Bishop Hee-Soo Jung is grateful to announce the appointment of the Rev. Dr. Bill Liming to the East Ohio Conference Cabinet. He will serve as superintendent of the Central Valley District effective July 1.
"I have felt the steadiness of the Holy Spirit from the time I was a child in both seasons of joy and seasons of great difficulty,” said Liming, who felt the call to ministry at the age of 14. “I can't imagine where I would be today without the loving presence of Christ. It is our Savior Jesus Christ who strengthens us daily and opens doors of life we could have never imagined. I am excited about this new season serving in a new way. May our lives bear witness to what only God can do in our faithful churches of East Ohio!"
Bishop Jung said, “Bill brings a deep calling to ministry, a pastor’s heart shaped by faithful service in local churches, and trusted wisdom through his leadership across our Conference. He leads with spiritual depth and grace, building empathetic and authentic relationships with clergy and lay leaders alike. I am confident his leadership will help strengthen the body of Christ for the mission before us.”
Liming’s first appointment in the East Ohio Conference was as associate pastor of Lakewood UMC in 2001. After six years in Lakewood, he served as pastor of Willowick Shoregate UMC for six years, and then Tallmadge UMC for three. He has served as senior pastor of Montrose Zion UMC since 2016.
Throughout his ministry, Liming has served on district committees, including Finance, Mission Funding and Evaluation, and district Committees on Ministry. He also served on the Conference Board of Benefits for 16 years, chairing the Board for the last seven years.
Read the release in its entirety.
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 75 "Belonging & Inclusion: Embodying Black History Beyond February" is a conversation with Rev. Leo Cunningham of Toledo St. Paul’s UMC, Pastor Tennille Power of North Olmsted and Rockport UMCs, and Multicultural Ministries Director Will Fenton-Jones.
“This year I was thinking how do we slow down and ask, ‘How does Black History Month become more than just remembering the past but something that shapes who we are right now?’” Fenton-Jones shared.
“You start by acknowledging it (Black history) and bringing it to the forefront, by becoming a fabric of worship and liturgy for the year. That’s where it begins,” Power offered.
Cunningham said, “For me the Black Church has always been that we see the world for what it is, but we also see the world for what it could be, and we have hope that because of God, it’s going to get better.”
Listen to previous Storyboard podcast episodes.
View clergy and laity sharing their #BeUMC stories.
Bishop Hee-Soo Jung will host days in the districts in February and March. Participants at each gathering will connect around the Five Strategic Pillars of the Ohio Episcopal Area 2026 Missional Direction.
Make plans to attend whichever of these five days fits best with your schedule, even if it is not the day that will be in your district:
Western Lakes & Maumee River Districts
Saturday, February 21 @ Lima Shawnee UMC
South Forest & Hocking River Districts
Thursday, February 26 @ Zanesville Grace UMC
West Plains & Olentangy River Districts
Wednesday, March 4 @ Lexington Church of the Cross
Scioto River & Great Miami River Districts
Saturday, March 7 @ Resurrection Mason UMC
Northern Waters & Central Valley Districts
Saturday, March 14 @ North Canton Faith UMC
Clergy will gather at 9:00 a.m. for 9:30 a.m. worship followed by a Bible study led by Bishop Jung.
Laity should arrive at 11:00 a.m. for a training session on laity leadership skills led by Julie Carter, director of Faith Formation & Lay Ministries. Laity who will travel with their pastor are invited to the 9:30 a.m. worship service.
Clergy and laity will eat lunch together at noon followed at 1:00 p.m. by a discussion with Bishop Jung and Conference leadership around the Five Strategic Pillars of the Ohio Episcopal Area 2026 Missional Direction.Learn about Bishop Jung’s Days in the Districts.
Register for each of the Days in the Districts.
MESSAGES FROM OUR EPISCOPAL LEADER: Bishop Hee-Soo Jung is resident bishop of the Ohio Episcopal Area consisting of the East Ohio and West Ohio Conferences of The United Methodist Church. View Bishop Jung’s Soul Food messages to Ohio laity and clergy.
OHIO EPISCOPAL AREA TASK TEAM:
Bishop Hee-Soo Jung formed the task team of East and West Ohio clergy and laity to actively listen, discuss, and discern about forming a new, unified Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church. Learn more about the Ohio Episcopal Area Task Team.
UMC STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN: GCFA, Discipleship Ministries and UM Communications have collaborated to educate and resource churches about the positive impact apportionments make on how we minister to those in need. Learn about apportionments and the United In Impact campaign.
EOC STANDS AGAINST RACISM: Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, the Cabinet, Executive staff, and East Ohio 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.
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