Communique 280 - April 8,
2009
From Rev. Gary Beach, director
of Connectional Ministries:
The
staff of the Kansas East Conference wishes you a blessed Holy Week
and Easter! We pray that as you walk with Jesus through these
significant events in his life that you will find greater meaning
and purpose for your own life and faith.
News
Survey reveals misunderstanding of deacon’s
role
Deacons believe they are accepted and valued but
misunderstood, according to a survey of deacons, diaconal ministers
and those certified in specialized ministry in the United Methodist
Church.
Results of the survey were reported during a Division of Ordained
Ministry session at the United Methodist Board of Higher Education
and Ministry’s spring meeting. The presentation focused on
demographics, appointments, salary level and job satisfaction of
deacons – ordained, commissioned and candidates.
Read more at www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=2429867&ct=6874783&tr=y&auid=4715575.
First sites for United Methodist pilot poverty ministry
chosen
Three counties in North Carolina are the focal
points of a new United Methodist Church pilot ministry to eliminate
poverty. They will become training stations for the denomination in
the United States.
The initiative is aimed at bringing out of poverty those whose
families have been poor for at least two generations. The pilot goal
is 75 families over a two-year period.
"This is the first of five global models for dealing with poverty
that are part of our Ministry with the Poor priority," said Rachel
Lieder Simeon, interim deputy general secretary and executive
responsible for the Ministry with the Poor task force at Global
Ministries. "We expect that the pilot in North Carolina will inform
our work across the US and in other parts of the world."
Read more at http://gbgm-umc.org/global_news/full_article.cfm?articleid=5371.
Committee on Faith and Order meets for first
time
The Inaugural Meeting of the United Methodist
Church Committee on Faith and Order met in Arlington, Va., March
26-27. This committee was formed through legislation at the 2008
General Conference. Its purpose is to "give leadership to the United
Methodist Church in reflecting upon, discerning and living out
matters of faith, doctrinal teaching, order, and discipline in the
midst of mission and ministry in the church and the world."
Kansas East deacon Rev. Rena Yocom is a member of the
committee.
Learn more at www.gccuic-umc.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=207&Itemid=1.
Feeding the hungry
Kitty Roberts knows from
personal experience that without monthly boxes of Angel Food, some
Emporians would go hungry.
Roberts organizes the Angel Food Ministry team at Grace United
Methodist Church. The church and other churches in the area
participate.
Read more about this ministry at www.emporiagazette.com/news/2009/mar/31/feeding_hungry.
College Avenue UMC to celebrate 50 years of
ministry
College Avenue UMC in Manhattan will celebrate
its 50th anniversary April 25-26.
The church began as a campus ministry that was then supported as
a new church development effort by the EUB conference. The
congregation now supports campus ministry at K-State University and
at Connections, a new United Methodist church begun this past year
by the Kansas East Conference to serve the growing population due to
the expansion of Ft. Riley. The congregation describes itself as, “A
mission church that has become a church in mission.”
Several members of the original EUB college student group that
began the congregation will be present to share stories of their
early involvement. Former pastors Kelly Bender and Nancy Gammill
also will be present at the celebration. A catered dinner will
follow at 6 p.m. A presentation of the history of the church will
begin at 7 p.m. The evening will conclude with a reception at 8
p.m.
On Sunday morning, the day will begin with breakfast in
Fellowship Hall beginning at 8:45 a.m. Sunday school will be at 9:15
a.m. followed by the 10:30 a.m. service of worship that will feature
Bender preaching. A covered dish dinner will follow the service.
Out-of-town visitors will be considered guests and need not bring
food to share. A fellowship time will follow the dinner.
To
assist in the planning for the catered dinner on Saturday evening,
the church needs to know the how many people will be attending. To
add your name to the reservation list, e-mail collegeavenueumc@sbcglobal.net
by April 15.
Classified ads online
Classified ads are
posted on the conference website, including:
- Student leaders, Pittsburg State University UM campus ministry
See all the current classifieds in the News & Events section
at www.kansaseast.org/classifieds_find.asp.
Featured
events
Rural Life Sunday
All United Methodist
churches are encouraged to observe a "Rural Life Sunday." In the
Kansas East Conference, a Sunday in April is suggested.
Resources to assist with worship planning are provided at www.kansaseast.org/page.asp?pkvalue=671.
For additional information, contact Ron Williams, Kansas Area
United Methodist Rural Fellowship, at ronaldj7@cox.net.
Professor Levine presentation, April
24
Professor Amy-Jill Levine will speak on “How to Avoid
Bearing False Witness or I Didn’t Mean to Sound Like a Bigot” April
24 at Community Christian Church, 4601 Main Str. in Kansas City,
Mo.
Levine is the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Professor
of New Testament Studies at Vanderbilt University’s Divinity School
and author of “The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of
the Jewish Jesus.”
The schedule will be:
8:30-9 a.m. - registration and
breakfast
9 a.m. - welcome and Introduction
9:15-11:45 a.m. -
presentation by Amy-Jill Levine (there will be a break around
10:15)
11:45 a.m. - wrap-up and conclusion
Levine has offered to respond to any questions that are submitted
in advance. You can send them to Rabbi Alan L. Cohen at rabbicohen@jewishkc.org,
and he will forward them to her.
There is no charge for the event, but people who would like to
attend should contact Rabbi Alan L. Cohen at RabbiCohen@jewishkc.org or
913-327-8128 by April 17.
In addition, Levine will teach on Friday evening and Saturday,
April 24-25, at Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Road in
Prairie Village, as a visiting scholar. Go to http://web.mac.com/jmlbal/iWeb/visiting%20scholar/HOME.html
for the full schedule, costs and other information.
Self-care workshop, April 28
The United
Methodist Health Ministry Fund is sponsoring a free workshop April
28 at First UMC in Independence for Kansas clergy, their spouses and
church staff. The workshop is designed to provide a structured
opportunity for individuals to examine their current choices within
the areas of mental/emotional, physical, social and spiritual
health.
Learn more about the workshop and register online at www.healthfund.org/scworkshop/scw_reg2.php.
‘Cool Congregations’ workshop, May 3
Kansas
Interfaith Power and Light are sponsoring a “Cool Congregations”
workshop May 3 at St. Andrew's Christian Church, 13890 W 127th St.
in Olathe. The workshop
Participants will attend a series of small groups led by a
trained leader to:
- Measure their carbon footprint
- Explore ways to reduce their footprint
- Make a faith-based pledge to reduce their footprint
- Invest in energy efficiency
- Celebrate successes and build community
The registration deadline is April 17. The cost to attend is $10
per person or $25 for a team of three people from the same
church.
Get more information about the workshop at www.kansaseast.org/event_detail.asp?PKValue=2755.
Find out more about Kansas Interfaith Power and Light at www.climateandenergy.org/CEPProject/KansasIPLhome/Index.htm.
Retirement planning seminar, May 5
The annual
career and retirement planning seminar will be May 5 at Lowman UMC,
4000 Drury Lane in Topeka. All active clergy are encouraged to
attend.
There is no cost to attend, and lunch will be provided. The
registration deadline is April 13.
Get more information at http://www.kansaseast.org/event_detail.asp?PKValue=2756.
Visit the conference calendar at www.kansaseast.org/calendar.asp
for additional events.