Thank you, East Ohio Conference, for honoring our shared ministry covenant through your missional, connectional giving in 2022. I want to thank you for continuing to be generous, faithful stewards of your resources as we continue to live into the mission of Jesus Christ and The United Methodist Church. Together, through the connection of The United Methodist Church throughout the world, we are touching more lives and impacting more communities than any one person, church, district, or annual conference could do on its own.
In 2022, 64% of our East Ohio churches paid 100% of their apportionments. That is the same percent of churches that paid 100% in 2021. That gives us reason to celebrate. Thank you for your steadfast commitment!
Last year 140 East Ohio churches increased their giving to their apportionments over the year before. Again, I want to say thank you for your steadfast commitment. We continue to live and to engage in ministry in these challenging and chaotic times both in the Church and in the world. But praise be to God we have remained undeterred in our commitment as we live into our shared mission and vision in our connectional giving.
For the 18th year, our East Ohio Conference paid 100% of our General Church apportionments. Let the Church say, “Hallelujah!”
Whether you are a smaller, medium-sized, or large membership church, I want us all to remember that your faithful and generous tithes and offerings they do make a difference here in the East Ohio Conference and around the world.
Read the budget message from CCF&A.
“When I was five we moved right across the street from a United Methodist church and that became my home. That was the start, but I continue to be United Methodist because of the strength of the mission movement of leaving the world better than we found it,” said Rev. Kathy Dickriede, Connectional Ministries office Missions & Community Engagement director.
Dickriede is one of many East Ohio Conference laity and clergy who are sharing their stories of how our denomination is making a daily difference in both their lives and their ministries.
To share your #BeUMC story, telling how your life is being transformed through The United Methodist Church, e-mail Brett Hetherington.
View #BeUMC stories & the EOC #BeUMC website.Each episode of our podcast Storyboard: Faith Witness Transformation explores what is means to #BeUMC.
Episode Five is titled "Disciple Making: Laity Called to Ministries of Love, Justice, and Service as Deaconesses and Home Missioners". The episode features a conversation about the covenant community that is rooted in Scripture, informed by history, driven by mission, ecumenical in scope, and global in outreach.
It gives me joy to share that the creative regional superintendency models piloted in the Ohio Valley District and the Firelands District in July 2022 are structural, strategic, and missional successes in equipping and supporting pastors, congregations, and faith communities in our mission of “making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”
In consideration of the new ministry appointment of Rev. Abby Auman, I will implement another regional superintendency plan in the Mahoning Valley District. Effective July 1 the 10 districts of our Conference will be served by seven district superintendents.
Rev. Angela Lewis, superintendent of the Canal District, and Rev. Cara Stultz Costello, superintendent of the Tuscarawas District, will expand their leadership to serve as co-superintendents of the Mahoning Valley District while continuing to superintendent in their current respective districts. I consulted with the district superintendents and superintendency committees affected in the new configuration, and I am thankful for their support of this strategic leadership plan.
Last fall I also formed a District Realignment/
Restructure Task Force to assist me and my Cabinet in assessing and exploring current and ongoing needs, realities, and missional opportunities across East Ohio.
A report on proposed structural changes will be printed in the Pre-Conference Workbook and will be presented to the Annual Conference in June.
EOC STANDS AGAINST RACISM: Bishop Tracy S. Malone, the Extended Cabinet, and East Ohio Conference laity and clergy are committed to stand against racism. Visit the Stand Against Racism resource page for small group studies, videos, podcasts, books, and more to learn how you can stand against racism.
2023 CLERGY APPOINTMENTS: Bishop Tracy S. Malone and her Cabinet make clergy appointments with a commitment to open itineracy; consideration of the gifts and evidence of God’s grace of those appointed; and the needs and opportunities of congregations. View the appointments/changes of status list.
ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2023: The 54th session of Annual Conference is June 8-10 at the John S. Knight Center in Akron. The theme for this year’s conference is Faith Hope Love and the words that will guide worship services and business sessions come from 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 (CEB). Registration opens April 3.
DISAFFILIATION PATHWAY: Following consultation between Bishop Malone and EOC leadership, churches and clergy wishing to separate from the denomination must follow the disaffiliation pathway found in ¶ 2553 of The Book of Discipline of The UMC. View the EOC Disaffiliation Pathway resource.
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