Below you'll find upcoming events, helpful information, and mission highlights for the West Ohio Conference and Maumee River District. Please visit our website using the link below for additional resources and info, but remember that it is a work in progress with the new districts and website updates!

Calling All Laity!!! District At-Large Members Needed for Annual Conference

Registration Ends May 1st

Time is running out! Registration for Annual Conference will be ending on May 1st. if you are interested in filling one of those spots, please complete the Availability Form and give to your pastor for their signature. If you know anyone that would be interested in, or would be good for this position, please share the information and form with them as well. Submit completed forms to the district office at mrobinson@wocumc.org. The first round of requests will be confirmed on April 9th.

UWF District Spring Celebration 

The Maumee River United Women in Faith will be holding their Annual Spring Celebration on Saturday, April 20, 2024 from 10am-3pm. They are inviting all ladies of the district to attend their United Women in Faith Soul Care Retreat at Wintergarden Park, Rotary Center in Bowling Green, Ohio. Dress is casual with an extra, old shirt required. The cost is $20. For more information, or to register, please see the attached flyer HERE.

Fellowship For All People

Worship Night

Come join us for a night of worship! We will be having a special guest speaker this month. Chris Everett, founder GAP Toledo will come to share his story. Chris has persevered through 25 years of addiction, street life, violence, incarceration, homelessness, a myriad of treatment centers, detoxes, and psych wards. He developed a non-profit as a reaction to what he saw working in private treatment, the immense failure of both treatment and shelters. He vowed to fill in the gaps of these systems, but in the midst of this, found himself in another precarious situation. On the 21st, Chris will share his story of salvation, perseverance, determination, and redemption. "Wars never end, they just change" - Chris Everett. 

Basic & Recert ERT Classes to be offered Saturday, April 13 in Findlay

UMCOR’s Early Response Team (ERT) Basic class will be offered on Saturday, April 13, 8:00 am-4:00 pm at St. Mark's UMC in Findlay. A four-hour recertification class will also be offered. West Ohio ERT trainers will teach participants how to assist survivors of natural disasters in their time of need. Trainees will learn how to provide a caring, Christian presence while taking steps to prevent further damage to the family's personal property. Skills that are taught include tarping, debris removal, mucking out flooded homes, etc. FEMA recognizes this training to enter a disaster scene. A background check is required, and a link to complete this will be provided upon registration. Cost is $40 for the Basic class or $35 for recertification. ERT members are not required to be United Methodist but must deploy with a United Methodist-led team. For more information or to register, click HERE:

Foundation Survey Deadline Approaching

If you have not taken the UMFWO strategic planning survey, please do so as soon as possible. The deadline is April 8. The survey is intended for all clergy and any lay persons involved in finance, endowments or stewardship at their local church. It takes about 10 minutes to complete. Your input will help create the roadmap for the Foundation’s future programming and resource options.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/UMFWOChurchLeaderSurvey

Foundation and Office of Ministry Announce 2^nd Fellowship Cohort with MTSO

Applications for the Alford-Cantlin Fellowship program are now available for West Ohio clergy. In partnership with Methodist Theological School in Ohio, and with financial support from the United Methodist Foundation of West Ohio, the West Ohio Conference Office of Ministry is offering this special cohort with the Methodist Theological School in Ohio Doctor of Ministry program beginning in July 2024.

This partnership between West Ohio and MTSO is designed to support United Methodist clergy who are seeking next-level leadership opportunities and academic training focused on transformational change.

The 2024 cohort will be the second diverse cohort of ordained West Ohio clergy participating in the Alford-Cantlin Fellowship at MTSO. Ordained West Ohio clergy who have completed the Reflecting, Equipping, And Flourishing Process (REF) and who meet the criteria for admission to the MTSO D.Min. program may apply. Diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

Known as Alford-Cantlin Fellows, participants will receive additional support from the Office of Ministry beyond that provided by their academic program at MTSO, including:

·        peer support;

·        one-on-one clergy mentoring;

·        and scholarship funding. 

