THIS WEEK'S NEWS
Helping after Hurricane Helene: Volunteers, donations needed
Conference honors children who endured U.S. Indian boarding schools
Leadership Institute: Planting seeds in a wider, intergenerational world
Missionary walks where Jesus walked, even in time of war
CLERGY EXCELLENCE
GPAC Hispanic Ministry organizing Biblical Institute
Central Nebraska clergy, families participate in CRCC family gathering
Clergy can try out Reflective Supervision at Orders & Fellowship
Renewal grant application inquiries for 2025 extended until Jan. 1
Applications for mini-grants for clergy wellbeing open until Nov. 1
EQUIPPING DISCIPLES
Great Plains congregations invited to adaptive change cohort
Volunteers sought for January trip to UMCOR depot
Fall KidsMin Zoom set for Nov. 9; register by Oct. 15 for care package
Bridges to Care set for Nov. 14-15 at Resurrection
Camp Chippewa hosts fall youth retreat, scheduled for Nov. 1-3
MERCY & JUSTICE
An invitation to support the Haitian community through cards, worship
DEI to host Umbrella Summit on Oct. 30-31 at Resurrection
RESOURCES
Health, wholeness are subjects of DVDs, books
Online presentation on fossil fuels set for Oct. 15
Get up to date on your church’s cybersecurity
Oct. 15 webinar looks at pipes and cold weather
ACROSS THE CONNECTION
In other news
Newsletters
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Helping after Hurricane Helene:
Volunteers, donations needed
If you have ever wondered what it is like to be a part of the ministry of our disaster response team, here is your opportunity. Our Early Response volunteers have been invited by the South Carolina Annual Conference to assist with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
Due to the impact of this storm, non-Early Response Team (ERT) volunteers are invited to join forces in this time of service. Volunteers must be 18 years and older, be Safe Gatherings certified, and willing to pay your own expenses for travel down and back. We do encourage carpooling to help with gas cost and I will attempt to find local churches along the way where we can spend the night. Meals during travel are your own cost. The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) requires that we have two ERTs per one non-ERT. The dates of the trip: Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 12-13 will be travel days. Workdays will be Monday-Thursday, Oct. 14-17, and travel days Friday-Saturday, Oct. 18-19.
In times of disasters there are rapid changes to daily operations, so at this point there are some unknowns to our deployment. What we do know is that we will be somewhere in South Carolina along the devastating path of the hurricane. We will be doing site clean-up, tarping of roofs and windows, debris removal, and chainsaw work. Large equipment is needed like skid steers, track loader, and tractors with a grapple. What we do not know because of the rapid changing environment of clean-up is where in South Carolina we will be. We will know that the week that we leave. That week we will also know where we will be staying and if meals are provided or not.
We would love to have you join us for a great week of “being” the church and serving with our brothers and sisters in South Carolina. If you are interested in being a part of this experience, the deadline to let me know is Friday, Oct. 11.
-- Rev. Hollie Tapley,
Disaster response coordinator
The sights and sounds that daily news brings us from the devastation of Hurricane Helene tears at our hearts as we want to make a difference in the lives of survivors. We hold in our prayers The Florida, South Georgia, North Georgia, Western North Carolina, North Carolina, and South Carolina annual conferences in our prayers. The best way to assist in their time of need is a financial donation to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). In the days, weeks, months, and years ahead, UMCOR will continue to provide grants and trainings to help each annual conference recover from this storm.
To submit your donation to UMCOR you can send a check payable to the Great Plains Conference, write on the memo line “UMCOR #901670” and mail to the conference office at P.O. Box 4187, Topeka, KS 66604. You can also make an online donation to UMCOR at https://umcmission.org/advance-project/901670/ . Please do not send material donations of any kind, they have not been requested, nor or they needed currently. Cleaning kits are not needed as so much of the devastation will require more than cleaning out a residence.
Video: Western NC Bishop Ken Carter talks about response to hurricane.
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Conference honors children who
endured U.S. Indian boarding schools
The Great Plains Conference's Committee on Native American Ministries (CONAM) hosted its second-annual ceremony to remember children who endured atrocities at U.S. Indian Boarding Schools, which was a component of the U.S. government's assimilation efforts. In reality, the schools aimed to strip young Native people of their culture and heritage by forbidding the use of their languages, forbidding them to wear their native clothing and forcing them to cut their hair.
The event, hosted at Saint Paul United Methodist Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, was attended by a little more than 100 people and featured the church's choir, the inter-tribal Standing Bear Drum Circle, remarks by Bishop David Wilson, and a poem by Nebraska youth poet laureate Aliyah American Horse. Dr. Gabriel Bruguier, of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln served as the keynote speaker.
