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Elsa Klein takes her job as hospitality ambassador at Concord Trinity very seriously. She gets to the church at about 7:30 a.m. and organizes the “Pray Ground” area for children in the sanctuary well before any arrive on...

In your relationship with God, how much is filled with your voice and how much is filled with silence? What might you be missing without time for silence? In this month's Laity Voices, Amy Thompson shares her experience ...

Can humans affect the climate of an entire planet? The answer is yes. We are the only species to spread over the whole planet. The one commandment of God we seem to obey is to be fruitful and multiply. We are the only ...

The closing of Creighton UMC did not mean the end of the building's ministry. Thanks to two neighboring UMC Churches, the building continues serving the community.

The vision for UNITE was in its name: To inspire students to unite through worship and mission, create opportunities for students to use their voices, encourage students to be kin(g)dom workers in their local communities...

Culmination of three-year leadership empowerment and spiritual formation program

In the Missouri Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, we recognize that God is doing new and fresh things through local churches in Missouri to reach new people, collaborate beyond denomination bounds and ...

In this month's column, Amy Thompson, talks about the similarities between preparing a child for college and how we equip and prepare laity for ministry in the conference, and the importance of active engagement.

Tell me about your front porch story. Often while leading a group, I will ask persons to share their front porch stories to help us become acquainted and build connections. I usually start sharing my memory of the front ...

Many churches have embraced community gardens as a ministry of their congregation. How they approach the operation and purpose of their agricultural ministry varies widely. This month we visit a small sample of gardens ...

Missouri Conference churches reached the next generation through various camping experiences this summer. Thanksto partnerships with day-camp providers Eagle Lake Camps and Heartland Camps, just over 1,400 ...

The Sessions Team ensures all abilities are included in the annual meeting. Year-after-year, the Annual Conference Sessions Team seeks to improve accessibility services at the Annual Conference Session. As we work ...

A few weeks ago, I stood inside a small parsonage in Barrane, Mozambique, with Bishop Farr and the delegation from Missouri. Over an hour before, we had left the pavement to make our way to this remote congregation where...

“Well-being is more than a trendy buzzword. The well-being of our pastors is undeniably on the hearts and minds of Missouri United Methodists amid unprecedented ministry challenges,” states Rev. Mark Struckhoff, Director...

Church occurs when people gather for worship, for fellowship, and to serve others. In Wesley’s day church occurred in the small group gatherings (the classes and bands), the larger society meetings, and at annual ...

By Robby Criswell, NextGen Media Intern This week NextGen Ministries hosted its first-ever UNITE event at Central Methodist University for sixth through 12th graders. Throughout the week, over 300 students gathered to ...

A foundational tool like curriculum helps leaders do more effective, connectional ministry. New this summer, Missouri Conference NextGen Ministries is excited to offer discounts on curriculum produced by top kids and ...

David and Thelma Steward are both fans of and friends with BeBe Winans. As the chairman and founder of World Wide Technology, one of St. Louis’s largest companies, David Steward has brought BeBe Winans to St. Louis for ...

Rev. Daniel Hilty opened Missouri Annual Conference with an invitation to love like Jesus. Hilty said we behave as if we need permission from our group to love someone outside of it. But Jesus never waited for permission...

A memorial service at Annual Conference included lighting candles for churches that had closed in the past year and reading the names of clergy and clergy spouses who have died.

Rev. Candace Lewis spoke on this theme, based on the scripture of John 21: 1-14, during her learning time at Annual Conference Session. She told how Peter – who had seen Jesus walk on water, feed 5,000, heal people and ...

Missouri Conference Chancellor Jordan Ault began his report by reminding the Conference that for the last few years, his reports have been dominated by discussions of litigation filed by disaffiliating churches that ...

The Board of Trustees report carried a heavy weight this year as the first order of business on the agenda after the standard procedures of establishing the bar and approving the agenda, rules and procedures. The report ...

A highlight of the Annual Conference Session is always the celebration of ministry service. This year three deacons were ordained, eight elders were ordained, an associate member was received, and nine were commissioned ...

