The theme for Annual Conference 2026 is “Celebrating Abundant Grace”. The services and sessions will be grounded in the words of Matthew 14:13-21 (NRSVA).
Annual Conference will begin on Thursday, June 11 at 9:00 a.m. with the service of Commemoration and Holy Communion. The Service of Licensing, Commissioning, Ordination, and Retirement will be at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 12. Both services will be in McGaw Chapel.
Meal Plan
This year’s plan consists of three meals on Thursday and Friday and two on Saturday. Meals must be paid for during online registration. You will not be able to purchase meals onsite during Annual Conference.
Staying in a Residence Hall
You can choose to stay in a residence hall for two nights or three nights. All rooms will come with linens. The decision to stay in a residence hall must be made, and the room/meals prepaid for, during online registration. You cannot request a residence hall room onsite.
Volunteers Needed for Annual Conference 2026
The Annual Conference Hospitality Committee is looking for volunteers to assist on campus during AC 2026. There are opportunities for all.
Complete the AC 2026 volunteer interest form.
Coordinated Clergy Session – May 7
This year Ohio Episcopal Area clergy will gather for a Coordinated Clergy Session at Lakeside Chautauqua. Find the registration link on the AC 2026 website.
Storyboard: Faith Witness Transformation is a podcast highlighting ministries across the East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church that are transforming lives locally, nationally, and globally. Produced twice-a-month by EOC Communications, each podcast episode focuses on one of the core values of the #BeUMC campaign: Disciple Making; Belonging & Inclusion; Influence, Connection & Impact; and Experience of God through The United Methodist Church.
Episode 80 "Influence, Connection & Impact: Farmer to Farmer" features a conversation with founder Pryde Bass, Rev. Robin Dillon of Lakewood UMC (Northern Waters District) and Rev. Matt Anderson of Bucyrus UMC (West Plains District) about the origin and mission of the EOC Advance centered in Harrisburg, Liberia.
“After the 14-year-war (1989-2003) it is like 100% insufficiency there. So, we thought that agriculture would be important to help people produce enough food for themselves. They could even sell some food to help pay for things like medical bills, children’s school fees and other necessities of life,” Bass shared.
“One of the things that the teams have been doing when they go is to just help folks be able to look beyond the immediate to see what else is possible,” Dillon said. “That’s part of the work the teams have done in establishing the school and the farm and training.”
Listen to previous Storyboard podcast episodes.
View clergy and laity sharing their #BeUMC stories.
In the United States, approximately 71% of clergy have earned a Master of Theology. Outside the U.S., fewer than 5% of clergy possess this degree. This disparity is not about calling or competence. It is about access.
The Love Boldly, Serve Joyfully, Lead Courageously Miracle Sunday initiative is a denomination-wide focus on strengthening theological education for clergy in Africa, Europe, and the Philippines. The special offering received on Miracle Sunday May 17 will support a bold goal: to endow 500 scholarships in perpetuity, ensuring that courageous, well‑prepared leaders can serve in challenging missional communities worldwide.
Learn about the theological education endowment.
Share About Miracle Sunday in Your Church
In support of the Council of Bishops’ Miracle Sunday endowment initiative, Conference leadership has prepared downloadable resources for clergy to share with their congregations in the three weeks leading up to Miracle Sunday May 17.
Click the links below to access each week’s resource. Centered on the theme for the week, each resource features suggested Bible verses to use in the service, a :45-1:00 script to be read, printed in the bulletin, or posted online, and a 2:30 video testimony from a Central Conference pastor or theology student to download and show during the service.
Sunday, April 26 – Love Boldly
Sunday, May 3 – Serve Joyfully
Sunday, May 10 – Lead Courageously
Sunday, May 17 – Miracle Sunday
MESSAGES FROM OUR EPISCOPAL LEADER: Bishop Hee-Soo Jung is resident bishop of the Ohio Episcopal Area consisting of the East Ohio and West Ohio Conferences of The United Methodist Church. View Bishop Jung’s Soul Food messages to Ohio laity and clergy.
OHIO EPISCOPAL AREA TASK TEAM:
Bishop Hee-Soo Jung formed the task team of East and West Ohio clergy and laity to actively listen, discuss, and discern about forming a new, unified Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church. Learn more about the Ohio Episcopal Area Task Team.
FIVE STRATEGIC PILLARS: emerged from conversations Bishop Jung has had with local churches across the Ohio Episcopal Area. They offer a shared vision and spiritual framework to guide our life together as “One Ohio” – rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and led by the Holy Spirit. Learn about the Five Pillars.
EOC STANDS AGAINST RACISM: Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, the Cabinet, Executive staff, and East Ohio laity and clergy are committed to stand against racism. Visit the Stand Against Racism resource page for small group studies, videos, podcasts, books, and more to learn how you can stand against racism.
Search www.eocumc.com:
