Reimagining Connection: An All-Ohio School of Ministry on Beloved Community

“Reimagining Connection” was the theme of the inaugural All-Ohio School of Ministry that brought more than 200 clergy from across the Ohio Episcopal Area to Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Sandusky for three days of worship, learning sessions, and relation-building.  

Unity and connection were woven throughout the conference with intentionality. Each worship service was led by a team comprised of clergy from both the East and West Ohio Conferences. Liturgists, presenters, and those delivering messages hailed from across Ohio. At one point even the rallying cry of “OH-IO” was launched to signify the unity in the room.

Rev. Dr. Javier A. Viera, president of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, was the keynote speaker, presenting three sessions during the School of Ministry. His messages affirmed the work clergy are doing now in serving their communities, but he also challenged them to rely on the Holy Spirit in being a different voice for a world in need.

“We need to recover the desire to share the gospel, not to impose it, to welcome others into the community of Jesus, not to demand it. To call others into a deeper experience of God and Christ, not to dictate it,” Viera offered.

Rev. Mark Chow, dean of the West Ohio Cabinet and superintendent of the Hocking River District, encouraged those gathered to remember their baptism and honor who does the work. “God is the actor in the sacred act of baptism. The pastor is not the lead actor, God is the one who acts,” he said.

In his message to clergy of the Ohio Episcopal Area Bishop Hee-Soo Jung reiterated a vision for the future that he has been sharing with congregations across the state.

“We are claiming a Divine-size dream in Ohio. God’s dream is our prayer. We want to create new faith communities, not just hold onto something that we are now. We are going to continuously move into new possibilities. No more disruption but opportunity. No more limitation but dream together the strong vision of God,” Bishop Jung said.

The importance of prayer was the focus of a passionate message from Rev. Angela Lewis, dean of the East Ohio Cabinet and superintendent of the Northern Waters District in East Ohio.

“Every great move that’s happened from the birth of the church, from the awakenings, from the camp meetings, from whatever – every great movement has been birthed, has been saturated, has been marinated in prayer! If we want something to happen in The UMC between the East and the West we better find an upper room and get together and start praying and hearing what the spirit of God wants us to do because we want this to be what God wants us to do and not just ourselves!” Lewis proclaimed.

In his closing presentation, Viera encouraged clergy to look beyond their individual work and focus on their shared ministry across the State of Ohio and the connection of The United Methodist Church.

“What is God’s vision for your people? It’s not just ‘how do we manage our conferences?’ It’s not just ‘how do we survive as a denomination?’ It’s not just ‘how do we keep our buildings open?’ It’s not just ‘how do we finance our ministry?’ It’s this: what is the gift that you can offer the world at such a time as this?” Viera asked.

The All-Ohio School of Ministry was a blessing to clergy, enabling them to complete a continuing education credit, fellowship with other clergy, pause and reflect, and be encouraged for their next steps in ministry.

To view photos from the All-Ohio School of Ministry visit https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCvfwr