General Information

The 40th session of East Ohio Annual Conference will be held June 15 – 18 at Lakeside.  The 2009 theme is “Be Transformed -- Transform our Hearts, Transform our Minds, Transform our Doors.  Featured speakers will include Bishop Lindsey Davis of The Louisville Area, Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton of the Michigan Area, and the Rev. Nancy Hull, president and chief executive officer of Flat Rock Homes and Care Center.

Challenge to Annual Conference – A Part of the Bishop’s 3Cs Mission Initiative

Bishop Hopkins is issuing a challenge to each member of Annual Conference (both clergy and lay) to work within their local church to bring $100 per Annual Conference member to Annual Conference for a significant offering that will support the Bishop’s 3Cs Mission Initiative.  This challenge is per member of Annual Conference; therefore, if your church has 2 members it would need to raise $200 to meet the challenge, $300 for 3 members, etc.  Your church may decide how to meet this challenge – whether it is from individual donations, a church fund raiser, etc.  This would be a great way to involve children, youth and adults in a major mission initiative.  Begin now to plan and implement ways to meet the Bishop’s challenge from your church. •

32 Amendments to be considered at Annual Conference 2009

Voting members of 134 annual conferences around the world will consider 32 amendments to the Constitution of The United Methodist Church as they meet in the coming months. The 62 U.S. annual conferences will begin meeting in May. Read the full Interpreter article. •

Praise and Prayer Service to be Sunday Evening:

From the Clergy and Congregational Wellness Task Force

Please remember to bring a water bottle with you to Lakeside.  If you have a pedometer,           please also bring that with you.  We will once again be walking to Jerusalem during our week together!  For more information, contact North Coast District Wellness Ministries, at lmccowen@ncdistrictumc.org  or (216) 441-4527. •

Annual Conference Laity Session

The Board of Laity is organizing a Laity Session.  There is a limited seating and the board is encoraging new members to attend the necessary training. Seasoned laity delegates are not required to attend, but are reminded that the session open to all laity delegates

The session, held at Orchestra Hall, (Movie Theater) on Monday, June 15th, at 1:15 p.m. will include worship, detail annual conference and discuss the 32 General Conference constitutional amendments. •

Celebration of New Christians In East Ohio UM Churches

There will be free hot dogs and burgers and other good stuff for pastors and lay delegates from any East Ohio UM Churches who have received at least one new member on profession of faith since last Annual Conference.    When someone finds a spiritual home in Jesus Christ and in His Church through a local congregation, that is worthy of celebration.  

Just like shepherd who celebrated finding his lost sheep, the woman who celebrated finding her lost coin, and the father who celebrated the return of his lost son in Luke 15, we will celebrate all the people who have found a spiritual home in Jesus Christ and His Church through our East Ohio United Methodist Churches.  There will be an opportunity to share stories of people who have come to faith and joined our churches in the past year. This event is scheduled for Tuesday, June 16, 12 noon- 2 pm at the gazebo in the park. •

“Space for Grace” Health and Wellness Opportunities

The Task Force on Clergy and Congregational Wellness (in conjunction with the East Ohio Conference Health and Welfare Committee) will offer yoga, chair massage, stress reduction and other opportunities for healing and wholeness at annual conference. Individuals participating any of the health and wellness opportunities will obtain Passport “stamps” and those with at least one daily stamp will receive a prize –but of course everyone who makes Space for Grace wins.  The East Ohio District with the most completed passports will win the coveted Grace Award!

The mission of the Clergy and Congregational Wellness Task Force is to promote the integration of healing and wholeness of mind, body and spirit in the church. God made us to live in balance and completeness. God’s grace is always available but to receive its fullness, we need to make space for grace in our lives. Make some “Space for Grace” this year at Lakeside …try a yoga class, walk and reflect on the daily scriptures, get a chair massage, grab some fresh fruits and vegetables at the market stand or participate in Introduction to Self Care work shop.

Obtain your Passport at the Wellness Booth in front of Hoover and begin your journey. •

Flood Bucket and Health Kit Drive

The Mission Awareness Committee is reminding all members of the Annual Conference to bring flood buckets and health kits to Annual Conference.  The truck from the Midwest Distribution Center will be located at the southwest corner of Hoover Auditorium on Sunday, June 15 from 12:00 noon until 12:00 noon on Tuesday, June 17 for collection.  The need is urgent and your help is necessary to help those affected by the various disasters that have taken place across the United States. •

Clergy Picture Directory

It is time for a new conference clergy picture directory and Lifetouch Church Directories is again photographing for our annual conference.  We will need all clergy to make our 2009 East Ohio UMC Conference Directory complete!  This tool will help us connect names and faces and will commemorate our conference experience.  Pictures will be taken at Bradley Temple during Annual Conference.  The specific dates and times for your professional portrait will be announced later.  You will receive a complimentary conference directory and 9 wallet portraits for participating!  Your professional sitting will only take a few moments.  There will be no sales on site. •

Health Check 2009

The Board of Pensions is again offering all Annual Conference attendees an opportunity to evaluate their health with a simple blood test.  Seven tests from a small blood sample will be run and analyzed for individual and confidential review.  These tests include Comprehensive Metabolic Profile – (liver and kidney disease); Homocysteine – (heart, stroke & peripheral vascular disease and Alzheimer’s); Complete Lipid Profile – (all possible lipid problems); Occult Blood for colon cancer, C-Reactive Protein (inflammation test) for active vascular disease; Hemoglobin AIC (diabetes & pre-diabetic); Thyroid disease (TSH) for females; and PSA (prostate cancer test) for males. 

The testing will take place in the Green Room of the Fountain Inn Tuesday, June 16 through Thursday, June 18 from 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. each day. Fasting for eight (8) hours uis required.  For Conference Health Care Plan participants, the expense will be applied to your wellness benefits.  For all other participants not covered by the Conference Health Care Plan, this testing will cost $88 per person. (Cash, checks, and credit cards accepted.)  An itemized receipt will be provided via mail with your results.  If you have any questions, please contact Robin Whitacre, at 800-831-3972 ext. 151, or Betsy Stewart, ext. 103. •

Ministry/Mission Fair and Ice Cream Social

The traditional Ministry and Mission Fair with information of various ministries from the conference, districts and local churches will take place outside Hoover Auditorium on Wednesday evening from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.  The East Ohio Conference Credit Union will once again be holding their Ice Cream Social at the same time.  We hope you will enjoy this wonderful time of fellowship and information gathering. •

Book Exchange 

Once again you will have an opportunity while attending Annual Conference to participate in the Book Exchange.  You may bring books that you would like to give away on Monday, June 15, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. or Tuesday, June 16, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.  Everyone is invited to come and pick-up books on Wednesday, June 17, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. The exchange will be held in Pavilion Room 2.  All books are FREE and you don’t have to bring a book to get a book. •