Sunday, June 6 News

Written by Lisa Streight, Director of Communications, West Ohio Conference

Photography by Benjamin Derkin

LAKESIDE, OHIO:   Preparations for the 41st session of the West Ohio Annual Conference are in full swing today, as clergy and lay representatives begin arriving at Lakeside, Ohio.  

Behind the scenes many people have already been working for months on the conference.  The Annual Conference Planning Team, chaired by Rev. Terry Heck, oversaw the preparations.  West Ohio production and communications staff have been onsite since Thursday to run cable, set up routers and modems to establish internet connections, set up and test cameras and other tech equipment, prepare the stage, and fine tune the numerous last minute changes to the schedule and the presentations.  

Rehearsals and sound checks begin in the afternoon on the stage in Hoover Auditorium while in various meeting spaces across Lakeside the Cabinet, Extension Ministers, Candidates, New Lay Members and other groups gather for orientation, fellowship and other work.

Across the conference there is much sadness as this weekend began with destructive storms and a tornado in Northwest Ohio.  Many communities in Wood County and Lake Township have been affected by the destruction and our hearts are deeply saddened at the death of Pastor Kathy Hammitt, North Dover UMC in Wauseon, in the tornado.   

The evening events began with a concert by the Shiloh Mountain Trio, followed by the Laity Session.  

Led by Conference Co-Lay Leaders, Valarie Willis and Jim Jasinski, the Laity Session included reports by the United Methodist Women, United Methodist Men, introduction of the 36 new Certified Lay Ministers, introduction of the Next Generations Interns, and a very personal and moving testimonial from Amy Matzenbach, conference staff, about her recent mission experiences.