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.

Appointments

2025-2026 Appointments & Changes of Status
Bishop Hee-Soo Jung announces the following clergy appointments and/or changes of status which, unless otherwise noted, are effective July 1, 2026.

2025-2026 Appointments
Pastor	Appointment	District	Effective
Kristen Buchs	East Fairfield, East Palestine Centenary, East Palestine Emmanuel, Mt. Zion Columbiana, & New Springfield Trinity	Central Valley

View the complete list of 2025-2026 Appointments and Changes of Status, including retirements.

#BeUMC

Storyboard: Faith Witness Transformation
Episode 77 Medical Missionaries to Nepal

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.

Episode 77 “Disciple Making: Medical Missionaries to Nepal” features Les and Debbie Dornon, retiring after 20+ years of medical mission work in that country.

“We had missionaries in our community from all around the world. Not just Methodists from the U.S. but from many countries come together to work. And so, it’s a fun and challenging time to create that community of the Christians who are serving there,” Debbie shared.

“The thing at the end of our career that we remember most is the relationships that we have and that’s not something that happens in a week or a month. It’s walking through life experiences with these people and their joys and their griefs and being there for them and sharing the hope that there is in Jesus in all these circumstances. So, we would like to encourage people to think about going for career missions or at least long-term, rather than just doing short-term trips,” Les said.

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

A Call to Prayer for Peace in the Middle East
As we witness the widening conflict across the Middle East, our hearts are heavy. In times such as these, we turn first to prayer. Scripture reminds us, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9).

We are not powerless in moments of turmoil. We are called to pray – for peace, for protection, and for the preservation of every life precious to God. I invite you to join in prayer for peace to prevail across the Middle East; for every life to be protected; for families living in fear to be sheltered in God’s mercy; and for leaders to be guided toward wisdom and restraint.

Beloved, let us remain awake in prayer – in our congregations, in our homes, and in the quiet of our hearts. May Christ, our Peace, guard the nations and steady our spirits.

A Prayer for Peace
God of mercy and compassion, you are the source of life and the guardian of every soul. We grieve the violence unfolding in our world. We tremble for families living under the threat of war. Protect every life, O God. Shield the innocent.

Restrain the powerful. Transform the policies of nations, so that they reflect your justice, mercy, and peace. Grant wisdom to leaders. Turn them toward diplomacy instead of destruction, toward courage in reconciliation instead of pride in power.

Make us instruments of your peace. Keep our hearts free from hatred. Teach us to love beyond borders and beyond fear. Through Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, we pray. Amen.

Commission on the Status and Role Women

Celebrating the Ministry of Women
March is Women’s History Month and this year we also celebrate the 70^th anniversary of ordination for women in our tradition. Throughout East Ohio, your Commission on the Status and Role of Women (COSROW) invites you to celebrate these milestones in the following ways:

• Reflect and give thanks to the generations that came before us and opened the door.
• Celebrate the diverse gifts of lay and ordained women who serve in every setting of the Church.
• Plan worship between now and June to honor the 70^th Anniversary of Women’s Ordination.
• Invite a woman to preach and lead!
• Engage with EOC ministries and UMC resources that uplift women’s voices and leadership.
• Encourage one another toward deeper discipleship, mutual support, and equitable participation.

Read “Celebrating the Ministry of Women” by COSROW Chair the Rev. Lorrin Radzik.

Mission Engagement

Ashes to Action Lenten Webinar Series – March 12 & 19
During this season of Lent, communities across the United States and around the world are confronting growing threats to democracy and to civil and human rights. Lent is not only a season of reflection; it is a season of repentance, resistance, and courageous prophetic witness. It calls us to denounce systems of oppression and turn toward God’s promise of justice, dignity, and new life.

On March 12 and 19 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m., The General Board of Church & Society will host free, interactive webinars on non-violent resistance. Sessions will provide participants with practical tools and training while examining the power of non-cooperation for individuals, local congregations, and annual conferences on faithful resistance.

Learn more and register for the Lenten webinars.

Mental Health First Aid Training – April 17
On Saturday, April 17 from 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. the East Ohio Conference Board of Missions will host a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) online training session led by certified trainer Meghan DeGregory of Thrive 10:10. Space is limited, so register today.

Register for the April 17 Mental Health First Aid online training.
Download the MHFA flyer.

