Download the April 27 edition of GPconnect.

In this edition:

THIS WEEK'S NEWS
New FAQ answers questions about General Conference, separation
Annual Conference providing options for kids, including safari, day camp
Summer fun awaits at Great Plains camps for counselors, kids
Bishops urged to work for ‘big-tent’ church

CLERGY EXCELLENCE
Kearney, Wellington receive first Culture of Call Grants for 2022
Deadline approaching for Clergy Wellbeing Grants
Spiritual formation retreats planned for August, October
After sermon planning retreat, clergy will have six months' worth of ideas

EQUIPPING DISCIPLES
Nominations for Denman evangelism awards due May 1
Ethnic Minority Local Church Grant funding is available

MERCY & JUSTICE
Good Faith Network to host first Nehemiah Assembly on Tuesday

DISASTER RESPONSE
Conference sponsoring NAMI Walks May 21 in Omaha, Topeka
Suicide prevention prayer weekend set for May 13-15

ADMINISTRATION
UMMen 100 Club, NUMF offer  legacy giving seminar May 12

RESOURCES
Lewis, race, other-centered living among available topics

ACROSS THE CONNECTION
Winfield Grace UMC celebrates DOING Good Friday
In other news
Newsletters
Commentaries
Classifieds

 

New FAQ answers questions about
General Conference, separation

The Great Plains Conference has produced a document with answers to frequently asked questions regarding General Conference and potential separation of some congregations and clergy from The United Methodist Church.
 
The document will be updated as necessary when information changes, such as when rulings are announced by the Judicial Council. The link to the document can be found on our General Conference page at https://www.greatplainsumc.org/generalconference and will remain on that page so updates can be accessed easily.

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Annual Conference providing options for kids, including safari, day camp

Check out these new options for kids at the Great Plains Annual Conference! Clergy and lay members to annual conference – please take note and pass this along to all who you know who may be interested. Register here for all childcare and annual conference camp options or when you register for annual conference: https://gp-reg.brtapp.com/2022ChildcareRegistrationForm
 

Safari Camp, an annual
conference residence camp

For Ages: 9-16-year-olds  
This fun-filled experience all the camp activities such as swimming, crafts and zipline. Friday is a campers’ field trip to the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo. Cap off this day at the zoo with an overnight Friday night at Safari Park.
 
Starting on Wednesday, June 8 between 3-4 p.m. at the La Vista Conference Center in the Pre-Conference area. We will load up our camp van and head to Camp Fontanelle shortly after 4 p.m. If other arrangements need to be made for drop off, please reach out to Camp Fontanelle at campfontanelle@greatplainsumc.org or call the office at 402-478-4296. Check out on Saturday June 11; 12:30-1:30 p.m. pick up is at the same place that check in was at the La Vista Conference Center.
 
Type in the Discount Code: ACSC Scholarship to get ($150 off) for the Annual Conference Subsidized Cost (ACSC)
Cost: $150 with Code
 
If cost makes this childcare experience prohibitive, please let email sshaw@greatplainsumc.org for further scholarship. We want your kids to have a great time while at Annual Conference and at camp!
 

Day camp

Ages: 5-8-year-olds; June 8-11, Annual Conference Day Camp at Water's Edge Church. This is a special day camp just for early elementary kids, sponsored by Camp Fontanelle staff. Kids are dropped off each day. Explore your faith, make new friends, and enjoy daily themes with crafts, group games, bible studies, and fun filled activities. Day Camp includes lunch and snacks.
 
Check in: Wednesday, 2:30-3:30 p.m. at Water’s Edge, 19600 Harrison St., Gretna, Nebraska
Check in: Thursday-Saturday, 7:30-8:30 a.m. at Water’s Edge
Check out: Wednesday 8:30-9 p.m. at Water’s Edge is between
Check out: Thursday-Friday is 5:30-6:15 p.m. at Water’s Edge
Check out: Saturday 12:30-1:30 p.m. at Water’s Edge

Extended hours beginning at 6:30 p.m. are available June 9-10 for the memorial service and ordination. We will have a movie night with popcorn for the day campers at La Vista Conference Center in the Fedora Room. Please sign up for extended hours on the first day of check-in for day camp. Day campers will meet in the Fedora Room. Dinner will not be provided these nights so please feed your camper before checking in for these extended hours. Movies playing: Disney's "Encanto" and "Moana."
 
