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BISHOP'S OFFICE

Guiding Principles for the Practice of the Appointment, 2026

Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, Ohio Episcopal Area

1. Prayer-Centered Discernment
The appointment system is not primarily an administrative process, but a spiritual act of discernment. Appointments are made through prayerful collaboration among the bishop, district superintendents, and Conference leaders, acting as one Cabinet, seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

2. Faithful Matching of Gifts and Missional Needs
Appointments seek not mere placement, but missional alignment. Clergy gifts, theological grounding, personality, and experience are prayerfully matched with the mission, context, challenges, and future vision of each congregation.

3. Honoring Ordination Vows and the Open Itinerant Tradition
At ordination, clergy covenant to serve within the appointment system. While social, economic, and family realities are carefully considered, the Church remains committed to fairness, openness, and the historic itinerant tradition of The United Methodist Church.

4. Transparent Dialogue and Equitable Opportunity
Through honest conversation between clergy and district superintendents, conditions and concerns may be named. At the same time, the appointment system must ensure equitable opportunity across the whole Conference, grounded in objectivity and shared responsibility.

5. Sustaining a Year-Round Appointment Pipeline
Clergy supply is a continual challenge and responsibility. The Conference commits to strengthening a year-round pipeline that allows for timely, coordinated, and responsive appointments whenever opportunities arise.

6. Open, Timely, and Rigorous Clergy Recruitment
In recruiting from seminaries, other conferences, and other denominations, the appointment system requires swift, careful, and transparent processes of evaluation, ensuring both missional openness and integrity.

7. Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The appointment system embodies the Church’s commitment to racial diversity, gender equity, and the full inclusion of all persons. Cross-racial and cross-cultural appointments are affirmed as a vital strength and a faithful witness to God’s justice and grace.

8. Shared Trust and Cabinet Accountability
Appointments are not determined by individual authority or dominance. They emerge from mutual trust, listening, and accountability among Cabinet members, grounded in prayer, respect, and shared discernment.

9. Cross-Conference Appointments and Faithful Risk-Taking
As East Ohio and West Ohio move toward deeper connection, the appointment system becomes a gateway to new possibilities. Cross-conference appointments are actively considered, accompanied by faithful risk-taking and bold vision.

10. Strategic Appointments for New Communities
The appointment system is a primary instrument for church planting and the formation of new faith communities. The Conferences and districts share responsibility for deploying strong leaders and investing resources toward the goal of establishing 100 new faith communities across Ohio.

11. Integrating Clergy, Lay Ministers, and Specialized Ministries Leaders
Appointments recognize the vital partnership of ordained clergy, lay ministers, and specialized professionals. District committees and the wider clergy community collaborate openly to support clergy well-being and sustainable ministry.

12. Minimum Tenure, Mentoring, and Long-Term Fruitfulness
A minimum tenure of five years is honored whenever possible, enabling clergy to lead faithfully, innovate courageously, and nurture congregational growth. Mentoring and peer mentoring are embedded within the appointment system to strengthen discipleship, vitality, and long-term fruitfulness in local churches.

Concluding Affirmation
The appointment system is not perfect. Yet it remains a foundational expression of United Methodist connectional theology – a means by which God continues to open new possibilities for the Church’s mission, witness, and future.

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2025-2026 Appointments/Changes of Status

Bishop Hee-Soo Jung announces the following clergy appointments and/or
changes of status which, unless otherwise noted, are effective July 1, 2026.

2025-2026 Appointments
Pastor	Appointment	District	Effective
Don Ackerman	Extension Ministry: Canton For All People	Central Valley	1/1/2026
Dan Bryant	Interim: Howland, Braceville, Brookfield, Hubbard, McDonald UMCs	Central Valley	1/1/2026
Dawan Buie	Aldersgate & Willson UMCs	Northern Waters	1/1/2026
Jeff Coggins	The Vine UMC	Central Valley	9/1/2025
Karson Collins	Associate Pastor: Lakewood & Elyria First UMCs	Northern Waters	02/15/2026
Lisa Courtwright	Howland, Brookfield, Braceville, Hubbard & McDonald Woodland Park UMCs	Central Valley
Kenn Curren	Doylestown UMC	Central Valley
Matt Darrin	Carrollton First UMC	South Forest	1/1/2026
Michael Farmer	Family of Faith & South Arlington UMCs and Extension Ministry: EOC Property Manager	Northern Waters
Brandon Keck	Medical Leave	South Forest	10/31/25
Matthew Lafferty	Extension Ministry: Global Ministries Missionary/Director of Methodist Ecumenical Office in Rome	West Plains	9/1/2025
Bill Liming	Extension Ministry: District Superintendent	Central Valley
Scott Low	Tallmadge & Stow UMCs	Northern Waters	1/1/2026
Joan Purnell	Interim: Howland, Braceville, Brookfield, Hubbard, McDonald UMCs	Central Valley	1/1/2026
J. Harlen Rife	Chagrin Falls UMC	Northern Waters
Anthony Ruth	Garfield Heights UMC	Northern Waters	1/1/2026
Matthew Whisenhunt	Extension Ministry: Harbor and Bridge	Northern Waters	1/1/2026
Mary Jo Yeakel (West Ohio)	Crossroads UMC	Central Valley	1/1/2026
Lisa Zambarano	Pearl Road UMC	Northern Waters	10/1/2025

2025-2026 Retirements
Pastor	Retiring From	District	Effective
Carolyn Berry	Doylestown UMC	Central Valley
Mark Cannon	Transitional Leave
Robert Carson	Middlefield UMC	Northern Waters	1/1/2026
L. Daniel Hawk	Extension Ministry: Ashland Theological Seminary	West Plains
Joyce Lawson	Chagrin Falls UMC	Northern Waters
Kristen Patt	Perry Heights Trinity UMC	Central Valley
Rich Thewlis	Lakeside UMC	West Plains