The Contact 4-10-24

THE OKLAHOMA UNITED METHODIST

Weekly

Volume 6, Number 15 • April 10, 2024 • www.okumc.org

Meet Our Conference Teacher 2

The Mission of Youth Force 4

Preparing for General Conference 6

E HERbs, K CLIC ts, jo even for more! and

Save the Date Employment Passages Are you using all the benefits available to you through the UM connection? 8

Appointments

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April 10, 2024

Preparing for Annual Conference 2024 Part 2 of our 8 part series

Meet Our Conference Teacher

BY REV. DERREK BELASE

O

ne of the five dreams of our annual conference is the dream of revitalized faith communities and lighthouse churches.

Since 2016, our conference has been asking local churches to focus on discipleship systems and methods of community outreach which helps all of us make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We have also shared many of the See All the People resources, produced by the denomination. In addition, we curate discipleship resources at our website.

In 2018, we devoted an entire day of our conference session

Rev. Jeff Campbell

focused on this goal. Rev. Junius Dotson, then General Secretary of Discipleship Ministries, was our keynote speaker and there were workshops based on church size as well as topics of interest.

Director of Communications: Joseph Harris Multimedia & Web Manager: Andrew Himes Editor of Publications: Jena Barber Communications Specialist: Tabitha Beckman 1501 NW 24th, Oklahoma City, OK 73106

This year, we will host Rev. Jeff Campbell, Chief Executive Officer and General Secretary of Discipleship Ministries, as our conference teacher, who will focus his teaching on “See All the People: 2.0.”

The new iteration of this movement includes a wave of resourcing supporting the laity of our churches. Rev. Campbell will be sharing short stories of disciples living out their faith in various workplaces; each sharing how they understand discipleship and God’s call on their lives in their everyday work.

In addition, he will help us think about how our role as a leader in the church can be lived out by seeing ALL the people. In every church and ministry area, we must

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how our individual contributions connect to disciple making.

Campbell comes to this role having led Discipleship Ministries as the Associate General Secretary for Strategic Programming where he was instrumental in the creation of resources supporting the See All the People initiative which invites leaders to stop trying to fix their church and start seeing the people that God calls us to reach.

Rev. Campbell joined Discipleship Ministries in 2013 as Executive Director of Conference Relationships and before that, he served local churches as a senior pastor. He has a BA in English,

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Linguistics, and Speech form the University of Mary Washington, and his Master of Divinity from Drew Theology School, where he was awarded the Alton Raynor Prize for Town & Country Ministry.

Rev. Campbell is a servant leader, speaker, teacher, and ordained elder of the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference.

Campbell teaches Intentional Discipleship Systems and Community Engagement in seminaries, annual conferences, districts, and local churches, challenging United Methodist leaders to make the mission of making disciples and transforming

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communities the center of all that we do.

He and his family participate in the life and ministries of Glendale United Methodist Church in Nashville, TN. Discipleship Ministries will also have a booth filled with resources in our display area on the second floor of the Freede Center.

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April 10, 2024

The Mission of Youth Force

BY REV. ELIZABETH HORTON-WARE

F

or decades, a movement has been quietly but powerfully shaping the landscape of youth ministry and community service across Oklahoma.

Youth Force, organized through Volunteers in Mission and a ministry of the Oklahoma Conference, stands as a beacon of hope and action being built upon the example of a younger generation. With two unique and vital locations in 2024, Oklahoma City and Frederick, OK, Youth Force is not just an organization; it’s a community bound by the shared purpose of making a difference.

Youth Force volunteers helped out at CJAMM’s Exodus House with painting and organization. Photo by Tabitha Beckman.

town. didn’t just give me an opportunity to serve Oklahoma communities, The Power of Volunteerism and it built up my leadership abilities Community and instilled a sense of purpose to At the core of Youth Force’s care for God’s children in tangible A Tale of Two Cities: work is the belief in the ways.”

