News
Tuesday, Jun 30, 2020
About this time last year, my husband and I (both clergy) were unpacking boxes in our new home in a new district. We were serving the same church but were excited about different opportunities that might come with the move.
While meeting with my new District Superintendent, I was told about an open position that sounded a lot like what I had been praying for. A month later, I was sitting in a conference room for my interview. As the interview was coming to a cl... (read more)
Tuesday, Jun 30, 2020
After COVID-19 hit, our family was disappointed that vacation plans had to be canceled. We were excited to see that Camp Wesley was offering a socially-distanced Family Camp. Our experience exceeded our expectations! Ashlee, the Camp Wesley director, was there to guide our time and keep us safe while we enjoyed paddle boarding, lake swimming on Adventure Island, and canoeing. We also enjoyed being unplugged with our family as we fished, played nine square, bask... (read more)
Tuesday, Jun 30, 2020
Two college students are building an international partnership that they hope will help to fill major gaps in the delivery of primary health care to millions of people on the continent of Africa.
Munyaradzi Chakonda, a freshman business management major at Africa University, and Jon Schulder, a sophomore history major at Yale University, met at Yale in 2017. Both were participating in the Yale Young Global Scholars program. Since then, they have co-founded a co... (read more)
Thursday, Jun 25, 2020
By Sam Rodriguez, West Ohio Director of Faith Formation and Community Engagement
One of the books in my seminary Church Planting course was titled, A Church for Every Context, by Mike Moynaugh. In it, the author states that:
“Church no longer has the option, if it ever had, of relating to people as if they were all the same…Contextualizing the church is the attempt to be church in ways that are both faithful to Jesus and appropriate to the people the church ser... (read more)
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2020
Episode 4
Today’s episode of Faith and Works features Bishop Palmers’ conversation with Bishop William T. (Bill) McAlilly regarding a public letter from the Southeastern Jurisdiction Bishops. In part, it states “As White American Bishops, we stand up and stand with our Black Bishops in the Church who have consistently named and called out the systemic and sinful practice of discrimination that has been pervasive in the United States since the f... (read more)
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2020
In early May, the Rev. Curnell Graham and his leadership team planned a return to worship on June 7 in the parking lot of Christ United Methodist Church, Columbus.
The lead pastor of Christ UMC, Graham is a collaborator who loves to share gifts of worship. For this service, Graham partnered with a local gospel band, “4 His Purpose,” to lead the music for worship. “The Christ worship team lead and carried our Facebook Live worship for months,” Graham said. “This... (read more)
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2020
In our previous edition of Newsnet, we shared how West Ohio United Methodists have been moved to participate in peaceful protests and in the ministry of presence. This week we complete our two-part series of the incredible witness of West Ohio leadership during tense, yet hopeful times of change.
Columbus Couple Blankets City in Prayer
In the parking lot of Wesley Church of Hope United Methodist Church, Columbus, you can find Myrissa Ferguson fervently praying... (read more)
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2020
What was once a dream is now a reality.
Lupandilo Hospital in Kamina, Democratic Republic of Congo, is filled with new beds, supplies and equipment. Doctors and nurses have the tools they need for the ministry to which they have been called and trained. Babies are delivered, surgeries are performed and patients are diagnosed and treated for a wide variety of illnesses.
Bishop Mande Muyombo of the North Katanga Annual Conference of the North Katanga Episcopal Ar... (read more)
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2020
Pivot. Adjust. Adapt. Yeah, yeah. But how, when you can’t even go inside?
On Thursday, July 16, 12:00-1:30 pm, join our panel of practitioners who have led the way in shifting their models for ministry and programming so they can continue serving those inside our Ohio prisons. Including ODRC administrators, our panel will provide guidance and tips for sustaining efforts from the outside in, building capacity for remote engagement, and what you should be thinkin... (read more)
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2020
Last week, in the episode of Faith & Works: Conversations that move us to action, we heard from West Ohio Conference Lay Leader, Mitchell Harper. This week we feature an essay of Harper’s reflections of these times of tension and change. Harper represents more than 140,000 laity in the West Ohio Conference.