Wednesday, January 27, 2016

The Great Plains Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church of Wichita, Kansas, United States "GPconnect" for Wednesday, 27 January 2016

The Great Plains Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church of Wichita, Kansas, United States "GPconnect" for Wednesday, 27 January 2016

Download the printable version of the Jan. 27, issue of GPconnect.
In this edition of GPconnect:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CLERGY EXCELLENCE
EQUIPPING DISCIPLES
MERCY AND JUSTICE
New Creation Care team being formed in the Great Plains
Nebraskans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty plans spring event
Mark your calendar for Global Youth Service Day in Omaha
OTHER NEWS
Great Plains Conference recruiting for new treasurer

Bishop Scott Jones regrets to announce that the Rev. Gary Beach is retiring effective July 1, 2017, and as a result, will be stepping down from his current position as treasurer of the Great Plains Conference as of that date. Gary has served the Kansas East, Kansas West and Great Plains annual conferences in this position for six years, and his services and contributions will be sorely missed.
Consequently, the conference is seeking a qualified person to fulfill the responsibilities of the conference treasurer and director of administrative services (“treasurer”). The treasurer shall assume, in accordance with the actions of the conference and the provisions of the "Book of Discipline," all financial and administrative services of the conference and those bodies amenable to it. The treasurer is accountable to the Council on Finance and Administration, and is supervised and evaluated at least annually by the conference bishop. This position currently manages an organization of 11 other staff, with four persons currently reporting directly to the position.
Qualified candidates shall have the following key attributes:
  • Ordained elder in the United Methodist Church preferred, but not required.
  • Strong knowledge and experience with developing and implementing operating budgets.
  • Strong background in and experience with accounting principles, and their application in the development of monthly financial and annual financial statements.
  • Excellent communications skills and the ability to relate to clergy and lay people.
  • Good institutional knowledge of the Great Plains Conference.
  • Good institutional knowledge of the General Conference.
The new treasurer should be prepared and able to work with Gary during a transitional phase for several months on a full-time or part-time basis prior to Gary’s retirement.
Please contact Barb Campbell at bcampbell@greatplainsumc.org if you are interested in receiving a copy of the job description. If you are interested in applying for this position, please send your cover letter and resume electronically to Barb Campbell no later than Feb. 29, 2016.
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Briefing provides preview into General Conference topics

In a gathering that repeatedly stressed the need for church unity, about 400 delegates, communicators and others gathered Jan. 20-22 in Portland, Oregon, to hear learn more about issues that will be discussed when the worldwide United Methodist Church’s governing body convenes later this spring for the 2016 General Conference.
Topics included human sexuality, a possible reorganization of the church, the possibility of the creation of a central conference for the United States and potential changes for both the election of bishops and ordination of clergy.
Read the story about the pre-General Conference briefing.
Briefing previews 2016 General Conference topics
In a gathering that repeatedly stressed church unity despite passionately held differences, United Methodists received a preview of some issues the 2016 General Conference will debate when the denomination’s top lawmaking body meets this spring.

Josephine Deere (left) and the Rev. David Wilson (right) of the Oklahoma Indian
Missionary Conference pray for the Rev. Tom Albin during the Pre-General
Conference Briefing in Portland, Ore. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS
The Rev. Steven Lewis, Gresham United Methodist Church in Portland, Oregon, urged delegates to remember who they are as they debate issues and resolutions at General Conference 2016
“Few will read what we write, but millions will watch what we do,” Lewis said during his sermon at opening worship during the pre-General Conference briefing.
More than 400 delegates, communicators and other United Methodists who will be part of the 2016 General Conference attended the Jan. 20-22 event at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. Most will return for the denomination’s legislative assembly May 10-20. Great Plains delegates the Rev. Amy Lippoldt and conference Lay Leader Courtney Fowler represented the Great Plains Conference at the briefing.
United Methodist Communications sponsored the event, with involvement and support from other agencies and ministries of the church.
Many United Methodists expect the most passionate and difficult debate at the 2016 General Conference to deal with how the denomination ministers with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, and if self-avowed, practicing homosexuals will be allowed to serve as pastors in United Methodist churches. At the briefing, participants got a preview of the emotional stakes in the debate as well as a chance to try out an alternative process for discussing legislation on tough issues.
This is a brief look at some of the issues explored:
Human Sexuality

