In this edition of GPconnect:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
New videographer joins the communications staff
Southwestern College announces new president
Lactation Room offered at annual conference
Register now for the Aug. 29 ABIDE preview
Stewardship in the Digital World webinar to be conducted tomorrow
Register now for the Bishop's Bicycle Challenge; support Open Door
EQUIP DISCIPLES
Changing Wichita Diaper Bank: caring for the least of these
New studies at the Great Plains Resource Center
Aldersgate Renewal Ministries announces two conferences
Elkhorn Valley District hosts youth lock-in
CLERGY EXCELLENCE
Nebraska United Methodist Foundation accepting scholarship applications
Register now for clergy retreat series
EQ-HR workshop to be Aug 10-14
MERCY AND JUSTICE
Great Plains area hit hard by storms
Peace with Justice Sunday is May 31
United Methodist pension fund ranks among top 10 in climate change risk management
Epworth Village thanks Denton Ladies Aid and Hallam UMW
OTHER NEWS
Newsletters
Classifieds
Press Clips
New videographer joins the communications staff
Eugenio comes to us from Spain, but has experience in the United States as a freelance news videographer and various news video roles with The Associated Press, Reuters, CNN and Telemundo.
Eugenio has a bachelor’s of science in communications and media studies from the University of the District of Columbia in the nation’s capital. He returned to Spain to help with family concerns, but he says he is looking forward to getting to know the Great Plains Conference and putting down roots in America’s heartland.
Southwestern College announces new president
Andrews replaces President Dick Merriman, who will become president of the University of Mount Union after 17 years at Southwestern.
“We feel Brad Andrews is an ideal fit for Southwestern College, and could not be more pleased that he will be the next president,” says Michael Lewis, SC trustee and chair of the search committee. “He has extensive successful experience in three areas crucial to the continued success of the college—fundraising, enrollment management, and student life. He also is a collaborative leader who will work well with faculty and administrators already in place to extend the excellence we have come to expect at Southwestern.”
Read full announcement.News
Southwestern College Announces New President
Dr. Brad Andrews will be the next president of Southwestern College. Currently senior vice president for student success and strategic enrollment at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisc., Andrews will be the 18th president of the college when he begins his tenure July 1.
Andrews replaces President Dick Merriman, who will become president of the University of Mount Union after 17 years at Southwestern.
“We feel Brad Andrews is an ideal fit for Southwestern College, and could not be more pleased that he will be the next president,” says Michael Lewis, SC trustee and chair of the search committee. “He has extensive successful experience in three areas crucial to the continued success of the college—fundraising, enrollment management, and student life. He also is a collaborative leader who will work well with faculty and administrators already in place to extend the excellence we have come to expect at Southwestern.”
A native of Miami, Fla., Andrews earned his bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Missouri in 1990 and went on to earn a master’s degree in education from Drake University in 1994. In 2009, he earned a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy analysis from the University of Wisconsin.
"For more than 130 years Southwestern College has defined a truly student-centered approach to higher education,” Andrews says. “It is obvious that an exciting combination of tremendous people, a pioneering spirit, and outstanding programs have Southwestern College poised for great success moving forward. I am honored to be chosen to lead the Builder nation into the next era.”
Andrews’s leadership encompasses three divisions at Carthage College, including the departments of admissions, financial aid, student affairs, first-year academic advising, and religious life. His responsibilities include operational oversight for strategic institutional priorities, with emphasis on the immediate improvement of retention and graduation rates.
As a member of the Carthage executive leadership team, he has helped guide an incredible period of growth for the college. Since 2000, Carthage College has:
grown its campus with more than $200 million in campus renovation and construction projects.
grown its academic reputation as demonstrated by a rise in national rankings, by significant increases in the number and quality of freshman applications, and by national recognition for programs such as participation in the NASA undergraduate research SEED program.
grown its enrollment from 1,500 to more than 2,500 full-time students.
Andrews arrived on campus in 1999 and quickly worked with staff and students to remake the student affairs program. After eight years as dean of students, Andrews was appointed vice president for enrollment and student life. In this role, he provided leadership for the completion of a campus strategic enrollment growth initiative. With a particular emphasis on entering new admissions markets and raising the academic reputation of the college, the college surpassed the 2,500 student mark. This enrollment figure represents a 67% increase from the full-time student enrollment 10 years earlier. This accomplishment was completed while maintaining the college’s discount rate, even through the national economic downturn in 2008-09.
In 2010, Andrews was asked to serve as senior vice president for academic resources, following the departure of the chief development officer. For two years in this role, he served simultaneously as the chief enrollment officer, chief development officer, and senior student affairs officer. During this period, enrollment continued to increase, the academic reputation of the college continued to rise, and fundraising results were accelerated after the national economic crisis.
Andrews will move to Winfield with his family. His wife, Trish, was born and raised in Harvard, Ill., a small dairy farming community. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English from Carthage College in 1997. Trisha earned a master’s degree in education from Carthage, and a master’s degree in history from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She currently serves as director of academic advising, at the College of Lake County in Grayslake, Ill., where she also has taught courses in U.S. History. She spent the first eight years of her professional life working in student affairs and career services at small private colleges.
Brad and Trish enjoy spending time with their four children—Graham, 17; Tyler, 13; Madeline, 6; and Gwendolyn, 3. Brad is a golfer and enjoys running; he has completed 10 marathons. Trish is a photographer.to top
Lactation Room offered at annual conference
Seven years ago during an annual conference in Salina, a young clergy mom came to the Rev. Kim Dickerson-Oard, then Worship Committee chair, and asked if she could use the worship storage room for a place to pump breastmilk because there was no other place in the building. The Worship Committee said, “of course.” One year later, Kim, herself, needed such a space, and the Sessions Planning team chose to make space at Annual Conference for moms with lactation needs.
“We sectioned off a portion of the childcare space with pipe and drape to offer moms privacy to nurse or pump,” she said.
This year at the Great Plains Annual Conference in Wichita, we will have a true “Lactation Room” in Century II room MR101B thanks to the contributions of the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund. Gwen Whittit RN, IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) and Program Coordinator for High 5 for Mom & Baby and the UMHMF is teaming up with the Annual Conference Planning Committee to make the room even more accommodating.
Supporting breastfeeding moms in our congregation and community has lifelong benefits. As more research is published we find more reasons why breastfeeding, a baby’s first food, is such an important health issue. Whittit says research indicates a link between breastfeeding and improved health for a baby, including lower blood pressure, decreased incidence of type 1 and 2 diabetes, asthma, ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia, leukemia and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Studies also show a definite correlation to reduced childhood and adolescent obesity for those who were breastfed. In addition, mothers derive health benefits. Those who breastfeed have a decreased incidence of premenopausal breast cancer, ovarian cancer and type 2 diabetes.
Moms need a quiet, private place, not a bathroom. A comfortable chair and a table or flat surface help moms get comfortable. A sink and a refrigerator are not required but do make it much easier for moms to clean their pump equipment and store their milk.
We hope that many moms attending conference will take advantage of the lactation room and that it will become a fixture for years to come. The lactation room will be at Century II, room MR101B. There will be a live stream feed of the conference to the room, but voting cannot take place in the room. Members of the conference are invited to stop by when room is not in use to get ideas about how to set up a lactation room in their church.
Register for annual conference at greatplainsumc.org/registration2015.
Register now for the Aug. 29 ABIDE preview
Are you a small congregation looking to revitalize your ministry? Are you looking to strengthen leadership development among folks in the church? If yes, your congregation could be just right for ABIDE.
Abide is a process of learning and revitalization for small attendance congregations (about 50 and fewer in worship). Laity and pastor together form a covenant team of leaders who seek and follow God’s vision for their congregation and community.
A preview of this energizing and spirit-filled process for small church development will take place Aug. 29, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in both Lincoln, Nebraska, and Wichita, Kansas. The event is free although donations to cover lunch are appreciated.
Register online now. If you need more information, contact Micki McCorkle at mmccorkle@greatplainsumc.org or 316-210-3996.
Stewardship in the Digital World webinar to be conducted tomorrow
Discipleship Ministries of the United Methodist Church will host a webinar tomorrow, May 14, titled “Stewardship in the Digital World: Has Your Church Made the Leap?”
Money has gone digital, communication has gone digital, education has gone digital – the church can embrace the digital culture without losing the human relationships that mean so much to everyone. Join as some of the ways stewardship can (and must) thrive in the digital world are shared.
The webinar, will be held Thursday, May 14, at 6:30 p.m., CDT and will feature speaker Ken Sloane, ksloane@UMCdiscipleship.org.
Note: This webinar will be recorded and will be available in the Discipleship Ministries’ webinar archive for those who cannot attend the live event.
Register now for the Bishop's Bicycle Challenge; support Open Door
The Bishop's Bicycle Challenge began in 2010 under the leadership of Bishop Scott Jones. All funds raised support the efforts of Open Door to provide food, clothing and shelter to people in need throughout the Wichita community. To date $100,000 has been raised! The ride is now headed for its sixth successful year on Saturday, June 20. Last year’s ride had 110 cyclists. Organizers hope to have even more this year.
The Bishop's Bicycle Challenge is open to all interested cyclists and offers three different rides:
20-mile ride
32-mile ride (50K)
60-mile ride (100K)
Check-in and final registration for the 2015 Ride starts at 6 a.m. on June 20. Official start time is 7 a.m. However later starts are welcome until 8 a.m. All rides start and finish at Aldersgate UMC, 7901 W. 21st St., in Wichita, Kansas.
Online pre-registration is encouraged for all riders. Riders may also register on ride day between 6 and 8 a.m., but pre-registered riders enjoy reduced waiting at check-in. All riders who pre-register by May 29 will receive a t-shirt and a water bottle. Availability and sizes of t-shirts cannot be guaranteed for registrations after May 29.
Download a brochure.
Register online.
Check out the BBC on Facebook.
Download the Pledge Sheet and a page of blank Donation Receipts to print and use while collecting donations. Interested in making a donation? View the list of registered riders, then choose a method listed here for submitting a donation.
Open Door assists more than 14,500 people in need each month. Learn more about Open Door here.
Changing Wichita Diaper Bank: caring for the least of these
Last year the Homeless and Low Income Committee at First UMC in Wichita, chaired by the Rev. Frances Rathbun, invited the congregation to establish a ‘diaper bank’ for babies of local poor families, those at poverty level and the working poor. The National Center for Children in Poverty reports that in Kansas, more than 22% of children under three years old live in poor families with 48% living in low income households. This is 163,134 Kansas families with 239,121 young children.
Most child care facilities do not accept the care of babies without a day’s worth of disposable diapers. A working mother cannot be at her job without safe child care. This poses a threat to family income as well as a child’s health and cleanliness. The purchase of diapers is not included in food stamps. Most poor families use laundromats which do not allow cloth diapers, making non-disposable diapers a luxury they cannot afford. The church saw an opportunity to make a difference.
The Committee chose Mother’s Day to launch this ministry. On that Sunday containers were provided in the narthex for collecting sealed boxes of disposable diapers of any brand and any size. After all, babies come in all sizes. More than 10,000 diapers were delivered to babies through Open Door and Inter-Faith Ministries. This year the church is holding another diaper drive which ends on Father's Day, June 21. The goal is to collect 10,000 diapers, which would adequately diaper 100 babies for ten days, although they hope to collect much more. This year the diapers will be delivered to the United Way for distribution to agencies across the city.
Download the diaper drive poster. For more information on this ministry, contact Ernestine Krehbiel at krehbiele@gmail.com or Leslie Coates at316-267-6244. Any Great Plains UMC could organize a similar effort to give a real economic hand up to families with small children who often need at least 90 disposable diapers per baby every month.
A sign in the church nursery at First UMC in Wichita reads: “We will not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.” United Methodists make joyful souls and happy bottoms.
New studies at the Great Plains Resource Center
All of us have times in our lives when we must carry burdens that feel like they will overwhelm us. Three new studies at the resource center give encouragement and hope of how God meets us where we are offering grace, comfort and strength with whatever burdens we carry in our daily lives.
“Jeremiah – Daring To Hope in an Unstable World”—This six session study of the book of Jeremiah by Melissa Spoelstra offers women hope for living in an uncertain world and navigating the challenges of their lives. By examining God’s words to the Israelites through Jeremiah, women will discover six guidelines that will help them overcome fear, worry and doubt as they put their hope in God alone.
Favorite author and Bible teacher, Margaret Feinberg, declares that joy is more than whimsy — it is a weapon at our disposal as we fight life’s greatest battles. In “Fight Back With Joy” Feinberg shares how joy and faith in a loving God helped her after a diagnosis of cancer. The six sessions are:
Secrets of Joyful People
The Hidden Treasure of Joy
Poke Holes in the Darkness
A Side of Joy No One Talks About
The Holy Mess of Joy
What To Do When Those You Love Are Hurting
Life is often messy and our first instinct is to hide, deny, ignore or run from our messes. “Move On” is a six session study by Vicki Courtney that challenges us to say good-bye to the stress of trying to live up to what others expect us to be. Instead, celebrate the person God made you to be and God will help you get real, deal with it and ‘move on.’ The six lessons are:
Clean Up on Aisle One!
Unclaimed Baggage
Us and Them
Law & Disorder
Buzz-Hopping
Fall Forward
To reserve one of these studies please email Diane Dunkerson atddunkerson@greatplainsumc.org or call 800-435-6107. To see a complete listing of all our studies go to our online catalog atwww.gpresourcecenter.org.
Aldersgate Renewal Ministries announces two conferences
Aldersgate 2015
Aldersgate 2015, the 37th annual Aldersgate conference, will be held in Lexington, Kentucky, July 9-12. This conference on Spirit-filled living is an opportunity to experience the relentless love of God as you are equipped to minister in the power of the Holy Spirit. You are invited to explore the Aldersgate Renewal Ministries website and discover the exciting divine appointments that God is setting up through strategic ministry experiences for adults, youth and children. The leadership team is specifically chosen because of the unique and proven gifts and graces that rest on their lives. So come, rest and receive all that God has prepared for you out of His lavish and relentless love. Worship, learn, discover, explore and feast as you are refreshed, restored, empowered and equipped to live and love like Jesus
is a national conference on spirit-filled living and a family friendly conference for United Methodists. The conference is hosted byAldersgate Renewal Ministries and will be held in Lexington, Kentucky, July 9-12, with the theme of Freedom. CEUs for clergy (20.5 contact hours if the entire event is attended) and lay servant credit approved by the General Board of Discipleship (GBOD) will be offered. With programming for all ages, Aldersgate Renewal Ministries' mission is to equip the local church to minister to the world in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Register today for Aldersgate 2015.
Fall Day Apart
Aldersgate Renewal Ministries will host Fall Day Apart in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, Oct. 2-3. Women, mark your calendar and plan to join other women for this inspiring event. Friday night is an optional season or worship and prayer in preparation for Saturday’s event.
Registration opens at 8:30 am, Saturday, Oct. 3 and the event lasts 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Lunch is included in the registration fee of $30. Bring a group from your church and experience this life-changing event together.
Keynote speaker is the Rev. Candace Lewis who currently serves as a new church strategist with Path 1 New Church Starts at Discipleship Ministries (formerly the General Board of Discipleship). Worship leader will be Cinde Lucas, founder of Overflow Ministries.
Visit AldersgateRenewal.org for more information and to register today.
Elkhorn Valley District hosts youth lock-in
The fifth annual Elkhorn Valley District UMC “Midnight Madness” Youth Lock-in for grades six-12 was held at the Wayne State College Rec Center in Wayne, Nebraska, on March 27-28, from 10 p.m. on Friday to 7 a.m. on Saturday. The Elkhorn Valley District Youth Ministry Action Team hosted the lock-in and 123 people (101 youth and 22 adults) gathered together from across the district.
The night started out with a group icebreaker, announcements and prayer. Afterwards, everyone got to choose the activity they wished to be involved in which included swimming, basketball, racquetball, dodgeball and GaGa ball. Board games, card games and other table activities were also available in the upper lobby area. A trio of real, live bunnies (from Camp Fontanelle) were also available for observing and petting.
Starting at 11:30 a.m., a variety of snacks, including fruit, vegetables, cheese, sandwiches and beverages, were served throughout the night.
Tim Udell, Simple Sound and Lighting, from Plainview, did a great job providing DJ music for the lock-in and getting people involved in some group dances. At 1 a.m., the members of the youth ministry action team led everyone in worship with prayer, scripture, music and a skit called Boxes of Emotion. After worship, guest speakers, Trent Meyer and Derek Bergman, site directors at Camp Fontanelle, spoke to the youth and encouraged the youth to build a strong relationship with Christ and the influence that attending church camp can have on their faith walk.
At 2 a.m., three-on-three basketball, dodgeball and racquetball tournaments were held with many youth participating. Several youth and adults gathered for the Fleece for Peace tie-blanket mission project and seven tie-blankets were completed. Each youth group that brought fleece was able to take their blanket back home with them to give to someone serving in the military or a person in their church or community who may be going through an illness or difficult time and who would be encouraged by the gift of the blanket.
At 6:30 a.m., everyone gathered back together for the announcement of door prize winners and a short closing. Afterwards, everyone began to pack up and say their goodbyes. Although many were tired as they walked out the door, new relationships and great memories were made after a full night of fellowship, food and fun.
Nebraska United Methodist Foundation accepting scholarship applications
The Nebraska United Methodist Foundation currently has scholarship applications available for seminary students. These scholarships are available to individuals who are members of a Nebraska United Methodist church and pursuing an advanced ministerial degree for service in the Great Plains Conference.
Students may apply online at www.numf.org/scholarships. These financial aid awards are meant for individuals who are members of a Nebraska United Methodist Church and pursuing an advanced ministerial degree for service in the Great Plains Conference.
Applications are available online for the following scholarships:
The Albert R. Murdoch Ministerial Scholarship
The Alice Kruse Ministerial Scholarship
The Alice Kruse Seminary Scholarship
The Alva Clark Seminary Scholarship
The Baldwin F. & Amy L. Kruse Scholarship
The Charles and Marilyn Humphrey Seminary Scholarship
The Cowles United Methodist Church Memorial Scholarship
The Murdock Ebenezer UMC Professional Church Leader Scholarship
The Myrtle E. Williams Seminary Scholarship
The Verl & Sylvia Miller Memorial Scholarship
The Scahill Family Scholarship
The application deadline for these scholarships is June 30.
Those students applying for the scholarships listed above also will be considered for the following scholarships: The Cal Leeds Scholarship; The Rev. Albert W. Winseman Scholarship Endowment; The Atherton Memorial Scholarship Fund; The Ben and Martha Simmons Scholarship Fund; and The Andrew and Nevabelle Howe Scholarship.
The Nebraska United Methodist Foundation would like to acknowledge the generous gifts donors have made to make these scholarships possible. Thank you for being a partner in ministry. For more information, please visit www.numf.org/scholarships.
If you would like to talk to someone about how you can honor the memory of a loved one or help a seminary student, please call the foundation at 877-495-5545.
Register now for clergy retreat series
Anxiety is not a nice feeling
The Center for Pastoral Effectiveness of the Rockies will begin its 60-plus retreat series in the Great Plains area beginning July 13-15 at the Manna House in Concordia, Kansas.
Declared by most of the more than 500 clergy from six denominations in seven states who have attended as "the most valuable continuing education experience” they have ever had, the Center was created to Maintain Ministers in Ministry. Interested? Read on.
"Anxiety is not a nice feeling. It is basically a fear of the unknown which is worse than an ordinary fear of some specific thing. Anxiety leaves you feeling vulnerable and powerless. Most people will do anything in order to avoid it. So we all learn to behave in a certain way to avoid feeling anxious, even if that creates other uncomfortable feelings. We will feel depressed or paranoid, for example, than to feel anxious." – Ronald Richardson
Some clergy become very passive and powerless, others become aggressive and exert power and most of the time in unhealthy ways. Clergy find themselves in anxious systems all of the time. Our people want us to take away their anxieties. And unfortunately, the person who makes you feel anxious is in control. This is what we address at The Center for Pastoral Effectiveness of the Rockies.
Edwin Friedman said “The antagonism of the most anxious is proportionate to the niceness of the leader.” And there you are as clergy, paid to be “nice,” safe for your people to strike out at you. Yet the more you, as a leader, “adapt your function to the weakest members, the more you enable their dependency, encourage their happy ignorance and reinforce their helplessness” said Peter Stienke. When your congregation’s threshold for pain is low is the opportunity for changing lessens. But when the pain is high, so is the stress on you as pastor. How do you address this conundrum? That is what we address at the Center for Pastoral Effectiveness.
The Center was created to maintain ministers in ministry utilizing family systems in the church. The Center is a "pastoral" model. Everything done together enables clergy to be healthier leaders of their personal and professional life.
