Business

East Ohio 2018 Annual Conference Report

By Rick Wolcott*

Bishop Tracy S. Malone presided over the 49th session of Annual Conference when 691 clergy members and 764 lay members gathered at Lakeside Chautauqua on the shore of Lake Erie.

This year’s theme Bearing Fruit that Lasts: Called explored what it means to be called and equipped as followers of Jesus Christ.  John 15:13-17 (CEB) was the theme scripture.

“We belong to God, our calling, our redeeming, our sustaining is in Christ alone.  We belong to God,” Malone said during her opening worship service sermon.

The Service of Commemoration and Holy Communion recognized 63 saints who joined the church triumphant since Annual Conference 2017.

Monday evening’s Celebration of Retirement recognized 39 clergy who, combined, served faithfully for 1,135 years.  It was the second-largest retirement class in the history of the East Ohio Conference.

Many of the presentations at Annual Conference 2018 were grouped around the three emphases of the East Ohio Conference ministry vision.  Monday afternoon we focused on being, making, and maturing disciples of Jesus Christ.  The keynote presenter was Stephanie Caro of Ministry Architects, who worked last year with five EOC churches through the Small Church Cohort, a joint effort of Young People’s Ministries and Spiritual Formation.  Caro uses passion, humor and statistics – such as 90% of churches have fewer than 300 members – to help churches assess, vision, and formulate their ministry game plan.  

Tuesday afternoon was dedicated to being God’s agents of transformation in our communities and throughout the world.  Presentations highlighted East Ohio churches partnering with schools; congregations building relationships in their communities; Connecting Neighbors bringing together churches, businesses and government agencies; and ministries that are addressing poverty, hunger and addiction.

More than 100 clergy under episcopal appointment in the local church and beyond accepted an invitation from Malone and Board of Ministry Chair the Rev. Cara Stultz Costello to robe and be part of the opening procession in the Service of Commissioning for Ministry and the Ordination of Elders and Deacons. During the service, which was moved from Wednesday night to Wednesday afternoon this year, 10 persons were commissioned and 11 were ordained.

The week was filled with uplifting worship, wonderful fellowship, passionate debate, and a spirit of grace.
East Ohio Conference statistics from Wednesday’s Financial Report:

  • East Ohio Conference paid General Church Apportionments at 100% for the 13th-consecutive year.
  • Proposed 2018 Conference budget is flat for the 14th-consecutive year
  • Membership continues to decrease, decreasing 4.7% in 2017 to 137,376. 
  • Average worship is down 5.7% from the previous year to 50,307. 
  • Professions of faith have decreased about 47% to 1,030.
  • Baptisms decreased approximately 11% to 1,328 in 2017. 
  • Average weekly attendance in Sunday school increased 4% to 14,814 in 2017.
  • The number of ongoing small groups, support groups or classes other than Sunday school saw an 8.6% increase to 2,439 in 2017.
  • The number of United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) teams the East Ohio Conference sent from local churches increased 20.4% in 2017 from 91 to 109.
  • The number of persons serving in mission/community ministries increased 10.5% to 26,553 in 2017.

“One of the many things I love about the United Methodist Church is our connection!  We truly are connected to each other throughout all corners of the globe,” said Director of Financial and Administrative Services Vera Rebrovich.  “Last year when different areas were struck by hurricanes, you responded to the call. In 2017, donations to United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Disaster Relief totaled over $400,000 --- a 553% increase!  Thank you for your caring and loving generosity.”

Closed Churches:

Cabinet recognized the ministry that has taken place during the life of eight churches that closed this year.   The churches are:

  • Brewster UMC (Tuscarawas District),
  • Cove UMC (North Coast District),
  • Dexter City UMC (Southern Hills District),
  • First Hispanic UMC (North Coast District),
  • North Royalton UMC (North Coast District),
  • Smyrna UMC (Three Rivers District),
  • Sycamore UMC (Ohio Valley District),
  • West Mecca UMC (Western Reserve District).

