News
Tuesday, Jul 23, 2019
Clergy wellness has been a focus of the West Ohio Clergy Wellness Task Force that recently finished up its work. While the Conference continues working to implement their recommendations, including the July 1 launch of an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Wespath shared its 2019 Clergy Well-Being Study, which provides information about clergy wellness from across the country. For more information, click here.
Tuesday, Jul 23, 2019
The Festival Gathering of Biblical Storytelling will be held July 31-August 3, 2019, at the University Marriott hotel in Dayton, OH. The Festival Gathering features workshops for beginners through master storytellers, keynote presentations, world-class performances of both sacred and traditional storytelling, and many opportunities to immerse yourself in the Bible as story, and network with other storytellers from all over the world. For more information or to... (read more)
Tuesday, Jul 23, 2019
Clergy may be the first individuals who become aware of elder abuse or exploitation in their communities, but clergy are often left out of discussions of elder justice. 'Leading Faithfully: Mobilizing Clergy to Help Respond to Elder Abuse" will help connect the dots for faith leaders that serve in communities across Ohio.
Workshops will be held in West Ohio on August 21 (Grove City), September 11 (Dayton), and September 18 (Toledo).
Cost is $25 for registration... (read more)
Tuesday, Jul 23, 2019
You are more likely to encounter someone - a friend, family member, student, neighbor, or member of the community - in an emotional or mental crisis than someone having a heart attack. Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches a 5-step action plan to offer initial help to young people showing signs of a mental illness or in a crisis, and connect them with the appropriate professional, peer, social, or self-help care. Anyone can take the 8-hour Youth Mental Health F... (read more)
Monday, Jul 15, 2019
Now that I am in my 35th year of pastoral ministry, and my sixth year of serving as a superintendent, I have seen and worked with a wide variety of congregations. And what I am noticing in this season of ministry is that as our dialogue with each other has become more and more divisive and toxic, as we have seen the cultural trend that fewer folks are attending worship, and those who do are attending less often, we tend to lose sight of the fact that even now... (read more)
Monday, Jul 15, 2019
Whether you are getting set to launch fall ministries and programs, building your congregation's budget for 2020, or both, be sure to include a check-up of your building on your to-do list. An annual building check-up can prevent small maintenance issues from becoming major - and may ward off endangering the health and safety of your congregants and guests.
Get started by downloading this checklist produced by The Academy of Church Business Administrators.
Monday, Jul 15, 2019
A team is scheduled for November 5-13, 2019 to be in mission with Costa Rican Methodist Churches. The team will be led by VIM Team Leader, Jack Reif, and will focus on building Christian relationships and increasing Christian development.
Cost is $1600 per person, with a deposit of $500 due at time of registration.
For more information or an application, contact Jack at jack.reif34 [at] gmail.com.
Monday, Jul 15, 2019
Petitions for consideration by the 2020 General Conference may be submitted to the Petitions Secretary now through September 18, 2019. For complete information about submitting a petition, click HERE.
Questions about the petition submission process may be submitted by e-mail to the Petitions Secretary at aherrera [at] umcgc.org.
Monday, Jul 15, 2019
North Broadway UMC Sprague Leadership Institute, with support from MTSO, and in partnership with Columbus Sanctuary Collective, the Columbus Mennonite Church and Community Refugee and Immigration (CRIS) presents: Sanctuary For All, a faith-based conversation and workshop about the Accompaniment Movement on Thursday, July 18, 10:45 am - 4:30 pm. Keynote speaker, Ravi Ragbir, is an immigration rights activist at New Sanctuary Coalition in New York. Ravi will shar... (read more)
Tuesday, Jul 2, 2019
Dear Ones in Christ Jesus:
This issue of NewsNet comes to you on the day before. The day before what, you ask. July 4th. America's Independence Day. It will be observed in a variety of ways by individuals, communities and institutions. There will be parades, fireworks, the consumption of too much grilled, burnt, high-cholesterol meat. That doesn't even take into account the inevitable over-consumption of alcohol. Many will start vacations and travel to family... (read more)