The Rev. Dr. Bill Arnold of Asbury Theological
Seminary and Dr. Dorothee Benz take part in a
panel discussion about human sexuality during
the pre-General Conference Briefing.
Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS
Perhaps the most anticipated session came Friday morning. Titled "A Conversation about Topics Related to Human Sexuality," the panel consisted of the Rev. Dr. Bill Arnold, a North Kentucky Conference delegate and professor at Asbury Theological Seminary; Dr. Dorothee Benz, a New York Conference delegate and national representative of Methodists in New Directions; the Rev. Kennetha Bigham-Tsai, a member of the Connectional Table and a district superintendent in the Lansing, Michigan, area; and Stanislas Kassongo, a delegate from the Central Congo Episcopal Area and a member of the Commission on General Conference. The Rev. Stephanie Hixon, executive director of the JustPeace Center and teaching time leader during the 2015 Great Plains Annual Conference session, served as moderator for the cordial discussion.
Arnold started the conversation by stating he, as the church's discipline states, respects all people but that he tends to take a stance against ordination of homosexuals and the practice in general. He said he wanted it to be clear that he wasn't trying to be hateful but he believes there is room in a worldwide denomination to agree to disagree on the issue.
“I consider institutional unity a minimum,” he said.
Benz countered during her presentation time that she believed the church's stance against homosexuality harms people seeking God's love, sometimes to the point of suicide.
She said the debate is about “whether and how The United Methodist Church will continue to discriminate.”
The United Methodist Book of Discipline, the denomination’s book of law, since 1972 has proclaimed that all people are of sacred worth but the practice of homosexuality is “incompatible with Christian teaching.” The denomination bans the performance of same-sex unions and “self-avowed practicing” gay clergy.
Bigham-Tsai said she would continue to pray for the Connectional Table's study team on the subject to find a compromise, which she called a "third way." She noted that the study team thus far has articulated values that people on all sides of the human sexuality debate hold in common: unity in the mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ, our identity as Christians through baptism and the grace that is available to all people.
Kassongo's statement, through an interpreter for English, provided an explanation of why delegates from many African nations are either not interested in the mostly U.S.-based debate or shy away from discussion.
"In my tradition, the subject of sexuality is taboo," he told the assembly. He went on to explain that his culture forbids such discussion except between couples and that it is difficult to discuss such a matter with strangers from around the world when he cannot have that kind of discussion with his own children.
Lippoldt, who serves Basehor United Methodist Church in the Kansas City District, said she was glad to see the panelists be so careful with their words and tone.
"In a debate that carries so much passion and such high consequences, we need to be gentle with one another," Lippoldt said. "The diverse voices on the panel, though none of them said anything particularly new, did reveal the wide chasm between positions around sexuality."
Read more about the human sexuality issue and how it relates to General Conference.
Christian Conferencing
“Christian conferencing is what General Conference is all about,” said Judi Kenaston, chair of the Commission on General Conference, as she outlined an alternative group discernment process that General Conference could approve for use on “challenging” conversations.
The proposal, nicknamed Rule 44 because it follows General Conference's Rule 43, could be used with legislation on human sexuality if the rule is adopted.
“We are a connectional church with many varied cultures and opinions,” Kenaston said. “A unified church can accomplish so much more in the world by pooling resources. Because of our size, we are able to do so much more.
To go forward with the alternative discussion process, delegates will need to approve rule changes. Participants at the pre-General Conference briefing were given a chance to try out the system using a “mock” piece of legislation. Sitting at round tables, small groups were presented guidelines for conversation aimed at respectful listening and language. They received the legislation and a small group process sheet. The goal was to give everyone at the table a voice in a respectful atmosphere, with a "monitor" keeping track of language and tone to help maintain an non-threatening atmosphere. During General Conference, if the rule is approved, the monitors will not be delegates so there will be no conflicts of interest.
Bishop Christian Alsted, who leads the Nordic and Baltic Area, explained how the process was designed using words from John and Charles Wesley and Scripture.
“Christian conferencing is a means of grace,” he said. “God is always present and conveys his grace when we practice.”
John Wesley asked, “Do we not converse too long? Is not an hour enough?”
“Imagine if we only had one hour to settle our business. What priorities would be made?” Alsted asked.
Lippoldt said she found the experiment at an alternative discussion process interesting.
"I am unsure if it can work in the context of General Conference, as it seems to me the first ingredient for a discernment group is trust -- the one thing most sorely lacking at General Conference," said Lippoldt, who has served as a General Conference delegate before. "But our current method of dealing with the most controversial legislation is not working."
Praying for General Conference
The Rev. Tom Albin, dean of The Upper Room Chapel, will again help lead a prayer community to support delegates and the entire denomination during General Conference.
“Prayer is like oxygen for your soul,” Albin told attendees.
The General Conference Prayer Ministry designed a “60 Days of Prayer” daily prayer book that runs March 31–May 29 so church members an connect through the same Scripture, meditation and prayer for each day.
Big changes proposed for bishops, clergy
Bishops would no longer be elected for life, ordination of United Methodist elders and deacons would be faster and the first step would be taken to allow doing away with guaranteed appointment under legislation being proposed to the 2016 General Conference.

