Thursday, August 28, 2014

Wichita, Kansas, United States - "GP Connect-News and Announcement" Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church for Thursday, 28 August 2014

want moreImageWichita, Kansas, United States - "GP Connect-News and Announcement" Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church for Thursday, 28 August 2014
In this edition of GPconnect:

Conference offices closed Monday, Sept. 1, for Labor Day

The Great Plains Methodist Conference offices in Lincoln, Topeka and Wichita will be closed Monday, Sept. 1, in observance of Labor Day. We wish everyone a happy and blessed day.
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Conference announces new media/video producer

Nick Kumpula started Aug. 18, as the new media/video producer for the Great Plains Conference. Kumpula previously worked at NET (Nebraska Educational Television), a partner of the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, where he shot and edited promotional material as the multimedia project associate. He received his bachelor of arts degree in broadcasting from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln.

"We look forward to putting Nick's extensive video production skills to work for the Great Plains Conference,” said Kathryn Witte, director of communications. “He's hit the ground running and is a great addition to the communications team."
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Unity of the Church webcast Sept. 13

United Methodist News Service features Jones' presentation

Bishop Scott Jones recently presented a review of the financial impact of the various proposals in the works to address human sexuality in The United Methodist Church.
The complete presentation is available as is the United Methodist News Service story.
Photo by Kathleen Barry, United Methodist Communications
Bishop Scott Jones leads a discussion on the implications of the church’s sexuality debate at the board meeting of the General Council on Finance and Administration held in Nashville, Tenn.

Bishop: Beware of costs of sexuality debate by Heather Hahn, NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)

The United Methodist Church’s intensifying debate around human sexuality has substantial financial implications in the global church, a bishop warned the denomination’s finance agency. Those costs could include a drop in church giving and the division of property.
“The question is: Is there a middle ground that will allow most of the traditionalists to stay and yet satisfy most of the progressives?” said Great Plains Area Bishop Scott Jones. 
BISHOPS AND ACCOUNTABILITY
“I am not accountable to the Council of Bishops in any way whatsoever,” Jones told those gathered. “Let that sink in. I am accountable to my jurisdictional conference because that’s who elected me and that’s who can do something to me.
Jones noted that many United Methodists look to the Council of Bishops to discipline its own members. But as a matter of church law, he said, the council does not “have the right to impose significant penalties on its own members.”
In the case of Bishop Melvin G. Talbert, for example, the Council of Bishops at its November meeting recommended a complaint be filed against the retired bishop. But in a statement, the council indicated it could take no further action.
“I think one of the key problems in this whole debate is: Where is genuine leadership that can or will act?” Jones said.
Since spring, Jones has collected some of the proposals on the matter that could be heading to the 2016 General Conference.
On Aug. 21, he shared an overview of these proposals and their potential impact on church unity with a group that included the board and top staff of the General Council on Finance and Administration as well as top executives from other general agencies. He also shared his paper on the topic, “Finding a Way Through: Options for the UMC and Homosexuality.” 
Jones plans to share a similar presentation again in awebcast at 10 a.m. CT Sept. 13.
The Book of Discipline, the church’s book of polity and doctrine, since 1972 has stated that all people are of sacred worth but the practice of homosexuality is“incompatible with Christian teaching.”
General Conference, the church’s top lawmaking body that meets every four years, has consistently voted to keep the language and over the years has expanded on restrictions against “self-avowed practicing” gay clergy and same-gender unions.
For just as long, United Methodists have debated this stance and how best to minister with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals. Most United Methodists have chosen to stay in the conversation rather than split the denomination.
But Jones, who is also a church historian, told those gathered that he thinks two developments are unsettling the equilibrium in the denomination’s debate.
  • He said it is only a matter of time before same-sex civil marriage becomes legal in all 50 U.S. states.
  • Another factor, he said, is the “disobedience of bishops.” Specifically, retired Bishop Melvin G. Talbert is now facing a complaint after officiating last year at the same-sex union of two men. While not going as far as Talbert, other bishops publicly have expressed their disagreement with the church’s stance and some have called for an end to church trials related to this issue.
Because of the bishops’ involvement, Jones said, “No longer can we live and ignore this issue or keep it at the periphery of our church life in the way that we have before.”

Possible General Conference petitions

For now, a number of United Methodists are preparing legislation to be considered by the next General Conference aiming to settle the dispute in some way.
Among the options on the table are plans to:
These proposals all come from United Methodists in the United States, Jones said. About 30 percent of delegates to the 2016 General Conference will come from Africa, 5.8 percent from Europe and 4.6 percent from the Philippines.

