Thursday, January 5, 2017

GPconnect for Wdnesday, 04 January 2017 from The Great Plains Conference communications of The United Methodist Church in Wichita, Kansas, United States for Wednesday, 4 January 2017
Download the printable version of the Jan. 4 issue of GPconnect.
In this edition:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CLERGY EXCELLENCE
EQUIPPING DISCIPLES
MERCY & JUSTICE
ADMINISTRATION
ACROSS THE CONNECTION
Learn some techniques for evangelism to start the new year
All Christians know Jesus gave us explicit instructions to make disciples of all people. But for some reason, many believers find it difficult to share their faith.
Some are too timid to talk to others about Christ. Others go overboard and are, well, jerks about it.
The Rev. David Watson, Five Rivers District superintendent, conducted a workshop on evangelism “without being a jerk” during charge conferences in 2016. We want to share one recording, from October 2016, of Rev. Watson sharing his “no-brainer” top 10 evangelism techniques.
Enjoy his tips as you gain insight into effective evangelism techniques for the 21st century.
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Clergy Excellence
GBHEM expands pastoral education with new Course of Study offerings
The Division of Ordained Ministry at the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) has announced the establishment of three new options for the education of part-time licensed local pastors: an Extension of the Course of Study School of Ohio (COSSO) to be located at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, a satellite Course of Study program with Saint Paul School of Theology in Hays, Kansas, and a pilot Escuela de Cursos de Estudios (ECE), a Spanish Course of Study, to be offered in Denver.
The COSSO agreement was created in partnership with GBHEM, Methodist Theological School in Ohio (MTSO), and United Theological Seminary. Saint Paul School of Theology and the Great Plains Annual Conference partnered with GBHEM on the establishment of the satellite Course of Study program. The pilot ECE was developed by leaders in the Western Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church and GBHEM staff.
Designed to serve part-time local pastors, these Course of Study extension and satellite programs will offer up to 12 courses per year. The seminaries and annual conference leaders will work collectively to develop the schedule and course offerings. The two Spanish-language hybrid courses offered in 2017 will combine a weekend residential program and online work. The goal of the pilot program is to identify effective education offerings for part-time Spanish-dominant local pastors.
“We look forward to our work with these seminaries and annual conference leaders as we each endeavor to fulfil our mission of educating clergy and church leadership,” said Rev. Shannon Conklin-Miller, assistant general secretary for clergy formation, Division of Ordained Ministry at GBHEM. “GBHEM is grateful for this opportunity to collaborate with these institutions and leaders, and we look forward to longstanding partnerships.”
Conklin-Miller worked closely with Dr. Joon-Sik Park, director of COSSO, Rev. Jay Rundell, president of MTSO, Dr. Kent Millard, president of Untied Theological Seminary, and Dr. Peter Bellini, director of non-degree programs at United Theological Seminary, to develop the hybrid Course of Study program in compliance with United Methodist guidelines and policies.
Rev. Dr. Israel Kamudzandu, director of Saint Paul Course of Study, worked closely with the leadership of the Great Plains Annual Conference to initiate the new program and ensure the educational needs of the conference’s part-time local pastors were fulfilled.
Rev. David Martinez, director of Specialized Theological Education at GBHEM, worked closely with the Advisory Board for Hispanic Ministry in the Western Jurisdiction and Rev. Cesar Duran, Hispanic/Latino Ministry developer of the Rocky Mountain Annual Conference, to increase access to the ECE for bi-vocational local pastors who are not able to attend the residential ECE programs.
For questions or to learn more about GBHEM, visit http://www.gbhem.org.
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Equipping Disciples
Happy New Year:
It's time to start thinking camp
In less than six months, our 28- or 38- degree weather is going to be 82- 83 degrees. In less than six months, the summer camping season will have begun. It is time to decide which summer camp you and your family members are going to attend.
Camp Fontanelle has a camp session for everyone.
Do you want to attend camp as a family? Family Camp (June 16-19) is the perfect camp for you. Do you have a child or grandchild in preschool through second grade? There are four camps which are just perfect for you and your young person younger than third grade. (There are two sessions for preschool and kindergartners and two sessions for first- and second-graders.)
Beginning in third grade, campers can attend without an adult. There are great sessions based on our tree climbing program and kids who like water fun. Do you have an adventurous teen? Then our Survivor Camp would be the perfect choice. There are camps just for girls or just for guys, science-based or animal-based camps and more extraordinary sessions are offered.
The staff at Camp Fontanelle believes that everyone should experience God at camp. Is this your year to see God in nature, to find God in the quiet, and rejoice with exuberance when you know that God loves you? God is calling you to get reconnected; you can do this at camp.
Find the session for you and your family members at campfontanelle.com. Online registration is open for the 2017 camping season. Join hundreds of other campers this summer and learn about God with the 2017 Branching Out Curriculum.
