Download the printable version of the July 19 issue of GPconnect.
In this edition:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Way Forward Commission gets feedback on church future
Exploration conference offers insight into call to ministry
Hear the story of GraceMed in radio interview
CLERGY EXCELLENCE
Culture of call helps identify gifts
‘Right Start’ helps new, returning pastors
Two continuing education, development programs available
EQUIPPING DISCIPLES
UM Family Night at KC Royals game is Sept. 8
‘Connect Events’ bring youth to summer camps for a day
LSMs are called to serve the Lord
Grateful for ‘Emergency Spiritual Technicians’
MERCY & JUSTICE
Resolutions call us to welcome and help our neighbors
Wichita’s Tyree Clinic expands services
UM Health Ministry Fund, KDHE to add to Baby-Friendly hospitals in Kansas
South Central Mission Academy to be in Nebraska this September
Micah Corps interns learn about the work of GBCS
Micah Corps shares interfaith dialogue with Muslim communities
ADMINISTRATION
Please return local-church insurance questionnaire
ACROSS THE CONNECTION
In Other News
Newsletters
Blogs and Opinion
Classifieds
Way Forward Commission
gets feedback on church future
The Commission on a Way Forward, which is meeting today through Friday in Chicago, has asked various United Methodists to describe their preferences regarding the extent of the inclusion of LGBTQ people within the church. Here is some of that feedback, including opinion from the Rev. Adam Hamilton, founding pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas.
Read a preview of the Way Forward Commission’s week ahead.
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Exploration conference offers
insight into call to ministry
Are you or do you know a college student or other young adult who has the gifts for and a possible call to ministry? Consider attending Exploration, a three-day event for young adults aged 18-26 to hear, discern and respond to God’s call to ordained ministry and to explore their gifts for service as a deacon or elder in The United Methodist Church.
The details:
- It’s held in Portland, Oregon, Nov. 3-5, 2017, for anyone aged 18-26
- Registration is $250 but $225 scholarships are available if you register by Sept. 15, and includes hotel, food and ground transportation into addition to the conference attendance. A late registration fee will be added after Sept. 15, and the registration scholarship will no longer be available.
- Air transportation will be covered by the Great Plains Conference if you book your flight by Sept. 22 (while funds last … see below* for guidelines)
- It’s a potentially life-changing opportunity to be open to or get direction in God’s call in the context of other young adults, ministries of the church and campus ministers!
- Before Sept. 15: contact your Great Plains United Methodist Campus Minister to register. If you’re not a college student or for any other questions, contact the Rev. Ashlee Alley at aalley@greatplainsumc.org.
*Air transportation will be covered up to $550/person for best available flights booked by Sept. 22, and receipt forwarded to aalley@greatplainsumc.org. Transportation to the departing airport will be the responsibility of the individual or sending campus ministry. There is a limited amount of funding for travel scholarships. Flights should be booked to arrive no later than 2 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 3 and leave no earlier than 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 5.
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Hear the story of
GraceMed in radio interview
GraceMed, which has grown to serve much of Kansas, started 40 years ago by St. Paul United Methodist Church in Wichita. Its CEO, Dave Sanford, was interviewed by KNSS radio in Wichita, who talks about the history and the mission of the clinic in this segment from the “Issues” public affairs program.
Listen to the interview.
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Clergy Excellence
Culture of call
helps identify gifts
Creating a Culture of Call means that the behaviors, beliefs and attitudes of your congregation/community readily support the members of the community to identify and explore a call by God to serve God as a lay, licensed or ordained person. Not everyone who feels a call will work in a church, but as everyone seeks to live out his or her faith more deeply, we pray that everyone will consider their work in the world, and even their everyday interactions with other people, to be an opportunity to live out God’s call.
Check out our featured video below about identifying your spiritual gifts.
The second deadline for Culture of Call grants is Sept. 15, 2017. Find out more inforamtion at www.greatplainsumc.org/cocgrant. Apply now at www.greatplainsumc.org/cocgrantapplication.
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‘Right Start’ helps new, returning pastors
The Great Plains Conference staff wants to help new pastors and those new to the conference get the right start serving and ministering to a church.
“Right Start: Orientation to the Great Plains” is designed to help them learn more about the conference and individual responsibilities.
Those invited are:
- In their first-ever appointment
- Returning to pastoral leadership from a leave or other ministry and this is the first year serving in the Great Plains Conference
- Joining the conference from another United Methodist conference or other denomination
- Assigned as a Certified Lay Minister or District Superintendent Assignment
Among the topics covered are: how to find information on the conference website; Vital Signs reporting; upcoming events for clergy and congregations; conference reports and church conference; income tax information; church property questions; pension benefits and health insurance.
Attendance is critical, the expectation of the district superintendents and the bishop is for all who qualify to attend one of the Right Start events.
The orientations are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in four locations:
- July 26, Trinity Heights, 1200 Boyd Ave., Newton, Kansas
- July 27, First UMC, 600 SW Topeka Blvd., Topeka
- Aug 7, First UMC, 714 N Beech St., Wahoo, Nebraska
- Aug 8, First UMC, 1600 W E St., North Platte, Nebraska
Laptop and tablets are encouraged as participants will be directed to locations on websites. It is important to register for the Right Start orientation.
Those with questions can talk to their district superintendent, or the Rev. Nancy Lambert at 402-464-5994, Ext. 126, or email nlambert@greatplainsumc.org.
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Two continuing education,
development programs available
There are two opportunities for continuing education and development that I want to share with you:
• Clergy Community of Practice groups (CCOP) are being formed across the conference. Several groups have been meeting for one or two years, and I would like to extend the invitation to you to join a CCOP group. Since you may be asking what a CCOP group looks like, I have attached a document with further information about these groups. In a nutshell, CCOP is a covenant group led by a trained facilitator who directs the learning. CCOP groups help hold one another accountable and encourage lifelong learning. Research has shown that this type of peer-learning group leads to more vibrant, healthy and effective ministry. We have several facilitators who are not yet leading a group, and are excited about leading a group of clergy for fruitful and effective ministry. The second document attached will allow you to indicate your interest in joining a group. You can complete and return to me by email or the postal service by July 28 so that groups can be formed for the fall. We may not be able to accommodate everyone immediately, but more facilitators will be trained as needed. As indicated in the second document, the cost to participate is $75 per year. Once you are matched with a facilitator, sometime in August, you will be sent the link for the online registration at which time you will be given the option to pay be credit card or check.
• Great Preaching for the Great Plains will be a new format this year. Two preaching peer groups will be forming this fall, directed by the Perkins Center for Preaching Excellence. Each group will be convened by pastors in our conference and will meet (independently) 10 -12 times through the year. Participants will need to read and study books, preach sermons in their group, and commit to showing up for the sessions. You can indicate your interest in joining one of these preaching groups by notifying your district superintendent or myself by July 28. Your invitation to participate will come from the Perkins Center for Preaching Excellence. The cost to participate will be $300, plus the purchase of the required books. If you have questions, you can contact me by email at nlambert@greatplainsumc.org or by phone at 402-464-5994, Ext. 126.
--Rev. Nancy Lambert, director of clergy excellence
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Equipping Disciples
UM Family Night at
KC Royals game is Sept. 8
The 26th annual United Methodist Family Night at the K, hosted by the Great Plains and Missouri conferences United Methodist Men, will be Friday, Sept. 8, at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City.
The Royals will play the Minnesota Twins in a 7:15 p.m. game.
The best seats in the reserved block will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Churches submitting orders on different dates cannot be guaranteed that the members will be sitting together.
Tickets are $20, plus a $2 handling fee per order for less than 25 tickets, or $3 for more than 25. A reduced priced parking pass is $12, and can only be purchased with the advanced ticket order.
It’s also Buck Night, with hot dogs and peanuts available for $1.
For more information, contact Don Crim at 913-334-6214, cell 816-898-6446 or e-mail dcrim@kc.rr.com; or Warren Livingston, 913-631-6818, cell 913-302-6115 or e-mail whlivingston@gmail.com.
Here’s a printable flyer for United Methodist Family Night.
