Spring District Conference is scheduled for Saturday, April 22 at 11:00 a.m., hosted by Mt. Tabor UMC in East Canton.

Cara will be on vacation

March 18 - 25

Cara's Weekly Calendar

February 20: Sabbath

February 21: District Strategizing

February 22: District Strategizing

February 23: District Strategizing

February 24: District Strategizing

February 26: Worship on the District

“So, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation ...” 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (NRSV)

Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ!

It gives me joy to share that the creative regional superintendency models piloted in the Ohio Valley District and the Firelands District in July 2022 are structural, strategic, and missional successes in equipping and supporting pastors, congregations, and faith communities in our mission of “making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”

In consideration of the new ministry appointment of Rev. Abby Auman, I will implement another regional superintendency plan in the Mahoning Valley District. Effective July 1 the 10 districts of the East Ohio Conference will be served by seven district superintendents.

Rev. Angela Lewis, superintendent of the Canal District, and Rev. Cara Stultz Costello, superintendent of the Tuscarawas District, will expand their leadership to serve as co-superintendents of the Mahoning Valley District while continuing to superintendent in their current respective districts. I have consulted with the district superintendents and superintendency committees who will be affected in the new configuration, and I am thankful for their support of this strategic leadership plan.

In addition to piloting new regional district superintendency models last fall I also formed a District Realignment/Restructure Task Force to assist me and my Cabinet in assessing and exploring current and ongoing needs, realities, and missional opportunities across the East Ohio Conference. I want to reassure you that districts will continue to serve as a primary structure for connecting and equipping pastors, congregations, and faith communities in the fulfillment of our shared East Ohio Conference mission and vision. Districts will continue to be a community, for clergy and laity, with a continued focus on increasing the capacity for disciple-making, reaching new people, leadership development, mission, social witness, and connection to the East Ohio Conference.

A report on proposed structural changes will be printed in the Pre-Conference Workbook and will be presented to the Annual Conference in June. The report will include a recommendation from me and my Cabinet regarding a change to our current regional structure, a reduction in the number of districts, and a timeline for such changes.

We are confident that the proposed missional, strategic changes will better position the Conference as we continue to be faithful stewards of our mission and our resources even as we face current post-pandemic realities, the declining membership and financial trends of some of our churches, and the disaffiliation of some of our local churches.

Beloved, God makes all things new! Let us not dwell on the past but embrace God’s possibilities! Let us stay focused on being disciples, making disciples, and maturing disciples of Jesus Christ … being God’s agents of healing, hope, and transformation in our communities and throughout the world … and reaching new people, younger people and a more diverse people!

Yours in Christ,

Bishop Tracy S. Malone

East Ohio Ministry Micro Grants Application

East Ohio Ministry Micro Grants are sponsored by the Board of Congregational Development and Connectional Ministries Office: Strategic Ministries. The grants are for Fresh Expressions, small groups, and/or new ministry that seek to reach those not within the current church community. The deadline to apply is April 3^rd by the end of the day and awardees will be announced by April 21. These micro grants, which may be awarded to $2000 as determined by Board of Congregational Development, must be spent in totality by Dec 31^st, 2023.  

Contact Rev Beth Ortiz, Connectional Ministries Office Director of Strategic Ministries, at [email protected], to submit your application or with questions. 

Requirements: Must be a ministry of a local United Methodist Church in East Ohio.

Must be a new ministry (either under 2 months old or not yet begun) that seeks to reach those not yet in the church. Church/charge cannot be currently receiving any other conference level grant funding (this does not refer to coaching, trainings or other such support). Church/charge cannot receive more than one microgrant per 12 months and cannot receive a microgrant for the same ministry more than once.

Must have at least one lay involved in the planning/implementation. Funds must be spent for this ministry within 6 months or returned. A report must be submitted within 6 months (details about reporting will be supplied to awardees with the payment dispersal in early Dec 2022). 

Please note: Application for funds does not guarantee funds.  

