In this edition of GPconnect:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
New DS named for Elkhorn Valley
Pastors asked to bring I-9 forms, documentation to annual conference
Laity and clergy “Meet and Greet” to be Tuesday, June 9
Pre-conference reception to be held for retired clergy
Fill the UMCOR truck at the Great Plains Annual Conference Session
Blue River District to host hospitality event at Great Plains Annual Conference Session
EmberHope asks AC to approve possible child-services partnership
“Preach, Pray or Die” to host live show in Wichita
Order your Great Plains business cards today
EQUIP DISCIPLES
Great Plains Summer Internships begin
Summer is here - camp has begun
CLERGY EXCELLENCE
Great Plains seminarians graduate from Saint Paul School of Theology
Perkins School of Theology announces new director of two programs
MERCY AND JUSTICE
How to help the conferences experiencing flooding
Racism as a spiritual issue
Envisioning a future without gun violence
Epworth Village Cranes inspire
OTHER NEWS
Newsletters
Classifieds
Press Clips
New DS named for Elkhorn Valley
The Rev. Eldon Davis, currently serving as pastor at Ainsworth and Johnstown United Methodist churches in Nebraska, has been appointed as the new superintendent of the Elkhorn Valley District.
Davis begins his new role July 1 to replace the Rev. Marvin Neubauer, who passed away unexpectedly May 14.
Davis was ordained as an elder in 2007 after serving 20 years as a social worker in rural mental health centers and as a student pastor at Dawson and Barada United Methodist churches in Nebraska. After graduating from St. Paul School of Theology in 2004, he was appointed to Paxton, Sutherland and Hershey United Methodist churches in Nebraska, followed by an appointment in Springfield, Nebraska.
Davis served as chair of the clergy boundaries committee from 2008 to 2013 in the former Nebraska Annual Conference, and he has served on the Board of Ordained Ministry since 2008. He has served at Ainsworth and Johnstown since 2010.
He has been married to his wife, Nancy, for 44 years. They have two children and six grandchildren.
Davis’ office phone number will be 402-371-1313. His email address will beelkhornvalleyds@greatplainsumc.org.
2015 Annual Conference Session
Pastors asked to bring I-9 forms, documentation to annual conference
As we continue to move forward in the Great Plains Conference, we need to tend to one more detail, namely the completion of Form I-9 by pastors to verify your eligibility for employment. Our former practice was to have the local church obtain and retain this information, which meant that it had to be completed for each move. Our new practice will be to have the conference obtain and retain this information so that it does not have to be completed again for each move unless documentation expires or your name changes.
The local church will continue to complete and file the form for district superintendent appointees and certified lay ministers.
For pastors serving in local churches, forms will be filed in the district office. For pastors serving as conference staff, forms will be filed in the conference office.
To implement this change, we need you to do the following:
Obtain a copy of the form (uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-9.pdf).
Complete Section 1 only by carefully following the instructions with the form.
Bring the form and acceptable documentation (as indicated on the list with the form) to annual conference, where authorized staff will be at a table in the Connecting Lobby (same area as registration) on Wednesday afternoon, Thursday and Friday to check the documents and complete Section 2.
If you are excused from annual conference, bring the form and documentation to the district office by July 1.
If you have questions, please contact your district office.
Laity and clergy “Meet and Greet” to be Tuesday, June 9
Attendees of the 2015 Great Plains Annual Conference Session are invited to the laity and clergy “Meet and Greet” happening Tuesday, June 9 from 7–9 p.m., the evening before conference begins. This casual gathering is set up for laity and clergy to have a chance to get acquainted with others in attendance and get to know people from other areas of the Great Plains Conference. Bishop Scott Jones and several District Superintendents will attend the laity "Meet and Greet," creating an easy opportunity for laity to chat with them. All are welcome and refreshments will be provided.
Laity and clergy will meet separately. Laity are invited to gather at Wichita First UMC (330 N. Broadway St.) and clergy will meet at Wichita East Heights UMC (4407 E. Douglas Ave.). We hope to see you there.