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‘Connect Events’ bring youth
to summer camps for a day
The first “Connect Events,” designed to help the youth of the Great Plains Conference connect with others, with God and with nature in our camps, have been scheduled for August.
Shane Hinderliter, conference youth ministry coordinator, said Camp Fontanelle has had a similar event for two years and Camp Comeca had its first gathering last year, but this is the first time for this many camps.
The day, Hinderliter said, will include worship, fellowship and fun camp activities. Opening and closing worship will be planned by the local district councils on youth ministries. All events begin at 10 a.m. and conclude at 5:30 p.m. Registration is $20 per person and includes all activities, lunch and dinner.
The Connect Events scheduled are:
- Aug. 19, Camp Comeca (Gateway, Great West, Hays and Prairie Rivers districts) Activities include swimming, waterfront activities, prairie surfing and a rock wall.
- Aug. 19, Camp Fontanelle (Blue River, Elkhorn Valley, and Missouri River Districts) Activities include laser tag, zip line, jumping pillows and a petting barn.
- Aug. 26, Camp Horizon (Dodge City, Hutchinson, Parsons, Salina, Wichita East and West districts) Activities include zip line, water activities, nine-square and human foosball.
- Aug. 26, Camp Chippewa (Five Rivers, Flint Hills, Kansas City, and Topeka Districts) Activities include a swimming pool, challenge course, horse-drawn wagon rides and a corn maze.
Register online here. If you have any questions please email Hinderliter.
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LSMs are called
to serve the Lord
Romans 12:11 says to never be lacking in zeal when serving the Lord. Could becoming a Lay Servant Minister help you channel that zeal? Jeanie Leeper, LSM director for the Prairie Rivers District, believes so, and tells more about how to get involved.
Read Leeper’s blog here.
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Grateful for ‘Emergency
Spiritual Technicians’
When accidents happen, we are grateful for the skilled work of Emergency Medical Technicians. But what about those who treat our hearts and souls? Mary Feit, Great Plains Conference lay servant ministries director, talks about the work of what she calls “Emergency Spiritual Technicians.”
Read her blog.
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Mercy & Justice
Resolutions call us to
welcome and help our neighbors
Last week, we shared about a “Sanctuary in the Streets” training that took place in Omaha. One reader voiced concerns that we as the United Methodist Church are involved in such activities. In Matthew 25 we are told that we will be judged on the basis of the way we feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked and care for the prisoner. And there are numerous scriptures calling us to treat the stranger as if he or she were a citizen. These scriptures were the basis for the resolution “Welcoming Migrants in Our Midst” which was passed at our Annual Conference in June.
Our General Conference has several resolutions that urge us to welcome immigrants and refugees. Resolution #3281 calls all United Methodist churches to “support those churches that prayerfully choose to offer sanctuary to undocumented immigrants facing deportation.” Resolution #3284 states: “We want to issue a call to The United Methodist Church and all other members of the Christian community to renew their commitment and strengthen their resolve to be faithful to respond to the needs of others, particularly as we face laws, whose primary intent is to discourage Christians from fulfilling their mission; to love and help the neighbor. We remember when the apostles were faced by similar circumstances after the authorities wanted to impede the fulfillment of their mission, they firmly declared in Acts 5:29: ‘We must obey God rather humans!’ hence the Christian mandate to engage in civil disobedience when laws and policies deem to be unjust.”
Numerous conferences across our United Methodist connection passed resolutions and actions on immigration this summer. Read a summary report here.
Congregations in the Great Plains Conference are showing radical hospitality by welcoming and supporting refugees arriving in our states, offering ELL and citizenship classes, inviting immigrants and refugees to come to their worship and other activities in the church and so much more. Some of our congregations are exploring and preparing to offer sanctuary if the need should arise.
Visit our website at www.greatplainsumc.org/ministrytorefugees and www.greatplainsumc.org/immigrationresources.
If you are interested in joining the Great Plains Immigration Rapid Response Team, please contact Sandy Sypherd at ssypherd@windstream.net or Andrea Paret, amparet08@yahoo.com.