Possible fallout

Jones also noted that so far, the proposal for amicable separation has not gone into details about what an amicable division of general church assets might look like. The Methodist Church’s split over slavery in 1844 was not amicable from a legal standpoint, ending up with a case before the U.S. Supreme Court.
FORUM ON SEXUALITY AND CHURCH
The topic can be challenging for people of faith. Read a variety of first-person reflections, meant to help us understand one another better.
The Rev. Steve Wood, a GCFA board member and pastor of Mount Pisgah United Methodist Church in Johns Creek, Ga., agreed with Jones that the finance agency should think of the financial and legal ramifications of each of the proposals.
“Just because you get to a vote …doesn’t mean you are at the end,” Wood said. “There are lawsuits, there’s collateral work, there’s all kinds of implementation issues that have very real costs.”
Jones urged those gathered to talk to counterparts in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Episcopal Church and Presbyterian Church (USA). Those denominations all have faced the departure of congregations and in some cases, whole regional bodies, after changing denominational policies on ordination and same-gender marriage.
Thinking about possible exit strategies that General Conference might approve is key, Jones said. He used the example of a departing Episcopal congregation in his area that offered to give up its building to the diocese and thus saddle the diocese with the property’s $2 million debt. Ultimately, the diocese and congregation came to an agreement, but Jones said he could imagine a similar scenario involving a United Methodist conference.
“As these proposals come through, GCFA has data and ...a legal department,” Jones said. “There are things you can do to serve to raise the conversation, not to choose among the proposals (that’s where neutrality comes in), but to serve so conversations don’t take place in a vacuum.”
Delmar Robinson, a GCFA board member from Mississippi, said he found Jones’ overview “enlightening.”
“I was not aware that the issue existed to the extent that it did,” he said. “What he laid out, I think we should continue to discern. I don’t think we should do anything rash.”
Hahn is a multimedia news reporter for United Methodist News Service. Contact her at (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
The Unity of the Church webcast scheduled for 10 a.m., Sept. 13, will address how we as United Methodists can learn to be in Holy Conversation about this topic as well as other divisive issues facing the church and the 2016 General Conference.
To watch the webcast go to www.greatplainsumc.org/livestream. If you plan to have a viewing group, be sure your location has enough bandwidth to support video. There will be a test webcast on Friday, Sept. 13, at 3:30 p.m. CDT, to test your connection.

Education Partnership promotional video targeting Nebraska rallies

A short video featuring Bishop Scott Jones promoting the Education Caravan events in Nebraska is now available. The video is suitable for viewing before worship or during the announcement time in the local church.
Other Education Partnership resources are available at www.greatplainsumc.org/education.

Southwestern College to launch BeADisciple Academy

Southwestern College in Winfield, Kan., will soon launch the online BeADisciple Academy, thanks to a grant received from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) of the United Methodist Church.
“We are so appreciative of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church for both their support of the concept and financial backing of $40,000 to underwrite development costs” states Steve Wilke, executive director of the Institute for Discipleship at Southwestern College.
The BeADisciple Academy is designed to be a global online faith-building fellowship for high school or college students who want to go deeper in their faith lives and leadership skills. The academy uses a wide range of contemporary online resources to provide interactive opportunities for students, including social media, webinars, videos and other web-based initiatives. Both the high school and collegiate sessions run for two 12-week intervals in the fall and spring, concurrent with the school year.
Southwestern College, a United Methodist college, is building on its strength as an online provider in higher education and its long history of developing young Christian leaders from around the world to develop, launch and support this new global, interactive, online high school and college disciple Bible study and leadership program.
A beta test year will begin on Sept. 8 for the 24-week academy. A better understanding of God, self and call is the goal of the Academy. Students will be in small groups and a part of a network of participants as well. The class will take about 15 minutes a day over 12 weeks this fall and another 12 weeks in the spring. The enrollment deadline is the end of October. For $48 your church can sponsor a youth in your congregation with a wonderful disciple Bible study experience and a global online fellowship.
For more information, contact Wilke 620-229-6277 or by email at steve.wilke@sckans.edu. If you would like to learn more about the BeADisciple Academy, go to www.BeADisciple.com/academy.
Southwestern College is a private institution granting undergraduate and graduate degrees and is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. About 1,700 students attend classes at the main Winfield campus, at six professional studies sites in Kansas and Oklahoma, or online around the world.
Registration for the BeADisciple Academy beta year is class is almost closed. If you would like to invite a student or two from your church, send them to http://www.beadisciple.com/academy.

UNL group attends seminar in District of Columbia

University of Nebraska Lincoln (UNL) students from the United Methodist campus ministry, Motive, traveled to the Washington D.C., Aug. 5-10, to participate in a seminar with the General Board of Church and Society on the subject of human trafficking. The Motive students heard speakers on the various topics surrounding human trafficking, engaged in challenging dialogue, discussed how faith calls all to practice mercy while seeking justice and expressed themselves artistically on the difficult topic. The group also immersed themselves in the city, taking in the sights, bonding over exotic foods and continuing the discussion into the evening at their local hostel accommodations. Led by Campus Minister Joel Egger, this inaugural trip was one the UNL campus ministry hopes to use as a spring board for more social justice action locally throughout the year, in addition to their worship experience, #saintpaul645, and a school-year long Bible study.
“The most impactful part of the trip was hearing a trafficking victim's story. Hearing her story in person made the problem of human trafficking more real in my mind. It's not just a problem that happens to people we don't know in places we've never been. I had my eyes opened because I learned that human trafficking happens all around me, even when I am unaware of it. Having low self-esteem and a poor support system makes girls easier targets for traffickers. I think something I can do as I move forward in my walk with God is to reach out to someone in my life who is struggling and be there for her in her journey to gain more confidence and self-worth.”(Jami – UNL Student, Motive member)

