July 2, 2026
A Note from Tommy Caldarea & Stephanie Harrell
Dear Friends,
This year’s West Ohio Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church centered on the powerful theme of “Abundant Grace,” drawing inspiration from the feeding of the 5,000 (Matthew 14:13-21).
Bishop Hee-Soo Jung laid out Five Strategic Pillars to guide our collective future: building relationships, shared mission, deepening discipleship, multiplying faith communities, and developing emerging leaders.
Throughout our time together, the focus on growth and unity felt incredibly authentic, reminding us of the vast possibilities when we rely on God’s abundance.
Worship and celebration set the tone each day, and Hilliard UMC was beautifully represented! On Thursday morning, our very own Warehouse 839 band with Cassie and Nate Johnson, Tony Hagood, and other bandmates led the entire conference. It was a spectacular surprise and a true point of pride for our congregation.
We also celebrated monumental milestones in ministry, including the 70th anniversary of the Ordination of Women and the 30th anniversary of the Order of Deacons, while honoring the long history of Deaconesses and Home Missioners.
The conference was a masterclass in building global and local relationships. Bishop Jung and Bishop Seong-Bok Kim (Seoul Annual Conference, Korean Methodist Church) formalized a new ministry partnership by signing the Ohio-Korea Covenant of Ministry Partnership. We also heard from inspiring guest preachers from South Korea and the Congo, as well as guest speaker Ray Buckley, who beautifully wove his Native American roots into the scripture to highlight our interconnectedness.
Between these powerful sessions, we spent time at the Ministry Fair connecting with other churches to gather fresh ideas and ministries to bring back home to HUMC.
In addition to standard business and budget approvals, the conference voted on key recommendations reflecting our commitment to social justice. The West Ohio Conference affirmed its support for civil rights protections for transgender and non-binary individuals, ensuring gender identity will not prohibit candidacy, ordination, or appointments.
Additionally, a new task force will be formed to create supportive personnel policies regarding substance-related challenges, and a new General Church Special Sunday, “Welcome Migrants,” was established for September 10.
We were also thrilled to hear that Max Andrick, whom HUMC put forward for pastoral candidacy last year, has been assigned to New Dover UMC!
Looking ahead to next year
The East and West Ohio Conferences will vote on whether we support combining into one conference.
From Stephanie
This was my fourth year serving as a delegate, and each year brings its own unique blessings. Having served as the HUMC delegate from 2023 to 2025 — navigating both the painful seasons of disaffiliation and the hope-filled seasons of revival — this year felt different. Serving as an at-large delegate allowed me to view our connection with fresh eyes, and I remain deeply grateful for the opportunity to represent our community during such an educational and emotional journey.
From Tommy
As this was my first Annual Conference as HUMC’s official delegate, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. I walked away, however, incredibly encouraged by the vibrant energy and positive attitude filling the space, even during challenging times. I learned so much about the wider church, found the focus on growth completely authentic, and am already looking forward to next year.
If you want to dive deeper into the conference summaries, or if you just want to chat about what’s next, please catch either of us at church!
In Christ,
Tommy Caldarea & Stephanie Harrell
HUMC Lay Delegates to Annual Conference