Annual Conference 2026: Celebrating Abundant Grace

By Rick Wolcott*

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Bishop Hee-Soo Jung called to order the 57^th session of the East Ohio Annual Conference with 288 clergy and 310 laity members gathered June 11-13, 2026, on The College of Wooster campus.

Service of Commemoration and Holy Communion

Annual Conference 2026 again began with a drum ceremony by the indigenous group Gray Cloud Singers from Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania followed by the traditional reading of our East Ohio Conference Land Acknowledgment, which reads in part: “We, the people of the East Ohio Area of The United Methodist Church, wish to acknowledge that our communities have been built on lands that many indigenous people once called home. We pay our respect to the Lenni-Lenape, Wyandotte, Shawnee, Seneca, Cayuga, Ojibwa and Odawa peoples who lived in this area when settlers first arrived, and who were forced to relinquish their lands to the United States through a series of treaties, culminating in the Treaty of Greenville.”

The Service of Commemoration and Holy Communion celebrated and remembered the lives and ministries of 29 clergy, 17 clergy spouses, five clergy children, and seven laity leaders who entered the Church Triumphant.

“I want to offer three words for our life together: Remember. Descend. Celebrate,” said Bishop Hee-Soo Jung at the beginning of his message “The Miracle of Descent”, which was grounded in the words of Matthew 14:13-21.

“Remember our grief. Remember our saints. Remember the wounds of our time. And remember the abundant grace of God that gathers us still,” said Bishop Jung.

“Descend from the safety of high places. Descend from the distance of management. Descend from the language of calculation. Descend toward grieving families, wounded communities, the poor, the lonely, the immigrant, the refugee, the sick, and all God’s children groaning in the wilderness of this age,” Bishop Jung continued.

“Celebrate God’s abundant grace. Celebrate the lives of the saints. Celebrate the prayers that still sustain us. Celebrate the love that death cannot destroy. Celebrate the table Christ sets in the wilderness. Celebrate the baskets of grace still overflowing among us,” encouraged Bishop Jung.

Service of Commemoration and Holy Communion: Vimeo video ;Flickr photos

Bible Study

“Always be prepared to tell the story of the hope that is in you. That’s the essence of our faith.” – Ray Buckley, Center for First Nations Spirituality director

During each of the three days of Annual Conference 2026, teacher, preacher, lecturer and author Ray Buckley shared personal experiences of joy, grief, faith, and transformation.

“In my Lakota culture there are not story tellers, there are story keepers. When we talk like this, or preach like this, we are weaving history. Lakota people say the word ‘story’ means to live again. Lakota people do not use the word ‘Gospel’. We use the phrase to live again. We would say in church ‘we are going to have a reading from those words which live again.’ Because the Gospel has the capacity to change lives every time the words are heard.”

Bible Study: Thursday video ;Friday video ;Saturday video

State of The Church Address

In his State of the Church Address on Friday morning, Bishop Hee-Soo Jung spoke of visiting nearly 300 churches across East and West Ohio in the past 21 months.

“The story of Ohio Methodism is alive with grace. I have seen life. I have seen seeds. I have seen fragments placed in the hands of Christ become the beginning of a feast,” Bishop Jung shared.

In his Address the bishop celebrated the Abundant Grace of congregations, clergy, and laity who are reaching and transforming communities through their faith and innovative ministries; and he thanked the Conference for its commitment to fulfilling its financial apportionment to the General Church.

“The miracle of the loaves and fish shows us what happens when what is offered in faith is received by Christ, blessed by Christ, broken by Christ, and given by Christ for the life of the world, Bishop Jung said. “What we have, when offered to Christ, can become bread for the world. This is the theology of abundance.”

Bishop Jung highlighted the similarities and differences that exist across Ohio in the way that fans cheer for their respective teams. And while they may disagree on teams, sports, and food, there is one thing he said on which everyone should agree: “We exist to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. This is the faith through which we must understand One Ohio.”

“We may carry different histories and still be called into one mission. That is the heart of One Ohio. One Ohio is not uniformity. It is unity in Christ. It is not the erasing of East Ohio or West Ohio. It is the offering of our histories, gifts, wounds, strengths, and hopes under the lordship of Jesus Christ,” Bishop Jung said.

