News
April 01, 2018
Mission Field: Rural Missouri
Trying to expand a ministry in a community that is showing declines in small business and other institutions can be an arduous task. When Rev. Andrew Coon of the Shelbina/ Honeywell charge introduced the speakers at the ...
April 01, 2018
Mozambique Initiative: Stepping Up to Partnership
Asmall church can be impactful on its members, it’s community – and it can also use the United Methodist connection to make a difference for people thousands of miles away. Scott’s Chapel United Methodist Church is ...
April 01, 2018
Nurturing Musical Gifts
“If the music is too good then we aren’t worshiping God, we’re worshiping the music.” This is a phrase I’ve heard uttered on occasion. There are many variations on this statement including, but not limited to, “If we ...
April 01, 2018
Parting Shot
By Eric Mattson Some blessings in life don’t require us to wrestle. We love those. Those things connected with God’s grace are given to us as gifts out of God’s love for us, our salvation included [Ephesians 2:8-9]. ...
April 01, 2018
Reaching for Community
Connection Through Preserving History When Aryana Rosen saw a small notice in the paper about an upcoming meeting regarding what to do about Brighton Methodist Church, she felt compelled to check it out. “I thought ...
April 01, 2018
The Heart of the Matter
According to some psychologists, most people lean toward being either rule-followers or rule-breakers. I tend to lean toward rule-breaker. Until recently in my new role, where I am supposed to be a rule enforcer; mostly....
April 01, 2018
The Love of God
Commenting on I John 4:19, which reads “We love him, because he first loved us,” John Wesley wrote “This is the sum of all religion, the genuine model of Christianity. None can say more: why should any say less...” ...
March 23, 2018
Commission members grateful to serve, complete work on final report
LOS ANGELES – Members of the Commission on a Way Forward expressed gratitude at the opportunity to be part of the Commission and they signaled hope for The United Methodist Church as they completed their meeting in Los ...
March 20, 2018
Bishops, leaders of UMC-related institutions optimistic of denomination’s future
DALLAS - Several leaders of United Methodist Church-related institutions voiced optimism and are preparing for possible changes in the global denomination that could occur as a result of the Special Session of the ...
March 14, 2018
Commission on a Way Forward meets March 19-22 to prepare final report
WASHINGTON D.C. – The 32-member Commission on a Way Forward will meet in Los Angeles on March 19-22 to prepare a final report to be submitted to the Council of the Bishops for consideration by the bishops at their ...
March 13, 2018
Bishop Ough, thousands of United Methodists to join in rally against racism
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the nation marks the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., United Methodists will unite with members of the National Council of Churches in Washington, D.C.,...
March 05, 2018
Managing Multiple People in Music Ministry
By Ryan McLouth So you have a lot of people interested in serving on your worship team, but you don’t know what to do with all of them? This is an excellent problem to have, and there are plenty of solutions. The only ...
March 05, 2018
Preaching on Faith and Money
Rev. Mike Slaughter approaches the topic of preaching on faith and money with a simple and hard to argue with reasoning: We should talk about money because Jesus did. “If money was 40 percent of Jesus’s teaching, it ...
March 05, 2018
Youth Urged to Seek Something Greater
Sunday morning at WOW always brings hundreds of bleary-eyed middle school and high schoolers back to the Expo Center floor for one more worship experience before heading home. This year, Bishop Bob Farr was intent on ...
March 01, 2018
Begin With Knowledge
By Jeff Fothergill At our Church Council meeting a couple of months ago, we spent time discussing what it means to be a “sent” church. I’m not sure if we touched all the bases, but it was clear that we couldn’t get ...
March 01, 2018
New Tax Rules & Charitable Giving
The new tax reform legislation will take effect for the 2018 tax year. If members of your church have questions about charitable giving and the new tax rules, your Missouri United Methodist Foundation is here to help. ...
