October 19, 2026

Ohio Episcopal Area

A New Chapter for Communications Ministry Across Ohio
Bishop Hee-Soo Jung is bringing together the Communications teams of East and West Ohio to better resource local churches and Ohio Episcopal Area ministries. The combined team will be led by two executive directors, each with distinct responsibilities. The bishop has named Rick Wolcott executive director of Conference Communications and Kay Panovec executive director of Local Church Communications & Engagement.

“The vision for One Ohio is about resourcing and enhancing the ministries of our nearly 1,000 local churches. We are here to serve them,” said Bishop Jung. “Aligning our Communications teams will create one shared strategy for communicating with local churches while ensuring their questions and experiences are heard by Conference leadership.”

As executive director of Conference Communications, Wolcott will guide the implementation of strategies for branding, messaging and promoting Ohio Episcopal Area ministries. His primary responsibilities will include working with the bishop and Cabinet and resourcing ministry teams.

“I am excited by Bishop Jung’s vision for Communications ministry. Having one Ohio Communications department with half of our team partnering with Conference staff and the other half working full-time to resource local churches is a model that should benefit all,” Wolcott said.

As executive director of Local Church Communications & Engagement, Panovec will work alongside pastors, local church staff and volunteers to provide strategic communications and marketing resources while helping amplify positive stories from local churches across the state.

“The local church is where lives are changed, communities grow stronger and faith takes root. We are energized by this vital work, and excited to support local churches across Ohio,” Panovec said.

Under the new structure, the current East Ohio Communications team will resource Conference communications, while the West Ohio team will resource local churches. The combined Communications team will begin its new statewide roles November 1.

Bishop’s Office

To Those Who Shepherd with Love
October invites us to pause and give thanks for those who have answered Christ’s call to shepherd God’s people. Across Ohio – in bustling cities and quiet suburbs, rural villages and farming communities, Appalachian hills and industrial towns, along rivers and in neighborhoods often forgotten – you are living out the Gospel. In churches, schools, hospitals, nursing homes and ministries among the poor and vulnerable, you preach, teach, pray, comfort and serve in the name of Jesus Christ.

Ministry is never fully learned in a classroom or mastered through theological theories. It is formed and deepened through the daily practice of love.

You stand beside the suffering, sit with the lonely, encourage the weary and accompany God’s people through the mysteries of life and death. Often your most faithful ministry is unseen. It is found in your quiet presence, your patient listening and your humble willingness to remain beside another person. Humbly, humbly, humbly – you walk with God’s people.

When I think of episcopal leadership, I imagine a shepherd walking through the pasture alongside the sheep, not standing above them or directing them from a distance. For this is the very heart of pastoral ministry: walking together, sharing burdens, seeking the lost and trusting the Good Shepherd who leads us all. I have sometimes wondered why we need a special month to appreciate pastors. Are we not all called to serve? Indeed, we are. Yet perhaps this month offers us a sacred opportunity to recognize those who continually empty themselves in love, carry the burdens of others and faithfully lead Christ’s church, often at great personal cost.

I want you to know that your ministry matters. Your faithfulness matters. Your leadership matters. And I want to encourage you: Be creative. Be courageous. Live the way of self-emptying love. Lift high the cross of Christ. Lead with a vision larger than your fears.

The pastoral calling in this generation is extraordinarily demanding – and extraordinarily sacred. Our world needs more than religious institutions. It needs communities of grace, reconciliation, healing, justice and hope. And it needs shepherds whose lives embody the love they proclaim.

As we celebrate Pastor Appreciation Month, I give thanks to God for each of you, for your sacrifices and your joy, your tears and your laughter, your perseverance and your dreams. May Christ renew your spirit, strengthen your courage and fill your ministry with abundant grace. Let us continue to Love Boldly, Serve Joyfully, and Lead Courageously.

Discipleship Ministries

BOTH/AND Hospitality Training – December 5
“Preparing to Welcome Guests This Christmas” is the focus of this BOTH/AND training hosted by and at Sunbury UMC from 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 5.

With so much ministry happening BOTH in the building AND online, how can we earn the second, third and ongoing visits from those who are new to our faith communities? New strategies are required for living into what it means to be a hospitable church. How can we claim or reclaim a passion for radical hospitality, making great first impressions and working toward being ready for guests before they arrive? With Christmas approaching, many churches will welcome people who haven’t visited in a while, along with guests who may be walking through their doors for the very first time. How can we prepare to offer meaningful hospitality that extends beyond Christmas Eve?

