tuscarawas ies - eocumc.com · page 2 • may 4, native american kairos lanket exercise • may 5,...
TRANSCRIPT
The Judicial Council, the top court of The United Methodist Church, has reviewed and ruled on the constitutionality of the legislation passed at the 2019 Special Session of General Conference. The letter from the Council of Bishops, found at the end of this message, provides a helpful explanation of the Judicial Council rulings. The parts of the legislation that were determined to be constitutional will take effect on January 1, 2020 (except in Central Conferences). Until then, our current 2016 Book of Discipline remains in effect.
The Judicial Council has done the work it was tasked to do. I encourage us to remain faithful to the task that is always at hand for each mem-ber, pastor and congregation of the Church. And that is to stay focused on the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transfor-mation of the world.
I encourage us to be mindful that the decisions and actions of the General Conference have caused great harm to many. Let us be committed to offering Christ’s hospitality to all persons and to treating each other as God’s beloved. Let us show love, compassion and support to our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer siblings in Christ (and to their families and allies) who are deeply hurting and who continue to be marginalized in our beloved United Methodist Church.
Let us continue to love the Lord, our God, with all our heart, our soul, our mind and our strength and to love all our neighbors as ourselves. Let us remain steadfast in prayer and scripture, growing in our personal walk with Jesus Christ and invite others to walk with us. Let the peace, welcome and joy of Christ be so evident in our words and actions so that others will experience the love of Jesus through our witness.
In these times of uncertainty, we can be certain of one thing: “Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:9) God who raised Jesus from the dead will also give new life and give us a future with hope.
As we live into this season of Eastertide, we are reminded that we serve a Risen Lord and Savior who is always at work in our lives and in the world dispensing love where there is hate, light where there is darkness, and hope where there is despair. As a people of faith, we believe that the Resurrection of Christ is a continuing event for today, tomorrow and forever. It is victory over death! It is the promise of new life! It is the certainty of our hope! It is the power of our love! And it is our commitment to embody and share the radical love and grace of Jesus Christ with all of God’s beloved children.
Therefore, I call on all East Ohio pastors, congregations and faith communities to keep the main thing the main thing:
• Be committed to living into our shared vision of being disciples, making disciples and maturing disciples of Jesus Christ.
• Be committed to being Gods agents of transformation in your community and throughout the world.
• Be committed to being bold and courageous in reaching new people, younger people and a more diverse people.
And be committed to holding on to each other by praying for one another, staying in conversation with each other and making room for one another. And while holding on to each other, remember John Wesley’s three simple rules: Do good. Do no harm. Stay in love with God.
Read the letter from the Council of Bishops. http://www.umc.org/who-we-are/bishops-respond-to-judicial-council-ruling-on-the-special-session
VOL. 17 NO. 4 May 2019
Tuscarawas ies N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E T U S C A R A W A S D I S T R I C T - U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H
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• May 4, Native American Kairos Blanket Exercise
• May 5, Native American Ministries Sunday
• May 10, Urban Network Mtg, 4 p.m., Simpson UMC
• May 18, Transition Workshop, 9:30 a.m., N. Canton Grace UMC
• May 20, Clergy Executive Session, Ashland
• May 28-30, Licensing School, Mount Union
Special Dates • May Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
• May 2, National Day of Prayer
• May 5, 3rd Sunday of Easter - White or Gold
• May 12, 4th Sunday of Easter - White or Gold
• May 12, Festival of the Christian Home
• May 12, Mother’s Day
• May 19, 5th Sunday of Easter - White or Gold
• May 19, Heritage Sunday
• May 24, Aldersgate Day
• May 26, 6th Sunday of Easter- White or Gold
• May 27, Memorial Day
• May 30, Ascension of the Lord - White or Gold
Important Deadlines
• Clergy Assessment & Action Plan due May 1, 2019
• District Campership applications due May 1, 2019
• Annual Conference Registration Deadline May 10, 2019
• District Gathering Registration Deadline May 31, 2019
Passing on to Life Triumphant
Charles Garner, spouse of Rev. Margaret “Peggy” Garner, East Sparta UMC, on April 5, 2019. Pastor Rebecca Swartz, Mapleton UMC, on April 7, 2019. William Wendell, Sr., District Board of Trustees, on April 14, 2019.
