Download the printable version of the December 4 issue of GPconnect.
In this edition:
THIS WEEK'S NEWS
December ‘Harvesting’ episode focuses on disaster response
New podcast episode features Wilke Institute for Discipleship
Communications workshop videos available on conference site
Six Great Plains churches seek disaffiliation from UMC
CFA approves funds to pave way for sale of Camp Comeca
U.S. now in minority of membership in United Methodist Church
Bishops group backs U.S. regional conferences
CLERGY EXCELLENCE
Dec. 12 is deadline for childcare registrations for Orders & Fellowship
‘Preparing for Your Future’ event set for April 20-22 at Salina Trinity UMC
EQUIPPING DISCIPLES
Confirmation rally set for March 28 in McPherson
Deadline nears for group registration for OneEvent
Series of webinars explore how churches can respond to dementia
Registration open for Laity Summit 2020, set for March 21 in Kearney
MERCY & JUSTICE
Social Justice Seed Money supports Berryton UMC’s justice work with JUMP
Elders4theEarth take Wesley’s words to heart during October retreat
Correction
ADMINISTRATION
Nebraska United Methodist Foundation awards nearly $70,000 in ministry grants
UMC.org relaunches with new look, mobile-friendly design
RESOURCES
Inviting Christmas Eve guests to return to your church in new year
DVD resource discusses sexuality issues and UMC
ACROSS THE CONNECTION
Saffordville’s ‘Hanging of the Greens’ an Advent tradition since 1902
Western Nebraska church provides ‘Quarter Store’ for kids in need
In other news
Newsletters
The week ahead
Classifieds
December ‘Harvesting’ episode
focuses on disaster response
The December episode of “Harvesting the Great Plains” is dedicated to Disaster Response in the Great Plains Conference.
This year has seen some of the most devastating natural disasters in recent memory across the Great Plains, from catastrophic flooding throughout much of Nebraska and parts of Kansas to powerful tornadoes.
The Rev. Hollie Tapley, disaster response coordinator for the conference, talks to host Jayna McFarland about recent volunteer efforts, what it takes to become an Early Response Team member, and what she has learned over many years in disaster response ministry.
Watch the episode here, or listen to the “Harvesting” podcast.
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New podcast episode features
Wilke Institute for Discipleship
Tucked away in a corner building at a small college in a small town sits an institute with really big ideas: Make more disciples of Jesus and help followers of Christ bolster their faith.
This organization is the Richard and Julia Wilke Institute for Discipleship at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas. While it has made a big impact on the campus, it has shown tremendous outreach around the world through classes available on BeADisciple.com. And its work with youth and young adults through The Timothy Circle is helping young people identify and nurture their call into ministry —in whatever form that call takes.
Todd Seifert tells the story of the Institute for Discipleship in his latest “In Layman’s Terms” podcast. Listen to it here.
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Communications workshop
videos available on conference site
Videos from the recently completed circuit of local-church communications workshops are now available on the Great Plains Conference website.
Communications director Todd Seifert and social media/website specialist Jayna McFarland conducted workshops from late August to mid-November at five regional sites across Kansas and Nebraska. Each session was recorded and can be viewed or downloaded for use in your congregation.
PowerPoint presentations accompanying the videos also can be downloaded and are available from the same web page as the videos.
Links to specific workshops are as follows:
A new page devoted to the workshop material is now available on our site.
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Six Great Plains churches
seek disaffiliation from UMC
Disagreement over same-gender marriage and ordination of LGBTQ persons have prompted six churches in the Great Plains Conference — all in Kansas — to begin the process to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church.
Emmanuel Church in Abilene, The Benton Church in Benton, Aulne UMC near Marion, Esbon UMC, Burns UMC and Cassoday UMC all have begun the process. The churches are in various stages of the process, which includes a vote by the congregation with a 66% threshold and a majority vote by a session of annual conference, the next of which is scheduled for May 27-30, 2020, in Topeka. Churches that choose to disaffiliate will be required to pay their share of unfunded pension liabilities, unpaid mission shares for the previous 12 months as of the disaffiliation date, an additional 12 months of mission shares at the amount assigned as of the local church’s vote to disaffiliate, and any unpaid liabilities owed to the conference, such as worker’s compensation insurance, property liability insurance and clergy pension billing.
“We are beginning to experience the realities of our deep divide over the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ persons within the life of the Church as congregations take concrete steps to self-segregate and disaffiliate from the denomination,” Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. said. “Disaffiliations fracture our unity in Christ, our united sense of mission, our commitment to each other, and diminishes our missional witness in the world.”
Read more here.
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CFA approves funds to pave
way for sale of Camp Comeca
Camp Comeca will continue its mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ while a sale is negotiated, and it will be able to do so with its deficits paid in full.
