The Mission of United Methodist Community Ministries is to assist congregations in doing ministry with and in the community where God has called them.
Our Goal is that every congregation becomes involved in life-changing, risk-taking service for the transformation of the world, starting with our own local communities. To that end we offer Grants and Partnership facilitation so that every congregation can become actively involved in life-changing, risk-taking service for the transformation of the world.
We serve nine counties of central Ohio, including Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Licking, Logan, Madison, Marion, Pickaway, and Union county.
To accomplish our Mission and Goal we:
Encourage - Assist existing District Mission Centers, support churches with community outreach ministries, and provide aid to churches or assistance with outreach ministries.
Enable - Help churches and groups identify community needs and assets, develop a mission and strategic plan, form partnerships and implement community ministries.
Educate - Provide valuable tools that help churches and clusters learn how to become more involved in community ministries through website information, training, retreats, mission tours, grant-writing workshops and more.
Capitol Area North Board
Class of 2020
Rev. Kathi Herington - Secretary (Whitehall UMC)
Rev. John Ma - Chair Finance and Investment Committee (Global Community UMC)
Class of 2021
Rev. Matt Yoder - Chair Local Outreach Support Committee (Linworth UMC)
Karen Dill (Rushsylvania UMC)
Class of 2022
Rev. Therese Lehman (Prospect St. UMC)
Rev. Judy Cramer (Magnetic Springs/Pharisburg)
Ex Officio:
District Superintendent, Rev. Linda Middelberg;
Assistant to the District Superintendent, Rev. Karen Cook
Capitol Area South Board
Class of 2020
Rev. Kenn Barton - Vice President (Alexandria UMC)
Dr. Katelin Hansen - President (Church for All People)
Class of 2021
Rev. Brian Jones (Lancaster First UMC)
Lori Fisher (Wesley Church of Hope)
Class of 2022
Rev. Anita Richter (Jackson Chapel UMC)
David Pennington (Brushy Fork UMC)
Ex Officio:
District Superintendent, Rev. Tim Bias;
Assistant to the District Superintendent, Rev. Sara Thomas
Director: Rev. Karen Cook, kcook [at] wocumc.org;
Finance Manager: Ginny Shimrock, gshimrock [at] wocumc.org
Board Members
Board members are asked to participate in four board meetings a year. Board members can participate in other teams or committees of the Communities Ministries, but they are not required to do so.
Board members are nominated by their respective District’s Nominations Committee and approved by their District membership at their Annual District Conference. A term on the Board lasts three years. Persons can be invited to serve a second term. There is a six-year limit for serving on the Board.
Two Standing Committees
1) Local Outreach Support Committee - meets on a quarterly basis, conducts site visits to all the sites who have applied for a Local Outreach or District Mission Center grant and recommends to the Board the amounts to be awarded.
2) Finance and Investment Committee - meets quarterly and is in charge of oversight of our investment portfolio, developing the annual budget and reviewing financial statements.
2020 Meeting Dates
All meetings are held at:
West Ohio Conference Center,
32 Wesley Blvd, Worthington, OH
Local Outreach Support Committee
Weds. February 19, 2020 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Weds. May 20, 2020 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Weds. August 12, 2020 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Weds, November 4, 2020 9:30 am - 4:00 pm
Finance and Investment Committee
Weds. March 4, 2020 9:30 am - 10:30 am
Weds. August 19, 2020 9:30 am - 10:30 am
UMCM Board Meetings
Weds. March 4, 2020 10:30 am – noon
Weds. May 27, 2020 10:30 am – noon
Weds. August 19, 2020 10:30 am – noon
Weds. November 18, 2020 10:30 am – noon