See you at camp! Contact the camp at fontanelle@greatplainsumc.org or 402-478-4296 for more information. If Camp Fontanelle is not near you, please go to www.greatplainsumc.org/camps and check out all of the Great Plains camps offerings.
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Wesleyan Studies certification available from new Lay Academy
It can be difficult to find theologically rich adult study resources, but a new program is filling that gap.
The Wesley Theological Seminary Lay Academy offers 11 online courses covering a variety of topics including Methodist identity, early church history, Christian ethics, interfaith relations, and the intersection of faith and science. Laypeople can earn a certification in Wesleyan Studies by completing six of the courses online, or can choose to take courses individually for personal education and enrichment.
All 11 courses in the Lay Academy feature half-hour video lectures filmed in Oxford, England, with the world’s leading Wesleyan scholars and historians.
“I am blown away by the caliber of instructors presenting in these courses,” says Rev. Wendy Mohler-Seib, an ordained United Methodist elder in Kansas. “These scholars are the best of the best, and represent scholarship from all over the world.”
The Wesley Lay Academy represents a new way of making high-quality theological instruction broadly accessible and for seminaries to connect with laypeople in the local church.
“The Wesley Lay Academy makes seminary-level education available to all dedicated Christians desiring to love God with their whole mind,” says Beth Ludlum, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.
The seminary partnered with the Richard and Julia Wilke Institute for Discipleship to make these courses available online. The Institute for Discipleship, based at United Methodist-affiliated Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, has a 10-year history of making Christian discipleship courses available online, and traces their roots back to Disciple Bible Study.
“When my folks, Richard and Julia Wilke, developed Disciple Bible Study 30 years ago, one of their dreams was to help more people have access to the top scholars of our faith. The Wesley Lay Academy follows in that tradition,” says Steve Wilke, executive director of the Institute for Discipleship. “For Christians who are lifelong learners, the Wesley Lay Academy gives access to world class lectures and the opportunity to discuss topics with depth and meaning. If you’re someone who always dreamed of sitting in on a seminary class to experience great professors and engaging discussion, this is your chance. And, you won’t have to complete any papers or tests, and you can do it all without leaving your home,” Wilke adds. “We need laity in every church who can ground their faithful living in a deep understanding of Wesleyan thought and think critically about the issues of our day.”
All courses in the Wesley Lay Academy are available online at BeADisciple.com at a cost of $50 each. Classes will be offered on a regular schedule starting in January 2017. More information about the Wesley Lay Academy and the certification in Wesleyan Studies can be found at www.beadisciple.com/wesley/.
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Mercy & Justice
‘Peace on Earth’ the angels sang at Christmas – What will 2017 bring?
A few days ago, we celebrated the birth of the Prince of Peace. And yet many of us are troubled and fearful when looking towards the new year and what it might bring. We are surrounded by terrible news of hate, pain, hurt, violence and death.
When promising the Holy Spirit to his disciples, Jesus said, “I am leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you are used to being left – feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught.” (John 14:27)
Let us walk in the light of Christ to be strengthened for the work Christ is asking all of us to do. Let us work for peace and justice, God’s good news, for all of God’s beloved children.
If you want to connect with others from around the nation to worship and act for peace and justice, consider attending the Ecumenical Advocacy Days in Washington D.C., April 21-24. Peace with Justice Ministries still has a few scholarships available.
For more information, see this link or contact Andrea Paret at amparet08@yahoo.com[Andrea Paret, Great Plains Peace with Justice Coordinator]
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UM Global AIDS
Fund grants available
UM Global AIDS Fund grants for 2017 are now available to Great Plains UM churches. Through the generosity of our churches, 25 percent of 2016 donations to the UMGAF have remained in our conference to further HIV AIDS ministries.
The goals of the UMGAF are zero new HIV infections, zero AIDS-related deaths, and zero stigma. Churches are invited to explore ways they can work towards these goals, and then apply for a grant.
There continues to be a lack of knowledge about HIV AIDS which often leads to stigma against those living with the disease. Within our churches grants can be used to purchase educational materials to use with their health and wellness ministries with their congregations.
Consider sponsoring a health fair with the local Department of Health and other health-related agencies. This is an excellent way to distribute factual information on HIV AIDS and to offer testing. Churches may contact their local or regional agency that coordinates services for individuals and families living with HIV AIDS to discover ways to be in ministry.
The “Working for an AIDS Free World” grant application form and SMART Goal Model are available at greatplainsumc.org/globalaidsfund and should be submitted by Jan. 31, 2017, to Andrew Brackett at andrewb@nap.org. For more information, contact LeEllen Haynes at leellen.haynes@yahoo.com.
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Administration
Webinar to help new stewardship, finance team members
Discipleship Ministries will begin the new year with a webinar titled “Stewardship & Finance: Getting it Right at the Starting Line.”
This webinar, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CST Thursday, Jan. 5, will be focused on the new members of the stewardship team, finance committee or church council – those who are looking to get started on the right foot.