Midwest Mission Distribution Trucks left Lakeside Chautauqua carrying 17,425 lbs. of donations, 700 more lbs. than 2017.  Included in the donations were:

  • $16,325+
  • 3,600 Health Kits
  • 635 Cleaning Buckets
  • 610 School Totes
  • 350 Miscellaneous Items
  • 29 Layette Kits
  • 10 bicycles
  • 3 Sewing Machines

Thanks to the generosity of clergy and laity members of Annual Conference and their congregations, countless lives will be touched because of the money given during these offerings:

  • $24,705.50 was given during the Annual Conference offering.  Each of the following will receive a third of the offering: Africa University; Preventing Suicide among Young People; and the Bishop’s Discretionary Fund.
  • $5,002 was raised for missions by the 3Cs 5k Run /1-mile Walk. 

Constitutional Amendments and Resolutions:

Annual Conference members voted on one Constitutional Amendment that had been approved by General Conference 2016.  The following East Ohio Conference-proposed resolutions also came before the body during the week:

Resolution 2018-01 – A Call to Discuss Gun Violence to Protect Life
Submitted byEast Ohio Board of Church and Society, East Ohio Methodist Federation for Social Action, and East Ohio Black Methodists for Church Renewal
The motion was approved.

Resolution 2018-02 – Toward Racial Reconciliation
Submitted byEast Ohio Methodist Federation for Social Action, East Ohio Reconciling Ministries Network, and East Ohio Black Methodists for Church Renewal
The motion was approved.

Resolution 2018-03 - Addressing Federal Legislation on Israeli Detention of Children
Submitted byEast Ohio Methodist Federation for Social Action, and East Ohio Black Methodists for Church Renewal
The motion was not approved.

Resolution 2018-04 - Advocating for the Rights of Children Living Under Israeli Occupation
Submitted byEast Ohio Methodist Federation for Social Action, and East Ohio Black Methodists for Church Renewal
The motion was not approved.

Resolution 2018-05 – Child Incarceration, The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and UMW Priorities
Submitted byEast Ohio Board of Church and Society, East Ohio United Methodist Women, East Ohio Methodist Federation for Social Action, and East Ohio Black Methodists for Church Renewal
The motion was not approved.

Resolution 2018-06 – Consider Investing in Wespath’s “Social Values Choice” Suite of Funds 
Submitted byEast Ohio Methodist Federation for Social Action, and East Ohio Black Methodists for Church Renewal
The motion was not approved.

Resolution 2018-07 - Protecting the Rights to Peacefully Address Injustice Through Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions 
Submitted byEast Ohio Methodist Federation for Social Action, and East Ohio Black Methodists for Church Renewal
The motion was approved.

Resolution 2018-08 - Reflectively Read and Prayerfully Study the Social Principles of The United Methodist Church
Submitted byEast Ohio Board of Church and Society
The motion was approved.

Resolution 2018-09 – Guidelines for General Conference Delegation Re: 2019 GC
Submitted byEast Ohio Methodist Federation for Social Action, and East Ohio Reconciling Ministries Network
A motion was made by the submitters of Resolution 2018-09 to withdraw it.  The motion to withdraw was approved.

Resolution 2018-10 – Educate and Inform the Conference Concerning Mass Incarceration
Submitted by: East Ohio Board of Church and Society 
Co-sponsored by: East Ohio Methodist Federation for Social Action, and East Ohio Black Methodists for Church Renewal
The motion was approved.

Resolution 2018-11 – A Call for the Conference to Discuss Improved School Safety
Submitted by: East Ohio CCYM
The motion was approved.

The 50th Session of East Ohio Annual Conference will be held at Lakeside Chautauqua June 10-13, 2019.  The theme will be Bearing Fruit that Lasts: Committed.

 


*Rick Wolcott is director of Communications for the East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church.