherished gifts and significant challenges – especially for congregations discerning how God is calling them into the future.

Join us on January 27, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 915 N. Main Street in Akron for a day of learning, conversation, and practical insight. Together we will explore real-world case studies of United Methodist congregations navigating complex questions about their facilities. These are not large, high-budget development projects with easy solutions. Instead, they are honest stories of faith communities doing the courageous and hopeful work of imagining what is possible for their sacred spaces.

This event is ideal for clergy and lay leadership teams to attend together. Registration is only $15 and participants will leave with inspiration, fresh perspectives, and practical tools for addressing the “wicked problem” of church property in a rapidly changing ministry landscape.

Register on the Events Registration page of the EOC website.

For questions about Discipleship Ministries opportunities, please e-mail the Rev. Beth Ortiz, Discipleship Ministries executive director, or visit the Discipleship Ministries pages on the Conference website.

Mission Engagement

#GivingTuesday – December 2
The Board of Missions is encouraging United Methodists to support #GivingTuesday on December 2. Donations made on that day to EOC Advance Specials will be matched by the Board, with a $500 maximum match per Advance. Donors can schedule a donation in advance for that day. In 2024, 19 Advances received $6,487 in matching donations. Let’s make a goal of supporting even more Advance Specials ministries this year. If you have questions about the #GivingTuesday donation match, please e-mail Melanie Thomas, Connectional Ministries administrative assistant.

Learn about and support EOC Advance Specials Ministries.

Apply for a Green Church Mini Grant by December 15
East Ohio Green Church mini grants provide limited funding for environmentally friendly projects in our churches, such as recycling or composting programs native plants for a pollinator garden, installing energy efficient light bulbs, hosting an Earth Day event, or more. Each awarded grant will provide recipients with $100 – $750 for a green project in 2026. Recipients will then submit a grant report. Applications must be received by December 15, and they will be reviewed by the Board of Missions, who will contact submitters by February 15, 2026. If you have questions about Green Church mini grants, please e-mail Mariellyn Grace, Mission Engagement director.

Apply for a Green Church Mini Grant by December 15.

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.

Camps & Retreat Ministries

Support Camps on #GivingTuesday December 2
When you make an online contribution to EOC Camps & Retreat Ministries Advance Specials on Giving Tuesday, December 2, the Board of Missions is matching donations received that day up to $500 per Advance.

Support the three EOC Camps sites.
Support the L.O.T. Campership Endowment Fund.

Supporting the Spiritual Development of Our Young People
The Barna Group reports that: two out of three Christians make their commitment to Christ before their 18^th birthday; and most kids develop their entire idea of who God is and choose whether or not they’ll have a relationship with Christ before leaving the 5^th grade. Our EOC Summer Camp program serves this age group with opportunities to make these commitments and to take time in God’s creation – unplugged from the world – to build a relationship with Jesus.

Download bulletin inserts to share about the power of Camp in Color or Black and White.

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

Exploring a Call to Ministry

Candidacy Summit Retreat Online – January 9-10, 2026
The deadline to register for the Candidacy Summit Retreat is December 1. To attend the Candidacy Summit retreat, candidates must be recommended by their district superintendent and must complete the necessary paperwork. If you have questions about the Candidacy Summit and/or exploring a call to ministry, please e-mail Rev. Karen Wolcott, EOC Candidacy Summit coordinator, or Rev. Donnetta Peaks, executive director of the Office of Ministry of the Ohio Episcopal Area.

Learn about the clergy candidacy process.
Register for the January 9-10 Candidacy Summit.

United Women in Faith

Early Registration for Assembly 2026 Ends November 30
Time is running out to get early bird rates when registering for Assembly 2026. Don’t wait. Register today to secure your spot at the best rate and lock in access to limited-capacity add-ons like the Soul Care Retreat and the Legacy Banquet. First-time attendees, and any friend you bring who is new to Assembly, will receive 50% off the Soul Care Retreat. This offer is only available until November 30.

Learn more and register for Assembly 2026.

Events: November 24 – December 7

Click to view East Ohio Conference Calendar.

• Thursday, November 27
  Free Community Thanksgiving Meal

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:

• Edwin D. Aluzas, retired Elder, died March 4.
• Phillip R. Gibson, Jr., retired local pastor, died November 5.

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

• Interim Director of Camps & Retreat Ministries – The East Ohio Conference of The UMC
• Minister of Music – Aldersgate UMC in Warrensville Heights

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, December 8, 2025, which will be the last edition of 2025. The first scheduled E-News of 2026 is Monday, January 12.

Thursday, December 4, 2025 is the submission deadline for the next E-News. Send articles to eoccommunications@eocumc.com.