Saturday morning of the Annual Conference Session started with a Service of Recognition that honored newly licensed local pastors, people who have completed a Course of Study in the past year, and clergy who are ...

Director of Leadership Excellence Mark Statler opened his report by explaining how their the ministry area relates to the Board of Ordained Ministry, District Committees on Ministry and the Conference Lay Ministries ...

Rev. Lynn Dyke, chair of the Nominations Committee, began her report by explaining in the past two years, the Conference has done some right-sizing, reducing the number of districts from nine to five and reducing the ...

Two non-binding resolutions that were part of a coordinated national effort came before the Missouri Conference Session this year.

The Missouri Conference Next Generation Ministries staff supports local churches in the areas of children, youthage, college-age and camping ministries in making the youngest disciples in our church. They have been in a ...

Bishop Robert Farr grew up around people who looked just like him. He now feels so blessed that God put others in his path. It’s not always the easiest path, but it’s the right one.

Taking a walk early on Sunday morning during Annual Conference Session is a 16-year tradition for the United Women in Faith, formerly United Methodist Women. They sell T-shirts associated with the walk and give the ...

“John Wesley founded a laity movement,” Lay Leader Amy Thompson said. “What step are you taking to be a part of this movement? Clergy, I am inviting you to preach about the call and responding to your call. If you ...

The Missouri Conference Finance and Administration Team, Clergy Support Team and Board of Trustees have had a very different year leading up to Annual Conference. The 75 disaffiliated churches represented over $1.8 ...

This fall, Congregational Excellence will be offering Church Planting Intensive —a multi-day training event for those in the pre-plant phase or for those discerning whether planting is for them.

“In seventh grade, I was told God makes friends with us; therefore, we should make friends with others,” Missouri Bishop Robert Farr told the Conference in his episcopal address.  That stuck with him and set him on a ...

What a joy it was to gather in-person with you for conferencing in St. Charles last weekend! As you return to your ministry setting refreshed and Spirit-filled, we’ve rounded up some details and resources you may find ...

Disaffiliation vote passes during opening session of Annual Conference,

For the next year, each month, we will feature a different Conference board, committee or team by highlighting a member and their connectional experience of serving beyond the local church.   Episcopacy Committee (Book ...

Annual Conference is described by the church’s Constitution as the “basic unit” of the church. That unit typically gathers every June to celebrate, learn together and conduct a little bit of business. To get the most out...

On May 17, leaders of the Missouri Conference gathered in Columbia to honor United Methodists from across Missouri for their exceptional achievements in ministry. These are their stories.

Holden United Methodist Church in Missouri has successfully focused on meeting the needs of senior citizens in the community. The church had been working on addressing the need for a gathering place for seniors after the...

What should you expect to experience while at Annual Conference? While there, we will worship with Methodists from across the state of Missouri, connect with other Methodists, do some business - like voting - as needed, ...

Church and community came together on April 29 in the warehouse at the Missouri Conference office in Columbia to pack Menstrual Hygiene Kits for the United Methodist Committee On Relief (UMCOR). The kits? were designed, ...

The Missouri Conference NextGen team recently embarked on a tour of Missouri to establish stronger connections with local churches and gain insights on how they can better support children, youth, and college-age ...

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warns that America is facing an epidemic of loneliness, with one out of every two Americans experiencing measurable levels of loneliness at any given time. This has grave consequences for ...

Husch Blackwell is pleased to announce that partner Jordan Ault has been named president-elect of the United Methodist Church Conference Chancellors Association (UMC3), a national organization of attorneys who serve as ...

For many of us, estate planning is right up there with eating your broccoli and filing your taxes. You know it’s a good thing to do, but not right now – please.

Jesus uses a metaphor of a vine and branches to emphasize the importance of staying connected to Him and each other. Just as branches cannot bear fruit unless they remain attached to the vine, Jesus teaches that ...

Four Missouri Conference students graduate from Saint Paul School of Theology.

The Missouri Conference of the United Methodist Church is committed to providing safe places of worship and fellowship to everyone we serve. To that end, it is the Conference’s expectation that: Every clergy appointed ...