The Great Plains Conference Council on Finance and Administration (CFA) has offered to pay off the total deficit accumulated over recent years by Camp Comeca. This decision will allow Comeca to continue to transform into an independent, ecumenical Christian ministry. CFA decided to take this step to allow any successor organization to Camp Comeca a chance to begin with a clean slate financially and to lay the foundation for a sustainable financial future for both Comeca and the remaining five United Methodist camps in Kansas and Nebraska. CFA’s offer is intended to assist GP Camps Inc. in coming to acceptable terms for the sale of the camp site near Cozad, Nebraska.
In light of the offer from CFA, the GP Camps Inc. board voted Nov. 26 to proceed with negotiations to sell the camp to a successor organization that will continue the mission of the camp. These decisions mean the camp will remain open and will continue its service to Christ and its community while a buyer is sought. The final decision to sell requires approval of the annual conference session.
The GP Camps Inc. board and members of CFA ask for prayer for discernment as they and the Camp Comeca staff continue to complete a great deal of difficult work.
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U.S. now in minority of membership
in United Methodist Church
United Methodist leaders project that by now at least half of the denomination lives outside the United States. However, the General Council on Finance and Administration data for the U.S. isn’t solely a story of decline.
Read more from the United Methodist News Service.
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Bishops group backs
U.S. regional conferences
The effort to create a new structure for U.S. decision-making received a boost from bishops in Africa, Europe and the Philippines. The Connectional Table, a multinational body that acts as a sort of church council for the denomination, drafted the proposal. The group’s goal is to have a body to take up matters that solely affect the U.S. church and ease the burden on the multinational General Conference. U.S. proposals often dominate The United Methodist Church’s top lawmaking body assembly.
Read more from the UM News Service.
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Clergy Excellence
Dec. 12 is deadline for childcare
registrations for Orders & Fellowship
Dec. 12 is the deadline for childcare registration for the 2020 Orders & Fellowship, Jan. 15-16 at Lincoln St. Mark’s United Methodist Church. The cost is $75 for one child, $115 for two, $155 for three, and $195 for four or more children.
The Rev. Michael Mather, pastor of Indianapolis Broadway UMC, will join Darryl Answer, pastor of New Community Church in Kansas City, Missouri, and Rachel Metheny, pastor of Congress Street UMC in Lafayette, Indiana, to discuss Asset Based Community Development, or ABCD.
The Orders & Fellowship page for 2020 is now active on the Great Plains website, including group reservation discounts at 10 hotels in south Lincoln.
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‘Preparing for Your Future’ event set
for April 20-22 at Salina Trinity UMC
The Great Plains Conference Board of Pension and Health Benefits, along with the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, invite you to “Preparing for Your Future,” April 20-22 at Salina Trinity UMC.
All active clergy members of the United Methodist Church who are preparing for their future. Spouses are welcome.
This event is an opportunity to learn about the many benefit issues that affect your life and ministry. You will be given guidance on an active ministry to a retirement lifestyle. Caring for one’s physical, emotional, spiritual and social well-being is essential to maintaining — even improving — one’s quality of life.
For any participants who need lodging, the UMC Board of Pensions will cover the cost of the Monday and Tuesday night stay at a hotel. If you indicate on the registration form that you need lodging, the UMC Board of Pensions will make the arrangements. You will not need to make your own reservations.
The Monday night meal, Tuesday lunch and dinner will be provided by the Great Plains Conference Board of Pensions. The event begins at noon on Monday and ends at noon on Wednesday.
Download the seminar brochure here for more information.
Register for “Preparing for Your Future.”
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Equipping Disciples
Confirmation rally set for
March 28 in McPherson
A 2020 Confirmation Rally for youth in the Great Plains Conference will be from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 28, at McPherson First United Methodist Church.
The rally will include presentations by Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. and Lindsey Keith, youth director at Salina Trinity UMC, as well as the Worship Outreach band from Southwestern College.
The rally is free, and includes lunch. Registration is available at www.mcphersonfumc.com/confirmationrally. The deadline for registration is March 1.
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Deadline nears for group
registration for OneEvent
Dec. 15 is the deadline for groups to register for OneEvent Reimagined, a conference-wide youth mission trip scheduled for June 14-18 in Lincoln and Omaha.
Group leaders should register with a $100 nonrefundable deposit, then individuals from each group can register in the spring with paperwork and payment. Groups are 5-10 youth and two adult sponsors.
The cost for individuals is $215 for Jan. 6 to March 8, then $225 from March 9 to April 5, and $250 for April 6 to May 10.
From July: Information on changes to OneEvent.
