June 1, 2026

EOC News

Annual Conference 2026
June 11-13 at The College of Wooster

Visit the AC 2026 Website
https://www.eocumc.com/eoac26/index.html

View the Livestream of Sessions & Services
https://www.eocumc.com/eoac26/livestream.html

Follow AC 2026 on Social Media
Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter at #eoac26.

Access the Pre-Conference Workbook
https://www.eocumc.com/eoac26/_pdf/26PreConfWkbk.pdf

Registration Is Closed for AC 2026, Meal Purchase, And Residence Hall Rooms

Hotel Rooms Available for AC 2026
https://www.eocumc.com/eoac26/hotels.html

Residence Hall Check-In – Do This Before Checking in at the Gault Center

  • Wednesday, June 10 | 2:00-4:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday, June 10 | 6:00-8:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, June 11 | 7:00-11:00 a.m.
  • Thursday, June 11 | 5:00-7:30 p.m.

AC Check-In – Gault Recreation Center of the Scot Center

  • Wednesday, June 10 | 2:00-4:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, June 10 | 6:00-8:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, June 11 | 7:00-11:00 a.m.
  • Thursday, June 11 | 5:00-7:30 p.m.
  • Friday, June 12 | 7:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Prepare for Conference

  • Wear comfortable shoes for walking between venues.
  • Bring an umbrella to protect you if it rains.
  • Bring a jacket because the meeting room can be cool.
  • Bring a cushion, if you wish to use one on the pews of McGaw Chapel.

Golf Cart Transportation
Golf cart drivers will again transport AC members across campus during this year’s conference. Because this is a limited resource, we invite everyone to be mindful of those for whom walking longer distances may be difficult.

Registration for VBS Ends June 5
https://eastohio-reg.brtapp.com/VBSAnnConf2026

Worship Services

  • Thursday, June 11 @ 9:00 a.m.
    Service of Commemoration and Holy Communion
    Preacher: Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, Ohio Episcopal Area

  • Friday, June 12 @ 9:00 a.m.
    Morning Worship
    Preacher: Rev. Kil-Sang Yoon, Retired, East Ohio Conference

  • Friday, June 12 @ 7:00 p.m.
    Service of Licensing, Recognition of Associate Members, Commissioning, Ordination and Retirement
    Preacher: Bishop John L. Hopkins, Retired
    Note: Clergy are invited to robe and process during this service. Please wear a red stole and lineup in McGaw Chapel at 6:45 p.m. on Friday, June 12.

  • Saturday, June 12 @ 9:00 a.m.
    Celebrating 70 Years of Ordaining Women
    Preacher: Bishop Ruby-Nell M. Estrella, Philippines Episcopal Area

Business Sessions

  • Thursday, June 11
    11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
    1:15 – 5:30 p.m.

  • Friday, June 12
    10:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
    1:00 – 5:30 p.m.

  • Saturday, June 13
    10:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
    1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Read the Resolutions
https://www.eocumc.com/eoac26/resolutions.html

View the AC Conversation Presentations
https://vimeo.com/showcase/12250479

Annual Conference Offering to Support

  • Immigration Ministries of Ohio
  • The Endowment for Theological Education in Africa, Europe, and the Philippines
  • The Bishop’s Discretionary Fund 

Learn more about and support the AC offering.

Celebrating Ministries and Missions – June 10
You are invited to The College of Wooster campus on Wednesday, June 10 – the day before Annual Conference begins – to recognize and celebrate the impact EOC missions and ministries are making at home, across the country, and around the world. Join us at 7:00 p.m. in the Gault Recreation Center for a worship service to praise God for the ministries birthed through the creativity of individuals and congregations and supported by Conference grants.

Ministry Fair – June 11
General church agencies, Conference boards and committees, mission Advance partners, seminaries, and more ministries will have representatives on hand Thursday, June 11 from 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. in large tents along the main sidewalk between the Lowry Student Center and the Gault Recreation Center.

https://www.eocumc.com/eoac26/missionsministries.html

Methodist Foundation of Ohio Ice Cream Social – June 11
On Thursday, June 11 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on the patio behind Lowry Student Center, near the Ministry Fair, the Methodist Foundation of Ohio invites you to enjoy a taste of Annual Conferences gone by with ice cream.

Midwest Mission Collection Truck – June 11-12
The Midwest Mission collection truck will receive donations in Parking Lot #29 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 11 and from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Friday, June 12.

https://www.eocumc.com/eoac26/missionsministries.html

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
PastorAppointmentDistrictEffective
Kevin BellBrandon & Lock Federated UMCsWest Plains
Gordon BickleChippewa Church at the Lake, Lafayette, LeRoy, & Spencer UMCsWest Plains

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

Clergy

Clergy Directory Photos at AC 2026
Re:Member Church staff will be at Annual Conference to take photos for the new East Ohio Conference clergy directory. Photos will be taken in the Governance Room on the lower level of Gault Recreation Center, one level below the AC plenary venue. There is no cost for the photos. Staff will be on hand to take pictures Thursday, June 11 and Friday, June 12 from 7:30-9:30 a.m.; 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.; and 4:00-6:00 p.m.

MEF Grants Available
The East Ohio Board of Ministry has allocated $25,000 in MEF monies to be used as reimbursements of up to $400 a person for either the School of Congregational Development or the School of Ministry. Grants will be awarded in the order they are received until the fund has been allocated. The deadlines to apply for one or the other grant are noted in the Google forms. If you have questions about the grant, please e-mail Rev. Andrew Scott.

Apply for the School of Ministry Grant.
Apply for the School of Congregational Development Grant.

Camps & Retreat Ministries

Register for Summer Camp 2026
There is still time to register your child for a life-changing experience of summer camp in God’s Creation.

Learn more and register for Summer Camp 2026.

Become a Camp Ambassador
For every new family you refer who then registers for Summer Camp, you receive $100 off your registration fees – and so does the new family! So, if you refer six new families and they each register, you can send your child to camp for free. Help us spread the joy of camp! Registration is still open!

Promote Summer Camp in Your Church.

Meet the New Lifeguards of East Ohio Camps

For questions about Camps & Retreat Ministries please email Rev. Hannah Weisbrod, director of Camp Administration, Marketing and Development or Ben Wilde, director of Camp Programs and Operations or visit the Camps & Retreat Ministries pages of the Conference website.

Celebrations of Life

Please pray for the families of:

  • Dan Jenkins, Honorable Location retired clergy, died May 14.
  • Charles Stoneburner, retired Elder, died February 22.
  • George F. Shiltz, retired Elder, died May 7.
  • Dale E. Epple, retired Elder, died May 15.

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.

To Subscribe

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Thursday, June 11 is the submission deadline for the next E-News. Send articles to eoccommunications@eocumc.com.