June 29, 2026

EOC News

Annual Conference 2026

Celebrating Abundant Grace
The 57th session of Annual Conference was held June 11-13 on the campus of The College of Wooster.

“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,” said Bishop Hee-Soo Jung during his State of the Church address in sharing about visiting nearly 300 churches across Ohio in the past 21 months. “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. This is the theology of abundance.”

View videos of the AC 2026 services & sessions.
Read the recap article & view the AC 2026 website.

Awards Presented During Annual Conference

  • BeUMC Award – Outstanding Clergy Person
    Pastor Pamela Sayre, 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,” said Executive Director of Connectional Ministries Rev. Ed Fashbaugh said in presenting the award.
     
  • BeUMC Award – Outstanding Lay Person
    Rick Stout, director of Christian Education and Youth Ministries at the UMC of Kent

    “Rick has served in ministry for over 25 years and strongly values relational ministry to students and parents. Rick couples a strong professional background with a deep Christian faith and a passion for being in ministry to young people. Prior to answering his call to ministry, Rick was a public-school teacher, and he continues to serve in public education as a track and field coach.

    Considering the average life span of a youth minister is 18 months to 4 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,” said Executive Director of Connectional Ministries Rev. Ed Fashbaugh said in presenting the award.

  • Foundation for Evangelism Laity Award
    George “Rick” Bohan, Peninsula UMC

    “At the heart of Rick’s ministry is a deep commitment to showing love, acceptance, and mercy to ‘the least of these.’ He builds relationships with nonprofit partners throughout the Akron and Cleveland area, always asking how the church can show up with generosity and compassion. Through those partnerships, Peninsula UMC provides tutoring and school supplies, rides to medical appointments, food support, mats and blankets for the unhoused, and advocacy for immigrants, those re‑entering society, and women escaping human trafficking.

    “Rick reminds us, time and again, that the purpose of the Church is to do the work of Jesus – and to do it joyfully. From welcoming all as a Reconciling Congregation, to supporting UMCOR and connectional ministries, to hands‑on mission and community service, Rick helps us see that joyful faith is an outward, active faith,” said Julie Carter, director of Faith Formation and Lay Ministries, in presenting the award.

  • Fresh Starts Multiplier Award
    Rocky River UMC

    “In 2014, a new vision took shape through the launch of the Twice Blessed Free Store in partnership with local leaders on Cleveland’s near west side. Rocky River UMC did more than start a program. They helped cultivate a new worshiping community. That community became what we now know as Story Church.

    “Every Saturday morning, worship happens first. Then the free store opens, offering dignity, relationships, and care to neighbors from many cultures and languages. Physical needs are met, and through those relationships, doors open for people to encounter Jesus in meaningful and personal ways. This is what multiplication looks like.

    “Rocky River UMC did not stop there. Through seasons of change, even through the disruption of COVID, they continued to invest, adapt, and send. Rocky River UMC reimagined Story Church by relocating and rebuilding in a new neighborhood, reaching entirely new people and forming new partnerships across churches, organizations, and the broader community.

    Today, that campus is a vibrant hub of ministry throughout the week. It reflects collaboration across campuses and community partners, connection with civic leaders, and a deep commitment to serving neighbors in holistic ways,” said the Fresh Starts and New Beginnings team in presenting the award to Rev. Daniel F. Bogre and his team.

  • Green Church Award
    UMC of Kent

    “East Ohio’s first-ever Green Church Award goes to the United Methodist Church of Kent in the Northern Waters District! Kent UMC has installed a solar array on their church that is projected to generate 105% of their annual electric use! The 281 solar panels will reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, doing their part to decrease the use of fossil fuels, as well as the cost of energy. Congratulations, Kent UMC, on being the first certified Green Church in the East Ohio Conference,” said Mission Engagement Director Mariellyn Grace when presenting the award to Rev. Nathan Howe and his team.

  • The Bishop Judith Craig Outstanding Woman in Ministry Award
    Rev. Beth Ortiz, EOC executive director of Disciple Ministries

    The award is presented annually to a clergy woman who exemplifies outstanding commitment to service, shares her gifts in ministry, and serves her local church and the annual conference.

