The Contact 5-22-24

THE OKLAHOMA UNITED METHODIST

Weekly

Volume 6, Number 21 • May 22, 2024 • www.okumc.org

Are you ready? 2

Owning Stock in Our Future 4

Getting Plugged In With Quayle UMC 6

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

Effective Dates for General Conference Legislation 8

Save the Date Employment Passages

Holy Conferencing: A History 9

Appointments

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

May 22, 2024

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

Are you ready?

BY REV. DR. DERREK BELASE

T

he 181st session of the Oklahoma Annual Conference is just one week away. Are you ready? There are many ways you can still prepare for your time if you are conference member coming to Oklahoma City.

on as well as many great reports about ministry happening across the connection, especially here in Oklahoma.

• Watch the 17 minute preconference briefing to get the latest information from conference leaders.

Institute and to honor Bishop Nunn’s service to the Oklahoma Conference. You can bring the special offering with you to the annual conference or you can give online.

• If you have time, read paragraphs 120 to 143 (Part IV, The Ministry of All Christians) in • Read the audit report the 2016 United Methodist Book from the Council on Finance and of Discipline to be reminded yet Administration, which is not voted again of our common witness as on by the conference but contains • Visit the Annual Conference followers of Jesus Christ in the important financial information you Information Hub to access all of the Wesleyan way. may be interested in. information you will need.

Finally, you are encouraged to • If you have not already • Download and read the Prepray for your time as a member of done so, take a special offering this Conference Workbook, which has the conference. Ask the Holy Spirit all of the reports we will be voting Sunday to benefit Lydia Patterson to guide your deliberations and

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

May 22, 2024

decisions.

If you are not a member of the conference, you can still prepare in the same way. It takes all of us in the connection to make the connection viable and vital. The Discipline reminds us that “Our connectionalism is not merely a linking of one charge conference to another. It is rather a vital web of interactive relationships” (¶132).

When we prepare for and gather in our conference session, this vital web comes alive. It takes all of us to serve the world, which is FOREVER our parish. Thanks be to God. Members of the 2023 Annual Conference pray over General and Jurisdictional conference delegates. Photo by Tabitha Beckman.

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

May 22, 2024

Owning Stock in Our Future talking to God in lots of different ways.

I WASN’T DOING IT WRONG! To top it off, when we were singing “He’s Got the Whole World in his Hands,” the girl sitting next to me said she liked the way I sang the song! The week only got better. Our small group explored the natural surroundings while our leaders helped us to notice God’s

our church also caught the camp spirit and attended with us. I heard women preach for the first time, took come from a youth group of communion by the creek, learned about three, eight if we had a party. prevenient grace - and one of the older I’m thankful that did not stop my kids taught me a wicked serve in ping church from providing Sunday school pong. and youth group for us.

My freshman year, I stepped up as a Growing up, my parents were the leader and volunteered to serve on the youngest adult couple in the District Youth Council and was congregation, I had lots of church depositphotos.com the president (we had more than grandparents. They cared about 3 students by then) of my local us and in the summer of 1979, youth group. I also learned how my whole church sent me to sixth to play volleyball that year. grade camp where the seeds of In high school I went on to faith they had already sown, grew. attend CYME leadership camp, Several days before camp helped lead worship in my home started, my bags were packed and church, taught a Vacation Bible I was ready for the adventure!

School class, backpacked for On the morning of our departure, the first time on the Colorado I almost made myself sick with Trail Hike with 21 of my United anticipation. The drive down into Methodist friends from across the canyon was amazing and the the conference and answered a camp…BEAUTIFUL! call to ministry.

I was almost giddy when Local church, camping and beauty all around us, students were we set up our bunks. But, when we campus ministries work hand in hand. encouraged to work together, leadership were called to the slab for the opening The seed planted at home and nurtured efforts were affirmed, and we practiced worship to sing songs and pray, my joy through our camps, bloomed in campus living out our faith. turned to fear. ministry. As a Bishop Scholar at OCU, When I came home, I couldn’t wait Several years prior, a well-meaning I continued to be nurtured and stretched to share my experience and the people person told me that I was praying by professors, church leaders, campus in my church listened to me and even wrong, and even though I didn’t ministers and other students. With their asked questions. Church leaders worked remember who it was or what needed encouragement, my faith matured and I with parents to teach Sunday school to be corrected, I was afraid to pray out served in many leadership capacities on and lead youth activities. The next year, loud and embarrassed to sing in public. campus. more of us attended camp, the youth Equal to the terror was the After graduation and for most of my group grew a little, and I developed excitement of being around so many adult life, in collaboration with others, enough confidence in my faith so that other United Methodist kids my age.

I have served the church as a lay person when a girl in my class told me I wasn’t The leadership team was so savvy, through youth and hospitality ministries, going to heaven because I didn’t go before we had a chance for the nerves to on Conference boards and committees to her church, I was able to smile and set in, they had us playing games to get and even served for several years as a respond that my God would let us both to know each other, singing fun songs camp dean (with my own children as in. that required no musical talent and the campers).