March 01, 2018
The Need for New
When Rev. Roger Ross told his former district superintendent he felt God was calling him to plant a new church, the District Superintendent laughed out loud and advised him that they don’t really do that kind of thing. ...
February 28, 2018
Commission on a Way Forward clarifies values as it presents two sketches to bishops
DALLAS - What is the Christ’s way forward for doing mission and ministry in the worldwide United Methodist Church? That is the question bishops pondered during their February meeting in Dallas this week as they received ...
February 26, 2018
Holiness & Happiness
By Hal Knight Happiness is something everyone wants but no one can adequately define. One internet site had over 13,000 quotes from famous people on what brings happiness. Suggestions include having enough money (but ...
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February 26, 2018
Let’s be open to Christ changing our minds, Bishop Ough tells fellow bishops
DALLAS - Council of Bishops President Bishop Bruce Ough has urged his fellow bishops to be open to Christ changing their minds as they counter disagreements and to be prepared to lead The United Methodist Church into ...
February 26, 2018
Parting Shot
By Eric Mattson Images change the photographers who capture and create them. Photography as a spiritual discipline asks many contemplative questions at various points we won’t flesh out here. What’s important is that ...
February 26, 2018
Unleashed for Ministry
Luke 10:1-9 Luke 10:1 (The Message) Later the Master selected seventy and sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he intended to go. Key Verse: Luke 10:9 (The Message) ‘God’s kingdom is right on ...
February 23, 2018
Bishops to receive, discuss updated report from Commission on a Way Forward
With attention on the missional and theological foundations of The United Methodist Church, the Council of Bishops (COB) is preparing to receive an updated report from the Commission on a Way Forward on possible models ...
February 19, 2018
Reimagined Communitites
I recently heard a presentation by Dr. Richard Flory, the senior director of research and evaluation at the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture. He is a sociologist whose research focuses on religious and cultural ...
February 05, 2018
Rev. Melissa Dodd Named Next Northwest District Superintendent
Rev. Melissa Dodd Rev. Cindy Buhman Rev. Melissa Dodd has been named as the next Northwest District Superintendent. She will replace Rev. Cindy Buhman, who will be returning to serve as a local church ...
February 02, 2018
2018 Mozambique Initiative: Celebrating and Adapting Ministry
Last month, I shared successes of our Mozambique ministry in 2017. I didn’t have final giving support numbers at that time. In 2017, we concluded the highest giving toward the Mozambique Initiative in our history. Total ...
February 02, 2018
Focus on Education: Opportunities Abound
The Missouri United Methodist Foundation continues to bring outstanding educational opportunities to Missouri in 2018. Look for these programs in the next few months!
February 02, 2018
Is it the Spirit, or is it just me?
By Hal Knight We have been looking at dangers to the Christian life, those things that can draw us away from God and our neighbor. The last of these, enthusiasm, may not sound like a danger at all. We might think that ...
February 02, 2018
Parting Shot
By Eric Mattson My photography waits for the coming resurrection. What beauty I see reminds me that Christ brings light into darkness. Darkness cannot overcome that light. Those who live in Christ are not swallowed up ...
February 02, 2018
Robert & Martha Marble Mission Award Criteria
Each year the Robert and Martha Marble Mission Award is given to an individual in the Missouri Annual Conference who exhibits outstanding commitment to mission. This award is given in honor of the Marbles, who served for...
February 02, 2018
The Power of Encouragement
By Cody Collier God calls us to encourage people! Who are those in the New Year you are encouraging with your presence, actions and spiritual practices to live out their faith and invite others to become disciples of ...
February 02, 2018
Unity Award Call for Nominations
The Values Team of the Missouri Conference of the United Methodist Church is now receiving nominations for the Unity Award. The Unity Award celebrates the spirit and work of an individual in light of the values of the ...
February 02, 2018
Vulnerable
By Fred Koenig The Light at Joplin is drawing a big crowd for a new church start in the middle of a town that already has several outstanding churches. I don’t think it’s because of the name. When I did an internet ...
