The United Methodist Church is in mission from everywhere, to everywhere! Each day of the month, we invite you to join the West Ohio Conference in holding these ministries and missionaries in prayer…

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all, making my prayer with joy, thankful for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

- Philippians 1:3-5

Click on a link to learn more about that ministry or missionary!

Bishop Hee-Soo Jung has named the members of the Ohio Episcopal Area Task Team and the consultant who will facilitate its work. The team consists of eight members and two ex-officio staff members from both the East Ohio and West Ohio Conferences. Their role is to actively listen, discuss, discern, and make recommendations to form 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 will serve 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.

“My role as consultant is to facilitate discussions with a variety of leaders from both conferences. These conversations will focus on building relationships and trust. That trust will enable openness and honesty, allowing clarity of God’s call to emerge,” Anderson said.

Anderson is currently serving a local church in the Indiana Conference and is in his 55th year of ministry. Previously, he served as the founding Executive Director of the Bishop Rueben Job Center for Leadership Development for 15 years. He and his wife of 52 years have four children, nine grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

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)

Bishop Jung is eager for the work to begin and anticipates a vision-driven process with strategic resolution within the next three years.

“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.”

Job 38:1-2, 4a: "Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, 'Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?...Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?'"

In September of 2017, Hurricane Maria devastated the island of Puerto Rico, causing $90 billion of damage. The powerful Category 4 storm destroyed 80% of the island’s crops, started the longest blackout in U.S. history, and led to over 3,000 deaths. Yet, it was just one of three major hurricanes to hit Puerto Rico in the last seven years, and climate scientists expect more to come.

In 2022, United Methodist pastor and videographer Ryan Grace went to the island to see how Methodist volunteers and churches were working to rebuild after the storm. Ryan and his wife, Mariellyn, a West Ohio staff member, met with church and local leaders and began to see that many people were not just trying to rebuild Puerto Rico, but to make it stronger. A Methodist camp high in the interior mountains had replaced its roofs and buried their new electric cables. The Methodist Church of Puerto Rico had converted their conference center into a solar-powered shelter for future storms. A local farmer started using green techniques to grow organic foods while incorporating terraced crops as a natural buffer against future mudslides. Homeowners and church leaders celebrated the thousands of houses that had been rebuilt.

Out of the whirlwind of Hurricane Maria, the people of Puerto Rico recognized that climate change is a matter of life and death. Together, they are seeking to create a more sustainable future for themselves and their families. Out of the Whirlwind: Disaster Response in Puerto Rico explores the damage inflicted by just one disaster, examines the socioeconomic conditions that contributed to the human toll, and challenges us to consider the global implications of rising temperatures that make extreme weather events more common and more severe. The documentary tells just a few of the island’s stories…and invites us all to learn lessons from the resilient people who have worked so hard to rebuild their lives.

The 'Out of the Whirlwind' documentary, which focuses on hurricanes, disaster response, and climate change in Puerto Rico, is now available to churches and other groups. Contact mgrace@wocumc.org for more information.

“And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.” – Mark 1:12-13 (NRSVA)

This year I invite us all to give more time and attention to what makes us faithful Christian disciples. Our challenge is to enter into a wilderness time with Jesus, to give Jesus our companionship throughout the weeks leading to Easter. Day-by-day, step-by-step we journey into wilderness – a place that is unfamiliar, dangerous, challenging, unknown, and filled with temptations. This is an invitation to make a conscious and intentional decision to go places that might be uncomfortable, threatening, frightening, or overwhelming for some, but we all enter in knowing that “angels wait on us,” and protect us.

This wilderness region stands between us, where we are now, and true and foundational beloved community, where God is calling us. Our current reality is that we tend to stay where we are most comfortable, where things are familiar, seem safe, secure, and normal. But one of the “beasts” we will encounter in our wilderness journey is normativity – the deceptive perspective that what is normal, comfortable, and beneficial for us is also normal for everyone else. In the glorious and divine creation of God, where the global community is one of widely diverse cultures, rituals, practices, values, moralities, preferences and tastes, there is simply no one-size-fits-all normal for everyone.

There are many significant challenges to such an audacious and ambitious goal, and we will encounter many of them in this Lenten season together. For many of us, we may feel threatened and discomforted by such phrases and concepts as racism, white privilege, white supremacy, colonialism, oppression, and racially based injustice. We may feel our defenses rise, we may even be offended and alarmed. This is what happens in the wilderness. Wilderness is never a safe place, but we must enter and cross the wilderness if we ever want to arrive at the Promised Land of Beloved Community.

It is true that humanity is seriously suffering from environmental and ecological problems and is suffering greatly. Of course, it is not easy for us, who live in a consumer culture, to talk about the preservation of the ecosystem and justice for all creatures. Our prayer for a green theology and our confession of faith that everyone is called to preserve God’s creation is a reality that demands urgent practice. It is precious that we pray for and care about justice for all creatures, along with the invitation to walk the actual path of the wilderness during this Lenten season. As vibrant church communities across Ohio stand as earth stewards for the preservation of creation, praying and learning together, this is one of the ways God wants us to preserve justice.

I am deeply moved to see our church open pantries for the homeless and the poor, regularly prepare and provide food, and extend God’s love to those who are left behind in the gaps of social injustice. The impactful mission of providing food, neatly organizing clothes, and providing free shelter for the poor neighbors is a proud practice of discipleship. I am grateful for this participation and prayer, and I am strengthened by meeting volunteers who are unconditionally committed and serving.

Our journey will be uncomfortable, offensive to some, and challenging to all. We openly and honestly admit this up front. But this is an important journey – an essential and inescapable journey – for The United Methodist Church to be faithful to its bedrock commitment to social justice through the unconditional love of God for all God’s people. Keep in mind that we make this journey with the angels, the emissaries of God who will keep us grounded in God’s Word and Will throughout our days.

“See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone’s work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” – Revelations 22:12-13 (NRSVA)

This Lenten season will be a prayerful time, a discerning time, a time for individual introspection as well as shared conversation. It is my prayer and desire that in this journey we will all feel God’s guiding hand and empowering Spirit, and that we will arrive together at a greater, deeper, and wider understanding of what it means to be a citizen in the Beloved Community of our Lord.

Helping Young Adults and College Students Stay Connected

Taking a step of independence, being on their own, going off to college and away from home is a monumental moment for so many young adults. The list of changes is enormous and list of options is even greater. This can be exciting and stressful for young people all at the same time.

Coming of age and getting to make all your own decisions is part of what young people crave. Others have made their life decision for them: where the live, eat, learn, believe and how they survived. Now they get to make so many of those decisions on their own.

We forget sometimes the important roles mentors, youth leaders, pastors, Sunday school teachers and church support systems continue to play in their lives. Having played a part in revealing faith and giving examples of living out faith, what is the next step for these mentors while their important young adults learn to be on their own?

Research reveals that a local church maintaining connection with their young people in college or when they are just starting out is one of the most crucial pieces in helping them to continue their faith journey through these exploring years. When they know there is a community who loves them, cares about them and is there for them, they realize that the examples modeled by their mentors continues even when not physically present. Ongoing connection with them communicates that the baptismal vows they took on that sacred day or who others took on their behalf continues to be lived out and were not temporary.

What are some ways you can stay connected with young adults beginning a new chapter after high school? Send them a card, text message, email - send a care package before finals, for their birthday or "just because." For other great ideas, read this article.

If they are going to college, connecting them to a UMC Campus Ministry is also significant. Below are some campus ministries in our conference. For help finding a connection at a university not listed, reach out to Rev. Becky Motter, Executive Director of the Wesley Foundation in Cincinnati. 

Bowling Green State University - Rev. Andrea Curry: revandreacurry@gmail.com / 419.353.9031

Heidelberg University - Rev. Paul Stark: pstark@heidelberg.edu / 419.448.2066

Ohio Northern Univeristy - Rev. David MacDonald: d-macdonald@onu.edu

The Ohio State Univeristy, Kinship Campus Ministry - Gwendalyn DeRosa: gwendolyn.derosa@gmail.com

University of Cincinnati, Wesley Foundation - Rev. Becky Schofield Motter / 513.861.2929

In Fall, 2025, Task Team members will serve as conveners of work groups consisting of Conference staff/leadership as resource members and up to 10 clergy/laity representing both East and West Ohio. Members of the 19 groups will begin by creating a picture of what a new conference would look like in their respective area and how it would contribute to our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The groups are listed below:

1. Leadership Development, including Clergy and Laity
   Team Convener – Kimberly Green
   Staff Resource Persons
   Rev. Donnetta Peaks
   Rev. Karen Cook
   Rev. Ed Fashbaugh
   
2. Church Development, including revitalization, new ministry/church starts, ongoing education, and circuits.
   Team Convener – Rev. Leroy Chambliss
   Staff Resource Persons
   Rev. Beth Ortiz
   Brad Aycock
   Rev. Sara Thomas
   
3. Ministry with Young People Development, including camps.
   Team Convener – Thomas Lewis
   Staff Resource Persons
   Rev. Karen Cook
   Rev. Ed Fashbaugh
   
4. Joint Missional Development with priorities and objectives for both local and global missions.
   Team Convener – Rev. Hyeran Lee Yu
   Staff Resource Persons
   Rev. Karen Cook
   Rev. Ed Fashbaugh
   
5. Redistricting
   Team Convener – Catherine Kang (kangcatherine1@gmail.com)
   Staff Resource Persons
   Rev. Mark Chow
   Rev. Angela Lewis
   
