Task Team Explores Forming a New, Unified Ohio Conference of The UMC
In early 2025, Bishop Hee-Soo Jung announced the creation of the Ohio Episcopal Area Task Team which has eight members and two ex-officio staff members from each of the East Ohio and West Ohio Conferences. The role of the Task team is to listen, discuss, and discern about forming a new, unified Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church.
“God is calling us into this new strategic journey together. This task team has been prayerfully selected—each person strong in faith and deeply committed to The United Methodist Church. They are organized for this important work,” Bishop Jung said.
Rev. Doug Anderson, who is serving as the team’s consultant, is well known in both East and West Ohio. Over the years, he has led multiple workshops and seminars in both conferences, including a two-year comprehensive church development process and Church by Size seminars.
In his presentation to Annual Conference is 2025, Anderson said, "The decision to create a new Annual Conference is not made by the task team, the cabinets, or the bishop. That decision will be made by the Annual Conferences themselves in 2027."
Ohio Episcopal Area Task Team Members
East Ohio Conference:
- Rev. Armando Arellano
- Rev. Dianne Tobey Covault
- Thomas Lewis
- Rev. Hyeran Yu
- Rev. Heidi Welch (Episcopacy Committee Chair)
- Rev. Steve Stultz Costello (CFA Chair)
- Rev. Randy May (Trustees President)
- Kimberly Green (Conference Lay Leader)
Ex-Officio Members:
- Rev. Ed Peterson (Executive Assistant to the Bishop)
- Vera Milanovic (Executive Director of Financial & Administrative Services)
West Ohio Conference:
- Daniel Cardenas
- Rev. Leroy Chambliss
- Janet George
- Catherine Kang
- Rev. Wade Giffin (Episcopacy Committee Chair)
- David Scott (CFA Chair)
- Julie Hurtig (Trustees Chair)
- Leslie Hall (Conference Lay Leader)
Ex-Officio Members:
- Rev. Linda Middelberg (Executive Assistant to the Bishop)
- Bill Brownson (Chief Financial Officer/Director of Administration)
For more information, click here to read the Ohio Episcopal Area Task Team pamphlet:
“Let us offer our prayers that the Spirit will lead this team to cast a vision for a strong, new United Methodist Church in Ohio,” Bishop Jung said.
As the Ohio Episcopal Area Task Team begins its work, Bishop Jung has written this prayer for use by individuals and congregations:
“Loving God, Bless us to seek God's renewing presence and love. Guide The United Methodist Church in Ohio land to rise again with dynamic love, bold vision, and a mission to transform the world.”
Ohio Episcopal Area Task Team References and Resources: