News
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 ...
August 09, 2019
Statement Regarding Culture of Violence
Missouri Conference of The United Methodist Church Statement Regarding Culture of Violence In the aftermath of the horrific mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, I call upon United Methodists in Missouri ...
August 06, 2019
Council of Bishops invites applications for two ecumenical programs
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church is inviting applications for the following programs: 2020 Local Initiatives Grants Scholarship to Attend The Ecumenical Institute at Bossey 2020 ...
July 31, 2019
The Sharefests Are Coming!
The first Sharefest is in Macon on September 7th, and the last one wraps up in Ferguson on October 19th. More information on the schedule can be found under the Sharefest tab at www.festivalofsharing.org. This year we ...
July 25, 2019
Congregational Excellence Hires New Missional Strategist
We're pleased to announce that Rev. Geoff Posegate has accepted a part-time role as a Missional Strategist with the Center for Congregational Excellence, beginning on September 1, 2019. Posegate will work primarily with ...
July 25, 2019
Auto-Tune: Technology and Worship
By Ryan McLouth To auto-tune or not to auto-tune, that is the question! If you’re unfamiliar with the term auto-tune, it is a device or technology that can be used to correct errors in pitch or intonation of a vocal ...
July 25, 2019
Back To School: Ministry Ideas for School-Church Partnerships
By Fred Koenig August Barker UMC participates in a back-to-school fair that provides school supplies. September Wayland UMC provides back-to-school supplies. October Nelson Memorial UMC hosts a pumpkin carving and ...
July 25, 2019
Calling Our Missouri Bikers
Hold September 29 to October 1 on your calendar for a ride to support Mozambique! Bishop Farr will be leading motorcycle riders on a loop around the state, and you are invited to join. Ride for the whole three-day loop,...
July 25, 2019
Conflict
By Fred Koenig Most people have kind of forgotten about the big dust up in St. Louis involving a mainline protestant denomination and the prevalent societal issue of the day. No, I’m not talking about General Conference...
July 25, 2019
Hitting the Mark: Fundraising Goal for Puerto Rico Surpassed
By Marsha Egan Our Conference is responsive when we see needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Our Bishop challenged the Missouri Conference in the summer of 2018 to be generous with our time and money. He ...
July 25, 2019
On Location
By Fred Koenig The Missouri Conference Ignite Mobile Camp program is in the midst of its largest camp season yet. There are 54 camps across Missouri, made possible through partnerships with Eagle Lake, Heartland Camps, ...
July 25, 2019
Parting Shot
By Eric Mattson We lose our spiritual power if we cease to focus on the right thing. In contemplative photography, photo walks seek to see with fresh eyes and receive what God desires for you to see. Ending this walk, I...
July 25, 2019
Restored: 1901 craftsmanship reigns supreme
By Fred Koenig When you see the object of Rev. Jim West’s affection, you may assume it’s her beauty that drew him to her. You would be wrong – it’s what she has inside that means the most to him. “She plays better ...
July 25, 2019
Sidney Owens Named to New Position
By Fred Koenig Sidney Owens has a drive to help communities have healthier lives, which led her first to a dual-degree in health science and communications and then to a Masters of Science in Public Health from the ...
July 25, 2019
Strategies for Discerning God’s Will for Your Church
“Discernment is the capacity to recognize the presence and activity of God. Paul says that we are transformed by the renewing of our minds so that we can discern what the will of God is, that which is good, acceptable, ...
July 25, 2019
The Breath of Our Spiritual Life
Prayer is our road home to a God who loves us, and the way in which, through trials as well as the good things in life, we can continually rejoice in the Lord.
July 25, 2019
The Hedgehog Concept
By Matt Miofsky Perhaps the number one question I get from church leaders is this: “How do you explain the growth of The Gathering?” My answer usually begins with this: Any rapidly-growing church, ours included, is ...
July 25, 2019
Turning the Church Inside Out
By Fred Koenig On an appropriately hot first day of July, Beloved Community UMC buzzed. As various groups headed this way and that, Rev. Kevin Kosh walked around beaming. The church was being turned inside out, and that...
July 05, 2019
GC2020 Petitions Submissions Process Opens
United Methodists can now submit petitions for consideration by the 2020 General Conference to the petitions secretary. The deadline for submissions is September 18. Detailed instructions for submitting a petition are ...
July 05, 2019
A Time of Remembrance
By Fred Koenig A christ candle was lit during the Memorial Service on Saturday morning of annual conference to represent the light of hope that shines on from generation to generation. Those in attendance were invited ...
July 05, 2019
Apportionment Payout Sets Record
By Pam Ekey The Missouri Conference set a record for apportionment giving last year with 89.32 percent of apportionments paid. That is important because 72 percent of all apportionments paid stay in Missouri. A total of...
July 05, 2019
Connecting at Conference
By Fred Koenig If you were a lay member who attended annual conference this year, I have a favor to ask you: Don’t come back next year. Don’t get me wrong, I loved our time together. It’s just time for us to start ...
July 05, 2019
Discovering and Defining Steps
By Pam Ekey The Missouri Conference ordained 10 new elders, commissioned one provisional deacon and eight provisional elders, and recognized two new associate members in a special worship service Sunday morning. ...
July 05, 2019
Elections Go Down in Record Time
By Fred Koenig and Susan Sneed It may be a first for Missouri Annual Conference delegation elections: The entire General Conference clergy delegation was elected on one ballot. In one hour and 15 minutes the Missouri ...
July 05, 2019
Finding Passion for New Place
By Ken Rosenauer “You bloom where you are planted.” That was among the points that the Rev. Joseph Daniels Jr. used to capture the attention of the body during his learning keynote on Friday afternoon. He recalled ...
July 05, 2019
Getting a Jump on Conference
When the Missouri Conference Sessions team decided to slim annual conference down to the three-day schedule, they knew it would be challenging to hold onto that schedule in an election year. To address that, they got ...