Download the printable version of the February 19 issue of GPconnect.
In this edition:
THIS WEEK'S NEWS
Bishop encourages Great Plains to come together for Lenten reflection
New podcast shares details on Laity Summit, scheduled for March 21
More than 90 attend LEAF, 'Breaking Chains of Oppression'
GCFA: Church giving overcomes its worst fears, topping dire predictions
GENERAL CONFERENCE
General Conference resources available on conference website
Conferences to vote on forwarding protocol legislation
CLERGY EXCELLENCE
Clergy Faith & Wellness: Take care of your hearts during Lent
'Preparing for Your Future' workshop is two months away in Salina
EQUIPPING DISCIPLES
Eleven CLM courses offered for 2020; New Testament starts next month
Registration deadline nears for March 28 confirmation rally in McPherson
MERCY & JUSTICE
Co-coordinators Kinangwa, Ross named for 2020 Micah Corps
‘Seeking Justice’ stories sought from the Great Plains Conference
Wichita churches collaborate for Voter Awareness Initiative
Mission Volunteers in search of long-term community partnerships
ADMINISTRATION
PAUMCS sets its spring workshop for March 31-April 1 in Springfield, Neb.
United Methodist Men 100 Club scholarship applications available
RESOURCES
Downloadable social media graphics available for Lent, Ash Wednesday
Discover spiritual gifts in new online survey from Discipleship Ministries
Learn about the Black College Fund in information from UMC Giving
ACROSS THE CONNECTION
Hamilton County Ministerial Association begins campaign to relieve medical debt
Breaking bread with neighbors leads to fundraisers in central Kansas churches
In other news
Newsletters
Blogs and commentaries
The week ahead
Classifieds
Bishop encourages Great Plains
to come together for Lenten reflection
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. is inviting the people of the Great Plains Conference to join him on a reflective retreat about Jesus’ love and sacrifice during Lent via Facebook, an experience the bishop has titled “By His Side.”
Starting Ash Wednesday, Feb. 26, the conference will post a verse and theme for reflection and pose a question via its Facebook page by 5 a.m. each morning. The bishop encourages participants to read the scripture and reflect using the lectio divina process, which has six steps, as shared in the book “Song of the Seed: The Monastic Way of Tending the Soul,” by Marcina Wiederkehr:
- Preparation: Take time prior to unclutter our mind and unify our heart with God’s heart.
- Reflective Reading: This is the first reading of the day’s scripture and focus word. Read with the ear of our heart, contemplatively, slowly, and whenever possible, aloud.
- Contemplation: This is a time for a patient waiting. It is not a prayer time, but a time to listen for God speak to us.
- Meditation: Read the scripture again. Listen to the text as it speaks.
- Prayer: We can use words to express praise, repentance, thanksgiving, or petition for God’s grace and mercy. Be open to how the Spirit may lead you to pray.
- Journaling: Journaling happens at the end of your day. Write down your reflections on both the question and theme of the day. Please share your reflection in some form on our Facebook thread.
In addition to my conference-wide invitation to practice the spiritual discipline of lectio divina as a Great Plains United Methodist community, the bishop will join Todd Seifert, conference communications director, for special episodes of the “In Layman’s Terms” podcasts reflecting on the final seven sayings from Jesus from the cross. These podcasts will be available from the conference website each Monday during Lent, starting March 2.
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New podcast shares details on
Laity Summit, scheduled for March 21
In Matthew 28, Jesus tells his believers to make more disciples. And that's not a commandment just for clergy. Laity actually play the biggest part, but that important role requires leadership.
In his latest “In Layman’s Terms” podcast, Todd Seifert, conference communications director, shares information about the Laity Summit, an effort by the Great Plains Conference to help foster leadership skills among the laity. The event is scheduled for March 21 in Kearney, Nebraska.
In this episode, guests are Shane Warta, conference coordinator for lay leadership, and David Teel, director of laity and spiritual leadership at Discipleship Ministries, who will serve as the keynote speaker for the event.
