Bishop Hee-Soo Jung Assigned to the New Ohio Episcopal Area as of September 1

The North Central Jurisdiction Committee on the Episcopacy has assigned Bishop Hee-Soo Jung to be resident bishop of the new Ohio Episcopal Area effective September 1. He will be bishop of both the East Ohio Conference and the West Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church.

Jung has served as resident bishop of the Wisconsin Conference for the past 12 years after previously serving eight years as bishop of the Northern Illinois Conference. Under his commitment to increase racial justice and radical inclusion, the Wisconsin Conference has reached 49% of its appointments being served by cross-racial leadership.

He has served as president of the General Board of Global Ministries since 2016 and chair of the United Methodist Korean National Plan since 2012.

Bishop Jung earned a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He also holds an M.A. from the Institute of Buddhist Studies, affiliated with the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA; an M.A. from the Dongguk University Graduate School in Seoul, South Korea; and a B.Th. from the Methodist Theological Seminary in Seoul, South Korea.

He and his wife Im-Hyon, an Elder in the Wisconsin Conference, are the parents of two adult children and the grandparents of one.

Bishop Tracy S. Malone has been assigned resident bishop of the Indiana Conference as of September 1.

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The United Methodist Church. #Be UMC.

“I like the connection of The United Methodist Church. I like the Wesleyan tradition of the United Methodist Church. And I like the camaraderie,” said Cazzell Smith, a lay member of Akron Centenary UMC, in explaining why he is proud to #BeUMC.

He is one of many lay and clergy persons in the East Ohio Conference who have shared how their lives have been transformed through The United Methodist Church. E-mail Brett Hetherington to schedule a time to record your one- to two-minute story.

View #BeUMC stories & the EOC #BeUMC website.

Storyboard: Faith Witness Transformation

Our EOC podcast, Storyboard: Faith Witness Transformation, explores what it means to #BeUMC.

Episode 39 is titled “Disciple Making: The Role of a Jurisdictional Conference Delegate”. During a break at NCJ 2024 three EOC delegates – Dr. Liz Piatt, Rev. Jon Priebe and his son Nehemiah Priebe – offer their insight about the conference, their role as delegates, and what experiences they are bringing home to share with laity and clergy in the East Ohio Conference.

Video Messages from Bishop Tracy S. Malone and Bishop Hee-Soo Jung

Bishop Tracy S. Malone has been assigned to serve as resident bishop of the Indiana Conference effective September 1. The assignment was announced by the North Central Jurisdiction Committee on the Episcopacy on Saturday, June 13, during the concluding session of the Jurisdictional Conference held in Sioux Falls, SD.

“I am so thankful and grateful for the eight years of ministry that we have shared together. I celebrate how the Holy Spirit has been at work through our partnership in the Gospel,” said Malone in the above video message.

Bishop Hee-Soo Jung looks forward to serving as the resident bishop of the new Ohio Episcopal Area, which includes the East Ohio Conference and the West Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church. Currently bishop of the Wisconsin Conference, he will begin his assignment in the Ohio Area on September 1.