#BeUMC

Storyboard: Faith Witness Transformation
Episode 84 Church Building Redevelopment

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 84 “Influence, Connection & Impact: Church Building Redevelopment” features Rev. Joy Fenton-Jones, Rev. Beth Ortiz, and Pastor Matt Whisenhunt engaging in wide-ranging conversation about redeveloping church property to be a daily presence in the life of the community.

“Part of this is about discipleship, thinking about how are we responding to the grace God’s given us? To spend time wondering, ‘are we using this space that we are called to be stewards, not owners, of in a way that really reflects that discipleship really well,’” said Ortiz.

“We’re thinking about, ‘who could we rent to, who could use a little space in our building?’ But maybe we’re not always thinking, ‘could this building really have a transformed use that would require holistic approach to the space and even to the property around it?’” Fenton-Jones stated.

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

Five Strategic Pillars
The Five Pillars listed below emerged from conversations Bishop Hee-Soo Jung has had during his visits to more than 250 congregations across the Ohio Episcopal Area. In those conversations clergy and laity shared deep and faithful longings to grow in discipleship, to reach new people for Christ, to pass on the faith to the next generation, and to live in meaningful relationship and mission with their communities and the wider world.

The Five Pillars are not a program or a set of guarantees. Rather, they offer a shared vision and spiritual framework to guide our life together as “One Ohio” – rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, shaped by trust, and attentive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Pillar 1: Building Relationships
Pillar 2: Shared Mission
Pillar 3: Discipleship
Pillar 4: Multiplication
Pillar 5: Emerging Leaders

Learn more about the Five Pillars.

Bishop’s Mission Appeal
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. 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.

Financial & Administrative Services

IRS Update to Standard Mileage Rate
For miles driven after July 1, the IRS increased the mileage reimbursement rate to $0.76/mile – a 4.83% increase over the $0.725/mile in effect from January 1 through June 30, 2026. The rate for miles driven in service to charitable organizations remains the same:  $0.14/mile (this rate pertains to people volunteering for the Conference, not Conference employees). These rates apply to fully electric and hybrid automobiles, as well as gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles.

The Conference is not required to follow the IRS guidelines insofar as we are exempt from filing federal income tax returns. But with our practice being to follow the IRS guidelines, the chairperson of the Conference Council on Finance & Administration (CCF&A) has approved reimbursing at the new IRS rate for miles driven after July 1, 2026.

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.

Mission Engagement

Green Church Training – August 30
Your church is invited to participate in the next Green Church training on Sunday, August 30 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at the Urban Farm Church in Columbus. Cost for a church team of two people is $50 and scholarships are available.

The training is great opportunity to learn how your congregation can better care for God’s Creation by installing LED lighting, starting a pollinator or community garden, learning the benefits of recycling, and exploring solar power. The in-person training session will offer your church a solid foundation for moving towards green solutions while making sure you have the tools to get started and make a difference!

Register for this training on the Events Registration page of the EOC website.

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, and 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 explore creative, practical approaches to discipleship with today’s teenagers, share ideas and best practices with one another, and discover how the Conference Youth Collective (CYC) can help churches create a clear discipleship-to-leadership pathway for students.

We will meet from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 15 at Montrose Zion UMC (565 N. Cleveland-Massillon Road, Akron). Cost is just $10/person and includes lunch. Whether you’re new to youth ministry or have been serving for years, you’ll leave with fresh ideas, practical tools, and new connections with leaders who share your passion for helping young people follow Jesus. If you have questions about the youth leader training 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 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

Lay Servant Ministries Training Courses
Laity refers to the Greek word “laos” which means all the people of God. Laity are empowered through Lay Servant Ministries (LSM) to serve in each community and in our East Ohio Conference. Lay Servant Ministries of The United Methodist Church has its origins in early Methodism. John Wesley used lay people to preach, conduct worship, lead studies, and visit the sick and imprisoned. These early leaders were called exhorters, forerunners of today ’s lay servants.

Today, those involved in Lay Ministry are charged to witness, lead, and have their service inspire others to a deeper commitment to Christ and more effective discipleship. The three tenets of LSM are Leading, Caring, and Communicating. Anyone is welcome to take an LSM course for spiritual growth; you do not have apply to become a Certified Lay Servant, Speaker, or Lay Minister. Upcoming fall courses around the conference can be found on the link below. If you have questions about Lay Servant Ministries, please e-mail Julie Carter, director of Faith Formation & Lay Ministries.

Explore and register for Lay Servant Ministries training opportunities.

New Resource Highlights Local Church Ministries Assisting Families in Need
Named for Matthew 25:35, “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat … I was a stranger and you welcomed me,” the 25:35 Crew is living out Christ’s compassion in real and practical ways across Ohio.

The new Family Assistance Ministries resource provides information, listed by district, about food, pantry, and assistance ministries offered through local East Ohio Conference congregations and faith communities. Please use and share this resource in your ministry setting. If your church or ministry information needs to be updated on this resource, please e-mail Melanie Thomas, Connectional Ministries office administrative assistant.

Use the Family Assistance Ministries Resource.

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

2026 Summer Clergy Candidate Summit
East and West Ohio leaders on July 24-25 aided clergy candidates from across both conferences in exploring their calls to ministry. During the summit at the West Ohio Conference office in Worthington, candidates had the opportunity to worship, remember their baptism, build community, meet with their mentoring groups, engage in large and small group learning, and reflect alongside others who are discerning God’s call on their lives.

All-Ohio School of Ministry – August 31 – September 2
“You Feed Them” is the theme for the 2026 All-Ohio School of Ministry at Kalahari Resorts and Conventions. The three-day event centered on worship, learning, reflection and renewal invites participants to consider how the Church is called to respond faithfully in a time of uncertainty.

The keynote speaker will be Rev. Dr. Elaine Heath, who focuses her work on spiritual formation, healing, and Church renewal. Registration is $50 per person, and participants handle their own hotel accommodation.

“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,” said Bishop Hee-Soo Jung.

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 the School of Ministry. Grants will be awarded in the order they are received until the fund has been allocated. The deadline to apply is noted in the Google form. If you have questions about the grant, please e-mail Rev. Andrew Scott.

Apply for the School of Ministry Grant.

Classifieds

Details of listings may be found here.

Positions Available

• Director – Twice Blessed Free Store

Items Available/Wanted

• Two metal chair racks on wheels and 98 metal folding chairs available for sale for $890.00

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, August 10.

Thursday, August 6 is the submission deadline for the next E-News. Send articles to eoccommunications@eocumc.com.