If your work in the church deals with people’s giving, you know the importance of that responsibility. Bathe your work in prayer. Remember, you are not alone; there are places to find help!
As you enter the new year, reflect on these ideas that could make your job the best one in the church! We will also highlight changes the 2016 General Conference made that will affect your work.
Register for the webinar.
Questions can be emailed to stewardship@umcdiscipleship.org
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Insurance updates
sent from conference
Insurance packets and bills have gone out to all churches in the Great Plains Conference. For those churches in Nebraska and the former Kansas West Conference, this relates to Worker Compensation insurance as mandated by the Plan of Organization of our Conference. For churches in the former Kansas East Conference (and other churches who have voluntarily chosen to opt in) this includes not only Worker Compensation but property and liability insurance as well. Due to lower than expected claims in the first three years of our new conference rates for Worker Compensation and property insurance have declined! And the Conference Trustees, with the help of our broker, Sue Courtney, were able to negotiate successfully a “tiered deductible” which means churches with less property will have a smaller deductible than churches with a larger amount of property. So, many churches have also seen their deductible drop as well.[Gary A. Beach, Treasurer/Director of Administrative Services, Great Plains Conference]
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Nebraska UMF's 'Spirit of Christmas' gives to LPI, Fontanelle
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IRS announces mileage rate for 2017
The Internal Revenue Service has announced the mileage rates for 2017.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2017, the standard mileage rate for the use of a personal vehicle became 53.5 cents per mile for conference employees and pastors of local churches.
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Across the Connection
Wind chill, power outage doesn’t stop Christmas celebration
Taking a line from “Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow” -- “Oh, the weather outside was frightful, but the fire so delightful,” Christmas campers at the Camp Fontanelle Christmas Camp (Dec. 16-18) experienced the frightful weather and delightful fires.
With temperatures dipping to 12 degrees below zero, campers spent the weekend inside, playing board games, Human Hungry Hungry Hippo, singing Christmas carols and celebrating Christmas. It was a challenge as many favorite Christmas Camp activities -- like ziplining, Nine Square in the Air and the Nativity Hike -- could not be done for safety reasons with the bitter cold.
A special visit from St. Nicholas was interrupted when the surrounding area lost power. A fire was built to brighten the room and provide warmth and St. Nicholas continued telling stories of Christmas. St. Nicholas spent a couple of hours with the campers before leaving gifts and heading on his way. The campers then grabbed all of their sleeping bags from the basement dormitory and nestled in the fireplace room for a "mildly" warm winter’s nap!
Making gingerbread houses brought a lot of laughter and creativity from the campers and the nativity story was re-created in the lodge as an alternative to the nativity hike. As a service project, the campers made reindeer candy canes which were given to Crowell Home in Blair, Nebraska.
This year, the campers were adopted by families, organizations and individuals. Gifts were purchased from a wish list provided by the camper. Gifts were opened both Saturday and Sunday. The Saturdaygifts were clothing items and the campers held a fashion show to make sure everything fit.
This year’s Christmas campers came from Lyons, Fremont, Blair, Kennard, Arlington, Omaha and Bellevue. A camper from Hastings did not make it due to the weather conditions. Christmas Camp for 2017 is planned for Dec. 15-17.
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Ann Duncan to speak at Smith-Willson Lecture
Ann Duncan, associate professor and director of the religion program at Goucher College in Baltimore, will be the featured speaker for Southwestern College’s 2017 Smith-Willson lecture at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, in Wroten Hall on the Winfield, Kansas, campus. There is no admission charge.
The title of the lecture is “Leaning In, Mommy Wars, and the Possibilities of Sacred Motherhood.”
“Religious communities have long prioritized and even sacralized the care-giving that contemporary feminists such as Anne-Marie Slaughter have pinpointed as the must undervalued – and yet deeply important – part of our humanity,” Duncan says. “This, I think, has implications not only for addressing the contemporary challenges of American womanhood but also for our understandings of the relationship between religion and feminism, the place of religion in contemporary society, and the ways in which we teach religious studies in a pluralistic and progressive society.”
Duncan is the author of “Motherhood, Faith, Feminism and the Legacy of the 2008 Presidential Election,” in the Journal of the Motherhood Initiative. She is also the co-editor (with Steven Jones) of “Church and States Issues in America Today” and co-editor (with Jacob L. Goodson) of “The Universe Is Indifferent: Theology, Philosophy, Mad Men” (Cascade Press, 2016).
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In Other News
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Newsletters
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Blogs & Opinion
In Layman’s Terms: Todd Seifert, conference communications director, shares one final Christmas message with some observations about Mary and Joseph teaching all of us a lesson in obedience to God.
Standing Rock’s Legacy: Thanks to social media, the world was able to watch the rise of Standing Rock. Strategic communications were the game changer in this historic battle, writes Ginny Underwood, a member of the Comanche Nation of Oklahoma.
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Classifieds
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