At summer camp in seventh and minister (who was wearing shorts!)

TALK ABOUT A RETURN ON eighth grade, several volunteers from shared an opening message about INVESTMENT!

BY AUDRA M. FOGLE

I

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When my church, the First UM church in Henryetta, spent $200 to send me to Camp Egan in sixth grade and then took the extra time (priceless) to listen to my experience, did they know that their gift would chart a path for not only deep personal faith but also a lifetime of leadership in the United Methodist Church? I am forever grateful.

When we volunteer in our local church, send kids to camp or support campus ministry, we build the church now and for future generations. Start building your portfolio now; the dividends will be worth the effort!

The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

May 22, 2024

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

May 22, 2024

Getting Plugged In With Quayle UMC

J

ust over a year ago, Quayle United Methodist Church, located in northeast Oklahoma City, developed a monthly contemporary worship experience. The ministry goes by the moniker Plugged In. The one-year anniversary was held on Sunday, April 28. This service featured the

church’s praise team and a combined children’s choir. There were 84 people present to celebrate God’s faithfulness.

The organizing team for this service has plans for an outdoor community-wide service to commemorate Juneteenth, which will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 23.

There will be a cookout held after the regular 10 a.m. service to allow worshipers from both experiences to fellowship together.

Rev. Dr. Elvyn Hamilton and his wife, Rev. Dr. Bessie Hamilton, have The children’s praise team at Quayle UMC. been the visionaries for Submitted photo.

this ministry. Elvyn Hamilton conveys that he is “still amazed at the potential we have as God’s servants to reach new people in new ways for the glory of God.”

Watering the Earth :

S TA R T W I T H V I S I O N A N D A P U R P O S E

CONTACT US TODAY TO PROVIDE FOR THE MINISTRIES OF YOUR CHURCH AND LASTING GOOD IN YOUR COMMUNITY

OKLAHOMA

METHODIST

F O U N DAT I O N

405-525-6863

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W W W. L AST I N G G O O D.O RG

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

May 22, 2024

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

May 22, 2024

Effective Dates for General Conference Legislation language that made it effective at the New Retirement plan for US clergy close of General Conference, or in one serving local churches – Legislation effective January 1, 2025. New plan goes case immediately upon adoption.

Preparations for Worldwide eneral Conference approved into effect January 1, 2026 Regionalization significant legislative Creation of a US Regional Committee changes during its recent Constitutional Amendments in Enabling an interim US Legislative gathering in Charlotte, North Carolina, Need of Ratification Committee but not everything goes into effect at Amendments to the Constitution of the same time. While most items will The United Methodist Church must be Human sexuality become effective on January 1, 2025 in approved by a two-thirds majority of the Removal of ban of same-sex weddings the U.S. and a little later in the Central General Conference, and then must be Changes to chargeable offenses: Conferences, other items went into effect ratified by a “two-thirds affirmative vote returning the wording of the first immediately upon adoption, some need of the aggregate number of members chargeable offense to its pre-2004 constitutional ratification, and still others of the several annual conferences are dependent upon other meetings. present and voting.” The following were version Removal of ordination ban (came into Below is an outline of the effective approved by General Conference and are dates for some of the newly adopted awaiting ratification which is expected in effect immediately upon adoption) Removal of funding restrictions legislation. the spring of 2026. concerning LGBTQ+ ministries and Typical Effective Date Worldwide Regionalization – Includes advocacy In the United States, legislation amendments to 28 paragraphs of the Other effective dates adopted by the General Conference constitution Some legislation is not able to go into goes into effect January 1 of the year Racial Justice (¶5) Article V - “The effect until other meetings occur. following the General Conference, United Methodist Church commits to The departure of 4 Eurasian January 1, 2025. confronting and eliminating all forms conferences into an autonomous of racism, racial inequity, colonialism, Methodist church is expected to occur Central Conferences adopt legislation white privilege, and white supremacy, a little later. According to the Book of in every facet of its life and in society at in 2025, per a statement from Bishop Eduard Khegay.

Discipline, in any central conference large.”

Full Communion with The Episcopal “using a language other than English, Include ‘gender’ and ‘ability’ (¶4) Church upon approval by The Episcopal legislation passed by a General - “All persons without regard to race, Church which is not expected until 2027.

Conference shall not take effect until 18 gender, ability, color, national origin, Two additional bishops in Africa – months after the close of that General status, or economic condition, shall be One additional bishop will be elected Conference.” In English-speaking eligible to attend its worship services, at each of the upcoming sessions of the central conferences, legislation does not participate in its programs, receive the Africa and Congo Central Conferences. take effect until the central conference sacraments, upon baptism be admitted US Bishops to 32 – General convenes and publishes their decisions as baptized members, and upon taking Conference recommended that no new on rejecting, adopting, or amending any vows declaring the Christian faith, General Conference actions they are become professing members in any local elections occur at 2024 Jurisdictional Conferences. Instead, current bishops allowed to adapt. church in the connection.” would be assigned to cover two Revised Social Principles Edit of the educational requirements vacancies in the Western Jurisdiction Budget for voting privileges to elect clergy and one vacancy in the Northeastern Deacons and sacraments delegates to General Conference (¶35) Jurisdiction. These would take effect Young People’s Ministries becoming September 1, 2024.