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Series of webinars explore how
churches can respond to dementia
More than 16 million Americans provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. An estimated 5.8 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s, and that number is climbing. How can churches respond? How can churches equip caregivers? What can churches do to be more welcoming of those with dementia?
The Committee on Older Adult Ministry is partnering with Discipleship Ministries to produce a webinar series to explore these questions. Join experts in this field for this four-part webinar series taking place in the first quarter of 2020.
Click here to register for this free webinar series. Following the webinar, all registrants will receive an email link to the recorded webinar.
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Registration open for Laity Summit
2020, set for March 21 in Kearney
Registration is now open for the Laity Summit, 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.
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Mercy & Justice
Social Justice Seed Money supports
Berryton UMC’s justice work with JUMP
Berryton United Methodist Church recently joined other churches working with the Topeka Justice Unity Ministry Project (JUMP). As Teresa Stambaugh from Berryton UMC explains, JUMP provides a “powerful vehicle for marginalized groups in Shawnee County to fight for justice. Each fall new issues are identified in which to focus the work of this ministry. This is accomplished through many listening sessions with a diverse group of people over two months. The end goal is to make changes at a community level that will benefit marginalized people. It is important because we believe all persons are equally valuable in the sight of God and therefore work toward equality is fundamentally important for our society. We have chosen to join with other churches to participate in this effort. This is a labor-intensive process important in both understanding the needs of individuals and the possible solutions to these needs in order to provide justice to all.”
Stambaugh continues sharing about their church’s involvement:
Berryton UMC held a House Meeting at the church on Sept. 15. There were 18 people in attendance. We went through a process of identifying what we felt are community problems and our role in the community.
The Vision 52:1 Goal was presented. This goal is to get the same number of people out to support justice once a year as attend weekly worship services 52 times a year. We were asked to commit to attending critical JUMP meetings in the upcoming year.
Current community problems being worked on were described: Affordable Housing, Public Transportation, Pay Day Lending, Violence. Throughout the Topeka Community there were 56 house meetings (like ours), 412 people attended and 239 became network members. Berryton UMC set a goal of having 60 people attend the Nehemiah Action Assembly which will take place in April.
On Oct. 28, there were over 200 Justice Network Members at the Community Problems assembly. The energy that was in the room will be great momentum to propel us into the research to action season where we will hit significant milestones in the above listed problems. The assembly voted to continue work in these areas rather than select an additional problem area to research.
District Attorney Mike Kagay announced his commitment to implement our proven strategy: Group Violence Intervention. He agreed to spear head conversations with County Commissioners about a financial commitment to the strategy.
We were encouraged to help convince the city of Topeka to continue to support our transportation initiative for SOTO and NETO. Information on how to do this was shared.
The Nehemiah Action Assembly, planned for April, will be the culminating event for the year based on listening to the justice issues of the community, determining which justice issue(s) to focus on, then doing research on evidence based strategies/solutions to the identified justice issue(s). Network members and leaders invite as many of the community as possible to witness Topeka JUMP leaders asking local decision makers to implement needed justice strategies to impact social, justice change.”
Each church working with JUMP is asked to contribute a percentage of their church budget to the organization. A Social Justice Seed Money grant from the Mercy & Justice Team has been helping Berryton UMC meet its obligation as it joined and is developing its relationship with JUMP.
If your church or a group within your church wants to engage in a justice focused ministry (changing systems of injustice, not advocacy for an individual), you can find out more here:
https://www.greatplainsumc.org/grants and then go to the Serving with Others grants.
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Elders4theEarth take Wesley’s
words to heart during October retreat
John Wesley’s 3 Simple Rules:
- Do no harm.
- Do good.
- Stay in love with God.
Many United Methodists gathered at Platte River State Park near Lincoln, Oct. 13-15, at the Elders4theEarth retreat to share just how to do that. In following John Wesley, we reconnected and learned about our responsibility to care for God’s creation. It was an amazing two days of learning and excitement and community. For a good summary, read this blog by Ann Fell (a member of Winfield Grace UMC).
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Correction
In the Nov. 20 GPconnect, a sample letter concerning immigration was printed that included an incorrect name for the governor of Nebraska, Pete Ricketts. Here is a corrected version.
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Administration
Nebraska United Methodist Foundation awards nearly $70,000 in ministry grants
The Nebraska United Methodist Foundation would like to announce and congratulate the recipients of their Ministry Grant Program for 2020. These grants are made available through the generosity of fellow United Methodists contributing to the Foundation’s Gifts from The Heart Endowment Fund, which works to support five separate areas, covering needs ranging from youth ministries to pastoral education.