Six three-day retreats over about 18 months costs $1,980 with payments spread over that time period.
You can register now. Just email the Rev. Bill Selby atintegrity4u@comcast.net. For more information go topastoraleffectiveness.org.
EQ-HR workshop to be Aug 10-14
Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and Human Relations (HR) workshops will be held Aug. 10-14, at the Highlands Presbyterian Camp and Retreat Center in Allenspark, Colorado.
This core EQ-HR Center workshop is an intensive session designed to enable participants to learn about, build and practice emotional intelligence skills in a small group setting. Skilled facilitators provide tools and feedback to enable participants to learn about themselves and to immediately practice emerging skills.
Early registration cost is $595 - the price will increase to $645 after July 13. ESCI 360 Survey is $199. Lodging and meals are available on site. Single is $548, two occupants per room is $682, three occupants per room is $888 and four occupants per room is $1,112. Register now.
View flier for more information.
Two partial scholarships are available to attend this EQ-HR workshop. Interested persons should contact the Rev. Nancy Lambert, director of Clergy Excellence, at nlambert@greatplainsumc.org or 402-464-5995, ext 126.
Great Plains area hit hard by recent storms
Great Plains Disaster Response Coordinator Rev. Hollie Tapley went to DeWitt, Nebraska, on Monday to assess damage and coordinate recovery efforts. By Monday evening the Rev. Tapley reported, "De Witt is in remarkable condition. The community is helping one another. Only five houses still need workers, and a large group of volunteers is coming tomorrow to handle those. We have plenty of food and cleaning buckets."
The focus of the Great Plains Conference disaster response was on the local UMC which suffered damage due to about a foot of water in the sanctuary, hallways and all other rooms. Volunteers from the congregation set up fans and peeled back the wallpaper to mitigate the damage. Now dehumidifiers are running and sheet rock is cut out. The carpet is just six months old so they are trying to save it.
The UM parsonage in DeWitt had flooding in the basement but damage was limited. ERT groups came in from St. Mark's UMC in Lincoln, Ashland, Blair, Prairie View, Beatrice, Waverly and other churches in the Blue River District. The Rev. Lynn Seiser helped coordinate the efforts. A full day of hard work on Tuesday made a huge difference. Now the church and parsonage are drying out.
At this time no additional teams or supplies are needed around DeWitt. The Rev. Tapley said, "It is great to see the community of DeWitt taking ownership of the disaster and to see neighbor helping neighbor."
Other disaster response efforts in the Great Plains Conference included a group of 30 from Belleville UMC who helped a couple outside of Munden, Kansas, on Saturday whose home was destroyed by a tornado Wednesday night. In Mount Hope a tornado destroyed a family's home that same night. The damage was assessed by the Rev. Tapley the next day, but no help has been requested from the conference as of yet. Word was just received that assistance may be needed in Fairbury, Nebraska, which was affected by flooding. Considering the vast area hit by high winds, tornadoes, hail, heavy rain and even snow over the past week, the damage across the conference could have been far worse
What to do when a disaster strikes
After a disaster strikes, communication at all levels is extremely important. Whoever learns of the disaster first is encouraged to initiate the call and all persons called need to make sure others on the list are notified. Read about how the Great Plains Conference responds to disasters, including what kind of help we offer, who responds, how long we are involved in recovery, and more.
Hate hurts – peace heals
Peace with Justice Sunday is May 31
Editor’s note: the following was submitted by Andrea Paret, Peace with Justice coordinator of the Great Plains Conference.
Children are invited to make peace a priority this month, both at home and abroad. The Rev. Dr. Susan Henry-Crowe, chief executive of the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society (GBCS), invites children to take the lead in pursuing the peace that will ensure they have any chance for an abundant future.
Henry-Crowe has proposed a multi-faceted initiative, led by children, to engage all generations in the United Methodist Peace with Justice Sunday, which is May 31 this year, but can be observed at any time amenable to a congregation’s programming schedule.
The initiative, Hate Hurts, Peace Heals, will include, a reading list on peace for children and Sunday school classes, an opportunity to submit original prayers for peace, and gathering offerings for peace. The offerings should be presented during the local church’s Peace with Justice observance.
“Every child deserves to live in communities of peace,” Henry-Crowe said. “This month, we invite families, friends and congregations to read, pray and give towards peace for our communities and around the world.”
Download the bulletin insert.
United Methodist pension fund ranks among top 10 in climate change risk management
The General Board of Pension and Health Benefits (GBPHB) and its Wespath Investment Management division was ranked 10th of 500 international investors in the latest index from the Asset Owners Disclosure Project (AODP). The AODP is the world’s only independent examination of pension and superannuation funds’ management of climate risks and opportunities.
It provides research and tools for asset owners and managers, supporting them in the transition to an investment world in which the impacts of climate change will become ever more integrated into their core decision-making processes. According to the AODP, “Nearly 85 percent of the world’s largest investors have failed to implement climate-risk management systems. Institutional investors have much to do to mitigate and hedge climate change risk in their portfolios.”
From a study of more than 1,000 of the world’s largest asset owners, representing more than $40 trillion, AODP found 85 percent were lagging in executing and implementing what they deemed to be effective climate-risk management systems.
The advocacy group studied asset owners’ climate change performance from factors such as transparency, risk management, levels of low-carbon investments and active ownership.
Only three U.S. pension funds were in the Top 10: CalPERS (California Public Employees Retirement System) ranked third; the New York State Common Retirement Fund ranked sixth; and GBPHB ranked tenth of the 500 completing the AODP survey of 1,000 asset owners. GBPHB moved up in the rankings from 35th overall in 2013 to tenth in 2014.
GBPHB Managing Director, Sustainable Investment Strategies, Kirsty Jenkinson was pleased with the survey results.
“We are in the ‘Top 10’ of a very important list that people around the world are paying attention to,” Jenkinson said. “It’s exciting to see that we are placed among peers considered to be the global leaders in sustainable investment, with an emphasis on the risks climate change poses for us all.”
In 2015, GBPHB instituted a specific climate change (thermal coal) investment policy guideline.
The General Board of Pension and Health Benefits (GBPHB) is a not-for-profit administrative agency of The United Methodist Church, with church-authorized fiduciary responsibility for the benefit plans it administers and the assets it invests.
Epworth Village thanks Denton Ladies Aid and Hallam UMW
Recent visitors to Epworth Village were groups from Denton UMC and Hallam UMW. Each group of ladies toured Epworth Village and learned about all of the changes taking place on campus. Denton brought with them Epworth Village’s first donation of feminine hygiene products for Dinsdale Girls’ Cottage. Hallam UMW members counted Box Tops for Education and had a lesson in crane folding. Epworth Village enjoyed the visits, thanks the ladies for their support and welcomes them anytime.
Epworth Village is a National Mission Institution of the United Methodist Church. Epworth Village, Inc., is non-profit agency based in York, Nebraska. From its beginning as an orphanage in the 1880's, the mission of Epworth Village has been to bring hope and healing to children and families in the name of Christ.
