Office of Connectional Ministries

The Book of Discipline characterizes the work of the Office of Connectional Ministries as serving as the “steward of the vision” of the annual conference, charged with aligning the total resources of the conference with its vision and with enabling the “connections among the local, district, annual conference, and general church ministries.”

The Office of Connectional Ministries serves as the centering point for the program ministry boards and committees of the West Ohio Conference to fulfill this mission. Through this Office, we link local churches and districts with the conference by providing resources, leadership, promotion, and support. Connectional Ministries encompasses ministry areas in which our staff lead efforts: Director of Engagement with Children, Youth, and Young Adults; Director of Faith Formation & Lay Ministries; Director of Multicultural Ministries; and our Director of Mission Engagement. (See reports.)

Other ministry areas depend primarily on boards, committees, and volunteer teams elected by the Annual Conference. They include Diversity & Inclusion, Just-Mission, Leadership Development, Camps & Retreats, and All in Community. 

We also coordinated opportunities through our Global Mission Partnerships, which are United Methodist-related ministries with which West Ohio has a mutual relationship of respect. West Ohio’s mission partners generate an amazing number and variety of outreach ministries. Aviation ministries, clinics and hospitals, leadership development, home churches, youth programs, and children’s homes are just a few of the ministries our partners are involved in.  

Contact Rev. Karen Cook at kcook@wocumc.org or 380-223-9356 for more information.