News
Tuesday, Jun 6, 2023
Dear Ones in Christ Jesus:
Grace to you and Peace in the strong name of Jesus the Christ.
I want to thank you for a meaningful Annual Conference Session. I believe that our time together was effective and fruitful. If nothing else, we cleared the hurdle of being in person again at long last. While we did not sing it out loud together, we were all no doubt singing in the Spirit And Are We Yet Alive. Our times of worship, learning, fellowship, listening and spe... continue reading
Tuesday, Jun 6, 2023
The 54th Session of the West Ohio Annual Conference convened June 1 – 3 at the Dayton (Ohio) Convention Center. With nearly 1,600 clergy and lay members, this was the first in-person annual conference since 2019. Bishop Gregory V. Palmer presided over the conference under the theme “Committed, Connected, Community,” rooted in Hebrews 10:23-25.
During his Episcopal Address, Palmer spoke of recent and historic challenges of the church. “Our calling is to serve t... continue reading
Tuesday, Jun 6, 2023
Bobbie Ruddock was commissioned a deaconess at the 2023 West Ohio Annual Conference on June 2 in Dayton, Ohio.
The worship service highlighted the impact of the role of the order of Deaconess and Home Missioner has outside the walls of the church. These laypeople are called by God to a full-time vocation in ministries of love, justice, and service. The speaker of the morning was Kris Shoaf, a West Ohio Deaconess.
Ruddock is a mathematics teacher for the Milfo... continue reading
Tuesday, Jun 6, 2023
“Chris Parsons has led more people to Jesus than I will ever know over the last two years," says Rosario Pardo, pastor of Mosaic Church where Chris is a member.
This year, West Ohio presented the Denman Award to Chris Parsons, laity, from the Miami Valley District on Friday, June 2 during Annual Conference.
The Harry Denman Evangelism Award honors United Methodists in each annual conference whose exceptional ministry of evangelism brings people into a life-tr... continue reading
Tuesday, Jun 6, 2023
On Friday June 2, Rev. Dr. Tim Bias presented the One Matters Award to Bremen United Methodist Church from the Foothills District.
The One Matters Award was created by Discipleship Ministries to honor those churches that experienced an increase in the number of professions of faith and baptisms from zero through a renewed focus on discipleship.
In West Ohio, each district superintendent was invited to nominate one church in their district to be considered for... continue reading
Tuesday, Jun 6, 2023
In the midst of transition in the United Methodist Church, Bishop Palmer and the Extended Cabinet of the West Ohio Conference are excited to share this new ministry initiative called North Star Congregations.
North Star Congregations are local churches in the West Ohio Conference that are prepared to welcome anyone whose church has closed or disaffiliated.
If you or someone you know becomes disconnected from a local congregation, please be assured that there... continue reading
Tuesday, Jun 6, 2023
Kay Panovec, Director of Communications of the West Ohio Conference, has been named a 2023 recipient of United Methodist Communication’s Epi Award. The announcement was made during West Ohio’s Annual Conference session held last week.
The Epi award recognizes excellence in communication ministry. The word Epi is the shortened form of the New Testament Greek word, epikoinonía which simply means communication.
Panovec joined the West Ohio staff in 2016. She... continue reading
Tuesday, Jun 6, 2023
UMVIM is the official short-term sending agency of the United Methodist Church. United Methodist Volunteers in Mission is a grassroots movement of United Methodists who seek to put their "Christian Love in Action."
The North Central Jurisdiction Volunteers in Mission agency invites you to attend the Mission Academy August 9-12, 2023 at Epworth Forest Camp and Conference Center in North Webster, Indiana.
Mission Academy is a time for learning from presenters i... continue reading
Saturday, Jun 3, 2023
The first day of annual conference opened with a teaching session led by Reba Collins.
This session was an interactive training focused on understanding ways we can have a better-connected community and church.
Nearly 1,600 members shared with each other at round tables ways they experience community and ways they feel disconnected. Collins named judgement as an obstacle that keeps us from experiencing connection and community. “Self Judgement drives judgemen... continue reading
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
We look forward to seeing you later this week in Dayton for the 54th Session of the West Ohio Annual Conference.
Information about the destination, meeting schedule and other conference details can be found on the 2023 Annual Conference page of the West Ohio Conference website.
Join us for Worship and Special Sessions of AC 2023
Plan to tune in to the 2023 Annual Conference livestream from the Dayton Convention Center. All worship services, the learning ses... continue reading