Bishop Grant Hagiya addresses the Pre-General
Conference Briefing in Portland, Ore. Photo by
Mike DuBose, UMNS
However, since term limits and guaranteed appointment would require changes to the denomination’s constitution, those reforms would come slowly, even if approved.
Bishop Grant Hagiya, Greater Northwest Episcopal Area, a member of the 2013-2016 Ministry Study Commission, said the commission wanted to give conferences “maximum flexibility.”
“The most important factor that we have to consider is leadership, leadership, leadership. Leadership is one of the key ingredients in vitality,” Hagiya said.
Hagiya said the commission proposed ordination when a candidate is approved for provisional membership, although conference membership would come only after the provisional period was completed. Other proposed changes would allow a bachelor’s degree to fulfill requirements for Course of Study for local pastors and eliminate commissioning.
Lonnie Brooks, chair of the legislative committee of the Association of Annual Conference Lay leaders, gave the highlights of the association’s package of 15 pieces of legislation.
“We think there is nothing in the church outside the responsibility of lay people, since we pay for what the church does,” Brooks said.
The lay leaders proposed seven points of reform for bishops, including term limits, which Brooks said would increase accountability. Under the term-limit proposal, a bishop would be elected for eight years and could run again for another eight-year term. The terms would be the same worldwide.
The legislation on guaranteed appointment, or security of appointment, would remove the constitutional barrier identified by the Judicial Council after the 2012 General Conference approved legislation that would have allowed bishops to give elders less than full-time appointment and added steps for discontinuing elders and associate members from receiving an appointment.
A proposal to reform the episcopal complaint process provides that if the jurisdictional College of Bishops cannot process the complaint to completion within 180 days, the complaint moves to the full Council of Bishops.
Church budget
As the U.S. economy has recovered from the 2008 crash, the denomination as a whole has seen its financial health improve.
Moses Kumar, the top executive of the General Council on Finance and Administration, reported that 26 conferences paid 100 percent to the general church apportionments in 2015 - the highest number in at least 16 years. At the general church level, the money supports bishops, United Methodist ministerial education, most general agencies and denomination-wide efforts such as the Black College Fund, ecumenical work and Africa University in Zimbabwe.
The General Council on Finance and Administration's board and the Connectional Table are proposing a budget of $611.4 million for general church funds in 2017-2020. That’s about a 1.4 percent increase above the $603.1 million general church budget approved at the 2012 General Conference. With projected inflation, that budget actually represents a 7.2 percent spending decrease in real dollars, Kumar said.
The finance agency’s board also is proposing that for the first time United Methodist churches in Africa, Asia and Europe would have a set formula to support the denomination’s global ministries.Under the proposal, central conference apportionments would contribute to two of the seven general church funds — the Episcopal and General Administration funds.
“When we are generous in our giving, when we are committed in ministry around the world, we dedicate our resources so we can fulfill what God wants us to do,” Kumar said.
A U.S. central conference
One of the most frequent complaints about General Conference is that delegates spend much of the 10-day global meeting on issues that strictly focus on the United States.
Participants at this month’s preview heard about two plans to address this concern by creating a central conference or similar body to encompass the entire United States. Currently, the denomination has seven central conferences in Africa, Europe and the Philippines. Each has the authority under the denomination’s constitution to make “such changes and adaptations” to the Book of Discipline as missional needs and differing legal contexts require.
Members of the Central Texas and North Texas conferences are bringing legislation to create a U.S. Central Conference that would meet in conjunction with General Conference. “We believe this proposal keeps it simple,” said Tim Crouch, a General Conference delegate from North Texas.
A task force appointed by the Northeastern Jurisdiction is bringing “A Global Connection Plan,” that is more complicated but also, according to its proponents, more comprehensive.
The plan would rename General Conference as the Global Connectional Conference, restrict its work to church matters that are global in nature and add continent-wide bodies called connections, including a North American connection. The plan also would replace U.S. jurisdictions and central conferences with bodies called regions.
“We believe it is important to have equivalent structures across the church,” said Tracy Merrick, a member of Northeastern Jurisdiction task force.
Under both the Texas and Northeastern Jurisdiction plans, the denomination’s global legislative meeting would be shorter but would remain the only body that can speak for the whole denomination. Both plans also would require amendments to the denomination’s constitution.
Restructuring proposals
Frederick Brewington, a member of the Connectional Table, pointed out that a number of formal and informal proposals regarding the denomination’s structure and connection will come before the General Conference. “The Connectional Table neither adopts nor endorses any of the proposals that currently exist,” he said, but he outlined some basic principles to follow in these discussions.
One of those proposals is “Plan UMC Revised.” The Rev. Clayton Oliphant explained that this plan removes provisions ruled unconstitutional by the Judicial Council after the 2012 General Conference adopted “Plan UMC,” a compromise proposal. Many involved in the restructuring work were frustrated by the top court’s last-minute ruling, he said.
Under Plan UMC Revised, the current Commission on Religion and Race and Commission on the Status and Role of Women would be merged into a committee on inclusiveness. The plans also folds the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History into the denomination’s finance agency. Erin Hawkins, top executive for Religion and Race, expressed concern that the vital programs of her agency would be lost. The church needs “greater clarity and alignment around its identity and mission,” she added.
Fowler, whose home church is in Manhattan, Kansas, said the restructuring discussions are important.
"Two other significant issues will be the consideration of the U.S. church as a central conference and the opportunity to revisit a revised proposal to restructure the church," she said. "We as a delegation must be prepared to engage with others in regard to these matters. I'm really excited!"
Social issues
The 2016 General Conference will consider amendments to more than 70 social justice petitions ranging from climate change to human trafficking.
Representatives from the Division on Ministries with Young People, Black Methodists for Church Renewal, Board of Church and Society, Commission on General Conference and Standing Commission on Central Conference Matters and the Board of Pension and Health Benefits highlighted some of those resolutions.
Christine Flick, a delegate from Germany South Conference, talked about a petition calling for a reduction of carbon footprint with regard to travel related to the denomination's church meetings.

