News
August 01, 2017
Can You Just Get Them Through Until Christmas?
Margie Briggs grew up in Windsor. She has always been an active lay person in the United Methodist Church. Her book, Can You Just Get Them Through Until Christmas? The Turn Around Story of One Lay Minister and Two Small ...
August 01, 2017
Divergent Views of the Deity
By Hal Knight Thomas Kidd recently published a biography of Benjamin Franklin focused on his religious life. Kidd sees Franklin as at the root of a uniquely American approach to religion, which sets aside as unimportant...
August 01, 2017
Granted
You have one guess as to why you’ve got Ulysses welcoming you to this issue of The Missouri Methodists. President Grant wasn’t a church goer, but his parents were Methodists, and abolitionists. They took their belief ...
August 01, 2017
Innovative Program Aims to Commission 500 EarthKeepers
EarthKeepers is a new program of Global Ministries that trains and commissions laity and clergy for the work of caring for God’s creation. EarthKeepers are United Methodists who work within their communities: Lifting up...
August 01, 2017
Parsonage vs. Housing Allowance
The Sanctuary, Fellowship Hall and Education Building are all familiar structures for many United Methodist churches. In addition, most United Methodist churches also maintain a house for the pastor called the parsonage....
August 01, 2017
Parting Shot
By Eric Mattson Philippians 6:8 says: “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything ...
August 01, 2017
The Chronicles of Camping
As dusk approaches croaking frogs intensify, campfire smoke fills the air, the sky turns orange then purple, children laugh and sing to silly songs and sticky fingers result from marshmallow treats. Sitting down by the ...
August 01, 2017
Unsettled
When Della Lamb was started by United Methodist Women in 1897, it was focused on breaking the cycle of poverty wherever it was needed most. At that time the primary population being served was Italian immigrants. It’s ...
July 28, 2017
Practical Divinity
Before Bishop Bob Farr was Bishop, part of his job as director of Congregational Excellence involved consulting with churches on revitalization. Often when he asked the people of a church about their discipleship ...
July 28, 2017
Reclaim the Flame
By Pam Ekey Rev. Charity Goodwin called on the Missouri Annual Conference to reclaim the power of the Holy Spirit during the opening worship service June 9. “We need to reclaim the flame so that we are emotionally ...
July 28, 2017
Seven Ways to Share Faith
By Jennifer Simms & Susan Sneed Roger Ross, newly named the Director of Congregational Excellence for the Missouri Annual Conference, received a warm welcome Saturday afternoon as approximately 250 clergy and laity ...
July 19, 2017
Annual Conference 2018
The 16th Session of the Missouri Annual Conference will be June 8-10, 2018 in Springfield, MO. The theme of next year’s conference will be FREED2LEAD and will focus on leadership. This moves the Conference session to ...
July 19, 2017
Reaching Students with Bright Futures
Churches should not let the separation of church and state dissuade them from being in ministry with their local schools. Often by simply approaching the school and asking what can be done to help, a church can become a ...
July 19, 2017
Strengthening the Black Church
Lia McIntosh opened the workshop on Strengthening the Black Church with scripture from Acts 3:1-10, which tells the story of a man outside of church, who had church people walk by him all day long. “He got ...
July 12, 2017
Making the Move to Missouri
As Roger Ross packs his bags for Missouri this summer, part of it feels pretty natural. His family often came to Table Rock Lake for summer vacations. But now he’s packing more than a suitcase. He’s moving from ...
July 10, 2017
Cheerleader, Coach and Critic
From the moment she walked on stage, praising the Lord with “God is good,” the Conference could easily recognize the life that Tina Harris is going to bring to her new role as Director of Mission, Service and Justice. “...
July 07, 2017
State of the Conference
A year ago Rev. Bob Farr stood before the Missouri Conference in appreciation of having support for upcoming episcopal election, and the Conference was saying goodbye to Bishop Robert Schnase, who had served Missouri for...
July 01, 2017
10 Steps to Growth
Jeremy Vickers and Kevin McNeely, pastors at Grace United Methodist at Lee’s Summit and El Dorado Springs Springs, shared how a satellite relationship can be successful even when the two churches are more than 90 miles ...
July 01, 2017
Beginnings & Endings
Transitions in ministry were recognized for more than 100 persons during a special commissioning and memorial worship service Saturday morning. The Glory Revival band, representing three churches in the Kansas City area,...
July 01, 2017
Camps at Conference
A hot, June afternoon didn’t stop the fun with Next Generation camping staff as they set up equipment from Spark mini-mobile camp. This gave the conference an opportunity to see exactly what it means to have a mobile ...
July 01, 2017
CMU Alive and Well
The Central Methodist University staff and students are proud of their United Methodist heritage and the authentically inclusive atmosphere of spiritual and intellectual growth and service opportunities, said David ...
July 01, 2017
Conference Finances Solid
In the Finance and Administration portion of the Saturday morning Business Meeting, Rev. Nate Berneking reported that the Missouri Conference is as strong financially and administratively as it has ever been. He and his ...
July 01, 2017
Covenant Community
Thirty years ago, Bob Farr and Ron Watts were on the stage at the ordination service, both of them being ordained elder. Now Bishop Bob Farr is the one doing the ordaining, and Rev. Ron Watts was the preacher for the ...
July 01, 2017
Eldest
Mandatory retirement age for United Methodist clergy is 72 years old, but many go straight from being in active service to serving as supply pastors to local churches. Sometimes a decade after retirement, that person is ...
July 01, 2017
Foundation Celebrates 50 Years
The Missouri United Methodist Foundation is a valuable resource for local churches and individuals throughout Missouri. Foundation Director David Atkins invited the attendees to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ...