The length of the program is three to four academic years. The West Ohio Conference will work with each potential cohort participant to determine what financial aid they may qualify for, including local church funding, the Ministerial Education Fund, outside grants, and aid from MTSO. West Ohio will offer last-dollar support for up to half of the cost of the program to eligible applicants. from the Alford-Cantlin Family Endowment of the United Methodist Foundation of West Ohio. The West Ohio Conference is grateful for this financial support toward the continued formation of pastoral leaders.

Interested clergy should contact Donnetta Peaks at dpeaks@wocumc.org or April Casperson at MTSO at acasperson@mtso.edu. Applications are available here and due by May 1. Courses begin the week of July 22, 2024.

Mission Scholarship Opportunity

Many of our churches and youth groups are planning mission trips for the summer or early fall. The Wilkins family started a Wilkins Scholarship Fund to benefit first-time mission goers in our district. If your church or youth group has persons in this category, please reach out to the district office for details on this opportunity.

2024 West Ohio Annual Conference: God is Able

Registration Ends May 1st

Clergy Session Registration ends April 15th

Register Now for West Ohio Annual Conference and Events

The 55th session of the West Ohio Annual Conference is set to convene from Wednesday, May 29, through Saturday, June 1, 2024, at Capital University in Bexley, Ohio. This year's theme, "God is Able," draws inspiration from Ephesians 3:20-21, promising a gathering that celebrates the limitless power of God. Information regarding meals, housing, and special events is posted on the conference website.

Click here to register for Annual Conference

Click here to register for Clergy Session. 

Click here to register for the Clergy Spouse Brunch with Mrs. Palmer. 

Click here to give to the Love Offering for Bishop and Mrs. Palmer.

SCRAP METAL DRIVE - YEAR ROUND SERVICE

Do you have an antenna down from a storm? Got sheet metal, or a chain-link fence you’ve wanted to take down? Here’s your chance to do good while cleaning up from a storm or cleaning out the garage, attic, basement, shed, backyard, etc.

Trinity United Methodist Church’s Scrap Metal Drive - All METAL accepted. A dumpster is located in the parking lot at Putnam County Council on Aging, 1425 E. Fourth Street Ottawa, waiting for your cast-offs. All proceeds will go to Trustee projects at Trinity United Methodist Church. Call 419-523-6496 for more information.

ABSOLUTELY NO TV’S, COMPUTER MONITORS, PAINT, TIRES, MATRESSES/BOX SPRINGS or AEROSOL CANS ACCEPTED.     

Foundation Webinar with Rev. Dr. Ken Sloane

Registration is not required. A link to join this Zoom presentation can be found at https://umfwestohio.org/foundation-program-calendar-2024/. Contact Susan Black for more information at sblack@wocumc.org.

Grief and Next Steps Seminar

Rev. Elaine J Sturtz, a LPCC (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor), Pastor, Former Hospice Chaplain, Author (Books available to purchase), will be holding a seminar for anyone who has experienced any type of loss or grief. The Focus will be; how to live in this different life, defining grief, how to take next steps into life.

There is no cost or registration required

Saturday, April 20, 2024

10 AM – 12 PM

Peace United Methodist Church 235 Diley Road, Pickerington, OH

www.livinginthedifferent.com       ejsturtz7@gmail.com

Learn about Creation Care during Earth Day Connect A-Round Table

On Earth Day, Monday, April 22, from 5:30-6:30pm, you are invited to Connect A-Round Table for a virtual conversation on creation care.

The panel of speakers will include Bob Downs, founding member of the West Ohio Creation Care Task Force (CCTF); Rev. Ryan Grace, current chair of CCTF and pastor of the Urban Farm Church in Columbus; and Rev. Jessica Stonecypher, a Deacon who is a vocational agriculture instructor and chair of West Ohio's Net Zero team.

Bring your dinner and break bread with us as we learn more about caring for God’s earth! Registration link is below.

Register now...

