The 53rd Session of East Ohio Annual Conference met June 9-11 in the John S. Knight Center in Akron with 448 clergy and 467 laity in attendance.
This year’s theme, “Let Us Live Love,” was grounded in the words of 1 John 4:7-13 (NIV). “Living love is being disciples, making disciples, and maturing disciples of Jesus Christ. Living love is being agents of transformation, agents of healing, agents of hope in your communities. Living love is reaching new people, younger people, and a more diverse people. Let us commit and recommit to the ways of Christ and to the ways of being community one with each other,” said Bishop Tracy S. Malone.
Clergy and laity worshipped together, celebrated two clergy being commissioned, 10 clergy being ordained, and 28 clergy retiring. They commemorated 66 clergy and laity leaders who passed away since last year’s conference and conducted important business of the East Ohio Annual Conference.
During the business sessions of Annual Conference 2022:
Bishop Malone celebrated the success of the $1.5 million Teach-Reach-Bless campaign to build and furnish a new residence hall for female students on the campus of Africa University in Zimbabwe.
Members approved a 12% increase in 2023 health care premiums.
Members approved a 10% increase in 2023 minimum salaries for clergy.
Members approved reducing the 2023 Conference budget 5.3% to $9,764,559.
Members approved Resolution 2022-01: “Reclaiming Peace” and Resolution 2022-03: “End the Death Penalty in Ohio.”
Members approved the disaffiliation of 11 churches and the closing of five churches.
Members endorsed two episcopal candidates: Rev. Cara Stultz Costello and Rev. Jonathan Priebe.
Rev. Dr. Michael Beck, director of Fresh Expressions for the Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church, led three teaching sessions that encouraged East Ohio Conference clergy and laity to live into our shared vision in new ways, especially by meeting people where they are. He helps people plant new forms of church to follow Jesus in fresh and exciting ways.
The Rev. Ed Fashbaugh, Executive Director of Connectional Ministries, highlighted the many ways that pastors, congregations, and faith communities are living love in their mission fields. He said, “If sharing the love of God is the most important thing at a moment in time, then sharing the love of God is the most important thing all of the time.” Brian Mitchell and Twyla Sales were Lay Members to Annual Conference.