Join guest readiness and hybrid worship author and coach Jason Moore for an exploration of what it means to extend BOTH/AND Hospitality.

Learn more and register on the Events Registration page of the EOC website.

Older Doesn’t Mean Over – Thursdays, January 7 – February 4
Healthy bodies. Faithful lives. Vital churches. Our bodies change as we age. So do our churches. But aging isn’t the same thing as dying, and health isn’t the same thing as youth. What does it mean to age well, both as individuals and as the Body of Christ?

The Office of Discipleship Ministries and the Office of Leadership Wellness and Renewal invite you to a five-week Zoom experience exploring the connections between the health of our physical bodies, our growth as disciples of Jesus Christ and the vitality of our congregations. We will meet online from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. on Thursdays beginning January 7 and concluding February 4.

Using five anchors for healthy living – Eat Real Food, Move Your Body, Get Adequate Sleep, Manage Stress and Stay Relationally Connected – we’ll explore how these practices help us care for our bodies as we age and what they can teach us about nurturing discipleship and cultivating vital congregations. Each week will combine practical health education, conversations about spiritual growth, and fresh perspectives on congregational life. Together, we’ll challenge assumptions about what aging means for our bodies, our faith, and our churches, discovering new possibilities for growth and faithful living in the seasons we’re in right now.

Learn more and register on the Events Registration page of the EOC website.

For questions about Discipleship Ministries opportunities, please e-mail the Rev. Beth Ortiz, Discipleship Ministries executive director, or visit the Discipleship Ministries pages on the Conference website.

Leadership Wellness and Renewal

With Gratitude for the Faithful Ministry of Laity
As congregations across the Ohio Episcopal Area celebrate Laity Sunday, we have an opportunity to recognize the extraordinary ways God is working through ordinary acts of faithfulness. Through baptism, we are all called to participate in the ministry of Jesus Christ. Every day, laypeople live out that calling in countless ways. You teach children about God’s love, visit those who are lonely, lead ministries, serve your communities, advocate for justice, and extend Christ’s welcome to others. You carry your faith into homes, workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods, often touching lives in ways you may never fully realize. Much of this ministry happens quietly, without recognition or applause. Yet its impact reaches far beyond what any of us can see.

This year’s Laity Sunday theme “Together by Grace: Be Grounded in Love” draws from Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:17, that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith as we are “rooted and grounded in love.” What a beautiful image for those who serve Christ and the church.

Read “With Gratitude for the Faithful Ministry of Laity” in its entirety.
Learn more about Rev. Ed Fashbaugh.
View the Leadership Wellness and Renewal page of the EOC website.

For questions about Leadership Wellness and Renewal ministry opportunities, please e-mail Executive Director Rev. Ed Fashbaugh, or visit the Leadership Wellness and Renewal page of the Conference website.

Financial & Administrative Services

2027 Healthcare Options
Open enrollment for selecting your 2027 healthcare plan opens Wednesday, October 28 and closes Thursday, November 12, 2026.

For your planning, you should know that available medical/behavioral health/Rx plans have been simplified from the six offered in 2026 to four in 2027.

Learn more and view the plan options.

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.

Communications

Facebook for Businesses
As Facebook continues to evolve as a platform, Meta One, a new subscription-based model for business pages, has been rolled out. As most churches with a Facebook presence operate business pages, you will begin to see the effects in the coming months. Though the program offers some benefits such as verification, impersonation protection and customer support, it comes with limited link-sharing capabilities. Facebook business pages – such as church pages – will be limited to two external links per month. After that pages will need to purchase a tiered membership to share more links. Links to internal offerings such as Facebook streams (Facebook Live church services, for example) will not be impacted by this program.

Previously our daily posts on EOC Facebook have included clickable links to ministry resources. Moving forward when we need to point you to a resource, we will direct you to visit the East Ohio website, or to a pinned post that features the current E-News where you will find the relevant links you need. We will continue to make sure we provide you with the best resources we can through our Facebook channel.

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.

Disaster Response

Ohio Early Response Team Cleans Up at First Hope UMC
During the week of September 28-October 1, 12 volunteers from East and West Ohio joined together to serve in the Crooksville area of Southeast Ohio. Robert Catchpole, an East Ohio Early Response Team (ERT) trainer, led and organized the team. During that week, the team: removed water-soaked tile and carpeting from the basement of First Hope UMC in Crooksville and rerouted the drainage pipe to mitigate future flooding; cleared the drain in a flooded basement so the home’s owner can begin to recover; and installed a moisture barrier, began laying insulation and subflooring, and ran wiring in a basement that had been flooded with four feet of water.