6. Appointment making including minimum salaries, moving expenses, profiles, and itineracy.
   Team Convener – Rev. Heidi Welch
   Staff Resource Persons
   Rev. Mark Chow
   Rev. Angela Lewis
   
7. Clergy Benefits including how to bill churches for health care.
   Team Convener – Rev. Armando Areliano
   Staff Resources
   Grace Welch
   Robin Whitacre
   
8. Database and reporting needs for all departments, including how data will be entered, edited, and retrieved.
   Team Convener – Leslie Hall
   Staff Resources
   Brenda Vacarro
   Jill Philipp
   
9. Financial Reporting Needs
   Team Convener – Rev. Steve Stultz Costello
   Staff Resources
   Bill Brownson
   Vera Milanovic
   
10. Property considerations, including the Episcopal Residence, Closed Church Property, and Office Needs
    Team Convener – Rev. Randy May
    Leadership Resources
    Bill Brownson
    Julie Hurtig
    Vera Milanovic
    Randy May
    
11. Legal Considerations
    Team Convener
    Leadership Resources
    Rev. Ed Peterson
    Rev. Linda Middelberg
    Conference Chancellors
    
12. Staffing
    Team Convener – Rev. Ed Peterson
    Staff Resources
    Rev. Ed Peterson
    Rev. Linda Middelberg
    
13. Communications, both the Communications Department going forward and Communications to the Annual Conferences of our progress.
    Team Convener – Janet George
    Staff Resources
    Kay Panovec
    Rick Wolcott
    
14. Technology including networks, emails, website, and systems.
    Team Convener – Wade Giffin
    Staff Resources
    Rick Wolcott
    Steven Schneider
    
15. Affiliated Organizations
    Team Convener – Julie Hurtig
    Staff Resources
    Rev. Ed Fashbaugh
    Bill Brownson
    
16. Foundations
    Team Convener – Bill Brownson
    Staff Resources
    Brian Sheetz
    Susan Black
    
17. Board of Ministries
    Team Convener – Rev. Diane Tobey Covault
    Leadership Resources
    Rev. Donnetta Peaks
    Rev. Jon Priebe
    Rev. Barry Burns
    
18. Nominations/Leadership structure
    Team Convener – Rev. Linda Middelberg
    Staff Resources
    Rev. Ed Fashbaugh
    Rev. Karen Cook
    
19. Apportionments
    Team Convener – David Scott
    Staff Resources
    Bill Brownson
    Vera Milanovic
    

Due to security reasons, please refer to the East Ohio Conference staff directory and the West Ohio Conference staff directory to send your comments and suggestions.

As high school graduates and young adults prepare for college and other opportunities, campus ministers in West Ohio offer resources for this transition. The United Methodist connection supports young adults interested in faith communities as they begin their studies.

Whether students attend a university, college, or trade program, UMC churches and campus ministries offer a place of connection, belonging, and spiritual support.

If you know a young adult who may benefit from this connection, click here to complete this form with their name and contact information, and one of the campus ministers can contact them directly.

Collegiate Ministry Contacts

Bowling Green University- UMSO Marie Rittenberry (marie.rittenberry@gmail.com)

Bluffton University- Refuge 461-Rev. Marcella Ciccotelli (umcpastormarcella@gmail.com)

Central State University-Interfaith Ministry-Rev. Kima Cunningham (kima@mikeandkima.org)

Miami University-Wesley Foundation-Rev. Katie Steele (katie@wesleyuc.org)

Ohio Northern University-Campus Chaplain-Rev Brandi Grant Rigsby (d-macdonald@onu.edu)

Ohio State University-Ohio State University

Short North @ Ohio State-Rev. Hannah VanMeter (hvanmeter@shortnorthchurch.org)

Jacob’s Porch-Sammi Shivener (sammib929@gmail.com)

Ohio University-Impact-Linsay Hinze (linsaynhinze@gmail.com)

Wesley Foundation-Rev. Lucy Crawford (lucy@firstumc.org)

Ohio Wesleyan University-Campus Chaplain-Dr. Chad Johns (cejohns@owu.edu)

Otterbein University-Faith & Spiritual Life Coordinator-Rev. Lucy Kelly (associate@chmaster.org)

University of Cincinnati-Wesley Foundation-Rev. Becky Schofield-Motter (director@weselyuc.org)

and Jeff Snyder (jeffsnyder@wesleyuc.org)

Central Ohio Young Adult Ministry Contacts

King Ave UMC-Gwen DeRosa (Gwendolyn.derosa@gmail.com)

Bethel International UMC-Jalen Gipson (jgipson@mybethel.org)

Columbus Korean UMC-Rev. Kim Sun-young (Sykc31@gmail.com)

One hundred twenty laity from across Ohio came together August 15–16 for the Laity Convocation, a weekend of worship, workshops and community building. The event was held at Worthington United Methodist Church.

The theme, Rise Up Beloved, echoed the vision of The United Methodist Church: to form disciples of Jesus Christ who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections.

Throughout the convocation, East Ohio Lay Leader Kimberly Green and West Ohio Lay Leaders Christina Albrecht and Les Hall preached. Bishop Hee-Soo Jung led a Bible study, reminding participants that the church has endured the hardships of COVID-19 and disaffiliation but continues to move forward with hope.

“We’ve walked through COVID-19. We’ve walked through seasons of division and disaffiliation,” Bishop Jung said. “But in the wilderness, God is still shaping leaders — humble servants and courageous disciples for such a time as this.”

Participants represented congregations of all sizes, from cities to rural towns. In addition to worship and learning opportunities, attendees connected over meals, conversation and activities such as assembling “snackleboxes” filled with nuts, crackers and candy.

East Ohio Conference’s director of lay servant ministry, Deb Gilson, was thrilled with the event. A member of Moreland UMC in Wooster, Gilson said, “It was a wonderful opportunity for people from both East and West to fellowship together and make connections as we move into the future.”

Bill Bertler of Stonybrook United Methodist Church in Gahanna said the event helped renew old friendships and form new ones.

“Today was all about connections — connecting with each other, connecting with God. And seeing the commitment of all these people volunteering in their local churches, it was a great day,” Bartler said.

Rena Hamilton of Simpson United Methodist Church in Canton valued the opportunity to unite East and West Ohio laity.

“It was a wonderful way to meet new people and to bring both conferences together. I believe we are stronger when we work together. This is a great step for the people of Ohioland,” Hamilton said.

Karen Brentley of New Vision United Methodist Church in Cincinnati said the convocation offered fresh vision for the church.

“This was an awesome opportunity to share and learn more about the vision of The United Methodist Church and how the laity can work together to make the church stronger,” Brently said.

"God is still shaping leaders, humble servants and courageous disciples for such a time as this." Bishop Jung

Tuesday, 7.18.23

Fresh Starts <Urban Ministry> Exchange

Fresh Starts Exchanges are in-person collaborative spaces where people share, explore, and generate contextual ministry solutions together.  Each Exchange will feature guest practitioners in-person from the specific contexts.

Participants may choose either a morning session from 9am - noon or an afternoon session from 1-4pm to dialogue in community with each other.

To create more time and opportunity to Exchange, each session is limited to 20 people. Both clergy and laity are invited. A free opt-in lunch will be offered between 12-1 thanks to the Christian Family Credit Union.

Tickets are $40/person. Financial assistance is available, if needed. Please contact Terri McClain.

Special Guest for the Urban Ministry context is

• Rev. Faith Fowler, Cass Community UMC in Detroit, MI

Rev. Faith Fowler is the senior pastor of Cass Community United Methodist Church and the executive director of Cass Community Social Services, a large nonprofit in Detroit that serves more than 700,000 meals a year and houses about 300 homeless people per night alongside a day program, medical clinics, and a job center. She has been the director of Cass Community Social Services since 1994.

Fowler helped create the Tiny Homes Detroit project, Cass Community Publishing House, and Cass Green Industries, which produces the sustainable products sold by Cass Community Social Services.

Fowler graduated from Albion College and has received a Master of Divinity from Boston University School of Theology and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

Fowler felt the call to pastorship in junior high, but was told by her church's pastor that she was "wrong". Nonetheless, she studied religion and English at Albion College. To save enough money for a Master of Divinity degree from Boston University, she worked a full-time job at a children's care and rehabilitation facility, and a part-time job at a church youth program.

Fowler has also served as an adjunct professor at University of Michigan-Dearborn, a board member for the Cass Corridor Neighborhood Development Corporation, an advisory board member of the Detroit Area Agency on Aging, and chaired the Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Advisory Committee. She is the author of two books.

Floods. Hurricanes. Droughts. Wildfires.

In the summer of 2021, the people of Detroit were struck by a “100 Year Flood.” The flood of 2021 was the city’s 2nd historic flood in just 7 years. During the night, an electric water pump failed in Detroit’s historic Jefferson Chalmers District, which contributed to the severity of the disaster. By morning, thousands of homes were flooded with a combination of storm and sewer water. This 4-Session Bible Study invites you to read Noah’s story with new eyes; to examine the United Methodist Church’s teachings on Global Climate Stewardship; to explore the impact even one disaster can have on individual lives; and, to celebrate people who are coming up with creative ways to care for God’s Creation. More than anything, it is a call to recognize the role people are playing in the severe weather of our time…and what we can do to change it.

Questions? Want to continue the conversation?

Contact Mariellyn Grace at mgrace@wocumc.org.