banner
 

Download the printable version of the November 13 issue of GPconnect.

In this edition:

THIS WEEK'S NEWS
‘Trust in God with perseverant and resilient hope that God is leading us’
Get a preview of 2020 Orders & Fellowship in newest ‘Harvesting’
Bishop Saenz looks forward to work with General Board of Global Ministries
Worship committee selects Bishop Saenz to deliver sermon at 2020 GC
Wesleyan Covenant looking toward new, traditionalist church

GENERAL CONFERENCE
Chart compares proposals to be submitted in Minneapolis

ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Childcare director sought for 2020 Conference in Topeka

CLERGY EXCELLENCE
Five Day Academy set for April at St. Benedict Center

EQUIPPING DISCIPLES
Laity Summit 2020 set for March 21 in Kearney
Big Garden growing its staff with new positions

MERCY & JUSTICE
Scholarships available to attend Ecumenical Advocacy Days, April 24-27

ADMINISTRATION
Kansas Area UM Foundation’s Lee Sankey to retire at end of year

RESOURCES
Discipleship Ministries creates study guide for Mister Rogers movie

ACROSS THE CONNECTION
Beach helps FUMC Pittsburg celebrate 140 years of service
Berryton pastor rallies for payday loan reform
Newsletters
In other news
The week ahead
Classifieds

 

‘Trust in God with perseverant and
resilient hope that God is leading us’

Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. has shared a pastoral letter following the Council of Bishops meeting last week in North Carolina. He explains the potentially long process following a submitted complaint and asks for patience from everyone on issues surrounding human sexuality with the next session of General Conference coming up in May.

Read his entire letter here.

Read a recap of the Council of Bishops meeting from Bishop Ken Carter

Episcopal Fund could run out of money in five years

Bishops encouraged to break down barriers

To Top


Get a preview of 2020 Orders &
Fellowship in newest ‘Harvesting’

In the newest episode of “Harvesting the Great Plains,” host Jayna McFarland talks with the Rev. Nancy Lambert, director of clergy excellence and assistant to the bishop, as well as the Rev. Daryl Answer, pastor of New Community Church in Kansas City, in a preview of this January’s Orders & Fellowship gathering for clergy. Both talk about the 2020 subject, Asset-Based Community Development.

Communications director Todd Seifert drops by to tell about a Saturday morning radio show in Lincoln that puts religious issues into a progressive-Christian perspective.

Watch the newest “Harvesting,” or listen to the audio podcast.

Go to our Orders & Fellowship page for more information, as well as registration, lodging and more information.

To Top


Bishop Saenz looks forward to work
with General Board of Global Ministries

Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. says he’s excited about the possibilities in the next quadrennium in his appointment to the General Board of Global Ministries. Find out why he wanted to be on the board, and what he thinks its priorities should be.

Read more here.

To Top


Worship committee selects Bishop
Saenz to deliver sermon at 2020 GC

Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. has been selected by the worship committee of the General Conference to deliver the sermon on the morning of May 8 in Minneapolis.

"When you’re preaching at a General Conference, you have a worldwide audience," the bishop said.

Read more about his selection.

To Top


Wesleyan Covenant looking
toward new, traditionalist church

Leaders of the Wesleyan Covenant Association said a breakup of The United Methodist Church is inevitable and offered details of what a new, traditionalist Methodist church might look like. The group held its fourth global gathering, drawing about 1,000 to Tulsa’s Asbury United Methodist Church, with an additional 2,000 watching by simulcast.

Read more from United Methodist News Service.

To Top

 

General Conference

Chart compares proposals
to be submitted in Minneapolis

A new chart summarizes and compares proposals that have been submitted from various groups to General Conference 2020 about the future of The United Methodist Church. The chart does not include plans from individuals and may be updated after all legislation is published.

Take a look at the chart featuring the proposals.

To Top

 

Annual Conference

Childcare director sought
for 2020 Conference in Topeka

Every year at Annual Conference we have around 25 children who attend with their parents and caring adults are needed to provide activities and safe places for them to hang out while mom and dad are attending Annual Conference sessions. 
 
This childcare is organized by a paid childcare director. Would you be interested in this position for 2020? Annual Conference is May 27-30 in Topeka at the Stormont Vail Events Center. The work for the director begins in January or February and will encompass about 50 hours prior to the event, supervising childcare during Annual Conference, and turning in needed paperwork following Annual Conference.

Responsibilities include: 

  • Collecting registrations (handled through the conference office) 
  • Recruiting teachers 
  • Communications with parents 
  • Collection of needed information from parents 
  • Keeping records of childcare teachers 
  • Organizing forms needed for each room 
  • Set-up and tear-down of childcare rooms 

If you are interested in serving in ministry as the childcare director, please send an email or letter to the Rev. Nancy Lambert (nlambert@greatplainsumc.org; 1207 SW Executive Drive, Topeka, KS 66615). Include information about yourself, your experience with children, and involvement in your local church. 
 
If you are interested in being a teacher for a childcare room at Annual Conference, also contact Rev. Lambert! All childcare teachers/workers are paid as well. Teens are welcome as well.

To Top

 

Clergy Excellence

Five Day Academy set for
April at St. Benedict Center

The 29th annual Five Day Academy for Spiritual Formation in Nebraska will be April 19-24 at the St. Benedict Center in Schuyler.

The academy, sponsored by the Great Plains Conference, will include sessions by Dr. Frank Rogers, co-director of the Center for Engaged Compassion at Claremont School of Theology; and Kathleen Erickson, a member of the Sisters of Mercy for more than 50 years who has been working with immigration ministry since 1991.

The cost is $590 for a single room and $555 for a shared room.
More information is available in this brochure.

To Top

 

Equipping Disciples

Laity Summit 2020 set
for March 21 in Kearney

 
An exciting engagement opportunity for laity is officially happening in our conference.
 
The Laity Summit will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 21, at Kearney First UMC. This is for all lay persons, lay servants, lay leaders, and laity discerning a call for more of a leadership role. It will be a one-stop leadership gathering with worship, workshops, childcare, and food! The aim is that all in attendance network, learn and obtain resources for leadership. 
 
For more information, details and to register go to this link. 
 
The cost is $15 per person and that includes lunch, materials from workshops and walk-away resources for opportunity. Childcare will be provided at the church for $5 per child.
 
The mission is to provide lay persons of the Great Plains Conference a gathering that is accessible, affordable, and relevant that results in a more powerful dynamic in making disciples for the transformation of the world. 
 
If you have questions about GP Laity Summit 2020, contact: 

To Top


Big Garden growing its
staff with new positions

These are exciting times at The Big Garden.

Thanks in part to the support of the Great Plains Annual Conference since 2015, we have moved to a new location, doubled our programs and budget, and now doubled our staff size.

This fall, we welcomed two new staff members and promoted another. First, we promoted former intern Alajia McKizia, to the full-time position of education coordinator. We also added a full-time development manager, Julie Stepanek.

Finally, we received a private grant to hire Kansas Coordinator, Molly Baurain. Our staff works together to further our mission of cultivating food security by developing community gardens, creating opportunities to serve, and providing education on issues related to hunger. We have a really great team, and we hope you'll take a moment to get to know them.
https://biggarden.org/news

--Jaimee Trobough, The Big Garden

 To Top

Mercy & Justice

Scholarships available to attend
Ecumenical Advocacy Days, April 24-27


 
At this crucial time in history, Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD), April 24-27, will lift up the global crisis of environmental injustice, with special attention to the intersection of climate change and economic injustice. EAD is an important gathering of Christian advocates and activists in Washington D.C. Participants will worship, engage with pressing issues of the day, and lift their voices by speaking truth to power on Capitol Hill during Lobby Day. One day there are break-out sessions by denomination and staff from our General Board of Church and Society facilitate our United Methodist gathering.

Melissa Ross, who attended EAD this past April, reflected: “Attending EAD made me realize that my voice matters. I will continue to share my experiences and contact my politicians both locally and nationally. My voice matters and so does yours.”

Valecia Scribner, another scholarship recipient from our conference said, “It was refreshing to see so many Jesus followers living out the belief that our faith must compel us to act in this world to bring about God’s kingdom.” 
For more information about Ecumenical Advocacy Days 2020, go to this site.
 
Scholarships are available through our Peace with Justice Ministries. If you are interested, contact Andrea Paret, PWJ Coordinator at amparet08@yahoo.com.

To Top

 
 

 Administration

Kansas Area UM Foundation’s
Lee Sankey to retire at end of year

After 15 years of service, Lee Sankey will retire from the Kansas Area Foundation at the end of December.

Lee joined the Foundation staff in 2004 as the Director of Stewardship Services. During his tenure, he played a vital role for many churches through serving as a consultant, designing and implementing many capital campaigns. In addition, Sankey helped with annual stewardship commitment programs, often speaking in churches across the state. As the Foundation’s Church Development Loan Fund ministry grew, he helped churches go through the planning and loan application process.

“Lee has been a valuable member of our Foundation staff for the past 15 years. His leadership and counseling have helped many Kansas Methodist congregations in their capital campaigns and stewardship training,” Bruce Schwyhart, Chair of the Foundation Board of Trustees, said. “Our Board of Trustees are very appreciative of his many contributions to our organization and to the Great Plains Conference. We wish him and his wife, Susan, well as they move into his retirement from the Foundation.”

Cards and well wishes for Lee can be sent to the Foundation Office through the end of the year. The address is KAUMF, P.O. Box 605, Hutchinson, KS 67504.