Kirsty Jenkinson of the Board
of Pension and Health benefits
addresses the briefing. Photo
by Mike DuBose, UMNS“The whole earth is God’s good creation,” she said. “We are aware of how the constant use of energy threatens the environment.”
The United Methodist Board of Pension and Health Benefits recognizes its responsibility to protect and promote human rights and the environment, said Kirsty Jenkinson, calling climate change “the most severe economic threat to the world.” She is managing director, Sustainable Investment Strategies, Wespath Investment Management Division of the pension board.
In 2015, the board and Wespath implemented a human rights investment guideline that identified 11 high-risk countries and 39 companies with significant investments in those places, Jenkinson said.Kirsty Jenkinson, calling climate change “the most severe economic threat to the world.” She is managing director, Sustainable Investment Strategies, Wespath Investment Management Division of the pension board.
Fowler said the a key question for her heading into General Conference is how to make United Methodist social principles relevant on a global scale.
"All of the issues before us, including the discussion on human sexuality, must take this into consideration," Fowler said. "I love being reminded of the nature of our global church and the difference we are making in helping people, with health care, clean water and access to medical facilities."
Looking ahead to 2020
A draft of a new general, or global, Book of Discipline will be presented to General Conference for affirmation, said Bishop Patrick Streiff, chairperson of the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters, “so that we know we can work on to finalize it for the 2020 General Conference.” The goal is to have feedback on the draft from every annual conference by the end of 2017.
Benedita Penicela Nhambiu, a member of the denomination’s Connectional Table, said there will be an effort to re-align that body to make it more representative, both in terms of geography and age groups.
A petition for a comprehensive collaborative plan for Africa would increase the episcopal areas in that region from 13 to 18 if the final report is approved by the 2020 General Conference, she said.
The United Methodist Board of Church and Society has been holding listening sessions on the denomination’s Social Principles around the world. The agency is seeking guidance, clarity and diverse voices as the agency prepares to revise the document for the 2020 General Conference.
The 2016 General Conference will be asked to continue and fund those conversations for four more years, said the Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe, top executive of the social justice agency.
A proposal for a digitized, customizable United Methodist Hymnal would include a core section of required music and Wesleyan liturgical resources and a cloud-based library allowing congregations to create what they need for their own ministry setting. If passed, work would begin Jan. 1, 2017, on a finalized proposal to be approved by the 2020 General Conference.
"It was surprising to hear many parts of the briefing say they are in progress and will have legislation to bring, not to 2016 but to the 2020 General Conference," Lippoldt said. "The Global Social Principles, the Global Book of Discipline and the new hymnal were just someof hte things that we won't see action on for another four years."
Contributing to this report were Heather Hahn, Kathy Gilbert, Linda Bloom, Vicki Brown and Joey Butler from United Methodist News Service and Todd Seifert of the Great Plains Conference.---------------------
Disaster response training available
The Conference Disaster Response Ministry offers trainings to get you prepared for all types of disasters. Make plans to host a training at your church by contacting the Rev. Hollie Tapley at htapley@greatplainsumc.org.
Trainings offered are Basic Disaster 101, Early Response Training, Spiritual & Emotional Care, Active Shooter, Connecting Neighbors (Ready Congregant, Ready Church, Ready Response), Children & Youth After a Disaster and Family Disaster Planning.
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Christian comedian to headline Joyfest 2016

Women of all ages are invited to a day of laughter, fun and fellowship at Joyfest 2016 at St. Mark’s UMC in Lincoln, Nebraska, featuring America’s top selling female comedian, Chonda Pierce.
Armed with an abundance of unpretentious Southern charm and laser sharp wit, Pierce has been entertaining audiences from coast to coast for more than a decade. An in-demand stand-up comic, television hostess and author, Pierce has parlayed her gift for storytelling into a multi-faceted career.
Pierce is the highest-selling female comedian in history. She has more live concert, comedy DVD and book sales than Carol Burnett, Wanda Sykes, Ellen DeGeneres, Whoopi Goldberg, Rosanne Barr and countless other high profile comedians. She is a master at using the art form of stand-up comedy to reach and inspire people.
“I come straight from the world of wooden pews and hell fire preaching. Some of it probably did a little damage – that’s where I get my warped sense of humor – but most of those days gave me solid roots,” she says. “You learn a lot from your past – what to weed through and throw out and what to hold onto forever.”
Pierce has authored eight books with the most recent being, “Laughing in the Dark,” which was released as a movie in November 2015. “Laughing in the Dark” chronicles Pierce’s life, her struggles and God’s faithfulness in a way that only she can – with openness, honesty and the humor. But it is more than her story. It reveals a path to hope and healing for all those who are suffering from depression, anxiety, loss and grief.
Registration for Joyfest is $40 and includes a light breakfast and lunch. Register online at www.stmarks.org/joyfest-2016 or call 402-489-8885. The event runs from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Doors will open at 9 a.m.
An important part of Joyfest each year is the Women Helping Women Mission Project. Through the project, Joyfest supports local organizations Fresh Start, Voices of Hope, St. Monica’s and Friendship Home. Those who attend Joyfest are encouraged to bring donations of cash and/or basic toiletry items, including feminine hygiene products for distribution to these organizations. The event also includes music, testimony and an opportunity to shop at the many vendors who participate in the day.
Joyfest is an annual event for all women hosted by St. Mark’s United Methodist and the UMW Joanna Group.
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EmberHope to sell south side of Newton campus
EmberHope, a 501(c)3 affiliated with the Great Plains Conference, has experienced a number of financial challenges over the past two years. The landscape of child welfare services has changed and therefore the financial burden of retaining our very large residential campus located in Newton, Kansas, is not sustainable.
Effective immediately, the EmberHope board has voted to proceed with the sale of the south side of the Newton campus. EmberHope will retain all current services offered in Newton which includes the Secure Care cottage and a Youth Residential II cottage for girls in the foster care system between the ages of 10 and 18. Programming will now be provided on the north side of the campus on Whitfield Circle. Please note, all Newton staff will retain their employment.
At this time, there are no immediate plans for the current tenants on the south side of the campus to relocate. EmberHope remains committed to the Newton community and hopes to continue providing services there indefinitely.
Many churches, individuals and the general community support the Newton campus. It is critical for this charitable support to continue as the needs in serving at risk, vulnerable children on the Newton campus remains a top priority. EmberHope is regularly in-need of basic hygiene supplies. For example, anti-dandruff shampoo and conditioner, body wash, deodorant, lotion, new women’s socks and underwear.
If you would like more information on the needs of youth EmberHope is serving, contact LeAnne Miller at lamiller@emberhope.org or 316-350-5364.
EmberHope would like to thank you for your continued prayers and support as it makes this transition, and is happy to address any questions, please contact Shelley Duncan, president/CEO atsduncan@emberhope.org or 316-529-9100.
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Conference communications team wins UMAC awards