Newsletters
See David Upp's Mission Link newsletter for information on this photo. Here are other newsletters we've received this week:
Christian Copyright Solutions: May 2015
Connectional Giving: Tools and Tips for Generous Living
Discipleship Ministries: Five ways you can better equip Vital Congregations
General Board of Church and Society: Faith in Action
Envision no gun violence – article about the Rev. James Atwood’s time in Omaha
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Leading Ideas
Ministry Matters: May 12, 2105
South Central Jurisdiction VIM and Disaster Response: Woven Together
United Methodist Church Development Center: Spiritual Giving
United Methodist Committee on Relief: Hotline
Classifieds
Children's Discipleship team leader needed in Wichita
Columbus First UMC seeks Christian education director
Lenexa UMC looking for director of children's ministries
Minister of children's ministry and preschool director sought at Emmanuel UMC
Saint Paul School of Theology looking for development officer
St. Paul's UMC hiring two directors for choirs
View these and other classifieds at greatplainsumc.org/classifieds.
Press Clips
Congregations across the Great Plains Conference are making the news in their local newspapers. View our newspaper clipping reports to see if there are stories, ideas and ministry happenings you can learn from to use in your own congregation. Press clips can be found at greatplainsumc.org/inthenews. You can see education partnership ideas at greatplainsumc.org/education.
Editorial Policy: The content, news, events and announcement information distributed in GPconnect is not sponsored or endorsed by the Great Plains Methodist Conference unless specifically stated.
To submit a letter to the editor, send it to info@greatplainsumc.org.
Episcopal Office: 9440 E Boston Suite 160 Wichita, KS 67207 316-686-0600
Topeka Office: 4201 SW 15th Street PO Box 4187 Topeka, KS 66604 785-272-9111
Wichita Office: 9440 E Boston Suite 110 Wichita, KS 67207 316-684-0266
Lincoln Office: 3333 Landmark Circle Lincoln, NE 68504-4760 402-464-5994
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In Memoriam
The Rev. Philip D. Brownlee, 67, a clergy member of Thayer, KS passed away Monday, May 11 at Elm Haven East Nursing Center in Parsons, KS. Phil was born March 13, 1948 the son of Billy B. and Marnetta Smith Brownlee in San Diego, CA. He attended schools and graduated high school in El Cajon, CA. He went on to obtain his Masters Degree at Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Co.
He built his own church in Fowler, KS but later moved to Wichita, KS where he was appointed pastor at Waco United Methodist Church. He then moved to Kansas City and was the pastor at the Metropolitan Avenue UMC. Later he relocated to southeast Kansas where he was the pastor for the Thayer and Galesburg United Methodist Churches. He also served Angola and Valenda UMCs. The last church he pastored was Trinity United Methodist Church of Coffeyville, KS. He also enjoyed teaching Sociology at Neosho County Community College.
He is survived by daughter Kaye Brownlee-France and her husband, Justin, of Owasso, OK and sister Debra Hallahan of Julian, CA. He is preceded in death by his parents. No services are planned at this time.
Memorials can be made to the Parsons Pet Hospital, and may be sent to Potts Chapel, 502 S. Liberty St., Cherryvale KS. 67335.
Episcopal Office: 9440 E Boston Suite 160 Wichita, KS 67207 | 316-686-0600
Topeka Office: 4201 SW 15th Street PO Box 4187 Topeka, KS 66604 | 785-272-9111
Wichita Office: 9440 E Boston Suite 110 Wichita, KS 67207 316-684-0266
Lincoln Office: 3333 Landmark Circle Lincoln, NE 68504-4760 402-464-5994
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A native of Miami, Fla., Andrews earned his bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Missouri in 1990 and went on to earn a master’s degree in education from Drake University in 1994. In 2009, he earned a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy analysis from the University of Wisconsin.
"For more than 130 years Southwestern College has defined a truly student-centered approach to higher education,” Andrews says. “It is obvious that an exciting combination of tremendous people, a pioneering spirit, and outstanding programs have Southwestern College poised for great success moving forward. I am honored to be chosen to lead the Builder nation into the next era.”
Andrews’s leadership encompasses three divisions at Carthage College, including the departments of admissions, financial aid, student affairs, first-year academic advising, and religious life. His responsibilities include operational oversight for strategic institutional priorities, with emphasis on the immediate improvement of retention and graduation rates.
As a member of the Carthage executive leadership team, he has helped guide an incredible period of growth for the college. Since 2000, Carthage College has:
grown its campus with more than $200 million in campus renovation and construction projects.
grown its academic reputation as demonstrated by a rise in national rankings, by significant increases in the number and quality of freshman applications, and by national recognition for programs such as participation in the NASA undergraduate research SEED program.
grown its enrollment from 1,500 to more than 2,500 full-time students.
Andrews arrived on campus in 1999 and quickly worked with staff and students to remake the student affairs program. After eight years as dean of students, Andrews was appointed vice president for enrollment and student life. In this role, he provided leadership for the completion of a campus strategic enrollment growth initiative. With a particular emphasis on entering new admissions markets and raising the academic reputation of the college, the college surpassed the 2,500 student mark. This enrollment figure represents a 67% increase from the full-time student enrollment 10 years earlier. This accomplishment was completed while maintaining the college’s discount rate, even through the national economic downturn in 2008-09.
In 2010, Andrews was asked to serve as senior vice president for academic resources, following the departure of the chief development officer. For two years in this role, he served simultaneously as the chief enrollment officer, chief development officer, and senior student affairs officer. During this period, enrollment continued to increase, the academic reputation of the college continued to rise, and fundraising results were accelerated after the national economic crisis.
Andrews will move to Winfield with his family. His wife, Trish, was born and raised in Harvard, Ill., a small dairy farming community. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English from Carthage College in 1997. Trisha earned a master’s degree in education from Carthage, and a master’s degree in history from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She currently serves as director of academic advising, at the College of Lake County in Grayslake, Ill., where she also has taught courses in U.S. History. She spent the first eight years of her professional life working in student affairs and career services at small private colleges.
Brad and Trish enjoy spending time with their four children—Graham, 17; Tyler, 13; Madeline, 6; and Gwendolyn, 3. Brad is a golfer and enjoys running; he has completed 10 marathons. Trish is a photographer.to top
Lactation Room offered at annual conference
“We sectioned off a portion of the childcare space with pipe and drape to offer moms privacy to nurse or pump,” she said.
This year at the Great Plains Annual Conference in Wichita, we will have a true “Lactation Room” in Century II room MR101B thanks to the contributions of the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund. Gwen Whittit RN, IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) and Program Coordinator for High 5 for Mom & Baby and the UMHMF is teaming up with the Annual Conference Planning Committee to make the room even more accommodating.