Pre-conference reception to be held for retired clergy
A pre-conference reception for all retired clergy and spouses will be held the day before the Great Plains Annual Conference Session at College Hill UMC (2930 E. First St.) in Wichita, Kansas. The reception, starting at 2 p.m., on June 9, 2015, is sponsored by the Kansas West Pastors and Spouses Association. Retired clergy and spouses are invited to join as plans for the future are made. In addition to fellowship, there will also be a business session and an offering for the Pass the Torch Scholarship and the cost of the reception.
Fill the UMCOR truck at the Great Plains Annual Conference Session
A semi-trailer will be available June 9-11, to accept United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) donations. UMCOR truck will arrive at the Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center, in Wichita, Kansas, on Tuesday, June 9 and will be there Wednesday, June 10 and Thursday, June 11.
Note: There will not be another drop-off location and the truck will not be available June 12 or 13.
What to bring
Items needed include treadle sewing machines (Midwest Mission Distribution Center has a repair shop to work on them), cloth diapers, receiving blankets and any of the UMCOR kits listed online - bedding kits, sewing kits, school kits, birthing kits, cleaning buckets, health kits and more. The best way to know how to assemble kits would be to go tomidwestmissiondc.org and click on ‘Projects’ or ‘Kits.’ There you can see all the requirements for items. In addition to complete kits, individual and bulk materials will be accepted.
How to package and label kits
Please, no sacks! More than three-four kits or seven-eight bulk items should be in labeled boxes, not bags. Mark each box, or print a summary list and tape to the outside, telling of contents of each box. Partially filled boxes (not sealed) are welcome so single kits from other churches can be added.
How to handle the money
For each kit, UMCOR asks for a one dollar donation to assist in shipping to places of need, or approximately $15-$20 for boxes of bulk materials. Do not put cash in a kit or box, but convert to check, payable to MMDC (Midwest Mission Distribution Center).
Volunteers are needed at the truck
Short term volunteers (for two-four hours at a time) are needed to help record the donated supplies. To volunteer, please contact the Rev. Kalaba Chali at kchali@greatplainsumc.org or call 316-684-0266.
“Sundaes on Thursday”
Blue River District to host hospitality event at Great Plains Annual Conference Session
While at the Great Plains Annual Conference Session in Wichita, Kansas, Blue River pastors and guests are invited to enjoy a make-your-own ice cream sundae bar from 7-9 p.m., at First UMC in Wichita (Meredith Hall, 330 N. Broadway). Other refreshments and fellowship will also be enjoyed as the Blue River District honors outgoing pastors and welcomes incoming pastors to the district. Additional announcements and introductions will also be made.
EmberHope asks annual conference to approve possible child-services partnership
EmberHope, a Wichita, Kansas-based ministry affiliated with the Great Plains Conference, is asking permission of the upcoming annual conference session to explore the possibility of a merger or other form of partnership with TFI Family Services of Topeka. This negotiation is an effort to expand services and to help both organizations adjust to the financial challenges faced by child welfare agencies.
Read a full story about the possible changes.
“Preach, Pray or Die” to host live show in Wichita
"Preach, Pray or Die," the podcast that shares stories of United Methodists in ministry, will conduct a live show at 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 10, at Mead's Corner Coffee Shop, 430 E. Douglas in Wichita. The show is free and open to all, though seating is limited.
The show will feature live music and conversation with the Rev. Jim Reed, the Rev. Rebecca Hjelle and Mary Lou Reece.
To listen to previous episodes, check out iTunes or download at Preach, Pray or Die.
Event details can be found at facebook.com/PreachPrayorDie.
Order your Great Plains business cards today
If you need additional Great Plains United Methodists branded cards or if you are in need of updated cards, contact Roxie Delisi atrdelisi@greatplainsumc.org. Please provide the information you would like on your card, including church or agency affiliation, address, phone numbers, fax, email, website, etc.
The cost is approximately $35 or less for 500 cards, depending on the number of people who choose to purchase cards. Click here to see a sample card.
Great Plains Summer Internships begin
Great Plains Summer Internships are for young adults interested in growing their faith and leadership skills. Thirty-three interns gathered in Salina, Kansas, May 27-29, 2015, for the first annual Great Plains Summer Internship Orientation Retreat. All gathered for a retreat focusing on three key questions: “Who is God?” “Who am I?” and “What is God calling me to do in the world?”