Just as importantly, the team provided a caring Christian presence, listened to homeowners’ stories, and offered spiritual support. Barbara Conover, Hocking River District administrator and a team member, arranged for the team to stay at Grace UMC in Zanesville. Karen Elliott, an East Ohio pastor and team member, said, “Thanks to all for the work done and love shared in Perry County. There is much more to do there, but we were there with ears to hear and hands to work. I was blessed to be part of the team.”

Additional long-term recovery teams will be needed in the future.

Learn about EOCUMC Disaster Response.

Mission Engagement

Advance Special Applications Available
East Ohio Conference Advance Specials are missions and ministries with ties to the East Ohio Conference of The UMC. Applications for a ministry to be an Advance Special are reviewed and approved by the Board of Missions or by district mission and strategy teams, depending on where the applicant is located and the work it does. The goal of the Conference Advance is to attract wider recognition and support for these missions or ministries, both financially and in recruitment of volunteers. In 2025, designated giving through the Conference Advance was $129,754. Applications for ministries seeking to become a new Advance Special are due no later than January 15, 2027.

Before applying, please review the Advance Special guidelines below. If you have questions about Advance Specials, please e-mail Melanie Thomas, Connectional Ministries administrative assistant.

Learn about EOC Advance Specials.
View the Advance Special guidelines.
Download the Advance Special application.

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.

Faith Formation & Lay Ministries

Build Leadership Teams Around God’s Gifts
As churches begin planning for a new year of ministry, many leadership teams and nominations committees are asking, “Who is God calling to serve?” An even better question might be, “How has God already gifted the people in our congregation for ministry?”

For the Common Good: Discovering and Using Your Spiritual Gifts by Christine Harman is a wonderful resource for congregations seeking to identify, develop and deploy leaders based on the gifts God has given them. The book helps individuals discover their spiritual gifts and offers practical guidance for building ministry teams where people can serve with confidence, purpose and joy. It also includes suggestions for matching gifts with leadership and ministry opportunities.

Imagine the possibilities when those with gifts of hospitality help create welcoming environments, those with gifts of leadership guide ministry initiatives, those with gifts of administration strengthen organization, and those with gifts of compassion lead caring ministries. When people serve according to their God-given gifts, both the individual and the congregation flourish. Whether you are serving on a nominations committee, church council, leadership board or ministry team, a spiritual gifts assessment can be a valuable tool for discerning where God may be calling people to serve.

If you would like printable spiritual gift assessment tools that correspond with the resource For the Common Good, please e-mail Julie Carter, director of Faith Formation & Lay Ministries.

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.

The United Methodist Church

UMC Leadership Gathering – October 20-24
The Council of Bishops is hosting the Leadership Gathering at Knox United Church in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, October 20–24. Active bishops, the general secretaries and three leaders from each episcopal area will worship, listen and discern together about the future of The United Methodist Church. The Gathering will offer reflection for the wider church. It will not make decisions.

View the livestream beginning October 21.
Read daily recaps from UM News.
View the list of participants.

Clergy

Online Candidacy Summit – January 8-9
Attention church leaders: are there people in your congregation who display a gift for serving and who you feel may be called to a life of ministry? The Candidacy Summit is the first step in exploring a call to ministry.

Please take an opportunity to encourage those individuals and to ask them to speak with their pastors. Persons cannot register for the Candidacy Summit unless they are recommended by their pastor and district superintendent. Since there is essential paperwork due prior to the summit, please speak to these people right away. Don’t delay. The last day to register for the Summit is December 1.

If you have questions about the Candidacy Summit, please e-mail Rev. Karen Wolcott, EOC Candidacy Summit coordinator.

Learn more about the Candidacy process.

Celebrations of Life

Please pray for the families of:

Geraldine C. Wagner, surviving spouse of the Rev. Dr. Blake D. Wagner, Sr., died September 30.
Anne M. Fischer, surviving spouse of the Rev. Horace H. Fischer, died October 2.

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

Volunteer Coordinator – Urban Mission
Food Service Manager – Urban Mission
Music Director – Canfield UMC
Choir Director – Bucyrus UMC
Adult Choir Director – Asbury UMC in Delaware
Bell Choir Director – Asbury UMC in Delaware
Organist/Accompanist – Asbury UMC in Delaware
Children, Youth, & Family Coordinator – Jefferson UMC