Oklahoma City and Frederick transformative power of serving On the other hand, Frederick This year Youth Force will others. Both the Oklahoma City operate out of two unique locations offers a contrasting backdrop of and Frederick locations thrive on serene landscapes and tight-knit in Oklahoma, each with its charm the energy and commitment of community vibes. and challenges. In the bustling Here, Ann Clayton, who has been youth and adult leaders - many of environment of Oklahoma City, KC a part of Youth Force since the early whom, like Horton-Ware, were Curry, along with Revs. Elizabeth once participants themselves - who Horton-Ware and Aly Shahan, take 1990s, serves as the site director. mentor and coach students through Under her guidance, participants the helm as site directors, guiding a variety of projects. This cycle engage in various projects, from youth through transformative of giving back creates a powerful home repairs for the elderly and community service projects. sense of continuity and community. disadvantaged to community Horton-Ware, who first joined The impact of Youth Force beautification efforts. Clayton Youth Force as a high school participant in 1997, reflected on the shared that Frederick knows when extends beyond the immediate benefits of the projects completed.

Youth Force is in town. The week profound impact the organization is seen and celebrated by the whole Participants leave with a deeper has had on her life, “Youth Force

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Each youth group needs to have committed adults join them for the week. The service teams are made up of participants from the various youth groups attending.

No expertise is needed, just a willingness to learn and care for those who are served. Beyond bringing a youth group to serve in mission for the week, congregations can participate in the outreach of Youth Force by providing meals Looking Forward: The Future for the mission sites, donations for materials, or helping to cover the of Youth Force financial cost for the youth.

The momentum of Youth Force Clayton and Horton-Ware, along has been impacted in recent years, with their teams, are optimistic but both sites look forward to about the future. “Every year, we continued growth. Registration is see new faces, and each one has now open for sites in Oklahoma City and Frederick. These weeks of the potential to change the world. service are perfect for smaller youth Our job is to help them realize that groups, who can join with dozens of potential,” said Horton-Ware.

Youth Force exemplifies what their peers from across the state to see the difference they can make in it means to serve with purpose and passion. Its enduring legacy is a community. understanding of social issues, a heightened sense of empathy, and a strengthened resolve to contribute positively to their communities.

The sense of accomplishment and camaraderie among the various youth groups from Oklahoma United Methodist Churches fosters an environment where young people can find their voice and purpose.

Youth Force volunteers painted and helped out at NSO in 2023. Photo by Tabitha Beckman.

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not just in the projects completed, but in the lives touched and the leaders molded for tomorrow. As Youth Force marches on, it carries with it the hopes and dreams of a generation ready to make a difference.

Youth Force Frederick is June 2 to 7. The cost per person is $225.

Participants are housed at Frederick First UMC. Registration is limited to 80 participants.

Youth Force Oklahoma City is July 21 to 26. The cost per person is $310. Participants are housed in the dorms at Oklahoma City University.

Registration for both weeks can be found on the Youth Force website.

Youth Force volunteers built a wheelchair ramp in Frederick in 2023. Photo by Ann Clayton.

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April 10, 2024

Preparing for General Conference

BY HEATHER HAHN

A

fter tough years of dealing with disease and departures, United Methodists are about to gather for a General Conference that will chart the denomination’s future.

More than 1,000 legislative petitions aiming to shape that future will be before the lay and clergy delegates when they meet for the denomination’s COVIDdelayed policymaking assembly on April 23 to May 3 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The theme for the international of the COVID pandemic and church gathering, which draws delegates disaffiliations. and other church leaders from four Bickerton said the church can only continents, will be “…and know that move forward.

I am God” from Psalm 46.

“Personally, I don’t want to go “We find ourselves at a back to mediocrity and old habits,” seminal moment in the life of this said the bishop, who attended his first denomination. It’s a marker point, a shift, a pivot from what was to what General Conference in 1984. “I don’t can be,” Council of Bishops President want to go back to racist behaviors, gender bias or models that exclude Thomas J. Bickerton told delegates rather than welcome. This is a and other observers. moment for us to get a new wind and The bishop, who also leads the a new sense of purpose.”

New York Conference, spoke at During the orientation, which was the end of the Feb. 29 to March also recorded, viewers received an 1 online orientation co-hosted by overview of the logistics of General United Methodist Communications Conference as well as legislation up and the Rev. Gary Graves, General for the delegates’ votes.

Conference secretary.

At the briefing, Bickerton and Note: other speakers addressed United The above article is an excerpt Methodists still feeling the impact

depositphotos.com

from a much longer article that gives an in-depth look into regionalization legislation, Revised Social Principles, budget and disaffiliation concerns, and much, much more.

To read this article in its entirety, click here.