New Appointments Bishop Tracy S. Malone announces the following clergy appointments for the East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church, effective July 1, 2019:
Don Ackerman (PL) - to Crossroads UMC Tom Fish (FE) - to Winfield UMC Matt Garrabrant (AM) - to Navarre Otterbein UMC Joyce Hoile (PL) - to Strasburg UMC Brandon Keck (FE) - to New Philadelphia 1st UMC Steve Nelson - to Mt. Zion UMC Ivy Smith (PE) - to Simpson, Crossroads, James S. Thomas UMCs
Retirements Howard Humphress (FE) - Director, Pastoral Care Ralph Krall (FE) - Navarre Otterbein UMC Nancy Manner (FE) - Alliance Aldersgate UMC Bruce McLaughlin (FE) - Mt. Zion Community UMC Carolyn Nichols (PL) - Greentown UMC Joe Wright (RA) - Fairhope UMC LuAnn Youngman (FE) - Winfield UMC
Like Us on Facebook The Tuscarawas District is now on Facebook. If you or your church is on Facebook, please like the district’s page at www.facebook.com/TuscarawasDistrictUMC/ to receive current events, news and more!
Tuscarawas Ties Official Publication of the Tuscarawas District
East Ohio Conference — The United Methodist Church
Tuscarawas District Office
3500 Cleveland Avenue NW, Canton, OH 44709 Phone: (330) 492-7817 Fax: (330) 492-7818
[email protected] Website: www.eocumc.com/tuscarawas
Send articles to Shawndelle Chester, Editor [email protected]
The Tuscarawas Ties is published monthly. Newsletter deadline is the 20th of the month.
If you would like to be added to our e-mailing list, please send your name and e-mail to [email protected].
Please send copies of your church newsletter to: 3500 Cleveland Avenue NW, Canton, OH 44709
Send items for the Tuscarawas District website to Shawndelle Chester, [email protected].
District Superintendent’s Tentative Calendar
1-2 Cabinet
3 Out of Office
6 Office
7 Out of Office Meetings
8-9 Office
10 Urban Network Meeting; 4 p.m., Simpson UMC
13 Office
14-16 Cabinet
17 Out of Office
18 Transition Workshop
19 Worship on the District
20 Clergy Exec Session, Ashland
21 Office Meetings
22 Office; 12-4 p.m.
23-30 Licensing School, Mount Union
27 Office Closed for Memorial Day
28-30 Cabinet
Lost and Found LOST - Dark brown, leather 8x10 portfolio folder. It has one pocket on the left and a notebook holder on the right. Contact the district office if you find this item.
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Annual Conference 2019 East Ohio Annual Conference Housing Packets were mailed this week. If you do not receive a packet in the next week, and you are a Delegate to Annual Conference 2019, please contact Brenda Vaccaro at the Area Center, [email protected], or 330-499-3972 ext. 153.
Visit the Annual Conference website to register for the session, see this year’s schedule, read about the speakers, learn about and register for special events, and more. www.eocumc.com/eoac19
Registration Click here to register. (www.eocumc.com/eoac19) The deadline for Annual Conference registrations to be re-ceived is May 10. It is preferred that all registrations be com-pleted online. If you are not able to register online, please mail your completed form to: Brenda Vaccaro, P.O. Box 2800, North Canton, OH 44720.
Please register only ONCE. If you need to make changes to your registration or if you need to add housing information at a later date, please call Brenda Vaccaro at (330) 499-3972 ext. 153 for assistance.