Read about the event here and see a photo gallery.
Watch a video of the entire service (approximately 100 minutes).
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Leadership Institute: Planting seeds
in a wider, intergenerational world
With points of emphasis on intentional intergenerational ministry, planting seeds for future generations, and strengthening more than just ourselves, the 2024 edition of Leadership Institute last week provided attendees from churches large and small the opportunity to look forward as the Holy Spirit guides their ministries “Onward.”
The theme for this year’s institute — the 26th annual event presented by Resurrection, a United Methodist Church — took on special meaning for the 90% or so of those in attendance who are members of the UMC. After a season of disaffiliations and the removal of restrictive language regarding LGBTQ+ inclusion at the 2024 General Conference, the lack of discomfort and tension continued a feeling of a new era that has permeated many areas of the denomination.
“There’s something to feeling like we're not walking on eggshells because there are some people who are upset about this or that,” said Rev. Adam Hamilton, Resurrection’s founding pastor. “We’re all people who for the moment are really united around the fact that we are United Methodist. We are pretty sure we know what that means. We are united around our common theology.
“Now we have a shared sense of identity and vision, and I think people are starting to see God do amazing things in their congregations.”
Read more and see a photo gallery.
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Missionary walks where Jesus
walked, even in time of war
Decades after serving as a mission intern in Jerusalem, Rev. Jane Eesley returned to the Holy Land in 2023 as a United Methodist missionary. Within weeks of her arrival, the war between Israel and Hamas began. Eesley now helps amplify the voices of Palestinian Christians and also works to identify where grants from the United Methodist Committee on Relief could make a difference in the lives of people affected by the war.
Read more from UM News Service.
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Clergy Excellence
GPAC Hispanic Ministry
organizing Biblical Institute
I am writing to provide an update on the progress of the GPAC Hispanic Ministry. Over the past three years, we have been diligently working together to create connections and build a strong structure to unite and effectively reach the Latino communities of our Great Plains Annual Conference.
Through various means of communication, including Zoom meetings, spiritual retreats, in-person gatherings, and correspondence, we have collaborated to enhance our visibility and participation within the Annual Conference.
As a result of our collective efforts, we successfully developed a comprehensive plan for the Hispanic ministry in the Great Plains Conference. This year, we had the privilege of presenting our comprehensive plan to Bishop David Wilson and other key leaders, receiving a positive response.
With Bishop Wilson's support, we established the Great Plains Hispanic Ministry Taskforce under the Vital Congregations umbrella, led by Rev. Jeff Clinger. Rev. Stephanie Ahlschwede and Rev. Dr. Nancy Tomlinson, as district superintendents, were included as liaisons for the Hispanic Ministry in the Great Plains Conference and cabinet. We also extended invitations to lay and clergy members from our conference to join the taskforce, aiming for inclusivity.
In accordance with our comprehensive plan, we prioritized the creation of the Biblical Institute to offer Lay Servant classes in English and Spanish, tailored to the cultural perspective of Latino communities. This training opportunity is open to all United Methodist lay members interested in serving and ministering to Latino communities within their congregations.
Our inaugural class will be held in Salina, Nov. 8-9, followed by additional classes conducted via Zoom. Registrations are currently open, and there are grants available for early enrollees.
We kindly request your support in disseminating this information to interested individuals within your respective congregations. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or require further assistance.
-- Rev. Cesar M Duran
GPAC Hispanic Ministry Taskforce
Flyer in English. Flyer in Spanish.
Pamphlet in English. Registration in Spanish.
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Central Nebraska clergy, families
participate in CRCC family gathering
The Central Nebraska District Cross-racial/Cross-cultural clergy family gathering held at Grand Island Trinity UMC was a night filled with joy, connection, and community. A total of 22 participants, including four new clergy members and their families, came together to build relationships and create lasting memories.
The evening kicked off with lively team-building activities, including a marshmallow tower challenge and a spirited game of charades. The younger attendees and new clergy families enthusiastically volunteered for charades, bringing energy and laughter to the event. These activities provided a lighthearted way to break the ice and strengthen bonds within the group.
Rev. Seulki Choi, intercultural family ministry coordinator, organized the event and ensured a welcoming and fun atmosphere for all. She tried to bring clergy families together, and the gathering allowed both new and familiar faces to connect in meaningful ways.