Supporting breastfeeding moms in our congregation and community has lifelong benefits. As more research is published we find more reasons why breastfeeding, a baby’s first food, is such an important health issue. Whittit says research indicates a link between breastfeeding and improved health for a baby, including lower blood pressure, decreased incidence of type 1 and 2 diabetes, asthma, ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia, leukemia and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Studies also show a definite correlation to reduced childhood and adolescent obesity for those who were breastfed. In addition, mothers derive health benefits. Those who breastfeed have a decreased incidence of premenopausal breast cancer, ovarian cancer and type 2 diabetes.
Moms need a quiet, private place, not a bathroom. A comfortable chair and a table or flat surface help moms get comfortable. A sink and a refrigerator are not required but do make it much easier for moms to clean their pump equipment and store their milk.
We hope that many moms attending conference will take advantage of the lactation room and that it will become a fixture for years to come. The lactation room will be at Century II, room MR101B. There will be a live stream feed of the conference to the room, but voting cannot take place in the room. Members of the conference are invited to stop by when room is not in use to get ideas about how to set up a lactation room in their church.
Register for annual conference at greatplainsumc.org/registration2015.
Register now for the Aug. 29 ABIDE preview
Abide is a process of learning and revitalization for small attendance congregations (about 50 and fewer in worship). Laity and pastor together form a covenant team of leaders who seek and follow God’s vision for their congregation and community.
A preview of this energizing and spirit-filled process for small church development will take place Aug. 29, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in both Lincoln, Nebraska, and Wichita, Kansas. The event is free although donations to cover lunch are appreciated.
Register online now. If you need more information, contact Micki McCorkle at mmccorkle@greatplainsumc.org or 316-210-3996.
Stewardship in the Digital World webinar to be conducted tomorrow
Discipleship Ministries of the United Methodist Church will host a webinar tomorrow, May 14, titled “Stewardship in the Digital World: Has Your Church Made the Leap?”
Money has gone digital, communication has gone digital, education has gone digital – the church can embrace the digital culture without losing the human relationships that mean so much to everyone. Join as some of the ways stewardship can (and must) thrive in the digital world are shared.
The webinar, will be held Thursday, May 14, at 6:30 p.m., CDT and will feature speaker Ken Sloane, ksloane@UMCdiscipleship.org.
Note: This webinar will be recorded and will be available in the Discipleship Ministries’ webinar archive for those who cannot attend the live event.
Register now for the Bishop's Bicycle Challenge; support Open Door
The Bishop's Bicycle Challenge is open to all interested cyclists and offers three different rides:
20-mile ride
32-mile ride (50K)
60-mile ride (100K)
Check-in and final registration for the 2015 Ride starts at 6 a.m. on June 20. Official start time is 7 a.m. However later starts are welcome until 8 a.m. All rides start and finish at Aldersgate UMC, 7901 W. 21st St., in Wichita, Kansas.
Online pre-registration is encouraged for all riders. Riders may also register on ride day between 6 and 8 a.m., but pre-registered riders enjoy reduced waiting at check-in. All riders who pre-register by May 29 will receive a t-shirt and a water bottle. Availability and sizes of t-shirts cannot be guaranteed for registrations after May 29.
Download a brochure.
Register online.
Check out the BBC on Facebook.
Download the Pledge Sheet and a page of blank Donation Receipts to print and use while collecting donations. Interested in making a donation? View the list of registered riders, then choose a method listed here for submitting a donation.
Open Door assists more than 14,500 people in need each month. Learn more about Open Door here.
Changing Wichita Diaper Bank: caring for the least of these
Most child care facilities do not accept the care of babies without a day’s worth of disposable diapers. A working mother cannot be at her job without safe child care. This poses a threat to family income as well as a child’s health and cleanliness. The purchase of diapers is not included in food stamps. Most poor families use laundromats which do not allow cloth diapers, making non-disposable diapers a luxury they cannot afford. The church saw an opportunity to make a difference.
The Committee chose Mother’s Day to launch this ministry. On that Sunday containers were provided in the narthex for collecting sealed boxes of disposable diapers of any brand and any size. After all, babies come in all sizes. More than 10,000 diapers were delivered to babies through Open Door and Inter-Faith Ministries. This year the church is holding another diaper drive which ends on Father's Day, June 21. The goal is to collect 10,000 diapers, which would adequately diaper 100 babies for ten days, although they hope to collect much more. This year the diapers will be delivered to the United Way for distribution to agencies across the city.
Download the diaper drive poster. For more information on this ministry, contact Ernestine Krehbiel at krehbiele@gmail.com or Leslie Coates at316-267-6244. Any Great Plains UMC could organize a similar effort to give a real economic hand up to families with small children who often need at least 90 disposable diapers per baby every month.
A sign in the church nursery at First UMC in Wichita reads: “We will not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.” United Methodists make joyful souls and happy bottoms.
New studies at the Great Plains Resource Center
“Jeremiah – Daring To Hope in an Unstable World”—This six session study of the book of Jeremiah by Melissa Spoelstra offers women hope for living in an uncertain world and navigating the challenges of their lives. By examining God’s words to the Israelites through Jeremiah, women will discover six guidelines that will help them overcome fear, worry and doubt as they put their hope in God alone.
Favorite author and Bible teacher, Margaret Feinberg, declares that joy is more than whimsy — it is a weapon at our disposal as we fight life’s greatest battles. In “Fight Back With Joy” Feinberg shares how joy and faith in a loving God helped her after a diagnosis of cancer. The six sessions are:
Secrets of Joyful People
The Hidden Treasure of Joy
Poke Holes in the Darkness
A Side of Joy No One Talks About
The Holy Mess of Joy
What To Do When Those You Love Are Hurting
Life is often messy and our first instinct is to hide, deny, ignore or run from our messes. “Move On” is a six session study by Vicki Courtney that challenges us to say good-bye to the stress of trying to live up to what others expect us to be. Instead, celebrate the person God made you to be and God will help you get real, deal with it and ‘move on.’ The six lessons are:
Clean Up on Aisle One!
Unclaimed Baggage
Us and Them
Law & Disorder
Buzz-Hopping
Fall Forward
To reserve one of these studies please email Diane Dunkerson atddunkerson@greatplainsumc.org or call 800-435-6107. To see a complete listing of all our studies go to our online catalog atwww.gpresourcecenter.org.
Aldersgate Renewal Ministries announces two conferences
Aldersgate 2015
is a national conference on spirit-filled living and a family friendly conference for United Methodists. The conference is hosted byAldersgate Renewal Ministries and will be held in Lexington, Kentucky, July 9-12, with the theme of Freedom. CEUs for clergy (20.5 contact hours if the entire event is attended) and lay servant credit approved by the General Board of Discipleship (GBOD) will be offered. With programming for all ages, Aldersgate Renewal Ministries' mission is to equip the local church to minister to the world in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Register today for Aldersgate 2015.
Fall Day Apart
Registration opens at 8:30 am, Saturday, Oct. 3 and the event lasts 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Lunch is included in the registration fee of $30. Bring a group from your church and experience this life-changing event together.
Keynote speaker is the Rev. Candace Lewis who currently serves as a new church strategist with Path 1 New Church Starts at Discipleship Ministries (formerly the General Board of Discipleship). Worship leader will be Cinde Lucas, founder of Overflow Ministries.
