In the above video message Bishop Tracy S. Malone welcomes you to Annual Conference 2023 and shares information about this year's session. Annual Conference 2023 at the John S. Knight Center in Akron, OH begins on Thursday, June 8.
Faith Hope Love is the theme for this year’s three-day session which will be guided by the words of 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 (CEB): “We always thank God for all of you when we mention you constantly in our prayers. This is because we remember your work that comes from faith, your effort that comes from love, and your perseverance that comes from hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father.”
Bishop Tracy S. Malone will preach the Service of Commemoration and Holy Communion and deliver the Episcopal Address on Thursday, June 8; Rev. Jay Rundell, president of Methodist Theological School in Ohio, will preach the Service of Commissioning and Ordination on Friday June 9; Rev. Angela Lewis, Canal District superintendent will preach the Friday morning service; and Rev. Dr. David Palmer, Kent First UMC senior pastor, will preach the Saturday morning service.
Dr. David Field, the Ecumenical staff officer for Faith & Order and Theological Dialogue for the Council of Bishops of The UMC, will lead a teaching component exploring the teachings and practices of our Christian faith that underscore our core theological convictions as United Methodists.
This year’s conference offering will benefit EOC Volunteers in Mission (Fund 9643), Heart 4 the City in Akron (Fund 9941), and the Bishop’s Discretionary Fund.
View each session and service on the AC 2023 website.
“I am United Methodist because I was born into it, but I remain United Methodist because in the last 2,000 years there has been no greater force for change in society then the Church. In my role with the Methodist Foundation of Ohio I have traveled to Liberia and seen villages receive clean water for the first time or seen midwives receive medical training they had never had before,” said Pastor Brian Sheetz, executive director of the Methodist Foundation of Ohio.
He is one of many East Ohio Conference laity and clergy sharing the ways our denomination is making a daily difference in their lives and in their ministries.
E-mail Brett Hetherington, EOC Communications specialist, to arrange a time to share your #BeUMC story of the ways your life is being transformed through the ministries of The United Methodist Church.
View #BeUMC stories & the EOC #BeUMC website.
Each episode of our East Ohio Conference podcast, Storyboard: Faith Witness Transformation, explores what it means to #BeUMC.
Episode 11 is titled “Influence, Connection and Impact: Annual Conference Offering Challenge”. Annual Conference is June 8-10, and this episode revisits a challenge given by Bishop Tracy S. Malone’s to the churches of the East Ohio Conference to give generously to this year’s Annual Conference Offering.
The Connectional Ministries team is expanding to better resource and equip local churches in their ministry to and with the youth and young people of their respective congregations and the communities they serve. Pastor Christy Suffecool of Mt. Tabor UMC (Tuscarawas District) in East Canton and Tim Beck of Wadsworth UMC (Canal District) will join the Connectional Ministries office team as co-directors of Young People’s Ministries on July 1.
Executive Director of Connectional Ministries Rev. Ed Fashbaugh said that the decision to move from one full-time to two part-time staff members is the result of reimagining the role of the Young People’s Ministries director to better serve churches that are challenged with reaching more younger and diverse people.
“What is exciting about this shift is that God has brought us two people who love Jesus and are passionate about young people's ministries but are wonderfully diverse in their own rights. Between the two of them they have experienced youth ministry in many different settings and contexts, and together they bring a wealth of experience and knowledge. I am excited to have Christy and Tim join our team!” he said.
The primary mission of the Young People’s Ministries co-directors will be resourcing and assisting local churches, districts, and the East Ohio Conference in assessing and removing barriers to the full inclusion of young people in the life and ministry of the Church. They will also assist in developing strategies and resources for leadership development training, continue building upon existing Young People’s Ministries networks and teams, and ensure the resources of Conference Council on Youth Ministries (CCYM), Young Adult Ministry, and the Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry align with our shared EOC vision.
LIGHTHOUSE CHURCHES: Are you on a pilgrimage searching for a new church to call home? We invite you to visit a Lighthouse church near you. These are congregations dedicated to The United Methodist Church that welcome those seeking a new church home. Find a Lighthouse church in your area.
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.
RE-DISTRICTING WEBINAR: EOC laity and clergy participated in a recent webinar to learn more about the proposal to Annual Conference 2023 to re-district from 10 to four districts effective January 1, 2024. Read the Re-Districting Proposal and view the re-districting informational webinar.
DISASTER RESPONSE: United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is working with disaster coordinators and Early Response Teams (ERT) in annual conferences across the denomination to assist local churches in responding to tornados, hurricanes, storms, and other disasters. Learn how you can help.
Search www.eocumc.com
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