July 01, 2017
Fun at Conference
My advice to United Methodist men going to Annual Conference in 2018: stop shaving this fall. By next June you should have enough facial hair for beard braids and a handlebar moustache. It’s a great ice-breaker for your ...
July 01, 2017
Global Connect Facilitates Mission Involvement
Helping people get involved in mission is the purpose of Global Connect, according to Lucas Endicott, Missional Strategist. “Mission happens when we actually get engaged,” he said. Global connect has emphasized three ...
July 01, 2017
Inspiring God's Children
The Annual Conference report on Next Generation Ministries opened with a video from the Missouri Conference Remarkable series (available at https://vimeo.com/channels/moac17). The video introduced the attendees to a ...
July 01, 2017
Making Disciples the Wesleyan Way
Brad Thie, director of the Thriving Rural Communities program at Duke Divinity School, opened the pre-conference learning session on the evening of June 8 thanking the crowd for showing up. “You all must be the A-team, ...
July 01, 2017
Making the Ask
When Myles Hinkel started working for the Missouri United Methodist Foundation, he asked a pastor of a successful new church start if there was anything he would do differently if he had a chance for a redo. “He told me...
July 01, 2017
Mozambique Initiative Celebrates New & Existing Relationships
Craig Stevenson, Missouri coordinator for the Mozambique Initiative, celebrated the continuing partnership between the United Methodist Church in Mozambique and the Missouri Conference. “Our ministry was supported by you...
July 01, 2017
New Laity Connect
Crisco or lard in pie crusts? Pew or chairs in worship spaces? Hometown fun or far-flung vacations? These were just a few of the topics of table conversation at the first-ever First-Time Laity Lunch, held Friday at ...
July 01, 2017
Nurture the Faith of Others
Amy Thompson, Conference Lay Leader, challenged laity to answer the call to nurture and grow the faith of others. She acknowledged several individuals who had nurtured and encouraged her faith and called on each person ...
July 01, 2017
Pathways in Ministry
Due to Rev. Karen Hayden’s emergency hospitalization and surgery, Bishop Farr asked Nate Berneking to present the Pastoral Excellence report. “The Office of Pastoral Excellence is your resource, and I am so honored to ...
July 01, 2017
Preparation & High Quality Worship Help Build the Congregation
Be prepared for guests and offer high-quality worship are two of the ways Russellville United Methodist Church has thrived, according to Pastor Royal Speidel at a Sunday afternoon workshop. “Take a look at your building....
July 01, 2017
Presiding Bishop Farr
The Wesley Brass of Springfield, under the direction of Manchester UMC/GC music director Kevin McBeth, opened Annual Conference Session on the morning of June 9. McBeth serves as the Worship Curator for the Annual ...
July 01, 2017
Small Church Mission
You don't have to be a big church to do mission. “You can do anything that The Gathering or Church of the Resurrection does, but you do it on a smaller scale,” said Margie Briggs. Ministry in a small church can ...
July 01, 2017
State of the Conference
A year ago Rev. Bob Farr stood before the Missouri Conference in appreciation of having support for upcoming episcopal election, and the Conference was saying goodbye to Bishop Robert Schnase, who had served Missouri for...
June 01, 2017
An Extension of Ministry
Next month The Missouri Methodists will have a list of all appointed United Methodist clergy in the state of Missouri, spanning several pages despite the small type. The clergy are listed by district, and then ...
June 01, 2017
Bishop Farr Keeps Exploring Missouri
Even before his episcopal appointment to Missouri, Bishop Bob Farr had probably been to more United Methodist Churches in Missouri than almost anyone. But he’s quick to say he hasn’t been to them all, and he hasn’t met ...
June 01, 2017
Disaster Recovery in Oak Grove
Oak Grove continues their recovery and rebuilding process after a tornado hit the heart of the town on March 6. When viewing the destruction one can’t help but comment on how remarkable it was that there was no loss of...
June 01, 2017
Don't Underestimate Small
Michael Slaughter likes to put himself down. He opened his talk at the Leadership Institute by saying he has no pastoral gifts and how on his first pastoral visit to a nursing home, the person he went to see dropped dead...
June 01, 2017
Go West
Rev. Mel West is kind of like Jesus. Everyone loves the thought of him – at a distance. But if you get too close, he’s likely going to suggest that you do something that makes you a little uncomfortable. If you ...
June 01, 2017
Grace in El Dorado Springs
Rev. Jeremy Vickers and his wife Jill both have roots in and hearts for rural America. They have noticed that as many rural areas struggle economically and businesses close, churches close, too. This year at least 16 ...
June 01, 2017
Happy? What It Is and How To Find It
Rev. Matt Miofsky grew up in Washington, Mo. He majored in pure mathematics at Washington University in St. Louis and earned his Master of Divinity at Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Why did you write ...
June 01, 2017
Knowing, Loving, Serving
By Hal Knight We have been looking at discipleship from a Wesleyan perspective these last several months, and now it is time to sum it all up. For Wesley, a disciple is one who knows God’s love in Jesus Christ, loves ...
June 01, 2017
Moving Forward with C2FM
“It was this beneficial, grace-filled program,” explains Rev. Mary Weaver, describing her experience at the Making Money Count workshop sponsored by the Clergy & Church Financial Ministry (C2FM). Not only was it “a great...
June 01, 2017
Parting Shot
By Eric Mattson The point of impact. Sports photography for me is a way to connect with and give something back to the community. It’s part of my ministry, a point of impact. People understand that my priorities place ...
June 01, 2017
Preparation for Pastoral Transition
By Amy Thompson The month of June is known as Annual Conference time. Last month I asked you to keep the individuals attending and the work of conference in your prayers. This is your reminder…pray for us June 9-12! ...