Type in Discount Code: ACDC Scholarship to get $100 off
Cost: $75 with code for the Annual Conference Subsidized Cost (ACSC)
 

Onsite childcare 

Ages: Infant to age 4 at La Vista Conference Center June 8-11; June 8, 2-8:30 p.m.; June 9-10, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Extended hours 6:30-9 p.m. available June 9-10 for the memorial service and ordination. Please sign up for extended hours when you register for childcare. Dinner will not be provided these nights so please feed your camper before checking in for these extended hours. 

Get the latest updates on our annual conference page and register here.

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Summer fun awaits at Great
Plains camps for counselors, kids

Young adults, at least 18 years old, are being sought to serve as counselors at the five camps in the Great Plains Conference.
Find out more information about the following camps:

Haven’t signed your kids up for camp yet? Follow these links for registration:

More information on the camps is available at www.greatplainsumc.org/camps.

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Bishops urged to work
for ‘big-tent’ church

In her final address as Council of Bishops president, Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey (here being surprised with flowers by her successor, Bishop Thomas Bickerton) urged as much unity as possible even as a new theologically conservative denomination plans to launch on May 1. The bishops also heard about the history of previous denominational separations.

Read more from United Methodist News Service.

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Clergy Excellence

Kearney, Wellington receive first
Culture of Call Grants for 2022

The Office of Clergy Excellence announces two Culture of Call grants in the first round of grants for 2022. Kearney First UMC and Wellington First UMC will each receive $2,000 for programs that target cultivating a Culture of Call in their congregations.

Kearney FUMC will be sponsoring a retreat for young adults to discover God’s calling which they describe as to “know God, know ourselves, and fuse our talents and gifts for God. Associate pastor Rev. Seungli You says, “This project can give young adults in Kearney First United Methodist church a foundational time for their vocational journey to find God’s calling. As we started the young adult group in 2021, we have found that our young adults have one common question and concern—what should we do in the future? What kind of job do we need to have?”

Wellington FUMC will be providing up to two internships for youth to serve in their own church this summer. Pastor Rev. Isaac Chua says, “The internship will allow individuals to experience various ministries in the church, and explore what that means for them as they discern God's call in their lives. Interns will be encouraged to take up spiritual disciplines during the internship to nurture their own spiritual life and we will invite the congregation to pray for them and celebrate their exploration process by sharing stories during worship, through our newsletters, and also through social media.”

You can read about how to develop a Culture of Call in your own context here: https://www.greatplainsumc.org/culture-of-call. Another round of grants will be distributed later this year. The application deadline is Sept. 15 for grants distributed by Oct. 10. Learn more about the grants here:  https://www.greatplainsumc.org/cocgrant.

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Deadline approaching for
Clergy Wellbeing Grants

Since the fall of 2021, the Office of Clergy Excellence has awarded more than 40 Clergy Wellbeing Grants. Our Great Plains clergy have used them for retreats, coaching, spiritual direction and other customized wellbeing practices or resources. Our first cycle of grants for 2022 are nearing the deadline, but if you are clergy serving one of our Great Plains UMC churches and have not requested a Clergy Wellbeing Grant, consider how you might pay attention to your own soul in the season ahead.

Check out the video explaining more about the $450 grant that is available to clergy that can be used to enhance a planned renewal leave or to create space for spiritual self-care in the midst of your ministry and are intended to be the sort of things that would be approved by your continuing education or travel budget.

We will be funding two cycles in 2022:

  • 2022 — Early: applications received Feb. 1 to May 1, reimbursements received by June 30.
  • 2022 — Late: applications received July 1 to Nov. 1, reimbursements received by Dec. 31.

Check out some soul-care resources for planning your own solo (or small group) retreat, meeting with a conference peer coach or having conversation with a Spiritual Director. Clergy, would you give yourself the gift of reflection and self-care?

Check out our website for self-care mini-grant opportunities.

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Spiritual formation retreats
planned for August, October

  

Clergy of the Great Plains Conference, you are invited to take some time away from the routines and challenges of ministry and be attentive to your relationship with God. We hope you will consider attending “Roots For Your Soul,” a spiritual formation retreat planned just for you.

The only cost to you is $50 to reserve your spot for this two-night, three-day retreat. Contact Hours for Continuing Education Units are available. Scholarships are available upon request. See the registration form for details. 
 
Summer 2022 
Aug. 29-31 
St. Benedict’s Center, Schuyler, Nebraska 
Presenter: Rev. Dr. Charlotte Abram (top left)
Theme: Sabbath as Soul Food 
Click here to register for the Summer 2022 retreat by Aug. 15. 
 