Listen to the podcast.
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More than 90 attend LEAF,
'Breaking Chains of Oppression'
More than 90 people from across Kansas got an update on what's happening in the statehouse in the 46th annual Legislative Event for Advocacy in Faith, or LEAF.
Monday featured a panel discussion with Randy Watson, Kansas commissioner of education; Delia Garcia, secretary of Labor; and Dr. Lee Norman, Kansas Department of Health and Environment secretary. The Rev. Darryl Burton, who spent 24 years in prison after being wrongly convicted of murder and is now one of the pastors at United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, served as the keynote speaker.
Read more about LEAF.
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GCFA: Church giving overcomes its worst fears, topping dire predictions
The aftermath of the contentious special General Conference saw a plunge in giving to denomination-wide ministries. By the end of 2019, apportionment collection rates had exceeded the most dire projections.
Read more from the United Methodist News Service.
In Great Plains, payout was “just under 85%.”
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General Conference
General Conference resources
available on conference website
Many people recognize that General Conference 2020 will be a key moment in the future of The United Methodist Church. The conference communications team has assembled a portion of our website dedicated to keeping you updated on this important meeting of delegates from around the world.
Start by exploring www.greatplainsumc.org/generalconference to find information that orients you to what this meeting is all about, details about the Great Plains delegation — and a link telling you how to contact them — links to much, much more.
One page shares details about potential restructuring plans for the denomination, including the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation and a chart provided by United Methodist News Service that provides a quick scan of all the plans.
Another page provides a glimpse at other legislation not affiliated directly with human sexuality that will be acted upon at General Conference.
Other pages include resources for talking with your congregation about General Conference, Bible studies and books that may be helpful.
Most videos come from presentations at the pre-General Conference briefing provided by United Methodist Communications and other church agencies Jan. 23-24 in Nashville.
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Conferences to vote on
forwarding protocol legislation
Sierra Leone and Michigan conferences will soon decide whether to put separation plan for The United Methodist Church on the agenda at the 2020 General Conference.
Read more here.
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Clergy Excellence
Clergy Faith & Wellness: Take
care of your hearts during Lent
We're in the middle of American Heart Month, and the Lenten season starts with Ash Wednesday next week.
So it's a good time, the Rev. Shelly Petz says, for clergy to take a look at their own hearts.
"How is it physically, emotionally and spiritually?" she writes in this month's blog. "I care about your hearts and offer this invitation to the clergy of the Great Plains Conference: I invite you to join me during this upcoming season of Lent to take care of our hearts."
Read her blog here.
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'Preparing for Your Future'
workshop is two months away in Salina
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.
For any participants who need lodging, the UMC Board of Pensions will cover the cost of the Monday and Tuesday 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 Monday and ends at noon Wednesday.
Download the seminar brochure here for more information.
Register for “Preparing for Your Future.”
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Equipping Disciples
Eleven CLM courses offered for 2020;
New Testament starts next month
Eleven Certified Lay Minister courses are being offered online in 2020.
Courses offered are in New Testament, Evangelism, Old Testament, Missions and Social Concerns, Worship, United Methodist History, United Methodist Theology and Doctrine, Preaching, and Leadership in a Changing Culture – Fresh Expressions.
The first course of the year, New Testament, begins in March and is taught by the Rev. Richard Fitzgerald. The deadline for signup is Friday, Feb. 28.
It’s open to anyone. Low cost, $75 per course, and taught primarily by clergy within the Great Plains conference. Each course is a month long.
More information is available here.
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Registration deadline nears for March 28 confirmation rally 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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Mercy & Justice
Co-coordinators Kinangwa, Ross
named for 2020 Micah Corps
The Great Plains United Methodist Micah Corps summer internship is based on Micah 6:8: Do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God.
The Mercy & Justice Team is excited to introduce our two Micah Corps co-coordinators for this summer, Yves Kinangwa and Melissa Schmidt Ross. Read below about their backgrounds and what motivated them to lead our Micah Corps interns this summer. Currently, we still have a couple openings for interns. If you know of anybody interested, please encourage them to apply right away.
