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BISHOP'S OFFICE

Toward a New Day: Praying and Discerning Together

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” - Isaiah 43:19a (NIV)

Nearly two years have passed since I was assigned to serve East Ohio and West Ohio together as one episcopal area. During that time, I have been deeply grateful for the growing cooperation, shared ministries and relationships that have developed across our two annual conferences.

As we continue the journey toward One Ohio, many faithful questions remain. What will this mean for our churches? How will it strengthen our mission? What opportunities and challenges will it bring?

These questions deserve clear information, open conversation, and careful spiritual discernment.

In the coming months, the Ohio Episcopal Area Task Team will continue to share accurate information and emerging proposals as transparently as possible. We will continue listening to clergy, laity, congregations, and leaders across both conferences, seeking to understand not only what may be organizationally possible, but also what will best strengthen the mission of Jesus Christ throughout Ohio.

In 2027, the East Ohio and West Ohio Annual Conferences will consider and vote on proposals that emerge from this process. That will be an important milestone, but it is not the mission itself.

Our deeper question is:
What kind of Church is God calling us to become?

Our shared Five Pillars – Building Relationships; Shared Mission; Discipleship; Multiplication; and Emerging Leaders – are intended to help us keep that larger mission before us.

We must continually ask whether our structures, leadership, and resources are helping local churches become stronger and more fruitful; whether new disciples and faith communities are emerging; whether leaders are being equipped and renewed; and whether our neighbors are encountering Jesus Christ through our friendship, service, compassion and witness.

For me, this is the heart of the One Ohio journey.

It is not simply about bringing two conferences together. It is about discovering how we can serve Christ’s mission more faithfully together. That is why I am asking all of us to pray.

Let us listen to those who are hopeful and to those who have concerns. Let us listen across generations, cultures, communities, and theological perspectives. Beneath all these voices, let us listen for the movement of the Holy Spirit.

I will continue to listen, ask questions, and seek with you the clearest and most faithful path toward the future God is opening before us.

I believe our future can be bright – not simply because we find the right structure, but because we remain rooted in Christ, open to the Spirit, attentive to our neighbors and willing to walk together.

Isaiah reminds us that God is already at work:
“See, I am doing a new thing!”

May we have eyes to perceive it, ears to hear one another, hearts open to the Spirit, and courage to walk together into God’s new day.

Please pray with me for our Task Team, our leaders, our congregations, our 2027 Annual Conferences, and the whole United Methodist witness across Ohio.

May everything we discern and decide bear good fruit for the mission of Jesus Christ.