Clergy and ministry leaders from the East Ohio and West Ohio Conferences will gather Aug. 31-Sept. 2 at Kalahari Resort and Convention Center in Sandusky for the 2026 All-Ohio School of Ministry, a three-day event centered on worship, learning, reflection and renewal. The theme, “You Feed Them,” invites participants to consider how the Church is called to respond faithfully in a time of uncertainty.
Featured speaker Rev. Dr. Elaine Heath will lead three plenary sessions during the event. Heath is an ordained United Methodist elder, author and theologian who serves as abbess at Spring Forest in North Carolina and formerly served as dean of Duke Divinity School and professor at Perkins School of Theology. Her work focuses on spiritual formation, healing, and the renewal of the Church.
Registration is $50 per person, and participants handle their own hotel accommodations.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS JULY 31.
Reserve a room at Kalahari Resort
Agenda
East and West Ohio Conferences
August 31, 2026
10:30 a.m. – Check-in; Lunch available (10:30 a.m.–12 Noon)
12:00 p.m. – Opening Worship with Communion
1:30 p.m. – Opening Plenary
Rev. Elaine Heath
3:15 p.m. – Break
3:30 p.m. – Breakout Groups
Led by Rev. Barry Burns and Rev. Nathan Howe (Rev. Jon Prieve)
5:00 p.m. – Fellowship Dinner & Optional Game Night
Coordinated by Rev. Beth Ortiz and Rev. Matt Overman
September 1, 2026
9:00 a.m. – Worship Service
Remembering One’s Baptism and Call to Service
10:00 a.m. – Second Session with Rev. Elaine Heath
12:00 p.m. – Small Group Talks over Lunch
1:30 p.m. – Fun & Fellowship Opportunities
Coordinated by Rev. Beth Ortiz and Rev. Matt Overman
3:00 p.m. – Break (15 minutes)
3:15 p.m. – Orders Gather for Information Sharing & Panel Discussions
- Elders: Redefining the Call to Elder, Identity, Workload, Balance, and Self-Care
EOC Chairperson: Rev. Kimberly Arbaugh
WOC Chairperson: Dr. Paul Risler
- Deacons: Living Fully into the Varying Roles and Work of Deacons, Balancing Work and Self-Care
EOC Chairperson: Rev. Carrie Antczak
WOC Vice Chairperson: Rev. Matt Overman
- Local Pastors & Associate Members: Understanding Changes from the May 2024 General Conference; Flexibility & Constraints of Local Pastors and Associate Members; Managing Expectations and Self-Care
EOC Chairperson: Rev. Jeri Johnson and Rev. Peter Hamm
5:00 p.m. – Dinner
6:00 p.m. – Large Group Gathering with Bishop Jung
Episcopal Reflections on Second Year in Ohio Land: Learnings, Vision, and Next Steps; Review Preliminary Findings of the Joint Task Force for Uniting Annual Conferences.
September 2, 2026
9:15 a.m. – Devotions
9:30 a.m. – Third Session with Rev. Elaine Heath
10:30 a.m. – Stretch Break (5 minutes)
10:35 a.m. – Reflections from Bishop & Assistants to the Bishop
WOC, Rev. Linda Middelberg
EOC, Rev. Ed Peterson
11:30 a.m. – Closing Worship with Communion