Newsletter links

Chapel Hill UMC, in Wichita, to host lunch and learn for Victory in the Valley

Rick Eberhard, director of senior ministries for the Chapel Hill UMC, in Wichita, Kansas, has announced they will be hosting a special “lunch and learn” event on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014 at the church for seniors in the area and their caregivers.
The featured speaker will be Diana Thomi, RN, BS and the executive director for the Victory in the Valley (VIV) organization of Wichita. VIV is a non-profit organization offering support, encouragement, and hope for the Journey through Cancer. She will be talking about forming a new Cancer Support Group at Chapel Hill.
The special lunch and learn event will be held in the Fellowship Hall at Chapel Hill UMC located at 1550 N. Chapel Hill Drive, at 11:30 a.m. Please enter the west church entrance.
The public especially area cancer patients and caregivers are cordially invited to attend. If you care to eat lunch, it will cost $5 for a light lunch which will consist of a sandwich, side salad and drink. You will need to make a RSVP if you plan to eat in advance by Monday, Sept. 8, by contacting Eberhard at his office at 744-1337 or seniorministries@chapelhillwichita.org. Visitors are welcome and you are not required to eat lunch.
For more information on the Chapel Hill Senior Ministry or to receive their weekly senior e-newspaper and other events contact Eberhard at 744-1337 or seniorministries@chapelhillwichita.org.

Lakeview UMC in Lincoln to host Hispanic Heritage Festival

All are invited to attend Lakeview UMC’s, Hispanic Heritage Festival on Sept. 14, 2014, from noon until 5 p.m. The festival at the Lincoln, Nebraska, church will offer traditional dancers, music, carne asada, and more. Tickets are $9. To make a reservation, call 402-310-1210 or email neskypilot@gmail.com.

Cancer 101 class offered at Heritage UMC in Overland Park

Heritage UMC, in Overland Park, Kansas, presents Cancer 101: Defusing the Fear, on Sept. 8, 2014 at 7 p.m. Heritage UMC will host the free event in the main sanctuary of the church. This presentation will help shed understanding on the cancer process from the biological, psychological and the spiritual points of view. If your life has been touched by cancer in any way, this presentation is absolutely essential. Advance reservations not required, childcare will be available with advance reservation. For more information, contact Kenda Worsfold at 913-897-6446 or kendaw@heritageumc.org.

Nigeria Partnership in need of scholarship funds to cover school fees

As the original group of students age out of the primary school at the Jalingo, Nigeria, partnership orphanage, tuition costs are incurred to send students on to Junior Seminary School (JSS) or to the government school for students whose test scores do not qualify for JSS. Junior Seminary School is a boarding school associated with the United Methodist Church in Nigeria while the government school is a day-school only. There are 33 students total in three categories (with costs associated):
Nine new students to JSS N588,370 or $3629.66 or $403.30 per student
Eleven for JSS2 in JSS N220,000 or $1357.18 or $123.38 per student
Thirteen to government school  N39,000 or $240.59 or $18.50 per student
Total cost of 33 students for the three categories is  N847,370 or  $5,227.43  U.S. dollars an average per student of $158.40
Five students who recently graduated are looking for admission into advance level. Of these five, two have succeeded in a government skills program and will start training on Sept. 12.
Orphanage/Partnership Coordinator Simon Benjamin reports that seven men have been appointed to local fundraising. They are developing a five-year plan for fund development. Benjamin continues to work with the media houses (TV and radio) in Taraba State and also appreciates contributions from the Iowa Conference believing that God will open doors for this purpose.
Donations can be made online at https://gp-reg.brtapp.com/NigeriaPartnershipGiveNow or given in your local church offering plate with Nigeria Partnership Scholarships or Advance 301 on the memo line.

Marching for climate change action

“United Methodists are among those planning to march in midtown Manhattan, New York, on Sunday, Sept. 21, to call for renewed action on climate change and other societal priorities that make for healthy communities,” writes Linda Bloom, reporter with United Methodist News Service.
Mike McClellan, Tim Fickenscher and Carol Windrum, all from First UMC in Omaha are planning to participate in this march. They are inviting others from the Great Plains Conference to join them. Plans are for United Methodists to walk together as a block. Feel free to contact Carol Windrum at cwindrum@greatplainsumc.org if you want to connect.

Photo courtesy of the United Nations.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (center right) addresses a meeting of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change, held on the margins of the African Union Summit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, in June.

Marching for climate change action by Linda Bloom, NEW YORK (UMNS)

United Methodists are among those planning to march in midtown Manhattan on Sunday, Sept. 21, to call for renewed action on climate change and other societal priorities that make for healthy communities.

Participants in the People’s Climate March, loosely coordinated through 350.org, hope to send a message to world leaders gathering for a U.N. summit two days later.