On the first day of the Great Plains Internship Orientation, the interns introduced one another, reflected on their spiritual journey and began a weekly reflection time of looking for God throughout the summer. The second day focused on interns learning more about themselves, working with a team and developed tools for working with others through the Process Communication Model training. On Thursday, the interns learned about multi-cultural dimensions and communication and being open to the world around them, what it means to be a United Methodist and then were commissioned by Bishop Jones.
All interns will work full-time for the next 10 weeks throughout the Great Plains in one of six types of internships.
Micah Corps interns are learning about connecting their faith with social justice and practice leadership skills by visiting, researching and presenting key social justice topics throughout the conference. Our 2015 Micah Corps Interns are: Brooklyn Brown, Sara Nelson, Ama Agyabeng, Ellen Sulser, Maddie Baugous, Amy Kenyon, Elysee Mohangama, Kevin Bukalo, Te Gatobu and Ella Sherman.
Vacation Bible School interns, from small church development, are leading VBS, painting a house and visiting the elderly in a new community each week – all while experiencing life changing, faith-developing opportunities. Our 2015 Vacation Bible School interns are: Becca Biodrowski, Brett George, Navya Hopkins, Joey Ramirez, Ashleigh Sharp, Kylie Stamper, Courtney Troyer, Chris “Rooster” Williams and Dante Simmons.
Church planting interns are learning and serving beside a church planter pastor. Each intern is focusing on creative projects to experiment within the new ministries, exploring their gifts and being mentored by a church planting pastor. Our 2015 Church Planting Interns are: Liz Evans, Brittney Harmon, Dolce Lawless, Karelle Leeper, Katie Gehrt, Lindsey Graber and Leandra Martins.
Pastoral leadership interns are providing an opportunity to be an apprentice to a pastor. The interns are exploring their gifts through serving a local church full time and sharing in various aspects of pastoral leadership. Our 2015 Pastoral Leadership Interns are: Wes Gately, Kristina Heinrich and Greg Reffner.
Hispanic ministry interns are researching and learning how to develop young leaders in Hispanic/Latino communities and work in conjunction with the Hispanic Young Leadership Academy (HYLA). Interns are working with local churches who are bridging cultural, linguistic and generational gaps. Our 2015 Hispanic Ministry Interns are: Rebekah Ashley, Elisa Castillo and Stephen Cano.
The youth ministry intern, Hannah Sipes, is exploring youth ministry in a local church by being mentored and assisting leadership of a youth ministry throughout the summer.
Learn more about the interns at greatplainsumc.org/meettheinterns. As the interns continue their summer, you are invited to keep them in your prayers and follow the internship program on social media at #GPinterns.
Summer is here - camp has begun
The United Methodist Summer Camping ministry at Camp Fontanelle, near Nickerson, Nebraska, is in full swing. Campers have already come and gone and learned how to live in the Holy Spirit through the summer curriculum, “Power Up.”
Do you know someone who is registered to attend summer camp at one of the six United Methodist camps in Nebraska and Kansas? Sending a child to church camp, or attending as an adult, gives a person the opportunity to find peace in nature, learn confidence through the support of new friends, encouraging them to “fly” on the zipline and learn that God matters in their everyday life.
Camp is nature hikes, campfires, singing, making s’mores and making new friends and most especially making God your best friend. Camp is swimming, ziplining, treeclimbing and worship. Camp is special. Camp provides a unique experience to get away, and take the time to commune with God and nature, while having a blast.
Go to greatplainsumc.org/camps and find a camp session that fits your schedule, interests and travel distance. There are camps for pre-school age through adults. Everyone can attend camp.
But more importantly - pray for the camps, the campers and the staff that God will be present, inspiring the staff and opening the hearts of the campers to work towards a closer relationship with God, three-in-one.
Great Plains seminarians graduate from Saint Paul School of Theology
On Friday, May 22, 2015, five seminarians from the Great Plains Conference received their degrees from Saint Paul School of Theology in Leawood, Kansas, during the seminary’s 54th commencement ceremony at United Methodist Church of the Resurrection.
