The Contact 5-15-24

THE OKLAHOMA UNITED METHODIST

Weekly

Volume 6, Number 20 • May 15, 2024 • www.okumc.org

2025 Apportioned Budget 2 Tools for Children’s Directors 4

Reflections on General Conference 6

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

Save the Date Employment Passages Tulsa St. Mark’s UMC food pantry wins grant to expand services 8

Appointments

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May 15, 2024

Preparing for Annual Conference 2024 Part 7 of our 8 part series

2025 Apportioned Budget attention.

The overall apportioned budget & JOE HOLT, CPA is being reduced by 3%. However, larger reductions have been made Last week, we presented to most of the General Church some information on legislative apportionments based on action at items related to the Pension and their recent meeting. There is an Health Benefit Report as well increase in the Episcopal fund, which as the resolutions which will be pays for Bishops across the world. presented on Saturday. This week’s There are no increases in conference article focuses on the 2025 budget programming budgets. apportioned to our churches and the One budget reduction is the retiree associated report from the Council on health supplement program. As we Finance and Administration. said last week, while this program We encourage you to read the is unchanged from the previous CFA report in the Pre-Conference year, the funding mechanism for the Workbook as it details the work of program is changing. In the 2025 the council and the various aspects of apportioned budget the line to fund their work. There are some important this is set at zero. This program will matters we want to bring to your be funded from dollars received for

BY REV. DERREK BELASE

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

such purposes from disaffiliated churches. In this way, we do not impact money available for programs and we do not do any disservice to those who have faithfully served us and are now retired.

Two other changes come from the area formerly called “Mission and Ministries.” First, the amount allotted to support our 12 Wesley Foundations has been moved from that section back into the apportioned budget. The amount has been reduced over previous years, but in line with receipts over the last three years. It will be important for churches to continue to pay this line at 100% so that our campus ministries do not see a reduction in funding.

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The final change is that our support for Oklahoma City University will become a pledge, joining six other extension ministries which were moved into that category in 2024. Local churches will decide on the level of support for OCU and notify the conference as with the other extension ministries. The support can be sent through the conference treasurer just as other apportionment and special gifts are remitted.

The conference budgeting process is an ongoing process of monitoring and evaluation, which is the responsibility of the Annual Conference Council as well as managing the process and providing oversight which is the responsibility of the Council on Finance and Administration. Both groups work in

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tandem throughout the year to bring you the best possible apportioned budget each year. It is important to remember this budget, which is apportioned to each local church, is only one part of what it takes to operate the Oklahoma Annual Conference.

May 15, 2024

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Tools for Children’s Directors What Every Child Should Experience by Discipleship Ministries This helpful guide sets out which Bible stories are ageappropriate for developing young minds.

From the authors: Children need to experience the same Bible stories and Christian concepts at several different stages of their faith journey, because their ability to understand the concepts continues to evolve as they grow.

Included are tables on ageappropriate Bible stories, faith development broken down into ages and stages, and concepts appropriate for differing developmental levels.

Find it here.

Tips for Instilling Faith in Children This is a quick read about the basics of what is needed for a strong, heartfelt, Jesus-following Children’s ministry setting.

Read it here.

Crafting a Meaningful Children’s Message Whether your church has a moment or a sermon just for children, it’s important to ensure

the message is being received by its intended audience.

Adults often get a lot out of children’s messages, but what about the children? Did you know kids don’t always understand metaphors that come with splashy object lessons?

This article contains tips plus a list of trusted resources your church can use to ensure its children’s message is the best it can be.

Read it here.

An interactive baptism service This service is an updated version of the baptism service, specially designed for infants and young children, plus those who are unable to speak for themselves.

Find it here.

May 15, 2024

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May 15, 2024

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

May 15, 2024

Reflections on General Conference From a first-time delegate

BY REV. CHARLA GWARTNEY

T

he 1996 General Conference was held in Denver, CO, while I was in seminary at Iliff School of Theology. I attended that General Conference to fulfill a class assignment. I remember wondering if I would ever have the opportunity to serve as a delegate. Thirty years later, I was able to serve as a delegate to the postponed 2020 General Conference in Charlotte, NC. Our Oklahoma delegation began meeting at the close of Annual Conference in 2019, right after we were elected. We continued to meet via Zoom through the pandemic and read through the two volumes of legislation submitted for our meeting in 2020 – then a third submitted in the intervening

You can watch the General years. We communicated with Conference through a live stream each other using a tool called and catch all of the proceedings, Slack. Just before we departed, but you won’t see how we shared in a mock legislative Oklahomans with very different committee meeting to see what it would feel like once we got to opinions work together and look out for each other during those Charlotte. two weeks. I was heartened by Much like the camaraderie our cooperation with each other experienced on a mission trip, and our conversation with the I felt connected to everyone on Oklahoma Indian Missionary the delegation. I enjoyed the conversations we shared during Conference delegates. I was also heartened by the cooperation our preparatory meetings and with many international especially those we shared delegates in our legislative in Charlotte. We developed committees. We had so many a rhythm of gathering in a serendipities, courtesy of the courtyard just outside the convention center each morning Holy Spirit.