United Methodist staff members who are informally organizing denominational participation in the march are the Rev. Pat Watkins, Board of Global Ministries; the Rev. Kathleen Stone, United Methodist Women, and John Hill, Board of Church and Society. “We’re trying to march as a block,” Stone explained.

United Methodist partnering organizations for the march include Caretakers of God’s Creation, a grassroots group, and Park Slope United Methodist Church in Brooklyn.

A Facebook Page, United Methodists at the Peoples Climate March in NYC, has been set up to provide information and a way to communicate. Those interesting in gathering also can email Watkins at pwatkins@umcmission.org.

The march begins at Columbus Circle and is expected to proceed east along the south end of Central Park before turning south on Sixth Avenue to 42nd Street, where it will continue west, ending on 11th Avenue.

The exact time of the march is still under negotiation, Stone said, but the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew, 86th Street and West End Avenue, will be used as a pre-parade gathering spot for United Methodists.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is convening the Sept. 23 Climate Summit to spur political action on global warming and encourage leaders from government and the private sector to announce new initiatives.

“Solutions exist and we are already seeing significant changes in government policies and investments in sustainable ways of living and doing business,” Ban said in an Aug. 11 press release.  “The race is on, and now is the time for leaders to step up and steer the world towards a safer future.”

In 2010, governments agreed that global temperature increases should be kept below 2 degrees Celsius. The Climate Summit will focus on actions and solutions to reduce carbon emissions but is not part of the actual negotiating process for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Stone believes Ban feels strongly about obtaining a climate agreement and views the summit as a way for heads of state to look beyond other global disputes to get climate change on their agendas.

“This is a pregnant moment,” Stone said. “We need on-the-ground pressure.”

March organizers have been working hard to get people of color and immigrant, indigenous and neighborhood groups involved, Stone said. She considers such participation exciting and important, given the fact that climate change “is more of a reality for people of color and many immigrant groups.”

The World Council of Churches and Religions for Peace also has invited 30 religious leaders to an Interfaith Summit on Climate Change Sept. 21-22 in New York. Summit participants will adopt a statement on climate change and present it to the U.N. Secretary General in a public event at 1 p.m. Sept. 22 at the Church Center for the United Nations. Afterward, the statement will be distributed to other religious leaders and groups for signature.

*Bloom is a United Methodist News Service multimedia reporter based in New York. Follow her at http://twitter.com/umcscribe or contact her at (646) 369-3759 or newsdesk@umcom.org.

My heart is joyful as they march by my side

Editor’s note: The following was written by Anita Soto, a wife, moother of two, nurse, gardener and choir member at First UMC in Omaha, Nebraska. This writing was inspired after she and her family participated in a march in Washington, D.C., April 26, 2014
“Why are you fighting the pipeline?” Even my five-year-old could tell that this man, though not outwardly disgusted or aggressive, was not friendly. “Mama, maybe he builds pipelines,” Clara whispered when we were out of ear shot. I was caught off guard by the question because at that moment I wasn’t fighting the pipeline, I was just a mom, staring with her daughter at a life-sized whale hanging from the ceiling of the National Museum of Natural History. I suppose if I didn’t want to field such questions, I should have changed my Pipeline Fighters T-shirt.
The interruption made me feel awkward. I didn’t know how to answer, which annoyed me. Of course I know why I fight TransCanada’s Keystone XL pipeline. Hadn’t I just spent five hours that day at a protest listening to speakers tell all the reasons? Hadn’t I rearranged my work schedule, left my sprouting garden and six-week-old chicks in the care of a neighbor and spent 22 hours straight in a car with a five- and eight-year-old? All this to lend my voice and presence to the fight. I wouldn’t do that on a whim, but I didn’t know how to respond to this man. I wanted to tell him everything I know about tar sand oil: the destruction at its origin, the pollution along its path and the climate disaster at its destination. Thinking of the speakers at the rally, I wanted to be as factual as Jane Kleeb, as compelling as Meghan Hammond, as inspiring as Frank Waln and as moving as the Native American tribal leaders. If I could open his mind and spill in the truth, maybe it would wash away the lies that the fossil fuel industry has spent millions planting there. How could I convince him in 60 seconds or less (the average amount of time Clara spent at any exhibit without a touch screen) that temporary jobs are not worth permanent risk and that strong economies can be built on renewable energy just as well as the dirty kind? I didn’t know how to quickly package that all up for him with a bow and a gift receipt, so I rattled off something about polluting aquifers, then grabbed Clara’s hand and tried not to look too hurried as I moved away. He made no response and didn’t look a bit convinced.
I felt frustrated with myself for not being ready with a firm but concise answer to such a basic question, so I spent the rest of my time at the museum and even some time after that dwelling on it. It occurred to me that climate change and pollution are not the reasons I fight the pipeline. Those are the reasons I don’t want the pipeline to be built, but not wanting something is a far cry from actively fighting for something. I should know. For at least a year before I could call myself a pipeline fighter, I was a pipeline hater. I was a hater of not only pipelines, but of all things environmentally destructive. As a hater I felt frustrated and cynical, but as a fighter I feel inspired and hopeful. As a hater I felt pessimistic about my children’s future on this planet, even, on my worst days, considered someday advising them not to bother having kids of their own because God knows what kind of miserable state the world might be in at that point. As a fighter my heart is joyful as they march by my side, proudly carrying signs that declare their love for the Earth and shouting along with the crowd, “No KXL,” and “This is what democracy looks like.” They don’t even know what the word democracy means yet, but someday they will. Hopefully they will associate the word with this early memory and, for them, this will be what democracy looks like. Even if the pipeline is approved, showing my kids how to be fighters instead of haters will have made this trip worthwhile.
I know I can’t hope to inform someone in 60 seconds on all things pipeline and tar sands related, but if anyone ever asks me again why I fight, I will just say I do it because I like to be hopeful. Then, perhaps with a light touch of the stranger’s arm, I will smile sincerely and say, “Thank you so much for asking.” Maybe a weird response like that would intrigue someone enough that they would go and inform themselves.    
For more information about opposition to the Keystone XL Pipeline, go to www.BOLDNebraska.org.
Photo: Anita Soto, her children and Carol Windrum from First UMC in Omaha, Nebraska, at the march in Washington D.C. in April 2014.