The Foundation’s board of directors and staff would like to thank the many Nebraska United Methodists who continue to strengthen its Gifts from The Heart Program. Due to your generosity, the foundation was able to award nearly $70,000 in grants to Nebraska churches and their ministries. The application materials for this annual grant program are available on the foundation’s website each June, with a deadline for submission of Sept. 30.
The following is a list of recipients of the ministry grants for 2020:
Alda First, Callaway-Morning Star, Crawford Valley-Plainview, Culbertson Trinity, Curtis First, Ebenezer, Elm Creek, Fairmont Community Church, Geneva, Gering, God’s Family, Great Plains Conference on Lay Servant Ministries, Grand Island First-Faith, Kearney First, Lincoln Christ, Lincoln Lakeview, Lincoln Neighbors, McCool Junction, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Nemaha, Omaha Dietz, Omaha Grace, Omaha Hanscom Park, Omaha St. Paul, Schuyler Christ, Springfield First, Utica and Wood River First.
The majority of gifts supporting this initiative were established through estate planning. The Foundation offers services to speak in Nebraska churches about the benefits of estate planning. We are also available to speak with individuals one-on-one if you should wish to explore options on how you can impact your church. For more information, please contact the Foundation toll-free at 877-495-5545. You can also email the Foundation at info@numf.org.
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UMC.org relaunches with
new look, mobile-friendly design
UMC.org, the official website of The United Methodist Church, relaunched this week with a new contemporary look and a more mobile-friendly design.
In addition, Find-A-Church -- the site's most popular feature -- is now international, with more countries continually being added. New geolocation technology makes it possible to display churches that are near the user's current location.
A big change is that the new UMC.org will combine with RethinkChurch.org, the United Methodist website for those who are looking for a spiritual home but are not yet part of a congregation.
Read more about UMC.org.
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Resources
Inviting Christmas Eve guests
to return to your church in new year
There's debate about whether services on Christmas Eve or Easter Sunday draw the larger attendance, but it is clear that Christmas Eve attracts more unchurched guests. Here are some ways to make it clear that you want them to return the next Sunday or in January.
Make your plan with resourceumc.org.
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DVD resource discusses
sexuality issues and UMC
A new DVD video resource, “Faithful and Inclusive: The Bible, Sexuality, and the UMC” is available through the Institute for Discipleship. This series allows Individuals, discussion groups and congregations to gain an understanding of how United Methodists can be both obedient to God’s Word and fully welcoming to LGBTQ+ persons in the church.
It was produced in response to an outcry of pastors and laity desiring resources to help their congregations learn and discuss this current crisis in our church. The resource is a six-session video series for class and discussion group participants to develop their own perspectives on the Bible’s passages related to homosexuality.
The Rev. Rob Fuquay, pastor of St. Luke’s UMC in Indianapolis and author of several UMC resources, creates a safe space to navigate through this complex issue, relying on a Biblical-interpretation approach of Methodism’s founder, John Wesley. Each 50-minute video session also features the faith journeys of LGBTQ+ United Methodists.
The resource is $39.99, which includes the leader guide and access to free downloadable participant handouts.
The Rev. Dr. Daniel Gangler, a pastor and communications officer in the former Nebraska Conference from 1983 to 1994, provides a review of the material.
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Across the Connection
Saffordville’s ‘Hanging of the Greens’
an Advent tradition since 1902
Churches across the Great Plains Conference each have their own traditions at Advent season, and for Kansas’ Saffordville United Methodist Church, it’s the “Hanging of the Greens,” a mainstay at the church since 1902.
From its beginnings as purely decorating the church for Christmas, it’s grown to include children’s activities and making care packages for college students during finals week.
Read more about the Saffordville UMC’s Hanging of the Greens, from the Emporia Gazette.
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Western Nebraska church provides
‘Quarter Store’ for kids in need
Since 2006, members of Bushnell Calvary United Methodist Church in western Nebraska have opened up the “Quarter Store,” for economically disadvantaged children to buy presents for their loved ones. True to its name, everything in the store is 25 cents.
Find out more about the Quarter Store in this article from the Western Nebraska Observer.
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In other news
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Newsletters
- UMCOM, December 4, 2019
- Leading Ideas, December 4, 2019
- The Source, December 3, 2019
- A Sermon for Every Sunday, December 3, 2019
- The Big Garden, November 2019
- Ministry Matters, November 27, 2019
- A Sermon for Every Sunday, November 26, 2019
- United Methodist Now, November 25, 2019
- Leading Ideas Talks November 23, 2019
- UMCOMtigo, November 21, 2019
- Ministry Matters, November 20, 2019
- Nebraska United Methodist Foundation, November 2019
- UMCOM, November 20, 2019
The week ahead
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Classifieds
