News

Camp Chippewa marks 50th anniversary
Camp Chippewa celebrated 50 years of camping ministry Sept. 27 with food and fellowship, fun and worship. The celebration gave people a chance to share how Camp Chippewa impacted their lives.

Share the fun at www.kansaseast.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=485.

Aldersgate Village looks to the future
Aldersgate Village, a ministry of the Kansas East Conference, is positioning itself to care for a new generation of older adults through planning and strengthening connections with the Kansas East Conference.

Find out more at www.kansaseast.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=484.

‘After the Storm’
The national United Methodist Church website, http://www.umc.org/, has a slideshow of photos documenting the damage caused by Hurricane Ike. You can view the slideshow at http://media.umcom.org/umns/20081002_ike_slideshow/.

Lack of donations challenges Ike relief
Even though the Sept. 13 storm left behind miles of demolished homes, businesses and churches along the Texas Gulf Coast, the Wall Street debacle and presidential debates stole its thunder in the national spotlight.

Hurricane Ike damaged more than 200 United Methodist structures in the Texas Annual Conference, making it the biggest disaster the conference has faced to date.

“For communities recovering from Hurricane Rita just three years ago, Ike’s blow threatens to overwhelm their sense of confidence in the future,” said Bishop Janice Riggle Huie. “In addition, the economic uncertainty in our nation and world is eliciting anxiety in almost everyone.”

“It is still too early to have a good number, but I fully expect our donations will be down,” Huie said. “Folk outside of Houston/Galveston/Beaumont are wondering, ‘What hurricane?’ I’m preparing for the worst, working for the best and hoping for at least somewhere in between.”

Read more at http://tinyurl.com/4hqbdu.

‘Knowing Your Community, Defining Your Mission’
According to Joy Skjegstad, getting to know the community that your congregation will focus on is a critical step in defining your mission. To start, work on getting answers to several key questions: What are the primary issues in your community? How do the people in the community want the church to respond to those issues? And probably most important: do the people in your community actually want the ministry you are proposing? Your congregation will be most successful if you can answer yes to this question.

Read the entire article at www.alban.org/conversation.aspx?id=6484.

KEC disaster response update
The latest disaster response e-newsletter has been posted. Julie Pohl, conference disaster response coordinator, has issued a request for volunteer teams for several areas in the United Sates following the summer flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes. There is truly an opportunity for service for everyone.

Get more information in the “Disaster Response Update” at www.kansaseast.org/newsletter_detail.asp?TableName=oNewsletter_Archive_HP9B4E&PKValue=387.

D. Min. cohort at Saint Paul School of Theology
Saint Paul School of Theology is offering a D. Min. degree with a Wesleyan Spirituality, Leadership and Congregational Renewal track. Beginning in January, the cohort group will focus on spiritual growth and vibrant community, the insights of John and Charles Wesley as historical and contemporary Wesleyan practitioners, and congregational social outreach and evangelism.

Leaders include Dr. Henry H. Knight III, Donald and Pearl Wright Professor of Wesleyan Studies and Dr. Robert Martin, Lovett H. Weems, Jr. Associate Professor of Church Leadership and Practical Theology. Learn more by visiting http://www.spst.edu/ or calling 800-825-0378.

The application deadline has been extended to Nov. 1.

Laity Sunday resources
Resources for Laity Sunday, Oct. 19, are available online at www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=3063.

Classified ads online
Classified ads are posted on the conference website, including:

Executive Registrar for Board of Ordained Ministry

See all the current classifieds in the News & Events section at www.kansaseast.org/classifieds_find.asp.

Featured events

Emergency Preparedness Fair, Oct. 11
Church of the Resurrection will host the Emergency Preparedness Fair Oct. 11 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Classes are free and will cover a wide range of topics designed to prepare both clergy and laity for disasters at the community level as well as the personal level. Classes will include basic and early disaster response, first aid and CPR, chainsaw safety, preparedness for seniors and the disabled, and how to write a plan for your church to survive disaster.

Find out more at www.kansaseast.org/event_detail.asp?PKValue=2407.

Good $ense training, Oct. 17-18
The Kansas Area United Methodist Foundation with the Kansas East and West conferences’ boards of discipleship will present Good $ense: The Leader/Teacher Budget Course Training Oct. 17-18 at the Candlewood Suites in Emporia.

The Good $ense ministry provides practical tools to address the challenging topic of finances in a grace-filled, life-giving way. The hands-on course teaches how to honor God by becoming a diligent earner, generous giver, wise saver, cautious debtor and prudent consumer.

The registration fee is $75 for first registrant and $25 for each additional person from the same church.

Find out more and download a registration brochure at www.kansaseast.org/event_detail.asp?PKValue=2457.

The registration deadline is Oct. 13.

Lunch with Linda Mercadante, Oct. 20
Do you wonder why people don’t come to church, but say they believe in God?

Are you concerned about how to meet the religious needs of the upcoming generation?

In what ways does the church need to change, or not change, to be a beacon for the young people in our communities?

What can a church the size of the one I serve do to compete with all the other activities that interest people?

Rev. Dr. Linda Mercadante, Methodist Theological School in Ohio Professor of Theology, will speak Oct. 20 at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina about the phenomena concerning people who consider themselves “spiritual but not religious” affects small-membership churches.

The cost is $10, which includes lunch.

For more information, go to http://tinyurl.com/5xofbe.

Preaching from the Center, Oct. 24-27
The General Board of Discipleship will present Preaching from the Center Oct. 24-27 in Albuquerque, N.M., in conjunction with the 40th anniversary convocation of Christian Educators Fellowship.

There is still time to register. Speakers include Ronald Allen, Marjorie Suchocki, Marjorie Thompson, Osvaldo Vena and environmentalist Bill McKibben.

For more information, go to www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=45985&loc_id=1,4 or contact Jeannie Musterman toll free at 877-899-2780 ext. 7070.

Spiritual directors retreat, Oct. 27-30
The Fellowship of United Methodist Spiritual Directors & Retreat Leaders will host a retreat Oct. 27-30 in Alexandria, La.

The retreat is focused on spirituality and transition: personal transitions, transitions within the local and greater church, and spiritual direction as a ministry from which to tend and lead through those transitions—personal, congregational and communal.

For more information, go to www.fumsdrl.org/Future%20Gatherings.htm.

Certified Lay Minister Course, Nov. 14-15
The Center for the Small Membership Church is offering classes for people who are want to learn more about pastoring a church.

The November class schedule includes:

United Methodist Theology and Doctrine, Camp Chippewa near Ottawa, Nov. 14-15. The class will explore the theology and doctrine of the Christian church and the contributions of the United Methodist Church. The instructor will be Rev. Jim Darby.

For more information, go to www.kansaseast.org/event_detail.asp?PKValue=2464.

Visit the conference calendar at www.kansaseast.org/calendar.asp for more upcoming events.