Dear Pastor,
Charge Conferences are being planned for Fall 2015 and I wanted to let you know of some
significant changes that are being made as we try to build relationships and create opportunity
for peer learning.
At our annual Cluster Leaders retreat held last month, we discussed how we could improve
upon our charge conference experience in the district. Primary considerations were given to
how we could build trust, foster relationships, and be more efficient. After taking into
consideration the input of the cluster leaders, we are pleased to introduce a "new" format for
charge conferences that we believe will assist in meeting these goals. The new format takes us
back to having individual charge conferences at a centralized location.
To help minimize your commute, we have selected 10 strategic host sites with consideration
given to geographic location. Charge conferences will take place on five consecutive Sundays
beginning October 18 and at two different sites. Brian will facilitate at one site while Tim will
lead at the other. Based on your location in the district, we have assigned your church to a host
site. Click here to see when yours is scheduled. Thank you to these churches who have agreed
to host charge conferences this year:
Day
Sunday
Sunday
Sunday
Sunday
Sunday
Date
October 18
October 25
November 1
November 8
November 15
Location
Amelia
Hyde Park Bethlehem
Hamilton Grace
Friendship
Miami Whitewater
Location
Monroe
Mt Washington
Wilmington
Milford Trinity
Otterbein Lebanon
Keeping our goals in mind, we've come up with a new format for the charge conferences
themselves. The ORV district consists of 121 churches; given 10 host sites, approximately 12
churches will be having their charge conference at the same location. One set of charge
conferences will take place at 2pm and the other at 4pm. You'll choose which time you prefer
on the date you have been given. An Elder will be assigned to preside over your charge
conference to facilitate voting and to celebrate with you all the Kingdom work that has taken
place in your church over the past year. Brian/Tim will also stop by your charge conference for a
few minutes to celebrate with you. At 3pm all 12 churches will worship together. In short, the
day will look like this:

2:00-3:00 - Group 1 (6 churches) Individual Charge Conferences

3:00-4:00 - Group 1 & Group 2 (12 churches) Worship which includes a presentation
from Bishop Palmer and prayer for each church in attendance

4:00-5:00 - Group 2 (6 churches) Individual Charge Conferences
A light reception will take place from 1:30-2pm and 5-5:30pm.
You may select which time you and your church desire to hold your charge conference (either
before or after our worship time) at the following
site: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/4090C4AACA822A57-20153 on a first-come, first-serve
basis. Churches who do not sign up by August 31, 2015 will be assigned a time at your given
location.
Elders in full conference connection are being asked to help preside over these individual
conferences. To help fulfill this request there is a spot on the Sign Up Genius site for Elders to
choose which charge conference(s) they wish to preside over. Please do this by August 31,
2015.
The West Ohio Conference Communications department has been working diligently to make
completing forms easier than ever. This year ALL forms may be filled out electronically,
including your officer listing. We will NOT be sending out packets of forms this year. To be
completed for your charge conference:
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Clergy Compensation Form
Signature Page
ARP
Housing Allowance Exclusion
Officer Listing
Breakthrough Goal Card
Health Insurance Waiver
Parsonage Inspection and Legal Property Report
Safe Sanctuary Policy
Church Profile
You'll notice that you're being asked to submit two additional forms this year: your church's
Safe Sanctuary Policy and a Church Profile. The West Ohio Conference will have all the forms
online by August 31 and will be making available a webinar explaining how to electronically
complete, save and submit them. Click here to learn more.
I pray you will embrace this change with the intentions they were created by myself and your
Cluster Leaders. Please contact me or any district staff member to address any issues or
questions you have.
Stay present and encouraged,
.
.
Brian K. Brown
District Superintendent