A special thanks goes out to Rev. April Wegehaupt and district administrative assistant Tonja Read, who generously provided a wonderful taco bar that added to the evening's warmth and hospitality. Their hard work in preparing the meal was deeply appreciated by everyone, making the gathering not only a time of fun but also a time of sharing delicious food together.
The evening ended on a meaningful note with participants sharing their joys and concerns in ministry, followed by a time of collective prayer. This opportunity to support one another spiritually highlighted the deep sense of unity among the clergy families.
Excitement is already building for next year’s gathering, planned for September or October. The clergy and their families look forward to coming together once again, celebrating new experiences and deepening their relationships.
A special thank you goes to Rev. Dr. Charles Murithi, district superintendent, for his unwavering support of this ministry, and to his wife, Lydia, for her continuous encouragement. Their dedication to the clergy families has been an incredible source of strength and inspiration.
This gathering was a wonderful testament to the power of community, prayer, and shared purpose. We give thanks for everyone’s prayers and support, which made this event such a meaningful time for all.
-- Rev. Seulki Choi
Intercultural Family Ministry Coordinator
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Clergy can try out Reflective
Supervision at Orders & Fellowship
Attention clergy: have you wondered what this new practice of Reflective Supervision is that is mentioned from time to time? Would you like to have a supportive and confidential space to reflect upon your ministry with someone who is trained as a supervisor? Will you be at Orders & Fellowship this year? If you're interested in trying out an experience of Reflective Supervision without any commitments to maintain the practice, consider the following:
- Reflective Supervision "Sample Session"
- Oct. 28, 3-4 p.m. or 4-5 p.m.
- Church of the Resurrection, Leawood
- Sign up here by Oct. 27 while there is availability
Check out our website to learn more about Reflective Supervision by learning more about the supervisors, reading some FAQs or watching some videos. And if you have any questions, reach out to Rev. Dr. Shelly Petz, spetz@greatplainsumc.org.
Orders & Fellowship is Oct. 28-30 at Resurrection, a United Methodist Church, in Leawood. Find out info and register here.
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Renewal grant application inquiries
for 2025 extended until Jan. 1
The Office of Clergy Excellence is extending the deadline for inquiries and applications for the Clergy Renewal Leave Grant for 2025. Clergy renewal leave is one way that clergy can have a season of rest, refocusing, and renewal. Clergy, is God calling you into an extended season of attentiveness to your own soul so that you might be faithful to the work that Christ is calling you to in your congregation(s) and community? Consider whether a Renewal Leave or Clergy Wellbeing Mini-Grant might be a resource for you. And read more about Clergy Faith and Wellness here.
Renewal Leave is a period of time (usually about 12 weeks) that is granted by one’s local church for pastors to take an extended length of time to take a respite from the normal pastoral ministries for the purpose of renewing one’s vision, restoring one’s soul, and refocusing for the season of ministry and life ahead. The Clergy Renewal Grants are up to $3,000 and are available for full or associate members of the Great Plains Conference or local pastors who have completed course of study who have served at least six consecutive years under appointment. Past grant recipients have used the funds to cover pulpit supply while they’re away or travel or program expenses for a program of their own design for their season of renewal.
The process of applying for the Renewal Leave grant is one that includes approval from the District Superintendent and one’s local church. The inquiry form allows us to confirm an applicant’s eligibility prior to completion of the grant. After eligibility is confirmed, pastors are encouraged to begin creating a proposal for coverage of ministry responsibilities and plans for renewal during the time away. All Renewal Leave plans must be jointly approved by the District Superintendent and PPRC/Administrative Board of the church/charge.
Grant inquiries for 2025 have been extended until Jan. 1 and applications will be received through Jan. 15, 2025. Late applications received after the Jan. 15 deadline will be considered on a rolling basis while funds are still available.
You can read more about Renewal Grants (including FAQs) at our website and hear from some past grant recipients here.
All clergy serving under appointment in the Great Plains UMC are eligible for a Clergy Wellbeing Mini-Grant, up to $400 in a two-year period. Grants are currently open through Nov. 1. Learn more here.
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Applications for mini-grants
for clergy wellbeing open until Nov. 1
Clergy wellbeing mini-grants open for the fall cycle have opened and will be available until Nov. 1.
The Clergy Wellbeing Grants are available for clergy who are related to the Great Plains Conference as well as Certified Lay Ministers (CLMs) who are assigned to churches in the Great Plains Conference. Clergy and CLMs are encouraged to customize a grant to give space, resources, and/or persons to help renew and recharge for your present season of ministry.
The grant request is up to $400 within a two-year time span and can include expenditures that would be approved by your church budget (i.e., Honoria for guest preacher, lodging, resources, meals, continuing education-related expenses, retreat, etc.) that will enable you to nurture your own soul and to focus on tangible actions for spiritual self-care.