-- Andrea Paret, Peace with Justice coordinator
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Wichita’s Tyree Clinic
expands services
The E.C. Tyree Health & Dental Clinic promotes access to quality healthcare for residents of Wichita and the surrounding areas. The clinics programs integrate physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being so that these services empower individuals to change behaviors that improve their quality of life. Saint Mark United Methodist Church has responded to the growing needs of the Wichita community to provide access for the underserved in the areas of physical, mental and spiritual health to the community.
Saint Mark United Methodist Church and The E.C. Tyree Health & Dental Clinic has expanded to a new model of care that integrates medical, dental and mental health services so that one place will take care of the whole person.
“Tyree Clinic gets the privilege of standing in the gap for families who often fall through the gap,” said Schaunta James-Boyd, clinic CEO. “We do not just see the patient but walk hand-in-hand to address medical, dental and mental health needs. Tyree is one of two Kansas clinics who is full scale but receives no federal funding. Tyree is the ray of hope that helps to change lives.” The E.C. Tyree Health & Dental Clinic is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization.
Donations are used to cover operating expenses incurred to provide families care with limited resources. If you would like to sustain this important ministry within the Great Plains Annual Conference so that it continues to make a difference, go to www.tyreeclinic.com to donate, get involved or learn more about ways to serve.
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UM Health Ministry Fund, KDHE to add to Baby-Friendly hospitals in Kansas
The United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, in partnership with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, are providing grants to six Kansas hospitals to facilitate attainment of Baby-Friendly designation, the gold standard of breastfeeding support for hospitals. The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative encourages and recognizes hospitals and birthing centers offering an optimal level of care for infant feeding and bonding between mother and baby. For mothers, delivery at a Baby-Friendly hospital means they will have the information, confidence, and skills to initiate and maintain breastfeeding.
Hospitals receiving the grants of $25,000 each are Hays Medical Center; Lawrence Memorial Hospital; Pratt Regional Medical Center; Ransom Memorial Hospital, Ottawa; Saint Luke’s South Hospital, Overland Park; and Salina Regional Health Center. The project is funded by UMHMF and the KDHE Bureau of Family Health, with support from the Title V Maternal & Child Health Block Grant.
The grants are intended to help hospitals successfully implement the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, a collection of evidence-based practices shown to increase breastfeeding initiation and duration rates, and a requirement for attaining Baby-Friendly designation. An abundance of scientific evidence has demonstrated lower risks for certain diseases and improved health outcomes for both mothers and babies who breastfeed.
The 10 steps include having a written breastfeeding policy, training staff in skills to implement the policy, informing pregnant women about benefits and management of breastfeeding, helping mothers initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth, showing mothers how to breastfeed and maintain lactation even if separated from their infants, giving infants no food or drink other than breast milk unless medically needed, allowing mothers and infants to room together 24 hours a day, encouraging breastfeeding on demand, giving no pacifiers or artificial nipples to breastfeeding infants and fostering availability of breastfeeding support groups and resources for mothers after their hospital stay. More information on Baby-Friendly may be found at babyfriendlyusa.org.
United Methodist Health Ministry Fund is a Hutchinson-based health philanthropy serving Kansas. Since its founding in 1986, United Methodist Health Ministry Fund has invested more than $65 million toward improve health, healing and wholeness in Kansas. Additional information about its grant initiatives may be found at www.healthfund.org.
The KDHE Bureau of Family Health is responsible for administering the Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Block Grant for the State of Kansas. The Title V MCH program plays a key role in the provision of services in Kansas and targets activities to improve the health of all women, infants and their families. Find more information at www.kansasmch.org or www.kdheks.gov/bfh.
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South Central Mission Academy
to be in Nebraska this September
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The South Central Jurisdictional Mission Academy, a partnership of United Methodist Volunteers in Mission Disaster Response and the United Methodist Committee on Relief, will be Sept. 10-13 at The Leadership Center in Aurora, Nebraska.
Come together with mission-minded people to discuss connecting with your neighbors in disaster response, emotional and spiritual care, spiritual growth in mission, serving cross culturally with grace and more subjects.