Yves Kinangwa
I am Yves Kinangwa, a native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I earned a bachelor of arts degree in environmental studies from Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe (2014-2015). I have served as a young adult missionary through the General Board of Global Ministries’ Global Mission Fellow Program and was sent to the Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches (FECCIWA) based in Lomé, Togo, West Africa. While at FECCIWA, I worked as the food and climate change advocacy officer for two years (2015-2017). As a co-founder of Group Mutwale Investment, a small mining supplies company in the DR Congo, I worked in mining supplies for one and a half years (2017-2018) before I joined Candler School of Theology, Emory University in Atlanta. I am pursuing a master’s degree in divinity, majoring in Justice, Peace Building and Conflict Transformation (2019-2021).
I am currently a candidate for ministry through the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church and serve as a student pastor at Inman Park United Methodist Church in Atlanta, through the Candler Teaching Parish Program. Last summer I served with the immigrant ministry in the El Valle District United Methodist Church, McAllen, Texas.
When I heard about the Micah Corps Internship opportunity in the Great Plains, I was struck by its goals and the community justice engagement opportunities it offers for youth. My ministry focuses on serving others with our actions just like Jesus did during his earthly ministry.
Melissa Schmidt Ross
I am Melissa Schmidt Ross and teach ESOL (English as a Second or Other Language) in Wichita, at East High School. I enjoy learning about the cultures and languages of my students. I am a mother to two teenagers and three rescue dogs. I volunteer with a local animal rescue and have fostered several dogs. I enjoy reading, knitting and crochet, and spending time with my family. I am a member of College Hill United Methodist Church in Wichita and am active in a variety of ways. I have served on the Missions Committee, the Children's Council, and am currently a member of the Church Council. I believe that my voice matters, and I look forward to working with the Micah Corps interns to make positive change and to see where God leads us this summer.
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‘Seeking Justice’ stories sought
from the Great Plains Conference
The 2020 theme of the Great Plains Annual Conference, “Seeking Justice”, will be highlighted by “Justice Moments,” featured throughout the event. Local churches and mission agencies are invited to submit their justice stories for inclusion.
Justice stories (250 words or less) submitted by April 15 will be reviewed by a selection committee and may be featured at Annual Conference in May. All stories will be posted on the Great Plains UMC website.
Send JUSTICE MOMENTS to justiceinitiative@greatplainsumc.org or directly to this link.
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Wichita churches collaborate
for Voter Awareness Initiative
What is JUSTICE?
Justice is working for social, political and institutional change. Justice deals with systems, polices and structures.
Read how St. Mark’s and College Hill UMCs in Kansas-Let Justice Roll!
2018 Wichita Voter Awareness Initiative
The Wichita Voter Awareness Initiative was held on the campus of Wichita State University, featuring noted social activist and critically acclaimed author Michael W. Waters. The purpose of this event was to increase voter awareness of the crucial issues at stake in our next round of local, state and public elections, and to help community leaders better understand how to engage young adults in our electoral processes.
The event was hosted and/or sponsored by the Mercy & Justice Team of Great Plains Conference, Wichita State University, Saint Mark UMC and College Hill UMC.
Waters addressed issues of racism, voter suppression, and economic injustice, in the city of Wichita and state of Kansas, including the practice of “red-lining” in cities which helped to create impoverished, pre-dominantly black inner cities and prosperous, pre-dominantly white suburbs. He gave some solutions of how we can work together to redistribute wealth in a fairer and just way, and how voting is a major tool in accomplishing economic justice.
The multi-day event included a lecture and community conversation; a luncheon with Waters including students and faculty of WSU with an open “Q&A” session on the topic of social justice, voting, and the upcoming election; and a student-lecture and community conversation on issues of social justice that are impacting the nation.