The Great Plains Conference communications staff won five second-place and four third-place awards at the annual United Methodist Association of Communicators banquet, which was conducted just prior to the pre-General Conference briefing Jan. 20 in Portland, Oregon.
The Great Plains winners are:
  • Second place
  • Website content, staff.
  • Digital publications, led by Communications Coordinator Rachel Moser, for the 2015 annual conference session daily email newsletters.
  • Writing-series, Communications Director Todd Seifert, for a series on Lay Servant Ministries and a three-church charge assisted by Lay Servants near Hastings, Nebraska.
  • Writing-nonfiction, Seifert, for a story about the combined new-church plant and campus ministry at New Church Lawrence.
  • Visual design video, Media Producer Eugenio Hernandez, for videos prepared for the Great Plains candidacy summits
  • Third Place
  • Graphic design, Wichita graphic artist Greg Sullivan, for logos designed for Great Plains camps.
  • Visual design, Moser, for the magazine design of a story about the Transition into Ministry program.
  • Photography, former Communications Director Kathryn Witte, for her magazine cover shot from the Zimbabwe Ebenezer Convention.
  • Video production, freelance videographer Kent Taylor, for the "Though Many, One" 2015 annual conference session video.
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UMCOR needs items for health, school kits
Those attending the Great Plains annual conference, June 1-4 in Topeka, Kansas, are asked to bring items for health kits and school kits for The United Methodist Committee on Relief, or UMCOR, to fill a truck.
Health kit items include a hand towel, washcloth, nail file or clippers, bath-size soap, toothbrush, adhesive bandages, a gallon-size sealable plastic bag and $1 to purchase toothpaste.
School kits include a pair of blunt scissors, three pads of paper, a handheld pencil sharpener, a 30-cm ruler, six unsharpened pencils, a 2-inch or larger eraser, a 24-pack of crayons and a 14-by-16 bag.
Details on the items are available at UMCOR.org.
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Boundary Training 201 to be offered before Orders & Fellowship
All clergy serving churches in the Great Plains conference are required to have Safe Gatherings certification. A second training that conference policy requires is called “boundary and ethics training.” Boundary training focuses on developing healthy boundaries in ministry and is specific to the role of a clergy person. Of particular concern is the power difference between a person in a ministerial role and a member of his or her congregation or a person being counseled. Boundary training also includes conversation about personal and professional health and the use of social media. Boundary Training 101 classes were scheduled across the conference for those who have not previously had training, primarily for new clergy, DSA or CLM.
Boundary training must be renewed every four years and for those needing renewal. A Boundary Training 201 is scheduled for Feb. 16, the day before Orders and Fellowship.
If you have questions about your need for boundary training please contact your district office. You may also contact the Rev. Nancy Lambert at nlambert@greatplainsumc.org or 402-464-5994, ext 126.
Training will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Christ UMC (4530 A St.) in Lincoln. The cost for lunch and the participant book is $25, but the Board of Ordained Ministry is covering a portion of this, so your cost is only $10.
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Bishop Scott Jones to speak at 158th annual Founders Day

