News

Parsons District basketball tournament a winner for Imagine No Malaria

The Parsons District recently hosted a three-on-three basketball tournament at Parsons Wesley United Methodist Church to raise money for Imagine No Malaria. There were 17 teams entered from seven churches in the district. Most of the teams brought along their own “cheering section” of spectators who supported them in their...

Leadership team approves funds for campus ministry

The Kansas East Leadership Team approved a $9,500 grant for sidewalk improvements at the Pittsburg State University campus ministry. The sidewalk in front and to the side of the campus-ministry facility has been cracked and buckled for some time. However, recently a student in a wheelchair began attending events at the center, and this project moved up the priority list. “We had the entire sidewalk torn up and replaced,” said Rev. Josh Gooding, campus minister. “We hope this...

Join Hands on the Great Plains

In April, the congregations of the Great Plains Episcopal Area are invited to join together in service celebrating the coming together of The United Methodist Church across Nebraska and Kansas. The month-long effort culminates with Youth Service weekend April 27-28. The Hands on the Great Plains: Taking it to the Streets event calls upon congregations to seek partnerships with other community organizations to make a real difference in their communities. In mid-February, short planning videos...

New experiences await campers at Chippewa this year

By Susan Cooper, Kansas communications associate director As camping season approaches, excitement is building at Camp Chippewa, and change is in the air. “We’re working really hard on bringing new and different activities at camp—mixing some of the old with the new,” said Camp Chippewa Director Jessica Thompson. Download the 2013 camping brochure to see all the camps offered at Chippewa. ...

Staff positions announced for Great Plains Area

Bishop Scott Jones recently announced a number of appointments and staff assignments for the Great Plains Area. Effective July 1, 2013, Rev. Nancy Lambert will be the area director of Clergy Excellence and assistant to the bishop. She will serve as the staff leader for the Nebraska Conference in Lincoln. At that time, Rev. Carol Roettmer Brewer will become the associate director of Clergy Excellence for the Great Plains Area.  She plans to retire in 2014. The Great Plains Council on...

Bishop makes 360 free throws to help end malaria deaths

By Lisa Diehl, Kansas communications director Great Plains Area Bishop Scott Jones made 360 of 1,000 free-throw attempts in an hour and 40 minutes Feb. 23 to raise funds to end deaths as the result of malaria on the continent of Africa. Great Plains Area Bishop Scott Jones shoots free throws at Wichita Calvary UMC for a Shoot for No Malaria fundraiser. (photo by Lisa Diehl) ...

Transition team presents draft organization plan

By Lisa Diehl, Kansas communications director The Great Plains Transition Team presented a draft plan of organization for the new annual conference to clergy at the 2013 Joint Called Clergy Session Jan. 16. “It’s a work in process,” said Rev. Gary Brooks, team member and Wichita East District superintendent. “The draft posted online last week is our best guess of where we need to be headed right now.” ...

Transition team releases draft organization plan

By Lisa Diehl, Kansas communications director United Methodists in Kansas and Nebraska are getting a first look at the plan of organization for the new Great Plains Annual Conference. A draft of the plan was posted to the Great Plains Episcopal Area website Jan. 10. Key areas addressed so far include mission shares (apportionments), structure and staffing in addition to naming missional priorities and the call of the new annual conference. Opportunities for feedback are scheduled throughout...

Churches should stop begging, start telling their story

By Susan Cooper, Kansas communications associate director Rev. Clif Christopher, author of “Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate,” believes most churches ask for money in completely the wrong way. Instead of showing the value of donating to the church’s ministry, they give a “doom and gloom” picture of the budget and even how close the church is to closing the doors for good. Rev. Clif...

Bridges expands new-church development

By Lisa Diehl, Kansas communications director Bridges to the Future has helped extend the reach of the New Church Development budget for the Kansas East Conference. Disbursements from Bridges to the Future have assisted Living Water, a new church start in western Kansas City near Piper, and LifeBridge, a new church in Shawnee. Rev. Kent Melcher said both congregations are improving stewardship among members and attendees, which is enabling the conference to continue to reduce the financial...