  • The Mary Scranton Outstanding Woman in Ministry Award
    Ms. Linda Crowell, Aldersgate UMC

    The award is presented annually to a lay woman who exemplifies outstanding commitment to service, shares her gifts in ministry, and serves her local church and the annual conference.

  • The Rev. Dr. Valerie Stultz Champion of Women in Ministry Award
    Rev. Jonathan Priebe, Cuyahoga Falls First UMC

    The award is presented annually to a clergy person (any gender) whose work supports, sustains, encourages, and pushes forward women in ministry.

  • The Alice Cromwell Champion of Women in Ministry Award
    Ms. Kimberly Green, EOC Lay Leader

    The award is presented annually to a lay person (any gender) whose work supports, sustains, encourages, and pushes forward women in ministry. This person contributes in their local context and in the annual conference to the full inclusion of women in ministry by challenging the church and speaking for justice.

Bishop’s Missional Appeal

Scranton Memorial Mission Center and Church in Seoul
All clergy, laity, congregations, and ministry settings across the Ohio Episcopal Area are invited to participate in the Bishop’s Missional Appeal for the Scranton Memorial Mission Center and Church. This center will honor the memory, sacrifice, and missionary vision of William and Mary Scranton while inspiring future generations for mission in Korea and around the world.

Methodist Episcopal churches in Ohio sent Mary F. Scranton and Dr. William B. Scranton to Korea 140 years ago to share the grace and love of God in Jesus Christ. Their faithful witness planted a seed of mission that has grown into a great harvest of churches, schools, hospitals, Christian leaders, and global mission. Today, the Korean Methodist Church continues to bear the fruit of that sacred gospel partnership.

A central part of this history is East Gate Methodist Church, founded through the ministry of Dr. William B. Scranton. For Korean Methodists, this church has long been cherished as one of the sacred birthplaces of Korean Methodism and as a living testimony to the Ohio–Korea mission connection.

In recent years, the original site of East Gate Methodist Church was returned to the City of Seoul as part of a public project to preserve and restore the historic Seoul City Wall near the East Gate. While this project honors an important part of Korea’s cultural heritage, it also resulted in the loss of a sacred Methodist site connected to the Scranton legacy and the earliest history of Korean Methodism. The Seoul Annual Conference of the Korean Methodist Church has taken up the holy work of rebuilding nearby. Land has been purchased, and the Scranton Memorial Mission Center and Church are now being developed. The cost of the project is valued at approximately $16 million.

Support the Bishop’s Missional Appeal.

Mission Engagement


Midwest Mission Collection Truck Update
Thank you to everyone who brought items or made a monetary donation to Midwest Mission during Annual Conference 2026 in Wooster. Midwest Mission no longer weighs the truck, but 64 churches, two organizations, and 13 households filled the truck before it left Ohio.

If your church missed the collection, there are two permanent collection sites in East Ohio which accept year-round donations by appointment. To arrange a drop-off at Gay Street UMC in Mount Vernon, call the church office, (740) 392-6626, and ask for Marilyn Hoy or Mary Ann Martin. To arrange a drop-off at Center UMC in Cambridge, e-mail Kathy Warhola.

Flat Rock Homes Celebrates 160 Years – July 31
All are invited to celebrate the 160th anniversary of Flat Rock Homes with guest speaker Bishop Hee-Soo Jung. Flat Rock Homes is a long-time conference Health & Well-Being partner, Fund 9174. The event will take place on July 31 at 5:30 p.m. at Flat Rock Homes in Flat Rock, OH.

Purchase tickets to attend Flat Rock 160th Celebration.

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.

Engagement with Children, Youth & Young Adults

Youth Leader Training Day – August 15
Youth leaders, volunteers, and ministry teams from across the Ohio Episcopal Area are invited to a day of connection, collaboration, and practical learning. Together, we’ll network, share ideas, and have some fun, while exploring a new discipleship-centered approach to youth ministry built for the realities of busy students, churches, and families. You’ll be introduced to the Conference Youth Collective (CYC) — a flexible, practical, discipleship-first pathway designed to help students grow in faith, develop as leaders, and engage alongside peers across the conference.