Hearts and homes with Epworth Village

The Casey and Erin Pinneo family (pictured from left) Erin, Gavin, Colin, Casey and Addison posed for a family portrait shortly after the adoption of the youngest member of their family, Gavin. Together the family embarked on a journey from foster care to adoption.
In order to become foster parents Erin and Casey Pinneo looked to Epworth Village Foster Care for training and support.
“Whitney Hall, our foster care specialist, was amazing. I can’t imagine going through this without foster care specialists,” Erin states.
“So many people think they can’t do it [become a foster family],” Erin says, “but they can, we have had lots of our friends ask about it and some are interested,” interested in opening their hearts and homes to children in need of placement.
For information on Epworth Village Foster Care and the upcoming training contact Michelle Dramse at 402-362-3353, ext. 7008 or mdramse@epworthvillage.org.

A three-year-old boy — a report from the border

The following was written by Rob Rutland-Brown, executive director of National Justice For Our Neighbors (JFON).
The first thing I witnessed upon entering the U.S. Border Patrol’s Temporary Housing Facility for unaccompanied minors in McAllen, Texas, was a three-year old boy, about the age of my own son, holding the hand of a border patrol agent as they walked through the chain-linked corridor of the warehouse-like building.
I would later learn that this boy was not alone — he was here with his four-year old brother, and that was all. Whoever they crossed the border with the day before were not their parents or legal guardians, so the two toddlers would be entering the next phases of their journey in the U.S. together, but alone.
I toured the facility for two hours along with 20 other representatives of the United Methodist Church, including five bishops and others who serve immigrants daily. The center was constructed quickly in June to accommodate the thousands of minors crossing into the U.S. through the Rio Grande Valley. The building had previously been a seatbelt factory, which I found ironic since, like seatbelts, the current purpose was to restrain the kids while keeping them safe. The facility had a prison feel, with lights on 24 hours a day and fenced pens for the children.
The 40 children there that day were watching movies, throwing balls and playing board games with volunteers from Americorps who stayed with them 12 hours a day. The border agents, who were numerous and fully-uniformed (they had a gun holster but no gun), were kind and open, but they clearly had not signed on to this career so that they could take care of children.
I tried to imagine what this little boy’s journey had been like. It was 100 degrees outside, with 30 mile per hour wind gusts. I was sweaty after five minutes without air conditioning and quickly chugged two bottles of water. The exodus of these children from Honduras (highest murder rate in the world), Guatemala (fourth highest murder rate in world), and El Salvador (fifth highest murder rate in world), often lasted several weeks. I would not find out whether this three-year old was seeking to unite with a parent already here, or was fleeing violence back home, or both. I did learn a bit about what lay ahead for him on the journey.
The children stay in this center for one or two days until they get placed with a shelter run by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), like those in San Antonio, where our JFON attorneys around the country have conducted intake and screenings of children over the past month. The children remain in these ORR shelters for weeks until they are typically placed with family in the U.S. or with foster care, where they await their hearing before an immigration judge, often scheduled 18 months out.
After they leave these ORR shelters, the assistance the children receive, at least from a legal perspective, wanes dramatically. A study by Syracuse University found that although they are entitled to legal representation, most of the kids are unable to access any. The study also found that over the past ten years, children who have legal representation are nearly five times more likely to be granted permission to remain in the safety of the U.S. That’s why the legal services of JFON can be so critical to children once they are living in our communities here.
The National JFON office and I will continue to work in the weeks and months ahead to identify ways that our network can take on more of these difficult, time-consuming, and life-changing cases for the children. We will partner with the United Methodist Church and other agencies, seek out funding opportunities, and examine new and creative ways to do our work.
But first, I’m coming home to hug my kids. Very tightly.
For information about how to support JFON-NE go to www.jfon-ne.org or to support NJFON go to www.njfon.org.
Read more about faith leaders’ visit to the border.
Photo: Rob Rutland-Brown at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in McAllen, Texas. This parish hosts an interfaith response effort for families arriving across the border. They provide food, clothing, medical screening and cots before families depart by bus to live with extended family in the U.S. as they await their hearing with an immigration court. A legal “Know Your Rights” training takes place in the tent pictured.