Update from the Task Force on UM Immigration Ministries of Ohio
Last year, a 26-year-old man from Venezuela was granted parole and allowed to legally enter the United States. He has followed all the rules, honoring the opportunity he was given in this country and contributing to his community by starting a barbershop. Nearly three months ago, he was detained during a routine U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) check-in. Without any family to turn to in the United States, he has relied on his friends and community to give him strength during this difficult time in ICE detention. He is especially thankful for Iglesia Hispana St. Mark’s, which connected him with the Task Force on United Methodist Immigration Ministries of Ohio. With your support, the Task Force has mailed him letters of encouragement and contributed $200 to his ICE commissary account.

“Tell them thank you so much for your great help; it helped me a lot to be able to communicate with you and forget, even for a little while, the desperation and uncertainty of living in this place,” the man asked us to convey to the Conference on his behalf. “With the money for food, it was as if God knew what was coming because the very next day after I received the money, a group of people arrived who had no money or food at all. Thanks be to God because we were provided with money so that everyone could eat while they were trying to contact their families.

“I thank you from the bottom of my heart and pray that God will multiply your blessings. Though I am here, I continue to hope, trusting in God that something good will happen, always keeping in mind that whatever happens will be for the best because God’s timing is perfect and God’s will is done. I trust in God that I will be able to get out of here soon. Thank you again. You helped me a lot,” he said.

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

On March 15, Support United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Sunday
United Methodists are assisting families whose homes were damaged by storms and deadly tornadoes that swept across the Midwest the first week of March. You can make a difference, too, by supporting United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), which operates a relief supply depot and collaborates with affiliate warehouses across the U.S. to swiftly bring relief supply kits to those impacted by disaster.

Gifts given on UMCOR Sunday, March 15, play a vital role in enhancing the Church’s global humanitarian response because these funds cover UMCOR’s administrative costs. This support ensures that 100% of donations given to UMCOR throughout the year can be directed toward on-the-ground relief and recovery efforts, allowing UMCOR to effectively respond to crises and assist where it’s needed most.

One of the beautiful things about The United Methodist Church is that we can accomplish far more together than any of us could on our own. By investing in UMCOR’s operations, we empower the church to mobilize resources quickly and efficiently, making a meaningful impact in communities affected by disaster and hardship around the world.

In 2024, UMCOR responded to 137 worldwide crises. Your giving to the special offering will support:

• international disaster response,
• U.S. disaster response,
• global migration,
• environmental sustainability, and
• the Yambasu agriculture initiative.

Learn about and support UMCOR Sunday.
Download UMCOR Sunday resources.

UMVIM Team Leader Training – April 18
The Ohio Episcopal Area is offering United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) team eader training on Saturday, April 18 at Ashland First UMC. With an experienced team leader as your instructor, you will learn how to plan and lead a mission experience in Ohio, across the United States, or around the world. During the session you will be provided with checklists, timelines, team forms, and practical resources for nurturing the spiritual life of your team. The cost for the training is $15 per person and includes lunch and materials. The last day to register is April 15. If you have questions about the training or being a trip team leader, please e-mail Mariellyn Grace, Mission Engagement director.

Register by April 15 on the Events Registration page of the EOC website.

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

Camps & Retreat Ministries

New Leaders Chosen to Lead the EOC Camps & Retreat Ministries Team
The Connectional Ministries office welcomes two new directors to lead the Camps & Retreat Ministries team. Rev. Hannah Weisbrod has been appointed by Bishop Hee-Soo Jung as Camp Administration, Development & Marketing director. Ben Wilde has been hired as Camps Operations and Programs director.

Camp Asbury helped shape Wilde’s faith walk and Camp Wanake was instrumental in Weisbrod’s journey into ministry, meaning each of the new directors was impacted by the Rev. Gary Jones, who retired in October after 24 years of faithful service as director of Camps & Retreat Ministries.

“We approached this transition with long-term sustainability and clarity in mind. Camping ministry today requires both strong program leadership and disciplined organizational support. By differentiating these responsibilities between two gifted leaders, we are strengthening accountability, reducing overload, and building a model designed to serve our camps well into the future,” said Rev. Ed Fashbaugh, executive director of Connectional Ministries.