Registration Check-in Registration check-in will be in the Chautauqua Room in the Fountain Inn during the following times:
Sunday, June 9 2:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Monday, June 10 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Pick up your badge at Lakeside during registration check-in. BADGES WILL NOT BE MAILED.
Special Events Be sure to check the special events webpage to register for meals and other events by their respective deadlines. www.eocumc.com/eoac19/specialevents_schedule
Missions 5K Run/ 1Mile Walk www.eventbrite.com/e/missions-5k-run-1-mile-walk-2019-registration-tickets-55518736034
VBS www.eventbrite.com/e/vbs-and-child-care-registration-2019-tickets-54757131053
Mission Collection www.eocumc.com/eoac19/_pdf/MissionCollectionflyerFINAL.pdf
Native American Ministries Sunday Native American Ministries Sunday is May 5. United Methodists celebrate this Special Sunday to affirm and support First Ameri-cans in the creation of programs that enrich, empower and edu-cate.
In this season of Resurrection celebration, we encourage you to confirm details for Native American Ministries Sunday and ener-gize your congregation to give generously on May 5. Put a remind-er in the bulletin, on a slide as people enter the worship space, and on social media this Sunday to remind the congregation that Native American Ministries Sunday is coming soon.
Invite your mission chair or other congregational leader to share the offering talk during a mission moment in support of the Native American Ministries Sunday special offering on May 5.
Send an email reminding your congregation that this Special Sun-day offering will be received on May 5 to support Native American seminarians, as well as strengthen, develop and equip Native American rural, urban and reservation congregations, ministries and communities and annual conference Native American out-reach.
Thank you for being part of the United Methodist connection that makes a direct impact on Native American communities and pas-tors. ~ Rev. Glen Chebon Kernell, Executive Secretary of Native American and Indigenous Ministries Global Ministries
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News From Lay Servant Ministries Mark your calendar! October 5, 2019, Lay Servant Ministries is sponsoring a course called Polity. It is our hope that many mem-bers of our 77 district churches will take advantage of this oppor-tunity to learn what it means to be a member of the United Meth-odist Church. Our instructor will be the Reverend Steve Court, Director of Connectional Ministries of the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church.
This course gives participants an overview of the structure and organization of the United Methodist Church. Ann Kreider said that she had been a Methodist for 59 years and it wasn’t until she took the Polity course in 2015, that she understood how the Unit-ed Methodist Church was organized, what it meant to be a Meth-odist, the importance of the Book of Discipline, and truly appreci-ated how the Lord worked through the life of John Wesley.
This course is being offered to everyone in the Tuscarawas District. Anyone may come. Very soon registration will be available on Eventbrite. This course is open to laity and clergy and all Lay Serv-ants will receive credit for taking the course.
You do not have to be a Lay Servant to take advantage of this op-portunity.
It will be held at Bolivar United Methodist Church, October 5, 2019, from 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Please join us. Come and learn about the United Methodist Church.
Questions: Contact- Gary Kreider: 330-806-4648 Ann Kreider: 330-806-5247 Email: [email protected]
Lay Servant of the Year Congratulations to Jill Obermiller for being selected to be our Lay Servant of the Year for 2019. She has been a valued member of Winfield UMC and a wonderful example of what it means to be a Lay Servant. She came highly recommended for this honor by her pastor of over 20 years, Pastor Lu Ann Youngman.
Pastor Lu Ann says, "The characteristics we love about Jill are her positive attitude and willingness to help in any way needed. She has written children’s Christmas musicals, and has led the entire children’s Sunday school class to accept Jesus as their Savior. She has a gift for making the Sanctuary come alive with her creative ideas and being detail minded.”
Her leadership helped develop the Jerusalem Walk which is a beautifully done show about the passion of Christ. Winfield UMC just completed several weekends with multiple showings, which involves much time and the participation of many members of the congregation. The Jerusalem Walk continues to grow each year. Pastor Lu Ann said, “She is an amazing Lay Leader and one that I can trust to lead the service and worship in my absence.”