Young People’s Connectional Network Effective now Some approved legislation contains

BY UNITED METHODIST COMMUNICATIONS

G

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

May 22, 2024

“Instead, by speaking the truth with love, let’s grow in every way into Christ, who is the head. The whole body grows from him, as it is joined and held together by all the supporting ligaments.

The body makes itself grow in that it builds itself up with love as

Holy Conferencing: A History

each one does its part.” Ephesians 4:15-17

the means of grace; a way that God’s grace “SECTION II. On the Method of holding a Conference, and the Conferencing. We have been doing is present to us.

Business to be done therein. quite a bit of that in these past few years. Our American It is desired that all Things be considered as in the immediate We began 2024 with a “bonus” annual Methodist Presence of God. That every Person speak freely whatever is in his conference. On the day that marks ancestors wrote Heart. the feast of the Epiphany we gathered about these Quest. 1. How may we best improve our Time at the Conference? online for worship and gave our annual annual meetings Answ. While we are conversing, let us have an especial Care to set conference the gift of moving from as way of God always before us.

8 districts to 5. Truly, it will be a gift “watching over 2. In the intermediate Hours, let us redeem all the Time we can for as we live into a new reality of being one another in private Exercises.

United Methodists across the great state love.” (General 3. Therein let us give ourselves to Prayer for one another, and for a of Oklahoma. In just a few weeks we Rules) Blessing on our Labour. will gather for the 181st session of the The practice Quest. 2. What is the Method wherein we usually proceed in a Annual Conference of Oklahoma. How of meeting Conference? will you show up when we gather? for an Annual Answ. We enquire, I decided to do a little digging on Conference 1. What Preachers are admitted? the beginning of the concept of holy has carried 2. Who remain on Trial? conferencing. Some Methodist historians through all 3. Who are admitted on Trial? contribute the regiment and design of the divisions, 4. Who desist from travelling?

5. Are there any Objections to any of the Preachers? Who are John Wesley’s system of intentional unifications, named one by one. meetings to his mother Susanna. Her and 6. How are the Preachers stationed this Year?” development of family devotions transformations 7. What Numbers are in Society? followed an order of mutual support, of the people 8. What is collected for the contingent Expenses? spiritual instruction, and religious called United 9. How is this expended? teaching. These were the seedbed of Methodists.

10. What is contributed toward the Fund for the superannuated what began the Class Meetings, Band As we prepare preachers, and the widows and orphans of the Preachers?

11. What Demands are there upon it?

Meetings, Quarterly Conferences and for yet one 12. Where and when shall our next Conferences begin?

Annual Conferences. more meeting, Here (RIGHT) is the wording in I invite you Quest. 3. Is there any other Business to be done in Conference?” the first Discipline of the Methodist to join me in Episcopal Church in America December showing up 27, 1784, concerning the holding of a with this prayer division.

(Annual) Conference: on your heart as we anticipate the grace Move among us, we pray, so that of God that will find us there: we will welcome the gale of your Holy In this glimpse from our history as Wind, Fire and Spirit.

Methodists in America, you can see Holy Majesty who has called all We seek to be your church, your body a skeleton of what we continue to do creation into being, of Christ. as the work of the Annual Conference As you sent us a Savior and poured Lead us, Holy One, Holy Three, meeting. The roots of this gathering were out your Holy Spirit lead us into this day of new beginnings. planted in the rich soil of John Wesley’s so send your Spirit once again.

Amen. understanding of the responsibility we Save us from all that distracts us from share in the connection we keep. He the grace you offer as we gather.

I’ll save you a seat! referred to holy conferencing as one of Save us from the triteness that brings Carol

BY REV. CAROL COOK-MOORE

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

May 22, 2024

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

May 22, 2024

Call to Action The Ministry Center will be closed Monday, May 27, in observance of Memorial Day. Annual Conference 2024 begins May 30, with the Day of Learning on May 29.

Youth Force OKC is looking to serve Oklahoma City Neighbors!

The urban mission experience for youth returned to operation last summer after a hiatus caused by the pandemic. This year they will return to serving neighbors by repairing homes. Do you know someone in Oklahoma City, someone in your congregation or a neighbor close to your OKC church, that could use some help with home projects? This is especially great for families with disabilities, aging or financial hardship. They do need to own the homes they are living in (or the family system owns).

The design plans to work on three to five homes depending on youth registration. Please submit applications by June 12. Follow the link to fill out the google form, which serves as the application. If you have questions about the process, please reach out by email youthforceokc@gmail.com.

There is still time to sign up your youth group to serve at Youth Force OKC, July 21-26. Interested in bringing a youth group?

Registration for youth is open until June 27.

Share your event or job opportunity in the Contact.

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