News
March 13, 2020
Ways to be the Church in the Time of the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Ideas on how to be the Church in the midst of the unfolding health crisis.
March 02, 2020
A Statement of Care and Compassion Concerning the Coronavirus Outbreak (updated 3/9/20)
Updated 3/9/20 Best practices, community guidelines, resources in response to the COVID-19 outbreak offered by the Missouri Conference of The United Methodist Church.
March 02, 2020
Celebrating Our Progress
As I sit down to write this article, I am in front of a window and can see the radiant sunshine despite a chilly day. The sunshine looks inviting and feels good after so many days of cloudy, dreary weather. In ...
March 02, 2020
Lead Us Into Ministry
Our vision for the Missouri Annual Conference is to relentlessly lead our churches to become outwardly focused and spiritually centered Christ followers. The primary ways in which the Conference seeks to live out this ...
March 02, 2020
Open Hearts, Open Books
Each Wednesday morning during the school year, my wife and I make our way to one of the local elementary schools where we meet with our KidsHopeUSA students. KidsHopeUSA is a nationally recognized program where Christian...
February 27, 2020
South Central Jurisdiction Committee On the Episcopacy Holds Spring Meeting
The South Central Jurisdiction Committee on the Episcopacy held its spring meeting February 24-25 which included conversations with the College of Bishops about episcopal leadership needs for the upcoming quadrennium. ...
February 21, 2020
Baby Grace
An effort by lay members at one church to meet a community need ends up expanding to 20 churches.
February 21, 2020
Baby Grace Camp
Camp provides relief, bonding experience for parents of young children.
February 21, 2020
Gilmore Named Next Heartland District Superintendent
Rev. David Gilmore will be the next Heartland District Superintendent.
February 21, 2020
Missouri's Earthkeepers
United Methodists combine their spiritual life with care for the environment.
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February 17, 2020
But We've Always Done it That Way
Amber Hirsch is the Lay Leader for the Gateway Central District. She is the Director of Worship Arts Communications for St. Mark’s UMC in Florissant. She is a life-long United Methodist, a proud P.K. (Preacher’s Kid), ...
February 17, 2020
Multiplying Kingdom Impact
What impact can a body of believers have on their community? It’s an aspirational question, and one the Missouri Conference hopes can help local churches multiply their ministry. When Rev. Roger Ross started his job as...
February 17, 2020
Three Churches in MKI
Three Kansas City area churches share their stories about getting started in MKI.
January 29, 2020
Game Time
Missouri Bishop Bob Farr takes a turn preaching for the United Methodist worship service that takes place at Arrowhead Stadium before each Kansas City Chiefs game that has a kickoff time at noon on Sunday.
January 03, 2020
Missouri Statement on Protocol of Separation
Dear Colleagues in Christ, Grace and peace to you in the name of Christ Jesus. I write to call your attention to the results of a mediation process undertaken by 16 United Methodists, entitled “A Protocol of ...
January 03, 2020
United Methodist Traditionalists, Centrists, Progressives, & Bishops sign agreement aimed at separation
(Washington, D.C.) - A diverse group of representatives from United Methodist advocacy groups with contrasting views and bishops from around the world has collaborated on a proposed agreement for the separation of The ...
December 20, 2019
Inked in the Holy Land
Several Missouri Conference clergy take part in an ancient Holy Land tradition of getting a tattoo to mark their pilgrimage.
December 20, 2019
Open Hearts, Open Books
Church in Warsaw embraces Missouri Conference Open Hearts, Open Books initiative.
December 20, 2019
Thrive 2020
Traditional Black churches in Missouri discuss ways to strengthen their ministries.
December 19, 2019
Alice Fowler Installed as Southwest District Superintendent
Alice Folwer is installed as the Southwest District Superintendent at First UMC in Carthage. Becoming a district superintendent wasn’t exactly in Rev. Alice Fowler’s career plans. “She may have been the most ...
December 19, 2019
Jon Thompson Installed as Ozarks District Superintendent
Rev. Jon Thompson is installed as the Ozarks District Superintendent.
December 19, 2019
Robin Bell Installed as Gateway Central District Superintendent
Rev. Robin Bell speaks at Webster Hills UMC. Robin Bell’s personal mission is to create enthusiasm for learning and living the Gospel of Christ. She plans to continue to do that as the new Gateway Central District ...
December 02, 2019
Churches Learn About Human Trafficking
Churches learn that human trafficking is happening close to home.
December 02, 2019
Rural Conversations
Sidney Owens has been listening. In her role as Missouri Conference Community Engagement Specialist, she has conducted a series of rural conversations this fall, with meetings at Columbia, Cameron, Advance and ...
December 02, 2019
Sharefest
Wrap-up of 2019 Sharefests
November 22, 2019
Apprenticeship Through Community
This fourth installment in the Clergy Health Series highlights the importance of covenant groups.
November 15, 2019
Bishop Farr's Response to Mainstream Moratorium Request
Dear friends, Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior! I hope all is well in your life and ministry. I am praying for each of you as we draw close to the Advent season. Every bishop has been ...
October 25, 2019
Bishop Leads Ride for Mozambique Motorcycles
Bishop Farr and his wife Susan lead a group of motorcyclists on a 1,000 mile loop around Missouri to kick-off a campaign to raise money to purchase motorcycles for pastors in Mozambique.
October 25, 2019
Old McKendree Turns 200
A celebration at Missouri's only national United Methodist historic shrine commemorates 210 years since the organization of the congregation and 200 years since the building of the chapel.
October 24, 2019
BMCR Fifth Sunday Worship
The St. Louis Black Methodist for Church Renewal have a worship service on fifth Sundays of the month. Missouri Bishop Bob Farr was the preacher for the September 29 service.
October 24, 2019
Clergy Health Series: Holy Friendships
This is the third article in a series on clergy health factors. The Wesleyan way links the health of the Church with the health of its clergy. The leadership of healthy clergy is essential for developing outwardly ...
October 18, 2019
MOAC Staffing Announcement: Ilda Guambe
The Office of Finance and Administration is pleased to announce that Ilda Guambe has accepted a full-time position as Evaluation and Learning Specialist.
October 11, 2019
SCJ College of Bishops Join Texas Bishops in Call to Address the Humanitarian Crisis Along U.S. Southern Border
South Central Jurisdiction College of Bishops Join Texas Bishops in a Call to Address the Humanitarian Crisis Along U.S. Southern Border October 2019 Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We ...
October 07, 2019
Melanie Smollen at The Center for Congregational Excellence
The Center for Congregational Excellence is pleased to announce that Melanie Smollen has accepted a full-time position as Missional Strategist. The focus of this new role is to develop systems that find and equip ...
August 19, 2019
7 Steps to Reshape Your Church's Future
To reshape the future of your church you must set aside old assumptions, fears, and stereotypes and embrace new experiences and methods. In the new book Blank Slate, Lia McIntosh, Jasmine Smothers, and Rodney Smothers ...
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August 19, 2019
Celebrando Esperanza Celebrating the Recovery Work in Vieques, Puerto Rico
On February 8-9, 2020 we will celebrate the good work God has done! Bishops Farr and Ortiz of the United Methodist Church of Puerto Rico will be traveling to the island of Vieques to celebrate our connection and the ...
August 19, 2019
Celebrating Our Progress
Our vision for the Missouri Annual Conference is to relentlessly lead our churches to become outwardly focused and spiritually centered Christ followers.
August 19, 2019
Doing Good
Hebrews 10: 24: Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds. If you’ve had the opportunity to visit us at the Missouri Conference Center at 3601 Amron Court in Columbia, when you started getting ...
August 19, 2019
Get A Life
This is the first article in a series on clergy health factors. The Wesleyan way links the health of the Church with the health of its clergy. The leadership of healthy clergy is essential for developing outwardly ...
August 19, 2019
Life Is Precious
As Christians in the Wesleyan tradition, we can say our human worth and that of all persons is grounded in three things.
August 19, 2019
Looking Through the Lense
After years of photography through personal projects and an education at the Missouri School of Journalism, I’ve found that I experience life differently when I’m looking through the lens of my camera. I pay more ...
August 19, 2019
Parting Shot
"We know we have passed from death to life because we love one another. Whoever does not love abides in death [1 John 3:14].” God’s love poured into my heart by the searching and refining fire of the Holy Spirit is not ...
August 19, 2019
Rocks Everywhere
I don’t know about you, but I needed a renewal break this summer from all the events of 2019. The issues and theological polarization within our church and the political polarization within our world can become ...
August 19, 2019
Servanthood Behind Prison Walls
April 16 was a monumental and historical day for the Southeast Correctional Center, Cape Girardeau’s La Croix United Methodist Church and the Missouri Department of Corrections. On the Wednesday before Easter, 159 ...
August 19, 2019
The Bigger Offering Plate
“Will the ushers please come forward…” That single phrase used to be the primary (if not the only) way the church gathered the gifts of the faithful and funded the ministries of the church. While the offertory remains ...
August 19, 2019
Youth Music Opportunities
While the offertory remains a meaningful part of our worship, the practical ways that devoted disciples can give in support of the church have expanded. The ‘offering plate’ is bigger than ever, but church offices need ...