Deconsecration Service at Camp Widewater set for June 15th

Former campers, employees, camp counselors, and supporters of Camps Widewater and Otterbein are encouraged to attend deconsecration services this summer.

The services are set for Saturday, June 15, at 2:00pm at Camp Widewater and Sunday, June 16, at 4:00pm at Camp Otterbein. More information will be made available soon.

Mission u - Registration open

All are invited to attend Mission u this year, which will be held in-person June 21-23, 2024, at the Bergamo Life-Long Learning Center in Beavercreek, OH. 

A virtual Mission u will also be held during the month of July. Mission u is co-sponsored by the West Ohio Conference United Women in Faith and the West Ohio Conference. 

This year's theme is "The Kin-dom is Among You...Drawing Closer to God and One Another." Adults and youth (6th-12th grades) will participate in dynamic discussions, meditative worship, engagement with the natural world, and reflection on the lovely grounds of the Bergamo Center. 

Martha Scholarships for first-time attendees will be available as well as Mission u scholarships. More information is available here.

Click here for Save the Date flyer.

Click here for Youth Save the Date flyer. 

Registration begins April 1. Questions? Contact Linda Bales Todd (Dean) at joylab47@yahoo.com or Carolyn Johnson (Assistant Dean) at cjohnson3253@yahoo.com

Where to find General Conference News & Info

Next Month, General Conference, the top policy-making body of The United Methodist Church, will convene in Charlotte, North Carolina, April 23-May 3, 2024.

Although General Conference is a business meeting to review legislative law, policy and budgets, it also includes time for passionate worship, an exhibition of general church agencies, and fellowship with our brothers and sisters across the global connection.



For more information on the West Ohio Delegation, answers to frequently asked questions, and news updates, click here. This webpage will continuously be updated as more information becomes available.

Church Reporting

Statistical Reporting - Year End

2023 statistical reporting information was recently emailed out to pastors, treasurers, and administrative council/leadership team chairs.

• Reports are due April 15
• Please make every effort to complete the information online.
• Have your church’s GCFA# ready
• Open this link: https://stats.gcfa.org/Login.aspx and input your GCFA# and the password ACStats2023#
• Once you’re in the system, you’ll establish new credentials for accessing your church’s information. Note that more than one person at a church can establish credentials for inputting data, which should make it easier if in your church different people have access to different data.

For questions around these reports contact Jack Frost, jfrost@wocumc.org. 

Annual Reporting

The information for the church and clergy Annual Reports has also been updated recently and is available for access. These reports include the Fund Balance Report, Trustee Legal & Property, Parsonage Inspection, Clergy Self-Assessment and SPRC Assessments. They can be found on the district website on the Resource tab or by clicking HERE. They are due June 1st.

For questions about these reports contact Michelle at the district office, mrobinson@wocumc.org.

Insurance Considerations for Leasing and Renting Church or Ministry Property

Sharing space with other organizations and ministries is a great way to extend your relationship with the community, provide assistance to those in need, and perhaps generate some additional revenue or resources. Doing so may also introduce new insurance exposures for your church to deal with.

Read more...

Rev. Howard Preston

Rev. Gene Well

Scioto Ridge UMC: Director of Youth & Young Adults - The Director of Youth and Young Adults is responsible for the leadership, planning, and implementation of the ministry with and to the Middle School youth (6-8 Grade), High School youth (9-12 grade), and young adults (Post-high school graduation to 30 years old) of Scioto Ridge United Methodist Church. The director will build leadership teams of servants that help in the spiritual formation of youth and young adults. For a full job description, please visit: www.srumc.org/employment

Ottawa Trinity: Financial Administrator - Trinity has an immediate opening for a financial administrator. Hours would be part time and flexible. For more information, Contact Pastor Marcella @ 419-204-0734 or send resume to trinity_church@yahoo.com

The Maumee River District Office is open from 9:00am-4:30pm Monday-Thursday. The office is closed on Fridays, but Michelle will still be working from home and available by phone and email. Office appointments can be scheduled on Fridays if needed.