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 76 "Experience of God Through The UMC: Ministering in Cooperation" features clergy and laity from two East Ohio cooperative parishes.
“You have a unique opportunity to participate in the other churches’ ministries, building a ministry together, getting to know the different people. I just think it makes a stronger United Methodist Church that way,” said Peggy Sutherin of the Faith United Cooperative in the Central Valley District.
“We’ve spent a lot of time in The United Methodist Church in recent years kind of living in standalone churches and that’s not really our system. We are a connectional system and so cooperative parishes in my opinion make the most sense for us if you look back at the models of our history. I like to remind folks that this is who we are in our DNA,” shared pastor Charlene Thomas of the 5 Points Parish in the West Plains District.
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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