“One Ohio must help local churches live more fully as the body of Christ. With this conviction, we have named Five Strategic Pillars for our shared life: Building Relationships; Shared Mission; Discipleship; Multiplication; Emerging Leaders.

State of the Church Address: Vimeo video
Learn more about the Five Strategic Pillars of One Ohio.

Ohio – Korea Ministry Partnership

During Annual Conference 2025, Bishop Hee-Soo Jung and Bishop Seong-Bok Kim signed a shared ministry covenant bringing together the East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church and the Seoul Annual Conference of the Korean Methodist Church.

In the days leading up to Annual Conference 2026, clergy and laity across Ohio received a message from the fundraising team for the Bishop’s Missional Appeal for the Scranton Memorial Mission Center and Church. The letter invited recipients to support the construction of the mission center and church being built in Seoul to honor the memory, sacrifice, and missionary vision of William and Mary Scranton while inspiring future generations for mission in Korea and around the world.

Mission Appeal Fundraising Team Chairperson the Rev. Bruce Hitchcock addressed the members of Annual Conference 2026 and encouraged each congregation to see him afterward to pick up the prayer square depicting the Scranton Memorial Mission Center and Church gifted it from the Seoul Annual Conference.

Learn about and support the Bishop’s Missional Appeal.

Service of Licensing, Recognition of Associate Membership, Commissioning, Ordination, and Retirement

The service celebrated the ministries of 11 retirees, welcomed new licensed local pastors, recognized an associate member, commissioned two provisional elders and one provisional deacon, and ordained an elder into full connection.

Bishop John L. Hopkins returned to East Ohio Annual Conference, where he had served as resident bishop of the Conference from 2004 until his retirement in 2016. In his message “Ministry Is Not Rocket Science”, Bishop Hopkins compared clergy launching their ministries to the NASA Artemis II.

“Tonight, humanity’s next great voyage begins with you. You are missionaries of Christ, continuing the work of Paul,” Bishop Hopkins said. “One day, the people of God will be welcomed home from whatever capsule they have lived in and there will be abundance for everyone. Until then, your calling is simple and profound: believe and become God’s love, care and share God’s love in the world, seek the way of Jesus Christ, trust the courage of change, and be God’s love with your neighbors and friends. Buckle your seat belts. The journey is about to begin!”

Service of Licensing, Commissioning, Ordination, and Retirement: Vimeo video ;Flickr photos

Friday Worship

“We are all created with our finiteness, and we need to learn with it. Because of this we need community,” said Rev. Kil-Sang Yoon.

The retired East Ohio Conference elder who served four Smithfield, Todd Avenue, Brookfield, and Canfield UMCs before serving the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, was the guest preacher for the Friday morning service.

“When we are touched by newness, the power of the Holy Spirit we are urged, we are urged, to do something. That’s what we do, what we have been doing not to tie up more merit to be accepted by God, no, but because of God’s acceptance – each one of us as we are,” Rev. Yoon said.

Friday Morning Worship: Vimeo video ;Flickr photos

Saturday Worship

Bishop Ruby-Nell M. Estrella was guest preacher for the Saturday morning worship service celebrating 70 years of women’s ordination in the Methodist tradition. Bishop Estrella is bishop of the Manila Episcopal Area. When she was elected in 2022, she became the first female bishop of The United Methodist Church in the Philippines.

Her message centered on the life-changing decisions of Queen Vashti and Queen Esther.

“Vashti teaches us that there are moments when faithfulness requires a holy refusal. A refusal to accept injustice. A refusal to surrender a God-given dignity. A refusal to remain silent when the truth must be spoken,” Bishop Estrella said. “In every generation, God raises up people with courage to say ‘no’ to what is wrong so that God’s ‘yes’ to justice, dignity, and abundant life may be heard.”

Saturday Morning Worship: Vimeo video ;Flickr photos

Cabinet Report

In the Cabinet Report, East Ohio Dean the Rev. Angela Lewis spoke of the collaborative work of East Ohio and West Ohio Conference Cabinets in serving Ohio and celebrated the faithful ministries of the laity.

“We, the conference, districts, and pastors want you to know, laity, that we appreciate you. We thank you for your hard work, sacrifices, and love for the church. We know that without you, there is no us,” Lewis said.