BSA & The UMC

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) bankruptcy agreement with The United Methodist Church was approved by the court and is now under further review along with the BSA reorganization plan. Currently, BSA is ahead of projections this year for recruiting new troops and has decided not to extend all previous charters beyond December 31, 2022, for two reasons:

1. in most areas, the affiliation agreements and facility use agreements are being implemented and the implementation is going well.
2. BSA wants to assure the court that it is emerging from bankruptcy and its business plan is working as evidenced by new scouts and organizational agreements.

If you have questions about the BSA Affiliation Agreement or about the Facilities Use Agreement, please e-mail Steven Scheid, the scouting executive for United Methodist Men. If your local BSA Council is not complying with the new BSA organizational agreement, please e-mail Jeffrey Hunt, who oversees the BSA Councils across the United States.

View the BSA & The UMC resource on the Conference website.

DISAFFILIATION PATHWAY: Following consultation between Bishop Malone and EOC leadership, churches and clergy wishing to separate from the denomination must follow the disaffiliation pathway found in ¶ 2553 of The Book of Discipline of The UMC. View the EOC Disaffiliation Pathway resource.

Global Ministries

How does your congregation care for God’s creation? Do you regularly conduct an energy audit to minimize wasted electricity and water in your church building, reuse resources that would otherwise be tossed in a landfill, encourage biking to church by installing a bike rack in the parking lot or teach sustainable gardening practices through community gardening? Have you found a creative new way to be good stewards of our natural resources? We want to hear your story and celebrate the impact your ministry has on God’s world. Contact Kate Colbow, Conference Secretary to Global Ministries via email to share how your congregation cares for creation. 

Safe Sanctuaries

Join in on this online course that covers the basics of Safe Sanctuaries. Rev Gary Jones walks participants through the what is it, the why we do it, and common elements. This is a great course for churches reviewing or creating their policies, for ministry team leads, and for anyone working with vulnerable persons in your faith community.    

Enroll anytime at https://eocumc.myabsorb.com/#/online-courses/409157e8-86de-49c2-b36a-306010758353

The Seran Foundation is part of the Stark Community Foundation. Students can apply through the foundation’s General Scholarship Application. This can be done by going to the Stark Community Foundation’s website (https://www.starkcf.org/for-grantees/for-students/scholarship-opportunities) and clicking on the Menu tab at the top right. Scroll down to Grants and under For Students click on Scholarship Opportunities. Finally click on Begin Your Application. Your application allows you to apply for the Seran Foundation grant as well as others for which you may be eligible. 

The deadline for applications is April 1.  

The Chester A. and Ethel J. Seran Scholarship Foundation was established many years ago to help college students toward their bachelor or associate degrees. The assistance is in the form of grants and not loans. The grants are renewable each year as long as students are in good academic standing with their college or university. The Scholarship Selection Committee restricts the grants to no more than 4 years.  



If you have any questions or need additional assistance, you can call the Stark Community Foundation at 234-458-2905. You can also contact Steve Moore, Chairperson of the Seran Foundation with any specific questions about this particular foundation.  

Dover First United Methodist Church is seeking qualified applicants for the part-time position of church financial secretary. Click here for the job description. Resumes or questions can be sent to Pastor Wesley George via email.

North Canton Faith United Methodist Church is seeking a part-time Administrative Assistant. Responsibilities include general administrative and database support for church programs and office tasks such as weekly newsletter, congregational emails and other communications. Candidate must be proficient in Word and Excel. Church database experience a plus. Flexible schedule available 20-25 hours per week. Work schedule flexibility is available. Salary position approximately $19k. Send resume and cover letter to [email protected] by March 5. For a detailed job description go to our website at www.myfaithunited.org and click on Employment Opportunities.

Otterbein (Navarre) UMC is seeking applicants for Youth Director Position (grades 9 - 12) and Assistant Youth Leader Position (grades 6 – 8). If you are interested in either of these or have questions, please contact the church at 330-484-2776.

Otterbein (Navarre) UMC has a variety of Sunday School & Bible Study books available. Click here to access the entire list. If interested, please contact Doris Brown by email.