A list of course offerings, schedule of events and a downloadable flyer, as well as registration for the event can be found here.
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Micah Corps interns learn
about the work of GBCS
In June, the Micah Corps interns had the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C., for a seminar with the General Board of Church and Society (GBCS). Each summer, this seminar is a time when the interns learn from national and world leaders about different issues our United Methodist Social Principles focus on.
The United Methodist Church is a worldwide church. It is a powerful experience to meet with staff and other leaders and learn about their work in our country and around the world. Afterwards, the interns bring their new knowledge with them and share it as they continue to visit churches in our conference.
David Emile, one of the interns, reflects on the variety of experiences they had:
Washington, D.C., was a great experience for the Micah Corps interns. When we arrived in D.C. we went to a Quaker Center on Capitol Hill, the William Penn House. It was a comfortable place to stay and everyone was welcome. Every morning the interns ate a healthy breakfast and then we went to the United Methodist Building on Capitol Hill.
The United Methodist Building is the only non-government building on Capitol Hill. On November 17, 1922, construction was started and it was completed in 1923. The construction cost $650,000 and United Methodist Women contributed 70 percent of the cost, collected through many small donations. It is a five-story building, designed in Italian Renaissance and constructed of Indiana Limestone.
Every morning we went to the chapel inside of the United Methodist Building to pray and then start the day. We sang two or three songs together and then everyone read a different prayer from all over the world and from different beliefs. For example, The Christian Prayer for Peace, the Jewish Prayer for Peace, and many more. However, my favorite prayer was the Shinto Prayer for Peace, it said:
“Although the people living across the ocean surrounding us, I believe, are all our brothers and sisters, why are there constant troubles in this world? Why do winds and waves rise in the ocean surrounding us? I only earnestly wish that the wind will soon puff away all the clouds which are hanging over the tops of the mountains.”
We learned a lot in Washington, D.C. Every day someone came to present and teach us about a topic they work on at GBCS. For example, we learned about the Korean War, racism in America, the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, global warming, the United Methodist Social Principles, social justice, and more. We were not in Washington D.C. just to learn and to have fun. The Micah Corps Interns went to two or more rallies to stand against the president’s travel ban and against repealing the Affordable Care Act.
It was the first time most of us went to Washington, D.C. We enjoyed the city and everything it had to offer whenever we had time. We visited monuments and museums, some of us ate out almost every afternoon and most restaurants were expensive, but it was worth it. One night we got invited by one intern to try Ethiopian food. It was delightful and delicious.
We chose the Micah Corps internship because we were eager to learn new skills and to improve our leadership skills. Washington, D.C., provided us with unique experiences we wanted to have. Some of us went to our first rally and we had the opportunity to stand up for what is right.
To follow the Micah Corps, please like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter and Instagram.
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Micah Corps shares interfaith
dialogue with Muslim communities
On a Friday morning in June, at the General Board of Church and Society (GBCS), the Micah Corp interns gathered to meet with Rizwan Jaka from ADAMS Mosque and Catherine Orsborn from Shoulder to Shoulder to talk about Islamophobia and interfaith dialogue.
The first to speak was Jaka, chairman of the board at ADAMS Mosque. ADAMS stands for All Dulles Area Muslim Society, headquartered in Sterling, Virginia, where there is a large Muslim community. ADAMS is a nonprofit organization founded in 1983 and today serves more than 7,000 families throughout Virginia and the D.C. metro area.
Jaka explained how this organization is committed to empower its community by providing religious services, educational, youth and social service programs. ADAMS also works with interfaith organizations and promotes dialogue with people of different faiths in order to develop good relationships with their neighbors. The dialogue with the Micah Corps interns focused on Islamophobia and what Muslim communities are facing regarding hate crimes in the United States, especially since the 9/11 attacks. Being a follower of the Islamic faith is a challenge in the United States. These communities are being attacked, bullied, and mistreated. Jaka explained that the Quran says to respond to bad with good and that is how the Muslim community tries to respond. Jaka believes the microaggressions and hate crimes towards Muslims are something that communities should work on together to abolish, just like ADAMS is working with different interfaith organization like Shoulder to Shoulder, The United Methodist Church, as well as the police force.
