“As I begin my second Annual Conference in the Ohio Episcopal Area, I give thanks to God. We have come this far not by our strength, but by the abundant grace of God. The Lord has held us, guided us, and fed us with the bread of life, even in wilderness places,” said Bishop Hee-Soo Jung in his Service of Commemoration and Holy Communion message.
“But today we do not gather only to begin. We gather to remember. And we gather to celebrate the grace of God that is stronger than death, deeper than grief, and wider than all our wounds. We remember beloved saints, clergy, lay leaders, colleagues, family members, and friends who have gone before us into the embrace of God. To all who come carrying the name and memory of someone you love, we offer compassion, prayer, and hope,” said Bishop Jung.
The 57th session of East Ohio Annual Conference began with a video celebrating the abundant grace of the ministries of congregations, individuals, and faith communities, across the Ohio Episcopal Area of the East Ohio and West Ohio Conferences.
Day One business includes voting on the Leadership Recruitment Committee report, introducing the proposed 2027 Conference budget, receiving the Annual Conference offering, and presentations from the Office of Discipleship Ministries, from the Office of Fresh Starts and New Beginnings, and from Mission Engagement, among many others.
The body also was scheduled to receive an update from the Ohio Episcopal Area Task Team, which is listening, discussing, and discerning about forming a new, unified Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church.
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 83 "Disciple Making: Church Redevelopment and Revitalization" features Rev. Jon Priebe, Rev. Joy Fenton-Jones, Rev. Beth Ortiz, and Eric Kinaitis engaging in conversation about the building redevelopment ministry of Church Square, based in Cuyahoga Falls.
“Having building redevelopment under revitalization might be a mental shift for some people, and it takes a really deep amount of discipleship at the beginning because it really involves looking at everything differently from your building to your church to how you do life together,” Ortiz said.
Priebe shared that “it’s interesting to think back about the process that led to who we are today and what we’re trying to do. Obviously the creative redevelopment of our building spaces into new things that can both generate revenue and meet new community needs that we’re not touching as well right now is a key piece of it.”
Listen to previous Storyboard podcast episodes.
View clergy and laity sharing their #BeUMC stories.
All clergy, laity, congregations, and ministry settings across the Ohio Episcopal Area are invited to participate in the Bishop’s Missional Appeal for the Scranton Memorial Mission Center and Church. This center will honor the memory, sacrifice, and missionary vision of William and Mary Scranton while inspiring future generations for mission in Korea and around the world.
Methodist Episcopal churches in Ohio sent Mary F. Scranton and Dr. William B. Scranton to Korea 140 years ago to share the grace and love of God in Jesus Christ. Their faithful witness planted a seed of mission that has grown into a great harvest of churches, schools, hospitals, Christian leaders, and global mission. Today, the Korean Methodist Church continues to bear the fruit of that sacred gospel partnership.
A central part of this history is East Gate Methodist Church, founded through the ministry of Dr. William B. Scranton. For Korean Methodists, this church has long been cherished as one of the sacred birthplaces of Korean Methodism and as a living testimony to the Ohio–Korea mission connection.
In recent years, the original site of East Gate Methodist Church was returned to the City of Seoul as part of a public project to preserve and restore the historic Seoul City Wall near the East Gate. While this project honors an important part of Korea’s cultural heritage, it also resulted in the loss of a sacred Methodist site connected to the Scranton legacy and the earliest history of Korean Methodism. The Seoul Annual Conference of the Korean Methodist Church has purchased land nearby. The Scranton Memorial Mission Center and Church are now being developed. The cost of the project is valued at approximately $16 million.
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.
FIVE STRATEGIC PILLARS: emerged from conversations Bishop Jung has had with local churches across the Ohio Episcopal Area. They offer a shared vision and spiritual framework to guide our life together as “One Ohio” – rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and led by the Holy Spirit. Learn about the Five Pillars.
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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