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Mission Volunteers in search of
long-term community partnerships
Mission Volunteers are individuals or couples (ages 18 and up), who seek long-term partnerships with communities around the world. Mission Volunteer opportunities are diverse and range from working with refugees, children and youth, serving as a teacher, pastor, camp director or health care professional. The length of service ranges from two months to more than two years. To be a Mission Volunteer, apply online to attend an upcoming training where you will be prepared for partnership and mission in the world.
April 22-25
Lake Williamson Christian Center, 17280 Lakeside Drive, Carlinville, IL 62626. Nearest airport – St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
Visit https://www.umcmission.org//serve-with-us/mission-volunteers
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Administration
PAUMCS sets its spring workshop for March 31-April 1 in Springfield, Neb.
The Spring 2020 workshop of the Great Plains Conference chapter of the Professional Association of the United Methodist Connectional Structure, or PAUMCS, will be from March 31 to April 1 at Springfield First UMC in Springfield, Nebraska.
Speakers will include Kim Stokley, a dramatist and church drama leader, presenting “Spread Your Garment Over Me”; Kris Eschliman, Missouri River District administrative assistant, on the National PAUMCS; and the Rev. Melissa Collier Gepford, intergenerational discipleship coordinator for the Great Plains Conference, on volunteer recruitment and retention.
Here is the registration form, and this is the membership renewal/update form.
Editor’s note: Last week’s entry about the PAUMCS workshop contained an incorrect location.
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United Methodist Men 100 Club scholarship applications available
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The United Methodist Men’s 100 Club’s purpose is “to raise scholarship funds that will be used to encourage young men and women to enter full time Christian service.”
“We believe that if every United Methodist man and woman donates to our endowment that the fund will grow and will nurture the minds of those desiring to be in full time Christian service,” according to its vision statement.
More than 1,600 donors are members of the 100 Club.
Scholarship applications are now available, with award presentations being made during the week of the Annual Conference sessions in Topeka.
Download the scholarship application here.
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Resources
Downloadable social media graphics available for Lent, Ash Wednesday
With Ash Wednesday coming next week, it’s time to prepare your church’s social media content for Lent and Holy Week. Explore a library of shareable graphics and download the free images that will best speak to your community. Use them on their own or alongside invitational messages.
Click here to download.
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Discover spiritual gifts in new online
survey from Discipleship Ministries
Christian believers can discover their spiritual gifts and how to use them with a new online tool and other resources available from Discipleship Ministries.
The resources include The Spiritual Gifts Assessment Inventory tool, which can help people learn how to use their God-given spiritual attributes to become intentional disciple-makers.
“Everybody knows our mission is to make disciples for Jesus Christ, but some people may not understand that does not just happen coincidentally. It happens because we're intentional about it, and tools like the Spiritual Gifts Inventory can be a part of a church’s intentional discipleship plan.” said Ken Sloane, Director of Stewardship and Generosity at Discipleship Ministries. “Getting people in touch with their spiritual gifts can help them find ways to grow and mature in their journey of discipleship.”
Recognizing their own spiritual gifts also helps people understand how God made each person unique, Sloane said.
“As we choose to serve God through the church and through becoming a disciple of Christ, I think knowing our spiritual gifts provides us with the tools to fit ourselves in the places where we can make the most impact in that work,” Sloane said.
People can discover their spiritual gifts either by individually using The Spiritual Gifts Assessment Inventory tool online here or in a group setting with the Spiritual Gifts Interview Method.
Read more about the new tool here.
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Learn about the Black College Fund
in information from UMC Giving
Did you know The United Methodist Church supports the largest number of historically black colleges and universities in the U.S.? Through the denomination's Black College Fund, church members support 11 black colleges and universities. Those with the highest enrollments receive a slightly higher amount.
Find out more here.
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Across the Connection
Hamilton County Ministerial Association begins campaign to relieve medical debt
Medical debt in the U.S. is staggering, and in Nebraska it amounts to over $3 million. Hospitals regularly turn medical bills over to collection agencies, who buy it for about 10 cents on the dollar.