Bridges work nears completion at Camp Chippewa

By Lisa Diehl, Kansas communications director It was a busy year of improvements at Camp Chippewa thanks to the Bridges to the Future capital campaign. In 2007, the Kansas East Conference committed to raising funds for camping, campus ministry and church growth and development. More than $5 million was pledged by churches and individuals for the efforts. The campaign should be wrapped up by the end of 2013. Camp Chippewa was a major recipient of funds from the campaign. Grants totaling...

Change dominates 2012

By Linda Bloom, Barbara Dunlap-Berg and Heather Hahn for United Methodist News Service Around the world, 2012 was an eventful year. Major events included the summer Olympics and the presidential election. Storms, floods and earthquakes brought devastation. Fighting in the Middle East and economic instability often made headlines. The United Methodist Church, too, dealt with many issues during 2012. General Conference Delegates...

Take a fresh look at small-group ministry

By Susan Cooper, Kansas communications associate director It’s time to re-examine how churches do small-group ministry, according to Carol Krau, Adult Formation and Discipleship director for the General Board of Discipleship and author of “Keeping in Touch: Christian Formation and Teaching.” Carol Krau, General Board of Discipleship, believes using metaphors and associated imagery as themes for small groups is...

KEC disaster-response trailers ready to roll

By Steve Burnett, special contributor The shower trailer has three complete bathrooms with a shower, sink and toilet in each one. (photo by Steve Burnett) The shower trailer has a heated and cooled area for people waiting to take a shower. (photo by Steve Burnett) The shower trailer includes a...

Shoot for No Malaria website launched

It’s not often you have the opportunity to save lives by shooting hoops, but this February, every church in the Great Plains Episcopal Area is encouraged to do just that. Bishop Scott Jones has called for every United Methodist church in Kansas and Nebraska to be involved in the challenge, Shoot for No Malaria, by hosting or participating in an event during the month of February. Churches are invited to be creative. Events primarily will be basketball-themed affairs, such as free-throw...

5 essential behaviors for vitality

By Lisa Diehl, Kansas communications director Vital congregations, whether large or small, share five congregational behaviors, according to Rev. Jorge Acevedo. Acevedo is the senior pastor at Grace Church in Fort Meyers, Fla. The church has four campuses—the main campus where 2,000 people worship each weekend, two smaller congregations and a community center. “ Rev. Jorge Acevedo shares five congregational...

Bridges funds spur growth for campus ministries

By Lisa Diehl, Kansas communications director The Fort Hays State University’s United Methodist Campus Ministry received Bridges to the Future funds to improve curb appeal and construct a storage shed to store tools for yard work. (photo by Steve Johnson) Bridges to the Future funds will be used for several projects at Emporia State University’s Campus...

Awareness first step to improving women's health globally

By Marvé Ralston, special contributor A recent three-day training event in Fort Worth, Texas, provided an opportunity for 27 women to become better educated about women’s maternal health in the world. The Healthy Families, Healthy Planet project is a program initiative of the General Board of Church and Society and is funded through a grant from the United Nations Foundation. The goal of the training was to educate and mobilize an additional group of advocates for international...

Round-up continues meeting needs of many

By Charlene Bailey, special contributor Cars, vans and trucks loaded with donations began arriving in the early morning hours Nov. 17 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Lawrence for this year’s Bishop’s Round-up for Hunger. Bishop Scott Jones greets participants at the 2012 Bishop’s Round-up for Hunger in Lawrence. (photo by Charlene Bailey) ...

Clergy health DVD sets tone for healthier congregations

Clergy health is an issue that increasingly presents challenges for The United Methodist Church. Studies have shown that United Methodist clergy experience more severe health problems than the general population, even taking into consideration age, geography and other factors. The United Methodist Health Ministry Fund has a new training resource to help create awareness in congregations of the unique issues clergy face in maintaining and improving their physical, emotional, social, financial...