Laity Report

Conference Lay Leader Kimberly Green encouraged the laity of East Ohio to continue their passionate ministries that are transforming lives for Jesus Christ.

“The church does not move because of buildings, budgets, or committees. The church moves because of you, the everyday disciples, the laity who carry the gospel into places pastors may never go, the laity who preach sermons with your lives long before anyone steps into a pulpit. We are the quiet strength of the church. We are the hands that lift. The voices that encourage. The hearts that keep showing up even when the world feels heavy,” she said. “The Church cannot be the Church without the laity. Our witness is not secondary; our witness is not optional. Our witness is the living, breathing expression of Christ in the world.”

Be UMC Awards

The East Ohio Conference Connectional Ministries team partnered with United Methodist Communications to present the inaugural Be UMC Awards to a clergy and a lay person who demonstrates a commitment to discipleship, service, and leadership – embodying the transformational ministry to which United Methodists are called.

Pastor of the Year was awarded to Pastor Pamela Sayre of Huron UMC.

“’Pastor P’ has an energetic approach to ministry and together with the people of Huron UMC are examples of joy and faithfulness lived out. They seek to see the community around them and respond faithfully. Just one example would be their Easter Egg hunt, which has special sessions for children who need quieter environments, have mobility concerns, and those with vision impairments. Pastor P along with Huron UMC live out The UMC vision each and every day,” Rev. Ed Fashbaugh, executive director of Connectional Ministries, said in presenting the award.

Lay Person of the Year was awarded to Rick Stout, director of Christian Education and Youth Ministries at the UMC of Kent for more than 25 years.

“Considering the average life span of a youth minister is 18 months to four years, Rick’s giftedness includes sticktoitiveness, he’s never shied away from following Jesus into the awkward spaces where young people need cared for most. His veteran leadership now comes in to play in his work walking beside other youth leaders, including those who are new to ministry. He’s a quiet man, gentle in Spirit and is routinely involved in youth retreats, mission projects, advocacy and the youth leader discipleship cohort, where he serves as a leader. His longevity in the East Ohio Conference of The UMC should be applauded,” Fashbaugh shared.

Ohio Episcopal Area Task Team

Conference Lay Leader Kimberly Green, a member of the Task Team, introduced a video update of its work, which is centered on listening, discussing, and discerning about forming a new, unified Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church.

View the Task Team’s AC 2026 video presentation.
Learn about the Ohio Episcopal Area Task Team.

Celebrating Ministries and Missions

On Wednesday, June 10, the day before Annual Conference, clergy and laity were invited to gather in Gault Recreation Center on the campus of The College of Wooster for a worship service that recognized and celebrated the impact EOC missions and ministries are making at home, across the country, and around the world. The service praised God for ministries that were birthed through the creativity of individuals and congregations that were financially assisted by Conference grants.

The first day of AC, Thursday, June 11, more than 40 ministries and missions from East Ohio and across The United Methodist Church participated in the Ministry Fair. Representatives from the ministries were on hand to share about their work and to answer questions.

Again, this year, the Midwest Mission collection truck received donated kits and items during Annual Conference that can be used to assist others across the country and around the world when disasters strike.

2027 East Ohio Conference Budget

Members of Annual Conference adopted the amended proposed 2027 budget of $8,646,992, as amended. The 2027 budget is just a 3.71% increase over the 2026 budget.

Minimum Salaries for Clergy

Rev. Abby Auman, chairperson for the East Ohio Conference Commission on Equitable Compensation introduced the following motion on behalf of the Commission: “Equitable Comp recommends to the 2026 annual conference that minimum salaries increase by 3% in 2027. That means that the minimum salary for a full-time provisional or full member would be $53,029, and for a local pastor either $47,656 or $44,972, depending on Course of Study completion. Part-time salary ranges are calculated as corresponding percentages,” she said. The motion was approved.

Annual Conference Offering

The 2026 Annual Conference offering (Fund 9214) will support these three ministries:

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

Learn about and support the AC 2026 offering.

Closed Churches

In approving the report from the Conference Board of Trustees, Annual Conference members voted to close five churches: Elyria Zion UMC (West Plains), Lewisville UMC (South Forest), Redeemer North Hill UMC (Northern Waters), University Circle UMC (Northern Waters), Windham UMC (Northern Waters).