Jill is a faithful prayer warrior and is a blessing to the Emmaus Community. She has also helped to lead Celebrate Recovery. Jill is the epitome of a committed and called Lay Servant, who knows what it means to lead, care, and communicate with those the Lord puts in her path.
Jill will be honored at The Gathering Awards Luncheon at the East Ohio Annual Conference held at Lakeside in June, 2019. Congratu-lations and thank you, Jill Obermiller, for your faithfulness to this mission.
Pastor of the Year Congratulations to Pastor William “Bill” Eckert. Pastor Bill has been selected to be the 2019 Pastor of the Year of the Tuscarawas District. Before becoming a pastor, he was a mechanic, a parts manager, a firefighter/paramedic, a Lay Servant and is now a Local United Methodist Pastor and a fulltime Chaplain for Community Hospice.
He grew up in the Sugarcreek UMC and became a Lay Servant in 1998. As a Lay Servant, he first served as an Associate Director, and later became the Director of the Tuscarawas District Lay Serv-ant Ministries. Pastor Bill then became the Associate Director of Lay Servant Ministries for the East Ohio Conference which directs the 10 districts of our Conference.
In 2013, Pastor Bill and his wife, Tammy, were part of the UMVIM Team that went to Kursik, Russia. In 2014, he and Tammy attend-ed the Lay Servant Director’s Conference in San Diego. The speak-er at that conference talked about, “getting into the game to make a difference”.
Pastor Bill said, “When Tammy and I returned, I felt called to fur-ther my involvement in ministry. After much conversation and prayer, I notified my pastor that I would like to start the pathway to becoming a Local United Methodist Pastor.” In May of 2014, he received his appointment to Bolivar UMC where he and Tam-my have been serving for five years.
He continues to lead in the Tuscarawas Lay Servant Ministries as the pastor on our LSM team, and has increased the number of Lay Servants in the Bolivar UMC. He has opened the doors of the Boli-var UMC as they host our Lay Servant courses twice a year.
Congratulations Pastor Bill and thank you for your leadership, faithfulness, and very much appreciated, hospitality. You are very deserving to be selected as the Tuscarawas District Lay Servant Pastor of the Year. You will be honored at The Gathering Awards Luncheon, during the East Ohio Annual Conference to be held at Lakeside in June, 2019.
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Tuscarawas District Urban Ministry Network In 2017, East Ohio Resident Bishop, Rev. Tracy Smith Malone, challenged the District Superintendents that have urban areas to have
an urban action plan. In response, Will Jones Director of Multicultural Vitality Ministries for the East Ohio Conference met with
Tuscarawas District Superintendent, Rev. Benita Rollins, and assisted in giving guidelines and information to a team of lay and cler-
gy to begin to discern how to be in relationship and ministry in the Canton area. After a year of prayerful and careful planning, the
team decided to focus on the South East quadrant of Canton and each of the Tuscarawas UM churches in urban areas.
Throughout 2018, the group continued to meet with various members being added to the group. Partnerships within the community
continued to be built with agencies such as ABCD Inc. as well as Ward 4 Canton Council woman Chris Smith. Dr. Tim VanMeter,
professor at Methodist Theological School in Ohio, has been attending the meetings and has lead the group faithfully through bible
study looking at a gospel of abundance and how we can use that to help meet the needs of the community. He has faithfully led the
group to look at the ways that God calls us to better stewardship of the earth, and how this can lead to ministering to those who expe-
rience food insecurity. As a part of this study/ministry, several members traveled to the Urban Mission in Steubenville to view their
gardening and food initiatives.