Epworth Village offers mission opportunity

The Epworth Village Board of Directors has scheduled clean-up days at the building located at 3602 N Division Ave., in York, Nebraska, on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 13-14. The clean-up will start on Saturday at 8 a.m. All churches in the area are invited to help with the clean-up in preparation of selling the building. This would also be a great opportunity for youth groups. Please let your local churches and youth group know, and come prepared to do some lifting. Pick-ups and trailers are also needed to make trips to the land fill. There will be a waiver of liability for all volunteers to sign. Lunch will be provided, so please contact Marcia Schlegelmilch, public relations/fundraising coordinator, so a head count can be given. You can contact Schlegelmilch at 402-362-3353 ext. 1144 or mschlegelmilch@epworthvillage.org.

Boycotts, divestment and sanctions

Just one of the topics discussed at walking with Palestinian Christians for holy justice and peace
The following was written by Carol Ekdahl-Garwood, lay member at St. Paul UMC in South Sioux City, Nebraska.
Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS Movement) was one of many topics discussed at the conference held at Ginghamsburg UMC in Tipp City, Ohio a few weeks ago. The conference, sponsored by the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM), was an opportunity for nearly 300 United Methodists from across the nation to meet with one another and listen to numerous speakers from Palestine, as well as attend several workshops presented by groups who are actively advocating for a peaceful resolution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
The Rev. Alex Awad with the Bethlehem Bible College shared as part of his presentation that “the BDS movement is growing fast around the world and that the movement is the most effective non-violent method to get Israel to stop its assault on the Palestinians and their lands”. Individuals are encouraged through this movement to boycott products produced by businesses operating illegally in the occupied Palestinian territories. Major companies targeted by the boycott include Hewlett-Packard, Motorola and Caterpillar. Another product is Sodastream whose factory operates in an illegal Israeli settlement in the occupied Palestinian territory. To learn more about the BDS Movement, you can go to bdsmovement.net.
I was able to attend three workshops during the conference. The first was presented by the U.S. Campaign to End the Occupation. There are 400 groups across the country which campaign for self-determination, freedom, justice, international law and equity for Palestinians. The second workshop was presented by the Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel. We learned that volunteers for this program spend three months monitoring and reporting violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, supporting acts of non-violent resistance alongside local Christian and Muslim Palestinians and Israeli peace activists. Perhaps the most moving workshop for me was presented by Fida Qishta, a 27-year-old from Gaza. Fida is a journalist who has had her film, “Where Should the Birds Fly” produced and which is being shown at various venues. We were able to view the film during the workshop and it provided a heartbreaking look in to the affect the wars have on the civilian population in Gaza.
The conference also provided me with an opportunity to reconnect with several individuals who have traveled to the Holy Land along with me on (volunteer in mission) VIM trips, as well as some of my friends from Palestine who were presenters at the conference. The Great Plains Conference was represented at the conference by Andrea Paret; Carol Ekdahl-Garwood; Walter and Nancy Cozhiar; and the Rev. Gene Watson.