Visit AldersgateRenewal.org for more information and to register today.
Elkhorn Valley District hosts youth lock-in
The night started out with a group icebreaker, announcements and prayer. Afterwards, everyone got to choose the activity they wished to be involved in which included swimming, basketball, racquetball, dodgeball and GaGa ball. Board games, card games and other table activities were also available in the upper lobby area. A trio of real, live bunnies (from Camp Fontanelle) were also available for observing and petting.
Starting at 11:30 a.m., a variety of snacks, including fruit, vegetables, cheese, sandwiches and beverages, were served throughout the night.
Tim Udell, Simple Sound and Lighting, from Plainview, did a great job providing DJ music for the lock-in and getting people involved in some group dances. At 1 a.m., the members of the youth ministry action team led everyone in worship with prayer, scripture, music and a skit called Boxes of Emotion. After worship, guest speakers, Trent Meyer and Derek Bergman, site directors at Camp Fontanelle, spoke to the youth and encouraged the youth to build a strong relationship with Christ and the influence that attending church camp can have on their faith walk.
At 2 a.m., three-on-three basketball, dodgeball and racquetball tournaments were held with many youth participating. Several youth and adults gathered for the Fleece for Peace tie-blanket mission project and seven tie-blankets were completed. Each youth group that brought fleece was able to take their blanket back home with them to give to someone serving in the military or a person in their church or community who may be going through an illness or difficult time and who would be encouraged by the gift of the blanket.
At 6:30 a.m., everyone gathered back together for the announcement of door prize winners and a short closing. Afterwards, everyone began to pack up and say their goodbyes. Although many were tired as they walked out the door, new relationships and great memories were made after a full night of fellowship, food and fun.
Nebraska United Methodist Foundation accepting scholarship applications
Students may apply online at www.numf.org/scholarships. These financial aid awards are meant for individuals who are members of a Nebraska United Methodist Church and pursuing an advanced ministerial degree for service in the Great Plains Conference.
Applications are available online for the following scholarships:
The Albert R. Murdoch Ministerial Scholarship
The Alice Kruse Ministerial Scholarship
The Alice Kruse Seminary Scholarship
The Alva Clark Seminary Scholarship
The Baldwin F. & Amy L. Kruse Scholarship
The Charles and Marilyn Humphrey Seminary Scholarship
The Cowles United Methodist Church Memorial Scholarship
The Murdock Ebenezer UMC Professional Church Leader Scholarship
The Myrtle E. Williams Seminary Scholarship
The Verl & Sylvia Miller Memorial Scholarship
The Scahill Family Scholarship
The application deadline for these scholarships is June 30.
Those students applying for the scholarships listed above also will be considered for the following scholarships: The Cal Leeds Scholarship; The Rev. Albert W. Winseman Scholarship Endowment; The Atherton Memorial Scholarship Fund; The Ben and Martha Simmons Scholarship Fund; and The Andrew and Nevabelle Howe Scholarship.
The Nebraska United Methodist Foundation would like to acknowledge the generous gifts donors have made to make these scholarships possible. Thank you for being a partner in ministry. For more information, please visit www.numf.org/scholarships.
If you would like to talk to someone about how you can honor the memory of a loved one or help a seminary student, please call the foundation at 877-495-5545.
Register now for clergy retreat series
Anxiety is not a nice feeling
The Center for Pastoral Effectiveness of the Rockies will begin its 60-plus retreat series in the Great Plains area beginning July 13-15 at the Manna House in Concordia, Kansas.
Declared by most of the more than 500 clergy from six denominations in seven states who have attended as "the most valuable continuing education experience” they have ever had, the Center was created to Maintain Ministers in Ministry. Interested? Read on.
"Anxiety is not a nice feeling. It is basically a fear of the unknown which is worse than an ordinary fear of some specific thing. Anxiety leaves you feeling vulnerable and powerless. Most people will do anything in order to avoid it. So we all learn to behave in a certain way to avoid feeling anxious, even if that creates other uncomfortable feelings. We will feel depressed or paranoid, for example, than to feel anxious." – Ronald Richardson
Some clergy become very passive and powerless, others become aggressive and exert power and most of the time in unhealthy ways. Clergy find themselves in anxious systems all of the time. Our people want us to take away their anxieties. And unfortunately, the person who makes you feel anxious is in control. This is what we address at The Center for Pastoral Effectiveness of the Rockies.
Edwin Friedman said “The antagonism of the most anxious is proportionate to the niceness of the leader.” And there you are as clergy, paid to be “nice,” safe for your people to strike out at you. Yet the more you, as a leader, “adapt your function to the weakest members, the more you enable their dependency, encourage their happy ignorance and reinforce their helplessness” said Peter Stienke. When your congregation’s threshold for pain is low is the opportunity for changing lessens. But when the pain is high, so is the stress on you as pastor. How do you address this conundrum? That is what we address at the Center for Pastoral Effectiveness.
The Center was created to maintain ministers in ministry utilizing family systems in the church. The Center is a "pastoral" model. Everything done together enables clergy to be healthier leaders of their personal and professional life.
Six three-day retreats over about 18 months costs $1,980 with payments spread over that time period.
You can register now. Just email the Rev. Bill Selby atintegrity4u@comcast.net. For more information go topastoraleffectiveness.org.
EQ-HR workshop to be Aug 10-14
Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and Human Relations (HR) workshops will be held Aug. 10-14, at the Highlands Presbyterian Camp and Retreat Center in Allenspark, Colorado.
This core EQ-HR Center workshop is an intensive session designed to enable participants to learn about, build and practice emotional intelligence skills in a small group setting. Skilled facilitators provide tools and feedback to enable participants to learn about themselves and to immediately practice emerging skills.
Early registration cost is $595 - the price will increase to $645 after July 13. ESCI 360 Survey is $199. Lodging and meals are available on site. Single is $548, two occupants per room is $682, three occupants per room is $888 and four occupants per room is $1,112. Register now.
View flier for more information.
Two partial scholarships are available to attend this EQ-HR workshop. Interested persons should contact the Rev. Nancy Lambert, director of Clergy Excellence, at nlambert@greatplainsumc.org or 402-464-5995, ext 126.
Great Plains area hit hard by recent storms
The focus of the Great Plains Conference disaster response was on the local UMC which suffered damage due to about a foot of water in the sanctuary, hallways and all other rooms. Volunteers from the congregation set up fans and peeled back the wallpaper to mitigate the damage. Now dehumidifiers are running and sheet rock is cut out. The carpet is just six months old so they are trying to save it.
The UM parsonage in DeWitt had flooding in the basement but damage was limited. ERT groups came in from St. Mark's UMC in Lincoln, Ashland, Blair, Prairie View, Beatrice, Waverly and other churches in the Blue River District. The Rev. Lynn Seiser helped coordinate the efforts. A full day of hard work on Tuesday made a huge difference. Now the church and parsonage are drying out.
At this time no additional teams or supplies are needed around DeWitt. The Rev. Tapley said, "It is great to see the community of DeWitt taking ownership of the disaster and to see neighbor helping neighbor."