Click here for more information or to apply: https://www.greatplainsumc.org/spiritual-self-care.
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Equipping Disciples
Great Plains congregations invited to
participate in adaptive change cohort
Worship communities in the Great Plains Conference are invited to become a part of C3: Courageous Congregations Collaborative, through Texas Methodist Foundation.
C3 was developed after regular conversations with pastors, bishops, conference leaders, spiritual entrepreneurs, and practitioners from across the church’s landscape. These conversations drive constant learning about the adaptive challenges the church faces in a world with deep shifts in how people gather, worship, and live their spiritual lives.
Through these conversations, the team has identified “Five Muscles” that congregations need to develop now and in the future. Leadership and Innovation shares insight into “Five Muscles” with congregations through a six-month cohort experience called “Courageous Congregations Collaborative” or “C3.”
The C3 cohort will meet approximately twice a month for eight to 10 sessions beginning in Winter 2025. Gatherings will be on Tuesdays from 7- 8:40 p.m. CT. The in-person Learning Journey will be scheduled for late Spring 2025, with the location to be determined. The cost for participation in the cohort is $500 per church (one clergy and up to six laity), with scholarships available as needed. All costs related to the Learning Journey except for travel to and from the site will be covered. Scholarships are also available to assist with travel expenses.
While C3 cohorts are convened through an invitation-only application process, contact Paul Escamilla from the Rio Texas Conference if you feel C3 may be the next faithful step for you and your ministry.
Learn more and register here.
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Volunteers sought for
January trip to UMCOR depot
Join us for a week of service at Sager Brown, our UMCOR Depot in Baldwin, Louisiana. The trip is set for Jan. 27-31, and cost is $290 per person. We will secure a van for traveling together, or you can arrange a flight into New Orleans. You would need to secure a rental car to travel to Sager Brown. Vehicle travel non-stop is 13 hours.
Plans are in the very early stages, and details will be changing over the next couple of months in preparation. If you desire to go serve with others on this UMVIM trip, please contact Rev. Hollie Tapley, htapley@greatplainsumc.org.
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Fall KidsMin Zoom set for Nov. 9;
register by Oct. 15 for care package
Feeling overwhelmed? Join Rev. Lora Andrews and your KidsMin regional coordinators for a much-needed break! Discover practical tips to balance work and self-care while inspiring kids. Learn how to prioritize your well-being without sacrificing your passion for ministry.
This Zoom event is specially designed for Nebraska and Kansas children's ministry leaders from 9:30-11 a.m. CT Nov. 9. Register now to recharge and revitalize yourself and your ministry; register by Oct. 15 to receive a care package.
Register here.
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Bridges to Care set for
Nov. 14-15 at Resurrection
The 2024 Bridges to Care Conference, presented by The Caring Congregation, will be Nov. 14-15 at Resurrection, a United Methodist Church, in Leawood.
Engage with experienced leaders exploring how to create welcoming, compassionate care initiatives with an emphasis on culturally sensitive, intergenerational care and healing. Dive deeper with breakouts specializing in racial reconciliation, LGBTQ care, immigrant ministry support, youth empowerment, small rural church outreach, online community care, and pathways to healing during church conflicts. Leave equipped with practical strategies for building bridges of radical care and belonging. Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) will be available for full participation.
Speakers will include Great Plains Bishop David Wilson, Horizon Texas Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. and Kansas native and Louisiana Bishop Delores Williamston.
The cost is $249 before Oct. 15 and $299 after.
Learn more and register here.
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Camp Chippewa hosts fall youth
retreat, scheduled for Nov. 1-3
Mercy & Justice
An invitation to support the Haitian
community through cards, worship
Peace with Justice Coordinators meet regularly and often share what different annual or central conferences are engaged in with the goal of moving us towards peace with justice and God’s beloved community.
Here is an opportunity shared with us for how United Methodists can respond to support the Haitian community and all of the people of Springfield, Ohio. Grace United Methodist Church in downtown Springfield would appreciate all United Methodists keeping everyone in Springfield in their prayers, especially the Haitian community, which now feels like it is under lockdown because of the bomb threats and rising fear.
Also, cards would be appreciated with words of support and encouragement. Grace UMC is planning to have a multi-church Prayer and Praise Celebration of Diversity with all the local UM churches and Ohio Bishop Hee-Soo Jung at 11 a.m. CT Friday, Oct. 11, and it would be wonderful to be able to pass around the well wishes of the broader community.
