News
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! ...
June 01, 2017
Recognized for Reaching Out
The Missouri Conference tried something new this year. Rather than presenting awards during Annual Conference Session, they opted to instead have an award banquet in Columbia. This allowed more time for the presentations...
June 01, 2017
Understanding Injustice
The Office of Mission, Service and Justice announced a partnership with Kingdom House in St. Louis to assist local churches in understanding issues of injustice in their communities. A designated gift from a third ...
June 01, 2017
We Are Alive
Over the last three months, I have had the privilege of traveling and preaching nearly every Sunday in one of our churches in the Missouri Conference. It’s been marvelous to see the life, enthusiasm and renewed vitality ...
June 01, 2017
Worship Music Camp
By Ryan McLouth This month I wanted to take a moment to share with you a new and special opportunity that Central Methodist University will be offering this summer. Building off of the successes of our “CMU Alive!” ...
May 10, 2017
A Methodist Milestone: Missouri Methodist Foundation Celebrates 50th Year
The Missouri United Methodist Foundation is having a birthday. “We are probably going to try and celebrate for at least 18 months!” states David Atkins, the Foundation’s executive director. “It really is a major ...
May 10, 2017
Annual Conference Promo Flier
May 10, 2017
Baxter to be Southeast District Superintendent
Rev. Bruce Baxter is about to make a big move in one sense, but geographically he isn’t moving at all. He will be the next Southeast District superintendent. “The district office is about a mile from my house. My ...
May 10, 2017
Connecting Through Conference
By Amy Thompson One of the things that I love about United Methodism is the connectional system. The connectional system reminds me how we are all connected in working for the Kingdom of God. We are not in the Kingdom– ...
May 10, 2017
Filling the Diaper Gap
Talking about diapers often elicits giggles, but for parents, paying for diapers is a serious business, especially when money is short for all the bills. There is no government assistance program that helps parents in ...
May 10, 2017
Kim's Kids
Illmo United Methodist Church of Scott City has carried on the giving and caring work begun by lifetime member Kim Eifert by starting Kim’s Kids in 2015. Kim Eifert was a devoted para-educator at Scott City Public ...
May 10, 2017
Letter from the Editor: Aiming for Accuracy
A pastor whom I hold in high regard suggested to me that when I cover a presentation for this publication that I give speakers an opportunity to review the story before it goes to press. It’s a good suggestion, and is ...
May 10, 2017
Mozambique Initiative: Introducing Madison Denton
Hello all! My name is Madi, and I’m the new Mozambique Initiative intern. I am very excited to be here! My hope over the next year is to begin building connections with some of you. The best way to get the ball rolling...
May 10, 2017
Muzzling the Axe
By Ryan McLouth Help! I’ve done everything that everyone has suggested, but my electric guitar player is still too loud! This is the number one frustration that I hear from worship leaders, music directors, and music ...
May 10, 2017
Now Read This: The Vile Practices of Church Leadership: Finance & Administration
Nathaniel Berneking grew up in Herculaneum, Missouri, a small town on the Mississippi River about 35 minutes south of downtown St. Louis. He graduated from both the College of Arts & Sciences (’98) and Law School (’01) ...
May 10, 2017
Parting Shot
By Eric Mattson Are you awake? My photography increasingly becomes an act of silent worship in which my aim is to notice the creative face of God. Looking at the world through my lens helps keep my soul awake to what ...
May 10, 2017
Passing the Baton
We are in the season of moving time for United Methodist clergy. Many of our clergy are in the process of receiving the news of a new appointment and churches are receiving the news of a new pastor. All of this is a ...
May 10, 2017
Responding to Disaster
When Missy Lindner was asked to help with the Volunteer Reception Center following the tornado that struck Oak Grove on March 6, she said sure. She hadn’t been told that “help” meant she would be responsible for ...
May 10, 2017
Small Church Next Gen Ministry
By Katie Nix Remember, back in the day, when we use to have a ton of kids at church? I wish we could be more like the big church down the street that has a million teenagers in youth group. Sunday used to be church day,...
May 10, 2017
Walking in Eternity
By Hal Knight What is “true religion” for Wesley? In his sermon “Walking by Sight and Walking by Faith” he describes it as “no less than living in eternity, and walking in eternity,” and thereby “walking in the love of ...
May 10, 2017
Women in Ministry
Being a woman in ministry often means being the first; the first woman pastor a church has received ever or in a while; the first to pioneer and pave a new way, standing on the shoulders of the many who went before in ...
May 08, 2017
Mission, Service and Justice Team Partners with Kingdom House in Addressing Issues of Injustice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Kim Jenne, Director of Connectional Ministries kjenne@moumethodist.org (573) 441-1770 Mission, Service and Justice Team Partners with Kingdom House in Addressing Issues of Injustice...