Other disaster response efforts in the Great Plains Conference included a group of 30 from Belleville UMC who helped a couple outside of Munden, Kansas, on Saturday whose home was destroyed by a tornado Wednesday night. In Mount Hope a tornado destroyed a family's home that same night. The damage was assessed by the Rev. Tapley the next day, but no help has been requested from the conference as of yet. Word was just received that assistance may be needed in Fairbury, Nebraska, which was affected by flooding. Considering the vast area hit by high winds, tornadoes, hail, heavy rain and even snow over the past week, the damage across the conference could have been far worse
What to do when a disaster strikes
After a disaster strikes, communication at all levels is extremely important. Whoever learns of the disaster first is encouraged to initiate the call and all persons called need to make sure others on the list are notified. Read about how the Great Plains Conference responds to disasters, including what kind of help we offer, who responds, how long we are involved in recovery, and more.
Peace with Justice Sunday is May 31
Children are invited to make peace a priority this month, both at home and abroad. The Rev. Dr. Susan Henry-Crowe, chief executive of the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society (GBCS), invites children to take the lead in pursuing the peace that will ensure they have any chance for an abundant future.
Henry-Crowe has proposed a multi-faceted initiative, led by children, to engage all generations in the United Methodist Peace with Justice Sunday, which is May 31 this year, but can be observed at any time amenable to a congregation’s programming schedule.
The initiative, Hate Hurts, Peace Heals, will include, a reading list on peace for children and Sunday school classes, an opportunity to submit original prayers for peace, and gathering offerings for peace. The offerings should be presented during the local church’s Peace with Justice observance.
“Every child deserves to live in communities of peace,” Henry-Crowe said. “This month, we invite families, friends and congregations to read, pray and give towards peace for our communities and around the world.”
Download the bulletin insert.
The General Board of Pension and Health Benefits (GBPHB) and its Wespath Investment Management division was ranked 10th of 500 international investors in the latest index from the Asset Owners Disclosure Project (AODP). The AODP is the world’s only independent examination of pension and superannuation funds’ management of climate risks and opportunities.
It provides research and tools for asset owners and managers, supporting them in the transition to an investment world in which the impacts of climate change will become ever more integrated into their core decision-making processes. According to the AODP, “Nearly 85 percent of the world’s largest investors have failed to implement climate-risk management systems. Institutional investors have much to do to mitigate and hedge climate change risk in their portfolios.”
From a study of more than 1,000 of the world’s largest asset owners, representing more than $40 trillion, AODP found 85 percent were lagging in executing and implementing what they deemed to be effective climate-risk management systems.
The advocacy group studied asset owners’ climate change performance from factors such as transparency, risk management, levels of low-carbon investments and active ownership.
Only three U.S. pension funds were in the Top 10: CalPERS (California Public Employees Retirement System) ranked third; the New York State Common Retirement Fund ranked sixth; and GBPHB ranked tenth of the 500 completing the AODP survey of 1,000 asset owners. GBPHB moved up in the rankings from 35th overall in 2013 to tenth in 2014.
GBPHB Managing Director, Sustainable Investment Strategies, Kirsty Jenkinson was pleased with the survey results.
“We are in the ‘Top 10’ of a very important list that people around the world are paying attention to,” Jenkinson said. “It’s exciting to see that we are placed among peers considered to be the global leaders in sustainable investment, with an emphasis on the risks climate change poses for us all.”
In 2015, GBPHB instituted a specific climate change (thermal coal) investment policy guideline.
The General Board of Pension and Health Benefits (GBPHB) is a not-for-profit administrative agency of The United Methodist Church, with church-authorized fiduciary responsibility for the benefit plans it administers and the assets it invests.
Epworth Village thanks Denton Ladies Aid and Hallam UMW
Epworth Village is a National Mission Institution of the United Methodist Church. Epworth Village, Inc., is non-profit agency based in York, Nebraska. From its beginning as an orphanage in the 1880's, the mission of Epworth Village has been to bring hope and healing to children and families in the name of Christ.
Newsletters
Christian Copyright Solutions: May 2015
Connectional Giving: Tools and Tips for Generous Living
Discipleship Ministries: Five ways you can better equip Vital Congregations
General Board of Church and Society: Faith in Action
Envision no gun violence – article about the Rev. James Atwood’s time in Omaha
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Leading Ideas
Ministry Matters: May 12, 2105
South Central Jurisdiction VIM and Disaster Response: Woven Together
United Methodist Church Development Center: Spiritual Giving
United Methodist Committee on Relief: Hotline
Classifieds
Children's Discipleship team leader needed in Wichita
Columbus First UMC seeks Christian education director
Lenexa UMC looking for director of children's ministries
Minister of children's ministry and preschool director sought at Emmanuel UMC
Saint Paul School of Theology looking for development officer
St. Paul's UMC hiring two directors for choirs
View these and other classifieds at greatplainsumc.org/classifieds.
Press Clips
Congregations across the Great Plains Conference are making the news in their local newspapers. View our newspaper clipping reports to see if there are stories, ideas and ministry happenings you can learn from to use in your own congregation. Press clips can be found at greatplainsumc.org/inthenews. You can see education partnership ideas at greatplainsumc.org/education.
Editorial Policy: The content, news, events and announcement information distributed in GPconnect is not sponsored or endorsed by the Great Plains Methodist Conference unless specifically stated.
To submit a letter to the editor, send it to info@greatplainsumc.org.
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Topeka Office: 4201 SW 15th Street PO Box 4187 Topeka, KS 66604 785-272-9111
Wichita Office: 9440 E Boston Suite 110 Wichita, KS 67207 316-684-0266
Lincoln Office: 3333 Landmark Circle Lincoln, NE 68504-4760 402-464-5994
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In Memoriam
He built his own church in Fowler, KS but later moved to Wichita, KS where he was appointed pastor at Waco United Methodist Church. He then moved to Kansas City and was the pastor at the Metropolitan Avenue UMC. Later he relocated to southeast Kansas where he was the pastor for the Thayer and Galesburg United Methodist Churches. He also served Angola and Valenda UMCs. The last church he pastored was Trinity United Methodist Church of Coffeyville, KS. He also enjoyed teaching Sociology at Neosho County Community College.
He is survived by daughter Kaye Brownlee-France and her husband, Justin, of Owasso, OK and sister Debra Hallahan of Julian, CA. He is preceded in death by his parents. No services are planned at this time.
Memorials can be made to the Parsons Pet Hospital, and may be sent to Potts Chapel, 502 S. Liberty St., Cherryvale KS. 67335.
Episcopal Office: 9440 E Boston Suite 160 Wichita, KS 67207 | 316-686-0600
Topeka Office: 4201 SW 15th Street PO Box 4187 Topeka, KS 66604 | 785-272-9111
Wichita Office: 9440 E Boston Suite 110 Wichita, KS 67207 316-684-0266
Lincoln Office: 3333 Landmark Circle Lincoln, NE 68504-4760 402-464-5994
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