Local ministers from Aurora, Nebraska, have decided to work with RIP Medical Debt to buy back medical debt in Nebraska and forgive it rather than collect it, no strings attached.
“I had heard about what RIP Medical Debt has been doing to free people from their overwhelming medical debt all over the country,” said the Rev. Michelle Reed, a United Methodist pastor, “and I immediately wanted to help people in Nebraska who are struggling. So I took the idea to our local ministerial association and they agreed that we could help people locally to improve their financial situation.”
As a result, the Hamilton County Ministerial Association, comprised of local ministers from a variety of denominations, voted to sponsor the campaign and begin the fundraising with $1,000 of donated funds that are used to help people in need.
“If each of us appeals to our churches and reaches out to the communities that we serve, I am hopeful that we can raise the $30,000 to erase all this medical debt and give people new hope for a better financial future.” says Pastor Reed.
Persons can help by donating online or by sending a check to RIP Medical Debt, 80 Theodore Fremd Ave, Rye, NY 10580. Please indicate your donation is for the Hamilton County Ministerial Association campaign.
For more information contact: Rev. Michelle Reed, 1406 A Street, Aurora NE 68818; 316-570-1803.
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Breaking bread with neighbors leads to
fundraisers in central Kansas churches
Ephesians 4:15-16 reminds us, “[Speaking] the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love (ESV).”
During the 2019 summer food service program at the Larned United Methodist Church, several regular volunteers and attendees (a humorous, self-named “In Table” group) realized they could help others by raising money with something everyone had in common -- food. They soon planned local mission fundraising meals as partnerships with the Garfield UMC. Bringing several scriptures to life including Hebrews 13:16, “[Do] not forget to do good and to share with others,” they decided all donations would help their neighbors throughout the county.
After listening to God’s guidance and having several meetings, they set the first fundraiser date for Sept. 29. Residents throughout the city and county enjoyed the delicious varieties of soup and cobblers, corn bread and ice cream. Over $1,100 profit was raised. Pleased with that success, the “In Table” knew their mission must continue. Once again with prayer and the support of their amazing congregations and communities, nearly $1,000 additional funds were raised this time through a brunch complete with a chocolate fountain and the fixings. Their May meal will feature spaghetti and root beer floats. Thus far donations have eliminated students’ school lunch balances, provided child-care products, filled a blessing box, and helped several with medical and other unforeseen expenses.
Active in his church and community, David Zook was the inspiration for this program to expand Christ’s compassion and hope. Always inviting people to the meals, he encourages them to “come, break bread with your neighbors.” Like other “In Table” members, he realizes the deep meaning of Jesus’ words in John 6:35, “‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.’”
-- Debbie Makings and Pastor Tricia North,
Larned and Garfield UMCs, Kansas
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In other news
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Newsletters
- CCLI, February 19, 2020
- UMCOM, February 19, 2020
- Discipleship Ministries: Worship, February 19, 2020
- Leading Ideas, February 19, 2020
- Immigrant Legal Center, February 18, 2020
- A sermon for every Sunday, February 18, 2020
- MyCom, February 18, 2020
- Kansas Area United Methodist Foundation, February 2020
- Engage with Global Ministries, February 13, 2020
- Mission Link with Dr. David Upp, February 2020
- Discipleship Ministries: Stewardship, February 13, 2020
- UMCOMtigo (Spanish), February 13, 2020
- Ministry Matters, February 12, 2020
- UMCOM, February 12, 2020
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Blogs and commentaries
- Eight reasons I’m not leaving: The Rev. Steve West, pastor of Alabama’s Arab First United Methodist Church, has responded to a recent meeting of traditionalist United Methodists considering leaving the denomination. West shares eight reasons why he plans to stay.
- Seeking future liberation from past oppression: Conflict in The United Methodist Church is about so much more than homosexuality, writes a gay African American pastor. To the Rev. Jay Williams from Boston, the conflict is about the denomination's history of oppression.
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The week ahead
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Classifieds
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