As I was waiting for a ride for prayer. We sat together in our to the airport to return home, I assigned seats, sharing power struck up a conversation with a strips and trading snacks. One day, I needed a lens wipe to clean delegate from Kenya. When he my glasses. I put my request on found out I was from Oklahoma, Slack and within minutes, one of he asked me if I knew one of our our Oklahomans sent the needed recently retired colleagues. He said that she and her husband item down the row to me.

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were coming to Kenya this summer and he invited me to come with them. It was a legitimate invitation.

Much has been written – and will continue to be written – about decisions made at the postponed 2020 General Conference, meeting in Charlotte

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in 2024. I write to tell you that what happened there was about more than votes and changes to the Book of Discipline. It was about holy conferencing and becoming a world-wide church.

What an amazing and beautiful gift!

May 15, 2024

TOP LEFT: The courtyard where the Oklahoma delegation met to pray together most mornings. TOP RIGHT: Charla Gwartney’s voting device.

BOTTOM: The legislative committee on which Gwartney served, Church and Society 3. Submitted photos.

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May 15, 2024

Tulsa St. Mark’s UMC food pantry wins grant to expand services our reach and make a tangible and its commitment to compassion difference in the lives of those and service. With the support of experiencing food insecurity in our the Woodworth Estates grant, the t. Mark’s United Methodist community.” pantry looks forward to continuing Church Food Pantry in St. Mark’s Food Pantry operates its mission of making a meaningful Tulsa is delighted to as a non-profit, volunteer-run and lasting impact in the lives of announce that it has been awarded initiative under the auspices of those it serves. a generous grant from Woodworth St. Mark’s United Methodist For more information about St. Estates to support its mission of Church. Founded on principles Mark’s United Methodist Church combating food insecurity and of compassion, service, and Food Pantry and its services, please hunger within the Tulsa community. community, the pantry is committed visit www.stmarkstulsa.org.

This grant, totaling $70,000, to providing more than just food will enable the pantry to expand assistance. It prioritizes fostering its services and reach even more dignity, respect, and spiritual individuals and families in need. nourishment for all individuals who The Woodworth Estates grant seek support. comes at a critical time as the “We believe in the importance of demand for food assistance feeding both the body and the soul,” continues to rise. St. Mark’s Food added Corrigan. “We strive to Pantry operates every Thursday embody the spirit of compassion from 10 a.m. to Noon, providing and love in everything we do.” essential support to those facing In addition to expanding unmet nutritional needs. With the its food distribution efforts, support of this grant, the pantry the pantry plans to use the aims to serve an even greater grant funds to enhance its number of individuals and families, outreach, promotion, and ensuring they have access to logistical support. This includes nutritious meals and essential investing in outreach materials, sustenance. promotional signage, and “We are deeply grateful to essential equipment to improve Woodworth Estates for their operational efficiency. generous support of our food St. Mark’s United Methodist pantry,” said Rev. Thomas W. Church Food Pantry is dedicated Corrigan, II, senior pastor at St. to serving and supporting the Mark’s United Methodist Church.

Tulsa community, guided by its Sometimes old-fashioned marketing is “This grant will allow us to expand unwavering faith in Jesus Christ the best thing for the job.

PRESS RELEASE

S

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May 15, 2024

St. Marks UMC in Tulsa hosts a food pantry which provides necessary provisions for those most vulnerable in the community. The organization was rewarded a significant grant from Woodworth Estates to continue and expand its ministries. Submitted photos.

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May 15, 2024

Ministry in a Minute

Lazarus Community shares a meal, clothing, hugs - and even a phone charge - with neighbors. Photos via Facebook.

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May 15, 2024

Click on the picture above to watch the General Conference wrap-up video.

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May 15, 2024

Call to Action

The deadline to register for Annual Conference is 11 p.m. TONIGHT. Register now to ensure your vote is counted!

Share your event or job opportunity in the Contact.

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