Baker University will celebrate its annual Founders Day at 11 a.m., Feb. 11 at First UMC in Baldwin City, Kansas. Bishop Scott Jones will provide the keynote address.
At Founders Day, Baker University will celebrate its origin in an annual celebration dedicated to the school’s 1858 founding by what is now the United Methodist Church. Bishop Jones will deliver the keynote address at the event, which is titled “A Faithful Legacy,” and celebrates Baker’s longstanding relationship with the church. The event will include performances from the Baker University Concert Choir.
In addition to his position as bishop of the Great Plains Conference, Jones also serves as an ex-officio trustee of Baker University. He is highly revered in the area, having preached and taught throughout the United States, Europe, Africa and Asia and is a published author. Jones has been both a United Methodist pastor and university professor, and will speak about the importance of higher education in the United Methodist Church. The Rev. Kevin Hopkins, minister to the university, believes Jones’ passion for the church and his background in education will reinforce the message of this year’s Founders Day ceremony — to lift up Baker’s beginnings and current relationship with the church.
Dr. Lynne Murray, university president, is looking forward to showcasing Baker University’s core values.
“We are truly blessed with a great community here at Baker University,” Murray said. “This celebration is a time to remember that, while also delving into our Methodist roots. Bishop Scott Jones will be an important part of the ceremony and we are honored to be hosting him.”
The celebration is open to all Baker students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members. Lunch will be provided after the ceremony in the Susanne Teel Dining Hall.
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Unpaid workers’ compensation invoices past due
Workers’ compensation invoices were sent to all churches in the Great Plains Conference in late December by Assured SRA. All churches in the former Kansas East Conference had invoices sent in late December also, but these not only included worker compensation but also property and liability coverage.
All these bills are now past due. Please remit this week to: Assured SRA, P.O. Box 2726, Mission, KS 66201.
If you didn’t receive an invoice, please contact either Sue Courtney at913-236-3017 or sue_c@srains.com or Karen Hoskins at 913-236-3015or karen_h@srains.com. Assured SRA appreciates you paying on a timely basis.
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Self-care workshop offered for Great Plains clergy

Join Michael T. Curd, D. Min., founding director of Institute of Pastoral Care, and your pastor colleagues for a psychodrama workshop 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday, Jan. 29, at First United Methodist Church, (Parlor, 7020 Cass St.) in Omaha, Nebraska. Cost is $135 for the day, and includes snacks and lunch.
At the completion of this introductory self-care seminar, participants will:
  • Experience multiple demonstrations of the psychodrama (PD)
  • Understand the history of PD and its founder, Jakob Moreno, M.D.
  • Know how PD provides trauma and/or grief resolution
  • Learn how PD can be used for self-care by clergy.
  • Receive a certificate of completion for five contact hours of training.
  • Fear not! The only thing participants will be expected to do is say their name, as a vow of confidentiality.
Please dress casually, bring throw pillows (if you like sitting on the floor) and enjoy light refreshments.
Contact Curd if you have any questions. Register via email toipcsanantonio1@aol.com or call 402-802-7826.
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Conference offers debt-free seminary experience at Saint Paul
The Great Plains Conference is offering a groundbreaking opportunity of a full-ride to seminary through the Saint Paul School of Theology Fellows Program beginning fall 2016.
The Fellows program equips candidates called to full-time ministry with academic formation and real-life pastoral experience while eliminating the need for student loans. The award covers tuition, books and fees for three years. The Great Plains Fellow will receive a pastoral mentor and a student appointment with a stipend to cover living expenses.
Learn more at www.spst.edu/fellows. Deadline for applications is Feb. 1.
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Create, train worship arts team with workshop series in Omaha
Dr. Marcia McFee is a nationally known worship designer, professor and consultant. In the past 25 years, she has helped churches create more vital and sensory-rich worship, no matter the size of church or style of worship.
Countryside Community Church UCC in Omaha will host the Worship Design Studio Experience, a series of workshops with Dr. McFee that churches may register for and send unlimited numbers of people to be trained in all the worship arts as well as how to “plan together and plan ahead” for a more creative process of worship design. The workshops are scheduled weekly from April 2 to May 3. Registered churches will also receive recordings of all the workshops for those that missed the sessions and for their continued training use.
View the flier.
Find out more information and register.
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Gather to see how men can make difference for Christ

The Rev. Mike Marion and George Houle, a certified paraprofessional specializing in men’s ministry, were visiting about that topic when Marion asked if his church, Calvary United Methodist Church in Wichita, could host an area-wide gathering for Christian men to come together and share the Gospel. Houle asked Marion why he wanted to do that and the answer came quickly: Men are foundational to the ministry life of a church, and we need to get that message out. A vision was born, and Houle was off and running.
Five area churches joined the vision guided by Ephesians 4, where we are told that Christ gave us many gifts so that we would go out into the world to do the work God has prepared for us to do, the key task being to make disciples. The theme became “Men Make the Difference”: a challenge for us to make the difference for Christ in our worlds. The men decided that one way for people to make disciples was to provide scholarship aide to men and women who wanted to pursue a Christian education. The men decided that all the proceeds from the registration would be dedicated to providing scholarships as a means of reproducing their faith into the future of the church. Two men and two women will have financial aid when they attend Kansas Wesleyan and Southwestern College next year.
More than 60 men heard Rev Tom Albin, dean of the Upper Room, challenged us in the first event not to shrink the Bible to our limited experience, to enter into small groups where through sharing life stories and asking questions we can learn more about ourselves and, therefore, be more effective as men serving our God. Don Davis, two-time Super Bowl champion, challenged us to examine the moments in our lives when we encounter Jesus. How do we respond? Do we accept his challenge to “follow me,” or do we go back and take care of daily business. He shared from scripture the tools we have to make disciples like the dominion authority of Genesis 1:21-28, the access to the spiritual realm of Jesus from Ephesians 1:1-3, the anointing of the Holy Spirit in John 2:20;27 and called to be ambassadors in Mathew 28:18. During the day, men broke out into small groups to share the messages from Albin and Davis and how they impacted their personal lives.
Young adults from Southwestern College helped us worship with music and shared personal testimony of how men impacted their life and made a difference.
You are invited to the 2016 Gathering in Wichita. Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, 1550 N. Chapel Hill Road, will be the host site this year on April 16. Rod Handley, founder of Character that Counts and also with long ties to Fellowship of Christian Athletes, will team with Dan Meers, the wolf mascot of the Kansas City Chiefs, to challenge us to show the world how our Christian character makes a difference.
Four more young men and women will receive the blessing of financial aid.
Register at www.makethedifference.care
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Explore God’s call for your life