Pictured left to right:
Kyle Nelson, Master of Divinity degree; Janet Justice, Doctor of Ministry degree with specialization in revitalizing congregations; Elizabeth Oberdorf, Master of Divinity degree with a specialization in Christian religious education; Courtney Felzke, Master of Divinity degree
Not pictured: Dawe Kim, Master of Divinity degree
Perkins School of Theology announces new director of two programs
Perkins School of Theology/Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, has named Dr. Paul Barton as director of the Mexican American and Hispanic-Latino/a Church Ministries Program. In addition, Dr. Barton will be nominated to serve as director of the Regional Course of Study School, under the auspices of The United Methodist Church. Both appointments will be effective July 1. As an aspect of being director of the two programs, he will also have the title of Professor of Christian History and Missiology.
Dr. Barton, associate professor in the history of American Christianity and Missiology and director of Hispanic Church Studies at Seminary of the Southwest in Austin since 1999, is a noted expert in the history of Hispanic Protestantism in the southwestern United States. A scholar and teacher, he has authored numerous works, including the book “Hispanic Methodists, Presbyterians, and Baptists in Texas,” several theological commentaries and articles, and is currently working on a new history of the Rio Grande Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church under the auspices of the denomination’s General Commission on Archives and History.
Read the full announcement.
How to help the conferences experiencing flooding
After torrential rain caused severe flooding in Texas and Oklahoma over the Memorial Day weekend, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has issued five emergency grants in support of relief activities undertaken by the affected United Methodist annual (regional) conferences.
Greg Forrester, executive in charge of UMCOR’s U.S. Disaster Response work, said today that UMCOR has issued emergency grants at the request of the Texas, Rio Texas, Central Texas, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma Indian Missionary conferences, where flooding and tornadoes damaged hundreds of homes.
In total, 18 people are known to have died in the storms and flooding across the area.
“UMCOR has been in contact with the conference disaster response coordinators in all of the affected conferences since the weekend,” Forrester said.
“Early Response Teams (ERT) have been deployed as requested,” he added, “and the disaster response coordinators are in contact with each other. It’s great to know that the trained conference disaster response teams are equipped and ready to respond to survivors of such a severe event as this.”
Some of the worst damage occurred in the small town of Wimberly, Texas, and other parts of Hays County, in the Rio Texas Conference. The conference reported on its web site that 400 homes had been completely destroyed in the area, and many more were damaged.
Rio Texas also posted guidelines for assisting flood survivors. To help out in any of the affected conferences, please visit the conference web pages by following the links above. Do not self-deploy or send unsolicited material supplies.
Do NOT self-deploy or send unsolicited material supplies.
Your gift to UMCOR U.S. Disaster Response, Advance #901670, helps UMCOR respond to the most vulnerable people affected by this and other disasters in the United States. You can also donate online.
I pray that the church will be relevant
Racism as a spiritual issue
Bishop Matthews from the Baltimore-Washington Conference speaks about the need to “stand together for a world free of racism.” Reflecting on racism encountered today and his own experiences dating back to the late 60s, he says: “I’ve grown accustomed to that disquiet of racial unrest. Before Baltimore and Ferguson, even before the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King, there was the Orangeburg Massacre, when, on Feb. 8, 1968, police opened fire on college students who were protesting the segregation of a nearby bowling alley … The shooting lasted only eight minutes, but in those moments I felt both abandoned by God and then felt almost unafraid, full of God’s presence. It was only by the grace of God that my life had been spared. That day profoundly changed my life, putting me on the path that resulted in my becoming a bishop in The United Methodist Church.”
What are we called to do today in the face of racism? “I pray our hope is transformed into action — action that allows people of faith everywhere to see racism as a spiritual issue and begin at once to address it.”
Read the whole article.
Envisioning a future without gun violence
Part 2
On Tuesday, March 17, the Rev. James Atwood, the author of “America and Its Guns: A Theological Exposé,” made two appearances in Omaha, Nebraska. The second was his presentation at First UMC that evening.
