• Elected new officers who will assume their leadership roles in 2016.  
• Issued a pastoral letter on racism affirming the sacredness of all lives and renewing their commitment to work for an anti-racist, pro-humanity church. 
• Affirmed a vision for a missional direction for the next quadrennium which includes partnering with schools to help end poverty, starting new faith communities, building a culture of call, reaching children with life-saving interventions, and equipping congregations with disciple-making processes to continue making new disciples and increasing the number of vital congregations. 

This article appeared in last week's NewsNet with an incorrect link, which has now been corrected.  

In an April report from the Association of Theological Schools, United Theological Seminary (UTS) was named one of only 12 schools to have grown by at least 50 percent over the past five years. UTS is the second largest on the association's list of fastest-growing schools -- and the only United Methodist institution among the top 12. United president Wendy Deichmann (pictured) attributes much of the school's recent success to its online education programs. Read more 

Please be in prayer for those affected by storms and tornadoes across our nation last week. A church council chair and his wife, a former secretary of the church, died in likely tornadoes that roared through Van, Texas, May 10. The pastor of Van United Methodist Church confirmed the deaths of David and Brenda Tapley. Members of Van United Methodist were responding to the Tapleys' deaths with grief, but also with service. Last week tornadoes also wreaked havoc elsewhere in Texas and in Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, Oklahoma, Arkansas and South Dakota.  Read more 

Related story: UMCOR responds to tornado which struck Nashville, Arkansas, and provides assistance for Texas tornado damage

Beth Gibbs, Director of Conference Benefits, will be retiring as of July 1. Beth joined the West Ohio Conference staff in 1999 as Health Care Coordinator. In 2005, she became Pension Coordinator, and in 2012 she was promoted to Director of Conference Benefits. In her time with the Conference, Beth has assisted countless active and retired clergy and their spouses as they navigate health insurance matters and retirement from active ministry. She has provided care and support to surviving spouses and family members when loved ones pass away, ensuring that death and other benefits are processed timely and efficiently. Well wishes may be sent to Beth at bgibbs@wocumc.org. Her husband, Dan Gibbs, an eight-year employee in our Technology Department, is also retiring as of July 1. 

This June, teens can take a tour of the wonders of Ohio on a week long "Discover Ohio" travel adventure, hopping from site to site and staying in a different United Methodist church each night. Discover something new including Camp Otterbein's high ropes course and zip line, enjoy going to a sports game, play putt-putt golf, go to a water park, rock climb at Scioto Audubon Metro park, try a rubber duck race, play disc golf, go hiking at Old Man's cave, and still get launched off the blob back at camp. Registration or Click here to discover more camp adventures

For nearly a quarter century, the Columbus Metropolitan Area Church Council has been honoring individuals in Columbus who work to create a more hopeful, peaceful, and faithful world. The Living Faith Awards are presented to lay persons who exemplify faith in their lives and communities. Donita Harris, a lay pastor from United Methodist Church for All People, received the Hope For Today Award for her efforts in spiritual formation and disciple making at the church. In addition, the Alvin R. Hadley Social Justice Award was given to Rev. John Edgar, founding pastor of United Methodist Church For All People. John is well known across the United Methodist connection for his work on issues such as the expansion of gambling, homelessness, mass incarceration, and reducing poverty.  Read more

M. Garlinda Burton is the featured speaker at the "Women and Children in Poverty"  luncheon at Lakeside this June . Burton is a United Methodist deaconess and founder of MotherWit, a consulting company that helps organizations live into cultural/global justice and inclusion, and foster personal and team excellence and cooperation. She is also president of the board and project manager for the Nashville Freedom School Partnership, a literacy/enrichment program for under-served, urban children created by the Children's Defense Fund. The event is sponsored by the Methodist Federation for Social Action, Black Methodists for Church Renewal and United Methodist Women and is open to all. Details and registration

Children are invited to submit original prayers for peace to the United Methodist Board of Church and Society as part of the denomination's Peace with Justice Sunday which is May 31, but can be observed at any time amenable to a congregation's programming schedule. The multi-faceted initiative, "Hate Hurts, Peace Heals," includes a reading list on peace for children and Sunday school classes and an opportunity to gather offerings for peace. Read more

Dr. Kevin M. Watson is the featured speaker at a dinner and gathering at Lakeside on June 9. Dr. Watson is Assistant Professor of Wesleyan and Methodist Studies at Candler School of Theology, Emory University. An ordained elder in The United Methodist Church, Watson has written a history of small group formation in early Methodism, Pursuing Social Holiness: The Band Meeting in Wesley's Thought and Popular Methodist Practice. He has also written books that seek to help contemporary Wesleyan/Methodist communities reclaim a distinctly Wesleyan approach to Christian discipleship and small group formation. The event is sponsored by the Evangelical Fellowship of West Ohio and is open to all. Details and registration

The West Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church is seeking a Director of Benefits and Human Resources. This position oversees and administers West Ohio Conference employee benefit programs for over 1,200 active and retired clergy members and Conference Staff, and supports the Conference Board of Pension and Health Benefits. This person will provide leadership in formalizing benefit programs, employment policies, and administration of human resources policies and programs for Conference staff and clergy. Position description.To apply please send a cover letter and resume at your earliest convenience to Bill Brownson at bbrownson@wocumc.org.  

Details and registration