by Twyla Sales, Lay Member to Annual Conference
Bishop Tracy S. Malone presided over the 52nd session of the East Ohio Annual Conference where the theme this year was Christ Alive in Us!
The worship services, celebrations, and business sessions were broadcast live from the John S. Knight Center in Akron June 16-19, 2021. The 624 registered clergy members and the 577 registered lay members viewed the conference and voted during it remotely. We were asked to stay focused on the mission of making disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world and on fighting racism.
Bishop Malone thanked clergy for serving as adaptive spiritual leaders during the challenging year. The adaptive ministries of East Ohio Conference pastors, congregations, and faith communities were highlighted throughout conference in the form of Christ Alive in Us! videos that focused on creative ministry partnerships, missions, youth, camps, spiritual formation, community outreach, and racial justice.
One of the videos featured our own Quinn Bennett sharing the activities she initiated to connect the generations of our congregation such as sidewalk chalk decorating. The purpose in sharing the videos was to connect, equip, support, and celebrate examples of the many ways that Christ is Alive in Us! as a community of faith supporting one another.
There was a report from a delegate to General Conference that will be held August 29 - September 6, 2022, Minneapolis, MN. Is there a way forward? It is time to pray for our denomination. The delegate prayed for clergy and lay delegates to General Conference. During Annual Conference, it was emphasized that we need to spend time in conversation with each other. Who do we want to be for Christ? There is a place for each of us no matter our biblical beliefs. Trust in the Lord, and be united in love, mission, and purpose. Be calm, don’t react yet, and treat everyone with kindness and respect.
Two Resolutions were proposed and discussed with great debate. “Condemning QAnon and Walking Alongside Its Victims” proposed a task force to find and eliminate QAnon in our conference; it was not passed. “Covenant to Continue Our Work for Racial Justice” resolved to continue to find ways to stand against racism; the resolution passed.
A Service of Commissioning and Ordination was held, the lives and ministry of 47 clergy and lay saints were remembered, and the Celebration of Retirement recognized the 18 retirees of the Class of 2020 and the 24 retirees of the Class of 2021.
Many reports were given. The former Trinity UMC was “transferred . . .without charge to Rocky River UMC to use as a local missional outreach site. Its mission, Twice Blessed Free Store, currently occupies space in the Nehemiah Mission, which space is needed by Nehemiah, so this transfer effectively benefits two vital urban missions.” In another report, Lynn Gorton’s certification as active lay minister in the East Ohio Conference was acknowledged. RRUMC was among the churches thanked for paying 100% of our apportionments.
Brian Mitchell and Twyla Sales were Lay Members to Annual Conference.