With Sankey’s retirement, the foundation is seeking to hire a director of legacy giving to continue serving United Methodist churches and individuals across our connection. A full job description can be found at www.kaumf.org. To apply, submit a cover letter and resume to Rev. Dr. Dustin Petz, President and CEO, at dpetz@kaumf.org.

To Top

 

Resources

Discipleship Ministries creates
study guide for Mister Rogers movie

Sony Pictures invited Discipleship Ministries of The United Methodist Church to produce the faith-based study guide to accompany the movie, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.” The film stars Tom Hanks and Matthew Rhys.
 
Discipleship Ministries produced the official faith-based discussion guide in collaboration with Sony Entertainment. It was written by staff from the Strategic Programming unit and the Office of Communications of Discipleship Ministries. The guide is designed to help groups learn to process feelings, understand forgiveness, talk about hard things, seek reconciliation, and practice positive spiritual discipline.
 
The discussion guide, as well as a trailer for the film, is available on the film’s website
 
Two-time Oscar winner and three-time Oscar nominee Hanks portrays the beloved children’s TV host Mister Rogers. While featuring Rogers as a major character in the film, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” is not merely a biographical picture. It is a timely story of kindness and forgiveness triumphing over cynicism based on the true story of a real-life friendship between Rogers and journalist Tom Junod. After the jaded magazine writer, played by Emmy winner Matthew Rhys, is assigned to write a profile of Rogers, he is confronted with own his skepticism and learns about kindness, love and forgiveness from America’s most beloved neighbor.
 
“Mister Rogers demonstrated the love of Jesus Christ in every action of his life,” said Junius Dotson, general secretary and CEO of Discipleship Ministries. “He was a source of inspiration for millions of children and adults. Because of this, Discipleship Ministries is honored to work in collaboration with Sony Pictures to write the faith study guide for this important film.  We urge all United Methodists to view the film and use the resource in congregations.” 
 
“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” is set for nationwide release on Nov. 22.

To Top

 

Across the Connection

Beach helps FUMC Pittsburg
celebrate  140 years of service

Nov. 10 was not only a celebration of the 140th anniversary for Pittsburg First United Methodist Church; it was also a homecoming for the Rev. Gary Beach, retired treasurer for the Great Plains Conference.

Rev. Beach, who served as associate pastor at FUMC Pittsburg when he completed his Master of Divinity degree from Saint Paul School of Theology in 1977, was invited back to the Pittsburg pulpit to deliver the homily for a celebration of the church’s founding in 1879.

“When I got the invitation from Rev. Mark, I wasn’t sure there would be anyone left who would remember me or whom I would remember,” Rev. Beach said. “I was delighted to see so many still here from those days.”
Rev. Beach was accompanied by his wife, Betty, and son, Dan. Betty was a teacher at Pittsburg High School when the couple met and were married at Pittsburg FUMC in 1978.

In his message to the Pittsburg congregation, Rev. Beach recalled the work of the church’s ancestors in faith and noted many accomplishments of more recent years. But, he said, it was important in the church’s celebration to look forward.

“As we celebrate 140 years, the temptation is to look back,” Rev. Beach said. “It’s OK to look back. But for me, the real question is, ‘What are folks here going to say about us, today, when the church is 150, 175 or 200 years old?’ At that point, we will be their ancestors in the faith. Will they find any stories in the (history) books about faith so profound and actions so powerful? A story of people like those who settled in Pittsburg 140 years ago who gave their time, their talent, and their treasure, all the resources at their disposal to make a significant difference in the lives of people here today?

“So the challenge is, what kind of church will you be today, next year, the year after that, and the year after that, so that when those celebrations occur on down the road, there is joy in the lives of people who recount the saints of the First United Methodist Church of Pittsburg in the year 2019.”

Following the worship service, the congregation shared a thanksgiving meal in Fellowship Hall, and visited with the Beaches.

The Rev. Mark Chambers, pastor of FUMC Pittsburg, said “the timing to have Rev. Gary back was just perfect. It was a beautiful autumn day to have such a celebration and parish family reunion.”

To Top


Berryton pastor rallies
for payday loan reform

The Rev. Annie Ricker, pastor of Berryton UMC in Kansas, shared her experience with payday loans at a rally Tuesday in Topeka.

She was among the speakers at a rally urging the state legislature to reform the predatory process.

“Predatory payday and auto title loans, as they exist today, are unjust and abusive,” Ricker said at the brief rally. “The reforms we propose will help borrowers use the loans as intended, a temporary bridge, and not an inescapable rap.”

Read more from the Topeka Capitol-Journal and watch video from KSNT.

Wichita Saint Mark UMC hosts a press conference on payday loan reform. Video from KAKE.

To Top


In other news

To Top


Newsletters

To Top


The week ahead

To Top


Classifieds

To Top

 
 
 
Facebook Twitter Instagram Subscribe Submit story Website

 
Conference Office
1207 SW Executive Dr.
PO Box 4187
Topeka, KS 66604
  785-272-9111