Did you know that everyone has a call into ministry by God? It’s true. Sure, not everyone is called to be a pastor, but we all have been given gifts that God expects us to use to reach out to our congregations, our communities and the world.
Jeanie Leeper, Lay Servant Ministry director in the Prairie Rivers District in Nebraska offers some thoughts on the subject in our newest LSM blog.
Check out what Jeanie has to say.
Explore God's call for your life
Lay Servant Ministries
I am a church member now what?
I did not start going to church until after my husband and I were married. I was in my mid-20s. When I first started going to church. I helped with a few things here and there. I was involved in the things I wanted to be involved in and was a happy pew warmer the rest of the time.
The longer I was a church member, the more I realized that, God had a call on my life! Being a member of the church was not about what I believed and what I wanted to do. There was something deeper. I realized, I am not just a member of the church. I am the church and a member of the Body of the Christ!
I realized God’s Word is truth and He calls and equips us to be disciples in our homes, our churches, our community and the world.
Each one of us has God-given gifts and a responsibility to use the gifts He gives us to make Jesus Christ known in the world, “to make disciples.” With the help of my pastor, I was introduced to the Lay Speaking Ministry, as it was called at the time. It is now Lay Servant Ministry. The ministry is about providing opportunity for us to grow in leading, caring and communicating.
Each class reveals God’s truth and call even more in our life. The classes provide a time of listening and sharing with others. Each class is designed to help us discern God’s call on our life, whether it be in the local church, the district, the conference or beyond! God is calling you!
The place to start this discernment process is in prayer to God and by talking to your local pastor. Call one of the Great Plains District Lay Servant Ministries directors and ask about the Lay Servant program. Look at the LSM portion of the Great Plains website.
Take a step forward in faith! When God has a call on your life, that “happy pew warmer spot” tends to get very uncomfortable! He will not allow you to stay there!
As it says in Esther 4:14, “… You are here for such a time as this?” You are a church member, a member of the body of Christ, now what will you do about it?[Jeanie Leeper is Lay Servant Ministry director in the Prairie Rivers District.]
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Facilitating Difficult Conversations workshops set for Wichita
Conflict, controversy, and hard conversations are inevitable in the life of the church. They are normal. But can they actually be a positive force?
The Wichita East and West Districts are offering a free workshop that will help you explore the possibilities and strengthen your skills in guiding your church through difficult conversations. The workshop will be offered on two different dates, at four different times. Pick the location and date that works best for you.
  • Saturday, Feb. 13: 9 a.m. – noon
  • Cheney UMC in Cheney, Kansas
  • First UMC in El Dorado, Kansas
  • Saturday, Feb. 27: 9 a.m. – noon
  • Aldersgate UMC in Wichita, Kansas
  • College Hill UMC in Wichita, Kansas
Clergy and laity are encouraged to attend together as a team, but you can come by yourself if that works best for you.
View flier for more information and how to register.
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Micah Corps interns create several youth activities

Creating change in the world — youth activities focus on poverty, environment, food security, peace/nonviolence and immigration.
The 2015 Micah Corps interns have created activities for youth groups that offer a series of discussions, videos and activities which will teach youth how the issues connect to their faith and challenge and inspire the youth to use their power to change the world. These activities are formatted under five four-part units where through the activities, Scripture and discussion students will learn concrete ways to be accepting, be aware and create change in their society.
Download the activities.
Throughout the next few months, we’ll highlight a different topic. This week, we focus on poverty.
  • Poverty — “One in Body and One in Spirit"
Poverty is an issue that affects every community across the US. Help be part of the solution by learning more about poverty, the cliff effect, food security and advocacy. These lessons help facilitate discussion and education on a difficult and very personal topic. Only when we all raise our voices can the problem of systemic poverty change for the better.
Download poster for poverty lesson. (PDF) (image)
Read more about the activities. You can learn more about the Micah Corps interns at greatplainsumc.org/micahcorps.
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Nominations open for Denman Evangelism Award

The Great Plains Annual Conference is now accepting nominations for The Harry Denman Evangelism Award for clergy, lay and youth. The Harry Denman Evangelism Award recognizes a person whose life and ministry exemplifies the teaching of Christ and the Great Commission.
Recipients of these awards, nominated by individuals, churches, or districts, and selected by the conference, live their call to “Offer Them Christ” daily as modeled by Dr. Harry Denman, founder of The Foundation for Evangelism that sponsors these awards.
Nominations must be received no later than March 1 to be considered for the 2016 awards. Call the Rev. Patrick Broz at 620-532-3381 for more information.
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The Water's Edge UMC completes capital campaign

