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Ohio University Eastern Campus

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Appalachian Ministry in Southern Ohio

The rural southeastern half of the Diocese of Southern Ohio lies in the Appalachian foothills. Our major cities also have significant Appalachian populations who migrated to Ohio’s industrial centers in the mid-20th century as earning a livelihood grew increasingly hard in the mountains.

A massive loss of manufacturing jobs over the past generation has stunted the economies of southeast Ohio’s towns as well as cities like Springfield, Hamilton, Middletown, and Dayton. The environmental ravages caused by mining and industry – both past and current – is an increasing concern for both rural and inner-city Appalachian communities. Ohio’s Appalachians experience significantly higher rates of poverty than the general population. A vibrant part of this increasingly multicultural state, Appalachians have often faced discrimination and misunderstanding.

Episcopalians in this diocese – including many of Appalachian heritage - advocate vigorously on behalf of the values and concerns of Appalachians from the local level to the national. Our suffragan bishop, the Rt. Rev. Kenneth L. Price, a West Virginian, holds a number of leadership positions in the national church including that of Secretary of the House of Bishops. This diocese’s busy chapter of Episcopal Appalachian Ministries (EAM) is led by the Rev. Deacon Carol Callahan with staff support by diocesan Appalachian consultant Mike Maloney. Diligent work by this committee over the past generation has contributed to a growing understanding of and appreciation for Appalachian culture in local Episcopal congregations. This includes preparing bulletin-ready educational materials for the diocese’s annual celebration of Appalachian Sunday at the end of Epiphany. Through literacy, GED, and career coaching programs. Southern Ohio Episcopalians have helped thousands of Appalachians achieve greater security. Members of the diocese’s EAM committee are also starting to research ways churches can do more to contribute to community-wide economic development in areas of chronic poverty.

The Mountain Grace Conference

Mountain Grace is a conference on ministry in Appalachian communities held each year on the Saturday after Labor Day. Spearheaded in 2004 by the three Appalachian deaneries of the Diocese of Southern Ohio, it has grown to draw participants from rural and urban areas throughout the Appalachian region as well as consultants from the national church. Mountain Grace is a great pot-luck of worship, practical workshops on Appalachian culture, social and economic trends, and effective ministry in small congregations. All of this with the spirit and fellowship of a family reunion!

For more information on this year’s Mountain Grace, contact Episcopal Appalachian Ministries President Mike Maloney at meamon@aol.com. The Mountain Grace Cookbook is updated each year. Check here for the resource section relevant to Southern Ohio.

For other non-profit entities that may be helpful sources of information on community needs and program design, go to our Other Resources page.