Camp Norwesca in need of camp director

Camp Norwesca, near Chadron, Nebraska, is looking for a camp director. This position will design, deliver and evaluate the camp program; oversee the financial management and fund development; design and implement a marketing plan; implement human resource management practices to recruit and retain staff; manage property development and maintenance; and oversee daily operations of the summer resident camp.
See full job description.
Camp Norwesca
Job Description
Job Title: Camp Director
Incumbent:
Classification: Exempt
Reports to: Reports directly to the Site Counsel of the camp. The site counsel is 
accountable to Great Plains Camps Inc. 
Position Purpose:
To further the mission of Camp Norwesca through the development and management of program, 
human resource, financial, marketing, and strategic operations.
Essential Job Functions:
1. Design, deliver, and evaluate camp program that meets the needs and interests of the camps 
target populations and ensure their delivery in a safe and quality manner.
 Remain current with information on the developmental needs of youth and the community.
 Annually seek and analyze input from youth, families, and staff regarding the quality, safety,
and enjoyment of the program and staff.
 Implement crisis and risk management procedures as directed by the GP Camps Board.
 Design and ensure delivery of programs and activities appropriate to the camper population.
2. Oversee the financial management and fund development operations with the assistance of the 
site council treasurer to allow for adequate annual funding and to meet long-term goals. 
 Develop and monitor budget for the camp operations with the assistance of the site council 
and the site counsel treasurer.
 Develop and design long-term fund raising strategies for the camp program and facilities.
3. Design and implement a marketing plan to increase camper attendance and camp usage.
 Prepare and analyze enrollment trends.
 Develop and implement recruitment and retention strategies.
 Keep involved in the community through participation in events, social service organization, 
and the chamber. 
 Write a news release for churches, papers, and the website about camp happenings on a 
regular basis as determined by the site council.
4. Implement human resource management practices to recruit and retain seasonal and year-round 
staff as directed by the GP Camps Board.
 Recruit staff based on camper enrollment and program management requirements.
 Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate seasonal and year-round staff as recommended by the 
American Camp Association.
5. Manage property development and maintenance needs to ensure stewardship of current 
resources and identification of future needs.
 Conduct a spring and fall assessment of property and maintenance needs.
 Prepare annual and long-term property, program, and community involvement plan.©American Camping Association, Inc. www.ACAcamps.org/members/jobdesc
6. Oversee the daily operation of the summer resident camp including food service, program, 
business, camper and staff supervision, and health care. 
 Oversee the management of the food service area through supervision of Food Service 
Manager and review of food service program.
 Receive training in serve safe and the workings of the staff kitchen in case the director must 
be step in and help with meal planning, preparation, and serving. 
 Secure sufficient coverage in health care staff and their implementation of the health care 
plan.
 Get training and maintain certification in med. Administration for daycare provider. This 
does not meet the standard but, does help cover and assistance the camp nurse in 
emergency. 
 Develop and oversee the business management functions of the camp including financial 
record keeping, office operations, camp store, etc. in conjunction with site council members. 
 Oversee the systematic approach to data base management for campers, families, alumni, 
and donors.
 Work collaboratively with internal and external groups to ensure the enhancement of the 
camp operation. 
Other Job Duties:
Assist and participate in other areas of the organization, involvement in professional associations, or
work related to the broader vision of camping as directed by the site counsel chair.
Relationships:
Maintain an open relationships and line of communication with the site council, the Great Plains Camps 
Inc. Board, and the coordinator of the camping ministries. Be involved in local, regional, and national 
professional or related organizations and businesses to promote camp.
Equipment Used:
Proficient in computer skills and related word processing, data management, and Internet computer 
software. Experience in driving different types of vehicle including tractors, passenger vehicles, 
mowers, and other maintenance equipment. Required to have knowledge of some maintenance, office 
management, and commercial kitchen procedures. 
Qualifications: (Minimum Education and Experience)
College degree preferred or 5 years of camp experience. A follower of Christ, honest, timeliness, 
communication skills in multiple forms and mediums, self-motivated, enjoys children, able to establish 
boundaries for counselors, set and enforce consequences if need be, works well with others, such as 
camp deans, other camp employees, the site counsel, knows and practices Safe Gatherings policies.
Additional experience with programming and administering programs that reflect the camp’s population 
is desirable. In addition, knowledge of general maintenance, office management, ACA Standards, 
Program Development and implementation, and kitchen equipment as well as ability to drive different 
vehicles.
Physical Requirements:
This position would require the ability to listen to others, observe others’ actions, read text and 
information; comprehend instructions and manuals, and physical ability to move about the camp 
property in various environmental conditions.
For more information please contact Sara Shaw, Great Plains coordinator of camping ministry, at 620-202-0311 or sshaw@greatplainsumc.org.

Office administrator sought for Camp Norwesca

Camp Norwesca, near Chadron, Nebraska, is seeking an office administrator. Under the camp director, the office administrator will handle all financial transitions, scheduling employees, entering of hours for employees, booking camps, billing groups, handling all refunds and deposits, assisting with budgeting, submitting vouchers, answering emails/phone calls, keeping inventory, reconciling camps store income and assisting the camp director in all other administrative matters as needed. This is an full time position during the camping season April 1 – Nov. 1, and part time during the off season.
For more information please contact Sara Shaw, Great Plains coordinator of camping ministry, at sshaw@greatplainsumc.org.

Camp Norwesca looking for maintenance director

Camp Norwesca, near Chadron, Nebraska, is seeking maintenance director. Under the direct supervision of the camp director the maintenance director, or maintenance, crew will oversee and care for the appearance, safety and wellbeing of the camp. This may include mowing; trimming; light constructions; light electrical repairs; light plumbing repairs; painting; spraying for pest and weeds; and keeping logs on all maintenance of buildings and vehicles. This will include smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide detectors, electrical inspections and water testing. The position may be asked to assist in other areas of camp. This is a full time position April 1 – Nov. 1, and a part time to less than part time position Nov. 1 – April 1 (months may vary depending on weather and the camp calendar).
For more information please contact Sara Shaw, Great Plains coordinator of camping ministry, at sshaw@greatplainsumc.org.