The United Methodist Church has a history of support of the people of Haiti through UMCOR, UMVIM, and the many congregations who have served in Haiti, built continuing relationships with those they met, and welcomed those who have started new lives in the United States.
As most of you will know, our Great Plains Conference has had strong ties to Haiti for many years. We are currently supporting students in Haiti in their studies.
Rev. Vicki Downing, serving Grace UMC in Springfield, shared these comments a few days ago:
“I was very surprised yesterday, when I heard Springfield, Ohio, on national news, with a story that Haitian immigrants are eating cats and dogs. I believe this is a perfect example of how people who are full of hate and want to sow division and encourage prejudice made up stories. This whole thing was caused by one person putting a post on Facebook, blaming immigrants for a missing cat. At Grace Church we have a number of Haitian immigrants worshipping with us every week. They have been part of our church family for over three years. We are blessed to have these hard-working and God-fearing people as part of our church family. May God help us to follow Jesus' example of offering love and help to all people, who cross our path. “
Here is the address to send cards to:
Haitian Members of Our Community
Grace United Methodist Church
1401 W. Main Street\
Springfield, OH 45504
-- Andrea Paret, Peace with Justice coordinator
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DEI to host Umbrella Summit
on Oct. 30-31 at Resurrection
The Great Plains Conference Diversity Equity and Inclusivity Team (DEI) invites all underrepresented groups and individual United Methodists to gather for worship, storytelling, and relationship-building with DEI and one another at their first ever listening event. The Umbrella Summit will be held Oct. 30-31 at Resurrection, a United Methodist Church, in Leawood, immediately following Orders & Fellowship.
The intent of the Umbrella Summit is to bring together as many underrepresented groups within the conference as possible, to share stories and advocate for one another, and to ground the actions and recommendations of DEI in the lived experiences of United Methodists in our conference.
The DEI Team, launched in July 2023, is charged with the purpose of “providing the Great Plains Conference with findings and recommendations that counteract unconscious bias and reduce and eliminate discriminatory practices at all levels of the conference so that we can leverage the full potential of our diverse clergy, laity, and congregations.”
Registration is open to all laity and clergy who wish to be a part of creating brave spaces for speaking, listening, and relationship-building with others around issues of equity. Contact DEI Chairperson Rev. Eduardo Bousson, ebousson@greatplainsumc.org, or Rev. Sarah Marsh, mercy and justice coordinator for the Great Plains, sarah.marsh@greatplainsumc.org, with questions.
Register here: Umbrella Summit 2024.
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Resources
Health, wholeness are
subjects of DVDs, books
Health and wholeness resources are available from United Media Resource Center, available to borrow for those in the Great Plains Conference.
DVD titles include “Made to Crave Action Plan: Your Journey to Healthy Living” and “Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire with God, Not Food,” both by Lysa Terkeurst; and “Daniel Plan: 40 Days to a Healthier Life” by Rick Warren.
Books include “Christ Walk: A 40-Day Spiritual Fitness Program” by Anna Fitch Courie, “Good Health, Good Life: 12 Keys to Enjoying Physical and Spiritual Wellness” by Joyce Meyer, and “Sleep, Pray, Heal: A Path to Wholeness and Well-being” by Donna Fado Ivery.
Also available are two-week preview samples of three studies in the “Awakened Life” series by Sarah Bollinger and Angela Olsen.
Find those and more here.
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Online presentation on
fossil fuels set for Oct. 15
Rev. Sharon Delgado, convener of the grassroots caucus Fossil Free UMC, will talk Oct. 15 about efforts to phase out fossil fuels to benefit the environment during a Cobb Institute webinar from noon to 2 p.m. CT. She will point to fossil fuel divestment as both a practical and symbolic way to challenge the power of the fossil fuel industry and to strengthen the global movement for climate justice.
Learn more
Register
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Get up to date on your
church’s cybersecurity
A tool to help churches assess their vulnerability to cyberattacks is available for free, provided by an IT expert in the Virginia Conference. At a recent Discipleship Ministries webinar on the subject, the shortage of IT staff at local churches was cited as a major impediment to having good computer security.
Learn more
Security survey
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Oct. 15 webinar looks at
pipes and cold weather
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Burst pipes and leaks are a major cause of church property claims. The United Methodist Insurance Program and partner GuideOne Insurance have scheduled a webinar on preparing churches for winter’s colder temperatures at 12:30 p.m. CT Oct. 15.
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Learn more and register
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Across the Connection
In other news
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Newsletters
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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 David Burke to update or renew your classified. Submit your classified here.
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