The Water's Edge UMC in Omaha, Nebraska, recently completed its second capital campaign: From the Ground Up. The people of The Water's Edge pledged to give $2.4 million for the construction of the church's first building and related improvements. A previous campaign, WE imagine, raised $1.3 million.
These campaigns will allow the church to move forward and hopefully break ground this fall on the 23.3 acres of land it owns in southwest Omaha. Phase one of the project will include a worship center, children's classrooms, a large commons area, parking, landscaping and site improvements. The Water's Edge currently gathers for worship at Millard West High School and Beadle Middle School and has dozens of small groups that meet at homes throughout the Omaha metro area.
Learn more about Water’s Edge UMC at www.weomaha.com.
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New Creation Care team being formed in the Great Plains

If you are interested in linking your faith with the reality of climate change and would like to work with other Great Plains United Methodists to pray, study and act, contact Carol Windrumcwindrum@greatplainsumc.org. This team will meet primarily by conference call so geography shouldn't be a factor in participation.
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Nebraskans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty plans spring event
Nebraskans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (NADP) has released two resources to help pastors and congregation engage in informed conversations about capital punishment.
  • “Christian Reflections on the Death Penalty” includes questions for discussion on a number of Bible passages, along with some facts about the death penalty and several sources for more information.
  • “Reflections on the Lenten Gospel Readings” takes a look at the scriptures for Ash Wednesday and Sundays in Lent in the context of Nebraska’s present conversation about the death penalty.
  • The United Methodist Church has a strong, long-standing position opposing the death penalty. A bulletin insert is available with the complete statement in the Social Principles.
NADP is planning a day-long workshop later this spring for religious leaders across Nebraska who want to learn more about the death penalty and how to lead conversations in their communities and congregations. Watch for more information. Please note that the workshop originally scheduled for Jan. 30 has been postponed.
For more information, contact the Rev. Stephen Griffith, NADP, 941 O St., Suite 725, Lincoln NE 68508. Call him at 402-477-7787, or send an email to griffith@nadp.net.
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Mark your calendar for Global Youth Service Day in Omaha

United Methodist Ministries/The Big Garden is hosting Global Youth Service Day in Omaha on Saturday,
Established in 1988, Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) celebrates and mobilizes the millions of young people who improve their communities through service. GYSD is the largest service event in the world, and the only one dedicated to the contributions that children and youth make 365 days of the year.
Youth groups and individual volunteers will gather in Omaha for a fun and engaging day of service to our community. This year's work will primarily take place in community gardens. Work will include topping off soil, routine maintenance and preparing gardens for spring planting. Community gardens help neighbors in low-income areas have access to fresh, healthy produce while increasing skills and reducing food expenses.
This day of service is open to all ages and denominations. The cost to participate is $10, and pre-registration is required by April 22. Groups should bring one adult for every five youth. All United Methodist Ministries staff members have undergone background checks and are certified under the United Methodist Safe Gatherings system. Contactmailto:info@biggarden.org for more information.
Register now.
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Editorials
Nudging students to serve

Editor’s note: the following was submitted by Derek Bergman, program director at Camp Fontanelle.
As I reflect back on how I arrived to this point in my life, I am grateful to all those nudges I was given.
Today I am doing my best to raise the three kids God has blessed us with and the hundreds of children, youth and adults that call Camp Fontanelle home for a short time each summer. Thanks to my parents, friends and my church family, I find myself in a very good place.
I first attended Camp Fontanelle as a third-grader. My parents and my church helped me come back to camp every summer after that, and I am truly grateful to them all. I was able to find myself. I discovered that my faith is my own. I found a new worship style, around a campfire and I loved it! I connected with other children and youth that had the same beliefs as I did. I met leaders within our conference whom had a passion that I wanted too! Some of those leaders were pastors, some were college age and some were the older youth who were also campers with me.
Our church camps helped to shape the person I am today!
In college I found new life struggles, I was on my own. Thanks to the experiences I had at camp many summers before, I knew how to find the groups I needed to be connected with. I found my faith again! Then I discovered, I could go back to camp as a college student. This time as an employee and stay for the entire summer and get paid! My local pastor presented the idea to me and shared that he thought I would be good and enjoy the job. He was right!
I know there are many others that are where they are today because of a conversation or nudge from their mentor and/or local pastor. Now as the program director at Camp Fontanelle, I have seen some of these people serve with me and they are now involved greatly within our conference at a local church, or as a new seminary student, or serving local churches as pastors, and some are still discerning their call.
Had it not been for my local pastor taking the time to know me and nudge me toward the ministry at Camp Fontanelle, I may have not become involved in any type of ministry. Please take the time to know the youth in your church, keep them connected, and use our camps as a resource to help you.
Camp Fontanelle is looking for 14 college age staff to enhance our camp experience this summer.
So are our other Great Plains camps.
Our conference also has other internship opportunities.
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Newsletters
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Classifieds
To view these and other classifieds, go to greatplainsumc.org/classifieds.
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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.
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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.
To submit a letter to the editor, send it to info@greatplainsumc.org.

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