Guest Blogger: Rick Wolcott, Director of Communications, East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church
The 2014 East Ohio Annual Conference will convene at Lakeside Chautauqua from Monday, June 16-Thursday, June 19.
The theme for the 45th session of Annual Conference – “Jesus Is Calling Us In” – will focus on identifying and reaching potential disciples of Jesus Christ.
This is the second year of a quadrennial theme based on the mission of The United Methodist Church: to make and mature disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
The morning of Wednesday, June 18 will be dedicated to leadership development. Bishop Janice Riggle, Huie of the Texas Annual Conference, and the Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean, of Princeton Theological Seminary, will join Bishop John L. Hopkins in a conversation on the topic of Disciples Making Disciples.
The Service of Holy Communion and Commemoration, led by Bishop Hopkins, opens the Annual Conference at 1:30 p.m. Monday, June 16 in Hoover Auditorium.
New this year, is a 5k Run/1-mile Walk. It will begin on the steps of Hoover Auditorium at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 18. The Run is co-sponsored by the 3Cs Mission and the Health and Welfare Committee.
Proceeds will benefit the ministries of the 3Cs Mission – supporting Churches, Clinics and Classrooms in Russia, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe.
Bishop Hopkins will offer reflections at the Retirement Service at 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 16. He has been resident bishop of the East Ohio Conference since 2004.
Bishop Janice Riggle Huie is resident bishop of the Texas Annual Conference. She is the keynote speaker for the Service of Commissioning and Ordination at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 17 and will co-lead the Disciples Making Disciples leadership development session in the morning on Wednesday, June 18.
The Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean is the Mary D. Synnott Professor of Youth, Church and Culture at Princeton Theological Seminary. She will co-lead the Disciples Making Disciples leadership development session in the morning on Wednesday, June 18.
The Rev. Solomon Hill will lead the 8 a.m. worship service on Tuesday, June 17. The Rev. Hill is the pastor of Centenary United Methodist Church in Youngstown, Ohio.
The Rev. Dr. Rock Jones will lead the 8 a.m. worship service on Wednesday, June 18. Dr. Jones is president of Ohio Wesleyan University.
The Rev. Janelle Kurtz will lead the 8 a.m. worship service on Thursday, June 19. The Rev. Kurtz, who will be ordained an Elder on Tuesday evening, is the pastor of Brimfield Faith United Methodist Church in Kent, Ohio.
