The West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church announced this week that effective Sept. 1, one bishop will lead both the West and East Ohio conferences.
In a special session held Tuesday, the North Central Jurisdiction reduced its episcopal areas from nine to seven by combining the East and West Ohio conferences and the Northern Illinois and Wisconsin conferences.
Bishop assignments are to be announced in July, according to a news release.
Bishop Gregory Palmer of the West Ohio Conference is set to retire at the culmination of the 55th conference session, which runs May 29 to June 1. Members will vote on changes to conference rules and make decisions that will shape the future of the conference.
Harpsichord melodies to fill Epworth UMC
Epworth United Methodist Church’s artist series continues with an afternoon of harpsichord music on Sunday.
Epworth’s music director Cecil Baughman will perform music by American and French composers on the church’s newly acquired William Dowd harpsichord. Dowd was a 20th century builder of the keyboard instrument who worked in a Detroit workshop before opening a shop in Boston.