Central Connection | January 9th, 2025
In This Connection
Annual Reports
Lay Delegate Registration | General Council 2025
Rekindle Retreat | Final Reminder
Bylaws and Policies Workshop | February 1st
Deeper Life: Senior Retreat | March 19th-21st
District Leadership Development Scholarship Now Open
A Thought From The Multiplication Office
Central District Alliance Women Save-The-Dates
Loss Of Loved Ones
Annual Reports
On January 10th all lead pastors and annual report editors should receive an email with a link to sign on to the application and begin filing the 2024 report.
If for some reason you do not receive your link please reach out to our office right away, as to not delay this process.
Please make this a priority, as this is a National Office requirement and not optional. Plan accordingly as this will take some time to gather and input the requested information.
February 14th, 2025, is the deadline to complete and file your church report.
Please contact our office with any questions that you may have.
Phone: 330.336.2911
Email: [email protected]
Lay Delegate Registration
General Council will be held May 26th – May 30th, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. This important event is open to all C&MA members and adherents.
If your church plans to send a lay delegate to Council, the deadline to submit your form(s) to the district office is Friday, March 28th. Be sure to add this to your Governing Board Agenda prior to this date.
Please share the attached information below regarding General Council with your Governing Board Secretary.
Important Note: We ask that you register your delegate through the process prior to Council. This will help alleviate the need for someone to find the district superintendent for his approval and signature during Council.
2025 Council Letter to Official Workers
Lay Delegate Certificate 2025
Lay Delegates #'s for Churches
The completed form can be emailed to [email protected],
or faxed to (330) 334-3702.
A Belated Valentine’s Opportunity?
Rekindle, the licensed workers’ marriage retreat, will occur a week and a half after Valentine’s Day. This could be a perfect way to celebrate with your spouse!
Rekindle 2025 will be Monday, February 24th–Wednesday, February 26th, at the Carlisle Inn located in Sugarcreek, OH.
Plan to begin the year investing in your marriage, getting some rest and refreshment, and enjoying some extended time with others from the district family.
The guarantee of our rooms will end next week, thus the January 15th registration deadline.
If you are planning to come, please register by next week as this will be your final reminder to register.
If you are still considering, let this spur you on to join us.
Click here to apply or see more information!
Scholarships are available, so please do not let finances keep you from attending.
Please reach out to our office with any questions you may have, 330.336.2911 or [email protected]
We are praying for you to be a part of Rekindle 2025!
Bylaws Workshop
Much has changed culturally and denominationally in the past several years. Are your church’s policies and bylaws up-to-date?
If your current church's bylaws are over eight years old, we recommend a review take place. There are some helpful bylaws that you are strongly encouraged to consider that keep us more fully aligned with The Alliance.
Plan to send 2-3 people from your church to the Bylaws Workshop to begin that review process.
Click here to register now!
(There is no registration fee.)
Please contact Taylor Callahan ([email protected]) with any questions you may have.
Deeper Life Senior Retreat
This retreat is designed for the senior adults in your churches,
please promote this to them.
The Deeper Life Retreat is planned with you in mind! We gather each year to learn how God is working in each of our lives. We make new friends, have wonderful times of fellowship, sing the great hymns of the past and enjoy delicious Amish cooking! Jeff Miller District Superintendent of the Ohio Valley District will be our retreat speaker this year.
Deeper Life will take place March 19th-21st, 2025, at the Carlisle Inn
(1357 Old Route 39, Sugarcreek, OH 44681)
To pay by credit card click the link here.
Select your rooming option, how many people you are paying for and then click the “Add to Cart” button to continue. Fill out the registration form, then make your payment.
If you prefer to mail in your registration, click this link to print off the registration form. Select your rooming option, then make your check payable to Central District CMA, notating Senior Retreat on the memo line. Mail check and registration to: Linda Gray - 107 Northwood Drive, Dover, OH 44622
Registration closes February 18th, 2025.
For questions, contact Linda Gray at (614) 937-7989.
District Leadership Development Scholarship
Applications for the District Leadership Development Scholarship are being accepted now through April 2nd, 2025. The district is offering to cover up to 60% in financial assistance.
This needs-based leadership development scholarship will benefit people throughout the Central District who are pursuing accreditation with the Alliance or who are participating in District-approved ministry initiatives.
Leadership development programs that are already approved include: Alliance Center for Leadership Development (ACLD), LEAD, Westwood Academy, and Thrive. Please encourage those in your congregations to consider one of these programs (or other options like these) and to apply for the scholarship.
Click here to apply or see more information!
Please email Mariah Kulton ([email protected]) with any additional questions you may have.
Church Multiplication Office Thought
See a brief message from Todd Sovine.
(Director of Church Multiplication)
It’s a new year, with new dreams of partnering with the King in the advancement of his kingdom among lives, communities, and cultures. Help your congregation take some initial steps of faith toward establishing a new expression of his body in your Judea or Samaria. Need some starting ideas?
Lets talk!
Email Kirsten Tousley, [email protected], to make
an appointment with Todd Sovine.
Alliance Women Save The Dates
Mark your calendars! We have exciting events coming with the new year for our women of the Central District!
Upcoming Events:
Rise Up Simulcast: Content released Saturday, February 1st, 2025
Be Bold Spring Events: Saturday, March 15th, 2025
One event in 3 locations!
- Hope Community Church in Hudson, OH
- Northview Church in Wooster, OH
- Buckhannon Alliance Church in Buckhannon, WV
Save the Date:
Ladies Day: July 23rd, 2025, at Beulah Beach in Vermilion, OH
Fall Retreat: October 10th-12th, 2025, at Beulah Beach in Vermilion, OH
Keep an eye on our Alliance Women page for more details as
we approach these events!
Loss Of Loved Ones
Several families in our district have experienced the loss of a loved one in recent months. As Paul reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 4:13, though we grieve, 'we do not grieve as people without hope', but with an eternal hope. Let's grieve alongside our brothers and sisters.
Please join us in prayer for each of the following families
who have lost a parent:
Roger and Teresita Abe (Filipino American Bible Church)
Paul and Mandy Armitage (North Mar Church)
Sam and Anna Beatty (Grace Church Middleburg Heights)
Bryon and Vicki Bukovesky (Concord Alliance Church)
Ayman and Grace Kafrouny (Grace Arabic Church)
Dan and Lisa Scarrow (Former Central District Director of Leadership Development)
Paul and Julie Yanchek (CrossPoint Alliance Church)
These are only the losses we are aware of, if in the future you experience a personal loss and would like to share that with the district family to be kept in prayer, please reach out to our office.