Fall 2022 
Oct. 24-26 
Saint Benedict’s Center
Presenter: Seanne Emerton, LMFT, LIMHP, LPC (top right)
Click here to register for the Fall 2022 retreat by Oct. 10. 
Read bios of Roots for Your Soul presenters here. 

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After sermon planning retreat, clergy
will have six months' worth of ideas

Jesus took time away for prayer and silence before proclaiming to the crowds. You are invited to take time apart in a retreat setting with other colleagues and create long-range plans for worship and preaching with retreat leader Rev. Dr. Theresa Mason. The cost is $200 and includes lodging and meals and will be held Monday, July 25 (5 p.m.) to Friday, July 29 (3 p.m.) at Heartland Spirituality Center in Great Bend, Kansas.

Participants are invited to plan worship and preaching for six months to a year in a retreat setting with other colleagues. You’ll be able to brainstorm and bounce ideas off colleagues and/or plan alone. You can expect blocks of time for planning, spiritual renewal, and rest.

Space is limited, so register early! Participants may arrive early or stay longer by making arrangements directly with the retreat center. Check out the website to hear testimonies of past participants, learn more about the retreat, and register: www.greatplainsumc.org/atimeapart.

Questions? Email Rev. Ashlee Alley Crawford, aalleycrawford@greatplainsumc.org.

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Equipping Disciples

Nominations for Denman
evangelism awards due May 1

Each year the Foundation for Evangelism works with annual conferences to offer the Denman Evangelism Award to three recipients: one clergy, one laity, and one youth. This is a meaningful way to honor and thank people who demonstrate evangelistic passion to reach others for Christ. Awards are presented at Annual Conference sessions.

Nominations for the 2022 awards are due by May 1, 2022. Instructions and guidelines are on the nomination form; specify whether you are nominating clergy, laity or youth

Nomination forms in the Great Plains should be submitted to the Rev. Nicole Conard, interim director of congregational excellence, at nconard@greatplainsumc.org.

More information is available at www.greatplainsumc.org/evangelism.

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Ethnic Minority Local Church
Grant funding is available

In 1984, money was set aside by the former Kansas East Conference to strengthen the ethnic minority churches, pastors, and laity. The investment has grown and recently has been opened to all Great Plains Conference to be able to apply. Ethnic minority clergy, lay and churches can apply to receive the grant in the following four priorities:

  • Support for any ethnic minority youth to attend any United Methodist camp or development program. Great Plains ethnic minority youth can type in the code ELMC in a Great Plains United Methodist Camp registration when registering for camp for camp fees.
  • Leadership development for ethnic minority lay and clergy ($800/individual),
  • Support for ethnic caucuses or networks ($800/individual) and programming and
  • Support for ethnic minority churches. 

More Information is available at www.greatplainsumc.org/grants.

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Mercy & Justice

Good Faith Network to host first
Nehemiah Assembly on Tuesday

The Good Faith Network, an interfaith justice organization based in Johnson County, will host its first Nehemiah Assembly at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 3, at the main sanctuary of Church of the Resurrection, 13720 Roe Ave., Leawood.

Leaders of the Good Faith Network -- including the Rev. Maria Campbell, Overland Park Heritage UMC; Rev. Cheryl Jefferson Bell, Church of the Resurrection; and Pastor Ali Haynes, Overland Park Indian Heights UMC – will lead a call to Johnson County leadership to address mental health crisis needs and commit to ending homelessness.

Leaders from 20 local congregations will unite to call for:

  • The design and implementation of a system of mental health crisis care, allowing for diversion from emergency rooms and jail.
  • A commitment to end chronic homelessness, as evidenced by a comprehensive, time-bound plan that addresses emergency shelter as well as ongoing housing and support needs.
  • The creation of a single entity with the authority and responsibility to implement said plan.

The public is invited to attend and can register online at www.thegoodfaithnetwork.org. The Good Faith Network is part of Direct Action & Research Training, or DART, a national network of congregation-based community organizations. It is supported by the Great Plains Conference’s Doing Justice Initiative.

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Disaster Response

Conference sponsoring NAMI
Walks May 21 in Omaha, Topeka

NAMI Walks are all about building awareness, ending stigma, and helping NAMI offer educational and support programs across both states. Great Plains Conference is a sponsor for both walks. Churches, families, and individuals are encouraged to take part in these walks. For this year the NAMI Walk will take the place of the Great Plains 5K at Annual Conference. So, lace up your shoes, start training in the next month and support the area of mental health in our communities!