Currently, the group continues to meet monthly. Grants have been secured through 2020. The team is working on some ways to
reach out into the community this summer with possible trainings, a greenhouse, and a book of poetry by Rev. Hyeran Yu which
focuses on themes of Eco theology and stewardship. The group is greatly appreciative of your prayers and is looking to add more
members. If you are interested, please contact Pastor Mike Farmer at [email protected]. This is certainly an exciting
time to be in ministry in our urban areas.
Multicultural Vitality
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Disability Ministries The Disability Ministry is asking for your support in promoting a respite event that we will be having on June 1st for children on the Autism Spectrum and their siblings. Attached is a flyer that we ask that you post on your bulletin boards and/or use as bulletin handouts in the month of May. Your churches' efforts to help us publicize this event is greatly appreciated. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Pastor Linda Slutz, Chairperson of the Tusc. District Disability Ministry
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Job Postings There are multiple positions available throughout Tuscarawas District. Please remember to check the classifieds on our website at www.eocumc.com/tuscarawas/classifieds
Transition Workshop Transitions occur when there is a change in pastoral leadership. Church leaders and clergy anticipating new appointments are ex-pected to attend this training offered by the East Ohio Confer-ence.
Training for full-time appointments under 200 average worship attendance will take place on May 18, 2019 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at North Canton Grace UMC, 1720 Schneider St., North Canton, OH 44720
Spiritual Directors Fellowship of the UMC of East Ohio Conference Invites You to Consider Spiritual Direction in Your Life Spiritual direction is the historic practice of sacred, one-on-one conversation that nurtures awareness of and response to God’s presence in your everyday life. As companions on the journey of faith, a trained spiritual director and their directee turn their attention toward the presence of God, the ultimate spiritual direc-tor of our lives. A spiritual director does not offer solutions to problems, but rather helps the directee to nurture spiritual prac-tices that are most meaningful to them as they work toward a more balanced and meaningful spiritual life. Folks often meet on a monthly basis with their spiritual director, although more fre-quent meetings are possible. During your initial contact you will set an appointment. The ap-pointment time usually lasts an hour. People meet with a Spiritual Director for a specific purpose, to complete a set of spiritual exer-cises or for faith exploration. Note: this is not the same as clinical or pastoral counseling. There is usually a fee. No one is turned away due to lack of funds. You may use your continuing education or reimbursable funds for your contribution to this ministry. In order to learn more about spiritual direction in East Ohio (including a listing of Certified Spiritual Directors), check out the East Ohio Pastoral Care tab on the EOC web page: www.eocumc.com/pastoralcare/spiritual-direction
Moving Dates for 2019 Appointments Move-Out Deadline Date: Monday, June 24, 2019 Remember that those local churches who are current with their shared ministry payments as of June 30 are eligible to receive 50% reimbursement (subject to limitations) of the moving cost for their new pastor.
Coffee and Conversation
Coffee and Conversation Samantha’s Restaurant 6307 Whipple Ave NW, North Canton OH 44720
Attention Youth Leaders! Coffee and Conversation is held the first Friday of the month at Samantha’s from 10-11:30 a.m.
Come for conversation that encourages and equips those working in the local church with teens as well as hearing about district, conference, and national youth leader opportunities.
Have questions? Call Char Messenger at (330) 268-4853 Or email [email protected]
Spring District Youth Event Look for an email to your church soon with details about the Tuscarawas District Spring Youth Event at Skymax later this month!
"Practically Honest" Podcast Moving Forward Through the Hurt We have all been hurt one time or another by people (those we love or perfect strangers). Sometimes those that hurt us do
it intentionally; other times, it is inadvertently. There are times peo-ple hurt us, and they never realize what they have said or done affect-ed us at all. So what do you do? How do you handle hurt that comes from another person? While there are lots of options, ignore, confront, talk through it, move on,
hurt them back, your decision has the biggest impact on your-self and your own mental health. As a United Methodist, I am...Read and listen to the full podcast at: https://eocyoungpeople.wordpress.com
www.eocumc.com/eoac19/_pdf/YoungAdultHouse2.pdf