He opened by referencing Walter Wink’s analysis of the myth of redemptive violence and Robert Jewett’s observations of the consequences of the myth American exceptionalism. Atwood opined that the fact that our expenditures on the military are higher than the next fifteen countries combined is evidence that we place our trust in “peace through superiority.” The idea of redemptive violence is believed in by “gun zealots” who also see themselves as the “good guys.” The religious community must guard against the idolatry of guns, he warned. This is not true of all gun owners, but it is true of many. Atwood emphasized, the faith community is the strongest voice to stop gun violence. It is a spiritual, ethical and moral problem, not a political problem.
Atwood continued by describing gun law absurdities and telling the story of two guns that he had shared earlier that day at Clair Memorial UMC. (Read Part 1.)
He noted that there have been 280 school shootings since Columbine, but gun zealots are clear — the solution is more guns. This mindset he labeled “gundamentalism.” Legislation promoted by the National Rifle Association (NRA) has two purposes. First to sell as many guns as possible, and second, to weaken enforcement. The NRA does this through scare tactics. Their members are always told about some new threat to guard against.
When asked about specific solutions, Atwood responded that the issue is so huge that there are not four or five things that we can do by next week to solve it. He has created a list of 22 actions, but he emphasized, “Begin by talking about it, and reading and studying about it.” White communities, and congregations especially, need to reach out to other communities. “As we Presbyterians say, approach this issue with energy, intelligence, imagination and love.”
James Atwood’s appearances were sponsored by the Mercy and Justice Team of The Great Plains United Methodist Conference, the Topeka Center for Peace and Justice, the Peace and Social Justice Center of South Central Kansas in Wichita and Nebraskans for Peace. His speaking tour was arranged in response to the passage of the resolution, by the 2014 Great Plains Conference, “Christians Respond to Gun Violence”. In addition to the resolution, you can find a variety of study material and other resources at greatplainsumc.org/gunviolenceprevention.
Epworth Village Cranes inspire
CASA and Epworth Village benefit
It’s amazing, but in a short period of time, Epworth Village has succeeded in folding 1,000 paper cranes with help from clients, community supporters, staff and their families. And all it took to complete the task was a bit of training in the art of origami, some brightly colored paper, nimble fingers and a heart for children and families.
On Wednesday, May 13, Suzanne and Tom Vanous of the Chance’s R Restaurant in York, Nebraska, presented CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for York County Director Carol Knieriem with a check for $500 - 50-cents for each crane folded.
The Epworth Village Cranes for Hope and Healing project was inspired by Alex, a client of the United Methodist Mission. Alex had heard the story of Sadako, a young Japanese girl suffering effects of the dropping of the atomic bomb over Hiroshima in WWII and how she had folded cranes with hopes she would be healed. Alex took the story to heart, and to Epworth Village CEO Harrietta Reynolds who was instantly on board.
Knieriem was thrilled with the gift, explaining that a portion of the funds would be added to their Child Activity Fund, with the remainder earmarked for training and recruiting advocates. CASA volunteers are charged with representing the interests of children involved in the court system through no fault of their own.
In addition, the Vanous’ surprised Epworth Village CEO Harrietta Reynolds with a matching $500 gift for its new music program.
The Epworth Village Cranes for Hope and Healing project is on-going. Other churches and individuals have taken up the mantel. Funds raised from these efforts will benefit Epworth Village, a 126 year-old United Methodist Mission. For information on becoming involved call Epworth Village at 402-362-3353.
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.
Photo: Harrietta Reynolds (at left), CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for York County Director Carol Knieriem, Suzanne Vanous are pictured as Vanous, representing the Chance’s R Restaurant, presents Knieriem a check in the amount of $500 for her program.
Newsletters
Kansas Area United Methodist Foundation: Savvy Living
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Update – a report from the director
Ministry Mattes: June 6, 2015
UMCOR: Hotline
United Methodist Church Development Center: Spiritual Giving
Classifieds
Bible set available to church or individual in need
Church administrator needed at Aldersgate UMC Wichita
First impression receptionist needed at First UMC in Wichita
Rossville UMC looking for youth director
Tyro UMC to close: wishes to donate organ, music and
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 atgreatplainsumc.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.
Want More?
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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