Christian education director needed at First UMC in Springfield, Nebraska

First UMC in Springfield, Nebraska, is in need of a Christian education director. The primary responsibility of the Christian education director is to assist in implementing the vision and purpose of the church within the Christian education program. The requirements are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The education director should establish innovative and dynamic Christian education programs designed to help children and youth discover, learn, and share God’s word.
View the full job description and download an application.
The First United Methodist Church of Springfield NE 
Christian Education Director Job Description
Summary: 
The primary responsibility of the Christian Education Director is to assist in implementing the 
vision and purpose of our church within the Christian Education program:
Our Vision:
Share Your Gifts, Grow the Faith
Our Purpose:
Identify your gifts
Discovery your purpose
Engage in mission
Advance your faith walk
Live as a disciple of Christ
Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty 
satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or 
ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with 
disabilities to perform the essential functions. 
1. Demonstrates a genuine Christian calling and is seeking to deepen his/her spiritual life. 
2. Models Christian behaviors;, leads by example.
3. Individual must be a self-starter who demonstrates initiative, leadership and the ability to 
motivate others and non-paid staff.
4. Christian Education or Education degree with 2-3 years of experience preferred. Related 
experience in education, children’s and/or youth ministry will be considered. 
5. Must be able to recruit, train, and support unpaid staff.
6. Must be able to maintain Safe Gathering certification including background check.
7. Must be able to attend services of worship on Sunday morning.
8. Must be able to meet regularly with the pastor.
9. Must be able to meet regularly with Nurture Committee.
10. Must be able to meet regularly with Church Council.
11. Must be able to attend training and to develop relevant knowledge and skills.
12. Computer skills needed for this position include using computer-based technologies to 
manipulate, create, store and retrieve information to communicate with others including:
a. Word processing using Microsoft Word.
b. Incorporating graphics into articles and promotional flyers.
c. Researching information using the internet.
d. Using e-mail to communicate with staff, parents and others as needed.
e. Ability to use Microsoft PowerPoint for slideshows and presentations is a plus.
f. Ability to use Microsoft Publisher for newsletters, signs and invitations is a plus.Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 
Support and establish innovative and dynamic Christian education programs designed to help 
children and youth discover, learn, and share God’s word. This includes but is not limited to the 
following: 
1. Maintains a fun, learning, Christian education environment for all ages: children, youth 
and adults. 
2. Organizes Sunday School activities, which may include either a 15 minute “opening” or 
“closing.”
3. Directs Vacation Bible School. 
4. Coordinates the Christmas program including recruiting Director(s) and assists at 
rehearsals.
5. Organizes, along with the Nurture Committee, at least 5 family events a year. These may 
include Easter, Promotion Commotion (Sunday School Kick-off), Thanksgiving, and 
Advent.
6. Organizes resources available for the educational ministries and makes their availability 
and location known to others as needed. This includes materials, books, DVD, supplies, 
etc.
7. Publicizes Christian education events including weekly church bulletin announcements, 
monthly church newsletter announcements, church’s website, and City of Springfield 
website and newsletter.
8. Organizes and promotes summer church camps and publicizes scholarship opportunities.
9. Coordinates children’s music for worship with the Worship team.
Administrative Responsibilities 
1. Creates and monitors the education budget. 
2. Oversees the nursery and the care provider(s). 
Performs other duties and/or responsibilities as assigned. 
Supervision: 
Is directly responsible to the pastor, and must be able to meet weekly with the pastor.
Works very closely with the Nurture Committee for direction and feedback.
Will be given an annual review by the pastor and Staff Parish Relations Committee. 
Has direct access to Staff Parish Relations Committee through their liaison.
Hours:
12-14 hours a week. This is a salaried position. Where work can and maybe done at home, there 
needs to be work done at church outside of Sunday morning, meetings, and events times; 3 to 4 
hours are suggested.
If interested, you can send your application and resume by Sept. 2, to the Rev. Galen Wray, at Springfield UMC, 480 Main, Springfield, NE 68059.

Communion trays and cups available to church in need

Horizons Community UMC has nine silver communion trays and a box of plastic juice cups available for a church in need. If interested, please contact Pippa Miller, office manager at Horizons Community UMC, at 402-420-6600 or info@horizonschurch.org.

Geneva UMC selling drum set

The Geneva UMC, in Geneva, Nebraska, is selling a has a very nice drum set. The set, a six-piece Tama Superstar, includes cymbals and most hardware. If interested, contact Ben Kaye-Skinner at ben@kayeskinner.com for more information.

Organ available to church or individual

Meadow Brook UMC, in Kansas City Missouri, has a Hammond Elegante Theater Organ (Model #340207), available to a church - or individual - in need. This organ is in excellent condition. If interested, or if you would like to see a picture, contact Max Hawkins at 816-453-0988 or email the church office at office@meadowbrookumc.org. No delivery available, must be picked up.

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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.
Want to submit a letter to the editor? Email Kathryn Witte at kwitte@greatplainsumc.org
Episcopal Office: 
9440 E Boston, Suite 160
Wichita, Kansas 67207 United States
(316)686-0600
Topeka Office:
4201 SW 15th Street
PO Box 4187
Topeka, Kansas 66604 United States
(785)272-9111 
Wichita Office:
9440 E Boston, Suite 110
Wichita, Kansas 67207 United States
(316)684-0266
Lincoln Office:

3333 Landmark Circle
Lincoln, Nebraska 68504-4760 United States
(402)464-5994
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