This isn’t another curriculum or add-on program. It’s an opt-in collaborative movement that gives churches practical tools to help students become grounded followers of Jesus … because student leadership begins with discipleship. Join us Saturday, August 15 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at Montrose Zion UMC (565 N. Cleveland Massillon Road, Akron). The cost is $10 and includes lunch. If you have questions about the day, please e-mail Tim Beck, associate director of Engagement with Youth.

Register by August 12 on the Events Registration page of the EOC website.

For questions about Young People’s Ministries opportunities, please e-mail Rev. 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.

Faith Formation & Lay Ministries

The Expanding Connection Book Club – July 14
You are invited to join friends from around the Ohio Episcopal Area at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14 for a fun online conversation with other folks who love children’s books. Make plans to take part in the discussion and lean into these deep-thinking literature choices.

  • Stand as Tall as the Trees: How an Amazonian Community Protected the Rain Forest by Patricia Gualinga and Laura Resau
  • The Light She Feels Inside by Gwendolyn Wallace
  • A Synagogue Just Like Home by Alice Blumenthal McGinty
  • Nell Plants a Tree by Anne Wynter
  • The Talk by Alicia D. Williams
  • Still Dreaming by Claudia Guadalupe Martinez
  • We Are Still Here! Native American Truths Everyone Should Know by Traci Sorel

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.

Clergy

All-Ohio School of Ministry to Focus on Renewal, Connection
Clergy and ministry leaders from the East Ohio and West Ohio Conferences will gather August 31 to September 2 at Kalahari Resort and Convention Center in Sandusky for the 2026 All-Ohio School of Ministry, a three-day event centered on worship, learning, reflection and renewal. The theme, “You Feed Them,” invites participants to consider how the Church is called to respond faithfully in a time of uncertainty.

Featured speaker Rev. Dr. Elaine Heath will lead three plenary sessions during the event. Heath is an ordained United Methodist elder, author and theologian who serves as abbess at Spring Forest in North Carolina and formerly served as dean of Duke Divinity School and professor at Perkins School of Theology. Her work focuses on spiritual formation, healing, and the renewal of the Church. In addition to plenary teaching, the School of Ministry will include worship, contemplative practice, small-group conversation and connection across the Conferences, designed to renew both spirit and vocation.

“It will be a joy to be together once again, following our gathering last year,” said Bishop Hee-Soo Jung. “Our speaker will help us see more clearly how the church in this time can live as a renewed, impactful, and Spirit-filled community with authentic authority. She brings together theology and practice, creativity and imagination, and she embodies these gifts through her work in new church movements. This is one of Dr. Elaine’s great gifts: helping the church imagine fresh possibilities and live faithfully into God’s future,” he said.

Registration is $50 per person, and participants handle their own hotel accommodation. Please use the dedicated room reservation link below to receive the group rate for this event.

Register for the All-Ohio School of Ministry.
Reserve a room at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions.

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.

United Women in Faith

You Are Invited to Mission u – July 10-12
Mission u is a transformative educational program with Bible-based curricula and events to aid participants in deepening their faith in community, gain experience interpreting Scripture, and work toward healing themselves, their community and all of Creation. United Women in Faith boasts the only female intergenerational event with kids in grades K-6, youth in grades 7-12, and adults.

Mission u 2026 is Friday, July 10, beginning at 3:00 p.m., until noon on Sunday, July 12 at the University of Mount Union, 1972 Clark Avenue, Alliance, Ohio 44601. This year’s theme is “A Deep Knowing: Experiencing Emmanuel Through Every Part of Our Lives.” If you have questions about Mission u, please e-mail Elizabeth Feldman.

Register for Mission u 2026 by July 1.

Celebrations of Life

Please pray for the families of:

  • Colleen Gilrane, spouse of the Rev. Michael O’Donnell, 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

  • Organist and Choir Accompanist – Wooster UMC
  • Director of Family Ministries – Asbury UMC in Delaware
  • Facilities Manager/Head Custodian – Strongsville UMC
  • Pianist – St. Paul UMC in Galion
  • Regional Justice Coordinators – The Board of Multicultural Ministries

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

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