To learn more and to sign up for the Nebraska NAMI Walk in Omaha:
https://naminebraska.org/
To learn more and to sign up for the Kansas NAMI Walk in Topeka:
https://namikansas.org/

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Suicide prevention prayer
weekend set for May 13-15

During the weekend of May 13-15, the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention's (Action Alliance) Faith.Hope.Life. campaign invites faith communities across the nation to come together to pray for those whose lives have been touched by suicide. Save the date for this coming year and join a National Weekend of Prayer for Faith, Hope, & Life.

Faith.Hope.Life. campaign resources are aimed at helping faith communities across our nation play an active role in preventing suicide such as:

 More information available here.

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Administration

UMMen 100 Club, NUMF offer 
legacy giving seminar May 12

 

The UMMen and NUMF would like to invite you to a luncheon workshop on faith and finances called “Leaving a Legacy: Planned Giving That Makes an Impact.” The event will take place on Thursday, May 12, at The Ball Room at Round the Bend Steakhouse in Ashland, Nebraska. An 11:30 a.m. fellowship with a complimentary lunch will precede the presentation beginning at noon.

The Nebraska United Methodist Foundation is here to help guide and support you in building the legacy you wish to contribute to others. We will assist in identifying ways to plan for the future and help you decide how to utilize your gifts to maximize their impact on others.
The seminar will be presented by Andrew M. Loudon of Ball, Loudon, Ebert, and Brostrom, LLC, and Kristine Roberts of NUMF.

Reserve your spot by contacting Randy Fleming at 402-210-4885 or at auctioneer_32@msn.com or Kristine Roberts at 402-323-8844 or at kroberts@numf.org.

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Resources

Lewis, race, other-centered
living among available topics

This week’s sampler of materials from the United Media Resource Center includes DVDs about C.S. Lewis, conversations about race, and other-centered living in a self-centered world; as well as books on effective pastoral conversations, holy listening, and being a youth leader.

Find those and more here.

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Across the Connection

Winfield Grace UMC
celebrates DOING Good Friday

Members of Grace United Methodist Church in Winfield gathered for an event to celebrate what they call “DOING Good Friday,” on April 15. This event is an alternative to the typically somber services which commemorate the day of Christ’s Crucifixion. “Instead of feeling sadness and loss on this day, we chose to help our congregation feel useful and productive. We believe Jesus taught us to worship with our hands and feet, as well as our hearts and minds,” said Kathleen Mason, leader of the Missions and Social Justice Team at GUMC. Pastor Charles McKinzie added, “The act we remember on Good Friday is one of compassion and grace given freely for all. What better way to remember the day than through acts of service to others?"

The team solicited applications from church and community members both to work on this day, and to submit projects to be done. The response from the congregation was quick and impressive, said Deanna Denny, who headed up the project planning. More than 75 people volunteered to serve, and more than a dozen projects were accomplished.

Projects varied from providing lunch to firefighters, police, and community health department staff to putting a new walkway on the College Hill Coffee lawn, cleaning gutters, painting, picking up trash and raking up gum balls on the sidewalk in the neighborhood around the church, among others. Over the past few years Grace UMC has prioritized the practice of neighboring or as they put it: “loving our actual neighbors” in many different forms.

Church members of all ages participated in the Doing Good Friday event, from school age children to retirees.

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In other news

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Newsletters

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Commentaries

  • Postponing General Conference may be a good thing: While many see the postponement of General Conference to 2024 as a bad thing, chances are just as great that it will be a good thing, writes the Rev. Dr. Lovett H. Weems Jr. of Wesley Theological Seminary. Time can help when we seek to discern God’s will on difficult issues, he says, and a review of Methodism’s history underscores that.
  • Wespath investing in our planet: The theme for this year's Earth Day celebration is “Invest in Our Planet,” which is fitting for The United Methodist Church's pension agency, writes Ryan McQueeney, sustainable investment stewardship analyst for Wespath Benefits and Investments. He shares highlights from the denomination's interagency climate commitment report, as well as some other new environment-related ideas from the Wespath investment team.

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Classifieds 

Classifieds are posted for 30 days unless otherwise requested. Please allow three business days for your classified to appear on the website. Email jmcfarland@greatplainsumc.org to update or renew your classified. Submit your classified here.

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