To read more on major legislative topics, click here for a comprehensive guide.

The Advance Daily Christian Advocate, which serves as a combination of a pre-conference workbook plus delegate handbook and more, is available here.

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April 10, 2024

26

plenary sessions

9

special addresses and celebrations

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April 10, 2024

Are you using all the benefits available to you through the UM connection?

E

veryone knows the obvious benefits of a connectional system like that in the United Methodist Church. Clergy and congregations are not alone: they can pool and share resources like employment benefits, camps, and disaster relief.

United Methodist clergy connect through mentorship, training, and more. Apportionments ensure that all areas of ministry are supported.

The connectional system ensures churches and pastors are well-matched, and that the needs of everyone are met in the most beneficial way possible.

Congregations are able to come together for conferences, events, retreats, and more.

more here.

Awards, Scholarships, and Grants Grant funding is available through the United Methodist Foundation, the Oklahoma Methodist Foundation, the Woodworth Trust, and several other entities.

Scholarships for college and seminary students are also available through multiple sources. Learn more here.

Safety Resources For families and church What you may not be aware of congregations alike, safety is are the many additional benefits that a major priority in the United come with the United Methodist Methodist Church. From keeping connection. We’ve found a few to children safe in the digital world share. to Safe Sanctuaries and church van use, click here for useful resources.

Car Rental Discounts United Methodist churches are Church Marketing Resources offered rental car discounts through United Methodist Avis and Budget rental car plans.

Communications employs a staff This discount allows for both dedicated to creating relevant, business and leisure rentals. Learn useful tools for local churches to

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use to promote awareness and share the good news of the church. For #BeUMC resources - and more click here.

Outreach and Social Media Resources Outreach.com partners with United Methodist Communications to bring discounted resources to your church. Additionally, UM Communications creates free shareable social media resources your church should be using today.

Learn more here.

Podcasts and Webinars From Pastoring in the Digital Age to MyCom, United Methodist podcasts bring resources to you in

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Find-a-Church Find a Church is a free resource that every church, whether it has a fabulous website or no website at all, should take advantage of.

UM Communications uses its vast resources and SEO savvy to ensure web search results find this sweet spot in every corner of the world.

Website Design Church representatives will A necessary tool for every church is a website. UM Communications create a login and then fill in all the blanks to ensure the word is out provides services to help churches about the church. Find out more get their website up and running, and will also offer training so staff here. or volunteers can maintain the The Source website and keep it fresh. Learn This bi-weekly newsletter more here. from ResourceUMC offers timely your current context. Check them out here.

Webinars offer training on a variety of topics. The current focus is on digital marketing, with offerings on email marketing, social media, and YouTube. Find more here.

April 10, 2024

content to clergy and laity.

Current offerings Many of the resources described in this article can be found via this newsletter.

Subscribe now so you don’t miss a thing.

Oklahoma Federal Credit Union Conference staff and family members have traditionally had access to Oklahoma Federal Credit Union. Now members of churches can also join. For more information, click here.

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

April 10, 2024

Ministry in a Minute

The eclipse brought the inner dork - er, creative genius - in a few of our favorite grown-up kids. Rev. Michael Robnett (LEFT), at Bartlesville First UMC and Ed Parker, Camps director, at the ministry center in OKC, dressed to impress during the moon’s big day.

The children at First UMC in Cushing celebrated Easter Sunday by playing The Hallelujah Chorus on the bells. Submitted photo.

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April 10, 2024

Bishop Nunn visited Grace UMC in Claremore on April 7. After giving the message, the Bishop gathered with members to put hands on the trailer and consecrate the Giving With Grace mobile food pantry. Submitted photo.

Ceili Community celebrated Easter this year with five baptisms and 12 confirmations! They adapted baptism to each child based on ability and preference. This makes nine people baptized into the Church at Ceili Community in 2024. God is at work in Southwest Oklahoma City, and in the United Methodist Church! Photos by Kara Lemak.

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April 10, 2024

Call to Action

Send us your spring photos! We’d love to share your photos, stories, ministries, and more in the Contact! Simply email us at editor@okumc.org.

Register now for Annual Conference 2024. Hotel space may be limited, so be sure to reserve yours today.

Share your event or job opportunity in the Contact.

For consideration, email your listing to editor@okumc.org.