Shoulder to Shoulder is an interfaith organization that has the core value of standing with American Muslims and upholding American values. Orsborn, the director of Shoulder to Shoulder, informed the interns that this organization was established in 2010 after several incidents that occurred in the United States, such as the burning of the Quran in Florida. This brought more than 20 national religious groups to come together and work together to fight against Anti-Muslim sentiments. Shoulder to Shoulder works with communities to help them engage in conversations about this issue and also how this could get addressed throughout the community. Not only does the organization work within the community but also on the national level where they meet with Congress people trying to find solutions to end Anti-Muslim sentiment, working with White House staff, and more. As for citizens who want to engage and don’t know how to react to this issue, the speakers presented steps to follow:
1. Connect, listen, learn
2. Amplify
3. Speak up/out and show up
4. Call others in
5. Strategic organizing and pushback
Orsborn shared that six out of 10 Americans do not know a Muslim person. That makes the lack of information and misinformation so prevalent in our country.
After the informative discussion with Jaka and Orsborn, interns were asked to share thoughts
about the presentation and how they felt or if they had any concerns. Some of these were:
- “Should persons deny their faith to save themselves from being attacked?”
- “There are terrorists in every country, every race, and every religion …”
- “One thing that was really cool was how willing they were to work with police forces after the hate crime.”
- “Rizwan spoke authentically and made me consider persecution from a different perspective. If we oppose the persecution of our faith abroad, we need to make sure we are not doing the same thing to others here at home.”
Next week, the Micah Corps interns hope to visit the Tri-Faith Initiative in Omaha.
Read more here about how the UMC engages with our Muslim neighbors.
-- Kidest Ketema, Micah Corps intern
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Administration
Please return local-church
insurance questionnaire
Assured SRA, the Great Plains Conference’s insurance broker, sent insurance renewal questionnaires to all churches in the conference last week.
For churches from the former Nebraska and Kansas West conferences, this relates to workers’ compensation insurance as mandated by the Plan of Organization of our conference. For churches in the former Kansas East Conference – and other churches who have voluntarily chosen to opt in – this includes workers’ compensation, property, crime, auto and liability coverages.
It is critical that you return the questionnaire to Assured SRA no later than Sept. 15, 2017. If you have questions, please contact either Karen Hoskins at 913-236-3015 or Sue Courtney at 913-236-3017. The questionnaire can be mailed in the return envelope (Assured SRA, 5201 Johnson Drive, Suite 500, Mission, KS 66205) or emailed to either sue_c@srains.com or karen_h@srains.com.
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Across the Connection
In Other News
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Newsletters
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Blogs and Opinion
- Memphis church advocates for refugees: Bob Whitsitt (pictured above), executive director of serving and outreach for Christ Church United Methodist in Memphis writes about efforts to speak with lawmakers to assist refugees.
- Bishop urges commitment to nonviolence: Bishop Hee-Soo Jung of the United Methodist Church writes in a blog about the need for a commitment and support for nonviolent efforts to end all war in the wake of disturbing news from the Korean Peninsula.
- Bishop Ward on Hispanic ministries: North Carolina Conference Bishop Hope Morgan Ward and her cabinet are learning Spanish and planning an immersion trip to Guatemala. “Hispanic ministries are an important part of our life in mission together,” Ward writes, adding that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the denomination’s National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry.
- Fighting the drug crisis: The Revs. Darick Biondi and Cindy Briggs-Biondi are a clergy couple who faced the effects of substance abuse in their churches soon after appointments to a rural area. Erin Sears, a United Methodist Board of Church and Society board member, writes about how they put their faith in action to fight substance abuse.
- A report from the 'Next Methodism': Blogging United Methodists have started a conversation about “Next Methodism.” However, the Rev. Jarrod Johnston argues: “The Next Methodism is already here.” Johnston explains by sharing his experience on staff at Union, a coffeehouse that’s also a United Methodist church plant in Dallas.
- Krusing the Capitol by former Senator, Rev. Lowen Kruse – Who Are We, Really?
Classifieds
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