February 02, 2018
What to do with #metoo.
By Jennifer Moxley The pervasiveness of sexual abuse and assault that last fall’s #metoo movement uncovered has left the Church wrestling with how to minister to those women and men who carry stories and bear wounds in...
January 30, 2018
Commission moderators emphasize mission as key to way forward
The moderators of the Commission on a Way Forward are urging United Methodists to engage in reflections on where they see mission at the heart of the denomination as well as seeing mission as significant for resolving ...
January 29, 2018
Rev. Mi Hyeon Lee to Be Next Mid-State District Superintendent
Rev. Mi Hyeon Lee Rev. Sherry Habben Rev. Mi Hyeon Lee has been named as the next Mid-State District Superintendent. She will replace Rev. Sherry Habben, who will retire after Annual Conference Session ...
January 26, 2018
Communicate Boldly
Rev. Stephen Handy has a criticism of the church: It has stopped telling stories well. Sometimes that may come from a lack of courage. “God, I’m reporting for duty today. Where would you have me go?” Handy said in ...
January 26, 2018
She Who Rises: Releasing the Warrior Chick Within
Lia McIntosh grew up in North St. Louis county, attending Lutheran elementary and high schools. She earned a BA in marketing at the University of Missouri-Columbia, an MBA from the University of Missouri–St. Louis, and ...
January 25, 2018
Christmas Cheer
If you’re looking for an example of a community that rallies around the spirit of giving during the holidays, Clinton has Christmas Cheer. Christmas Cheer is an ecumenical event, and Clinton UMC is at the heart of it. ...
January 25, 2018
Dawning of The Light at Joplin
Resurrection in the Southwest. Two new churches in two new buildings. Both are in the same location as previous United Methodist Churches that were struggling. With former buildings destroyed by wind and fire, new ...
January 25, 2018
Fresh Start
Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church in Joplin has an understanding at its core that part of its purpose—is to help start and restart new faith communities. It has recently leaned into that role in a big way by ...
January 25, 2018
Preparing to Plant
By Roger Ross The Missouri Conference leadership agrees that The Missouri Conference leadership has identified many places in Missouri in need of a new United Methodist Church. Through generous support and careful ...
January 25, 2018
Presence
By Ryan McLouth What kind of presence do you portray when you lead worship? Are you a participant, a performer, a director or something else? Sometimes we focus our attention on the music and text so much, we forget to...
January 25, 2018
Rural Ministry: Matching Assets to Opportunities
By Lori Kiehl As the Mark Twain District Lay Leader, I want to invite you to North Missouri to engage with problem solvers of small rural churches. The Mark Twain District’s Rural Ministry Now conference is meeting the ...
January 24, 2018
Pastoring in Partisan Times
By Fred Koenig There has been much discussion about how people seemed to have become more entrenched in polarized viewpoints regarding politics issues. When the people on opposite ends of the spectrum come together on ...
January 24, 2018
Star in the East
By Fred Koenig When Morning Star United Methodist Church in Dardenne Prairie (near O’Fallon) launched a new site last fall, the launch team was prepared like no other. First, they all committed to being a permanent part...
January 22, 2018
Commission on a Way Forward prepares updated report to bishops
DALLAS - The Commission on a Way Forward is nearing the completion of its task of making recommendations of possible ways forward for The United Methodist Church regarding the inclusion of LGBTQ persons in this global ...
January 18, 2018
Helping the Church Seek Justice
The General Board of Church and Society carries a mandate from General Conference. Its job is to educate, advocate and connect around social justice issues as guided by the Social Principles and the Book of Resolutions. ...
January 16, 2018
Seizing the Moments
Mark 1:14-15 (The Message) After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee preaching the Message of God: “Time’s up! God’s kingdom is here. Change your life and believe the Message.” How long has it been since you ...