The two new directors will work together to create sacred spaces for spiritual formation, leadership development, and transformational experiences across all camp sites. Weisbrod will steward the administrative and financial systems of the Camps & Retreat ministries and share stories of campers’ lives being transformed by Christ. Wilde will focus on ministry direction, program quality, and leadership development across all camp sites.

Read the release in its entirety.

Save $50 – Register for Summer Camp by March 15
Right now, Summer Camp – and the week of spiritual formation it offers – is at its best value because you can save $50/camper if you register by March 15. If you have questions about Summer Camp, please e-mail the Camps & Retreat Ministries office.

Learn more and register for Summer Camp 2026.
Download the color Summer Camp bulletin insert.
Download the black & white Summer Camp 2026 bulletin insert.

Camp Asbury Open House – March 22
You are invited to tour Camp Asbury in Hiram to see camper lodging, meet and talk to the staff, and learn more about Summer Camp 2026. If you want to visit but can’t make it on March 22, please e-mail the camp or call (330) 569-3171 to schedule a tour visit for a different day.

Learn about Camp Asbury.

East Ohio Conference Camps are Hiring Summer Staff
Aldersgate, Asbury and Wanake are seeking people 18 years old through retirement who love God, people, and the outdoors to serve in mission this summer with the camp program. Residential and commuter positions are available, including camp counselor, lifeguard, program staff, food service, maintenance, and healthcare.

Learn more and apply to be Summer Camp 2026 staff.

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.

Faith Formation & Lay Ministries

Nominations Accepted for The Foundation for Evangelism Laity Award
March 15 is the deadline to submit nominations for The Foundation for Evangelism Laity Award, formerly known as the Denman Award. This distinguished honor celebrates laypersons whose exceptional evangelistic ministries help others enter a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ, foster continued discipleship, and demonstrate a daily commitment to Christian witness.

Each year, one award recipient is selected within every annual conference of The United Methodist Church, as well as from other denominations across the Wesleyan tradition. In recognition of The Foundation for Evangelism’s origins as a lay-led movement, the award program has been refreshed and expanded to highlight laity of all ages who are actively sharing the gospel and inviting others into a transformed life in Christ within their communities. Regional award recipients from all participating Wesleyan-tradition bodies will also be considered for one of 20 national grants of $1,000 to support and strengthen their ongoing evangelism ministries. If you have questions about The Foundation for Evangelism Laity Award, please e-mail Julie Carter, Faith Formation and Lay Ministries director.

Download a nomination form to complete and return by March 15.
Learn more about The Foundation for Evangelism Laity Award.

The Expanding Connection Book Club – March 17
You are invited to join friends from around the Ohio Episcopal Area at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17 for an insightful conversation on the book The Defiant Middle by Kaya Oakes. This book club is for every woman who was told, “You can’t” and thought, “Oh, I definitely will!” Women are expected to be young enough, but not too young; old enough, but not too old; creative, but not crazy; passionate, but not angry; and so much more.

In The Defiant Middle author Oakes draws on the wisdom of women mystics and explores how transitional eras or living in marginalized female identities can be both spiritually challenging and wonderfully freeing, ultimately resulting in a reinvented way of seeing the world and changing it. If you have questions about the book club, please e-mail Julie Carter, director of Faith Formation & Lay Ministries.

Learn more and register for the book club.

For questions about Faith Formation and Lay Ministries opportunities, please e-mail Julie Carter, Connectional Ministries office Faith Formation & Lay Ministries director, or visit the Faith Formation pages of the Conference website.

Events: January 12 – January 25

Click to view East Ohio Conference Calendar.

• Saturday, March 14
  Cabbage Roll Dinner
• Saturday, March 21
  The Spoken Word Workshops

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:

• Frances Marian Glass, retired Elder, died February 19.
• Carol Rothrock, surviving spouse of the Rev. Richard Rothrock, died February 19.

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

• Congregational Care Coordinator – Blessed Trinity United Methodist Cooperative Parish
• Children and Youth Director – Blessed Trinity United Methodist Cooperative Parish
• Office Administrator – Rocky River UMC
• Nursery School Director – Hudson UMC Nursery School
• Youth Director – Brecksville UMC
• Children’s Ministry Coordinator – Greensburg UMC in Green

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

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Thursday, March 19 is the submission deadline for the next E-News. Send articles to eoccommunications@eocumc.com.