Communiqué 288 - June 3,
2009
News
Leading the small membership
church
Small-membership churches have a history of
making do without a lot of leadership from persons outside. Many
were started by laypersons gathered in homes, sometimes in response
to some traveling evangelist's preaching, but often by their own
initiative.
Through the years, most small-membership churches have been
subject to frequent turnover of clergy leadership. Is it any wonder
that many of them develop a spirit of robust self-reliance? Any
wonder that they are cautious at best and suspicious at worst when
the new preacher comes to town?
Learn more at www.churchleadership.com/leadingideas/leaddocs/2009/090527_article.html.
'Is health-care reform civil rights issue of our
time?'
Imagine that one morning you’re rushing down the
stairs. At the bottom of the stairway, you see a young woman lying
on the floor, bleeding and with a broken arm. As she sits up, you
ask where her doctor’s office is located so you can help her
there.
She timidly answers, “No, I can’t go to a doctor. I don’t have
health insurance.”
Even if you are insured, you could still be affected by the
uninsured crisis. More than a third of Americans will not have
health-care coverage at some point in their lives.
Read more www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5208215&ct=7056803.
Stull UMC opens new faith center
Stull United
Methodist Church is turning 150 this year. As part of a yearlong
anniversary celebration, church members dedicated a new Faith and
Friendship Center May 17.
The original 1867 church building, a pile of rubble for many
years, has been the source of urban legend.
Read more about the church’s interesting history at www2.ljworld.com/news/2009/may/16/gateway-150-long-subject-urban-legend-stull-church.
New Ikenberry update
A new newsletter from
Tony Ikenberry, missionary in Bangladesh, has been posted in the
newsletter archive on the conference website at www.kansaseast.org/newsletter_find.asp.
Featured
events
Self-care workshop, June 27
The United
Methodist Health Ministry Fund is sponsoring a free workshop from 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. June 27 at First UMC in Lawrence for clergy, their
spouses, and church staff.
Find out more and register at www.healthfund.org/selfcare.php or call Judy
Johnston at 316-293-1861.
‘SOULfeast,’ July 12-16
The 2009 “SOULfeast”
will be July 12-16 at Lake Junaluska, N.C. The event is open to
clergy and laity and their families. SOULfeast is a spiritual feast
for all God’s people who are in search of rest, renewal and an
authentic experience rooted in the great traditions of the church
and the emerging fresh new Christian voices.
Plenary leaders will be author and pastor Trevor Hudson, deputy
general secretary for the United Methodist General Board of
Discipleship Vance Ross, Presbyterian minister and retreat leader
Marjorie Thompson and co-chairperson of the Division of Young
People’s Ministries for the Southeastern Jurisdiction Jasmine
Smother.
For more information and online registration, go to www.upperroom.org/soulfeast.
Leadership Institute, Oct. 8-9
The Leadership
Institute at Church of the Resurrection is a conference designed to
share practical, translatable principles that have been keys to the
growth of the church.
This year’s speakers include:
Mike Slaughter, chief dreamer of
Ginghamsburg Church, a catalyst for change in the worldwide church.
His dynamic teaching, heart for the lost and innovative approach to
ministry has led Ginghamsburg Church to outgrow all paradigms for a
church in a cornfield. Mike’s call to afflict the comfortable and
comfort the afflicted will challenge attendees to wrestle with God
and their God-destinies.
Nancy Beach (Pre-Institute only),
speaker, author, visionary leader and champion for the power of the
arts and artists in the local church. She served for more than 20
years as the programming director for Willow Creek Community Church
in suburban Chicago, a congregation known around the world for
creating culturally relevant, biblically based services that make
full use of the arts.
Adam Hamilton, founding pastor of the
Church of the Resurrection. He is the author of ten books including
“Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White and Enough: Discovering
Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity.”
Get more information at www.cor.org/catalyst/leadership-institute.