News.NET
West Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church
December 23, 2008 - Vol 1, Issue 12 |
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| United Methodists In the News |
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| Bishop Ough's Christmas Message |
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Dear Harbinger's Of Hope Called West Ohio United Methodists...
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| New baptismal and membership vows take effect in 2009 |
 The new baptismal and professing membership vows of The United Methodist Church, adopted by delegates to the 2008 General Conference, will take effect January 1, 2009. The new membership vows and ritual are now available on the GBOD Worship Website. |
| Baltimore-Washington churches open doors to visting United Methodists for inauguration |
 The United Methodist Churches of the Baltimore-Washington Conference are offering hospitality, special events for all ages and worship during the 2009 Presidential Inauguration Weekend. Visit Be the Change You Want to See for more information about housing and events hosted throughout the weekend of January 17-21, 2009. |
| 2009 web ministry workshops scheduled |
 A partnership between West Ohio Communications, Web Empowered Church (WEC), and your district offices is bringing four new web ministry workshops to locations across West Ohio. The WEC ministry is a worldwide ministry and community of believers working together to help churches and ministries take the next step in internet ministry. Details, brochure, online registration: Workshops |
| West Ohio Conference Holiday Schedule |
The Conference Center office will be closed to visitors December 24-26 and December 31-January 2. Conference staff working in the building during those days may be reached by calling the main telephone line (800.437.0028) and dialing the staff person's extension. Callers may leave messages for any staff via their telephone extensions or email. Staff List. | |
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| Case may decide social-action agency's direction |
 A decades-old story of money, temperance and power is winding its way through a District of Columbia court and the ending may impact the future work of the United Methodist Church's social action agency.
A superior court judge is weighing testimony and reading reams of historic documents to determine if donations given in the early 1900s for the construction of The Methodist Building on Capitol Hill were intended for work in temperance and alcohol only. A decision is not expected until the first part of 2009. [Full story] |
| Interpreter debuts digital magazine in January |
 The 2009 January/February issue of Interpreter, the ministry magazine of The United Methodist Church, will debut as a digital magazine in addition to the printed publication. The first Interpreter of 2009 will be the 53rd volume of the award-winning magazine. Published six times a year, each issue includes a cover package of features providing ideas and resources addressing an area of interest or concern to local churches. [Full story] |
| Africa University requests financial support |
 Zimbabwe's economic crisis shows few signs of easing, and United Methodist-related Africa University has issued another urgent call for financial support from the denomination. For most of this fall, Africa University has been the only institution of higher education open in the entire country. Hyperinflation running into the millions of percent has paralyzed the economy. Bishop Nkulu Ntanda Ntambo, chancellor of the 1,300-student university in Old Mutare, released an open letter to United Methodists, asking churches and regional conferences to meet their financial obligations as soon as possible. |
| UMCOR launches humanitarian services for Zimbabwe |
 After months of careful planning, including the overcoming of political obstacles, The United Methodist Church, acting through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), has launched major, life-saving relief and humanitarian services in Zimbabwe, a country plagued by inflation, food shortages, and disease. UMCOR launched a targeted course of action this week. A severe food shortage and cholera epidemic combined with the world's highest inflation of more than 2,000,000% has created one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world today.This significant breakthrough is reported in the attached release and can be found online at Zimbabwe. |
| Events |
| UTS offering stewardship class - January 5-8 and 12-15, 9 a.m.-noon. Registration.
UTS is also featuring an exciting group of adjuncts in the spring, including West Ohio clergy Duane Anders, Mike Slaughter, Sue Nilson-Kibbey and Jeff Greenway. Details.
Capitol Area South District Committee on Church Location and Building seminar - January 31 from 9 am-1 p.m., Reynoldsburg UMC. Information and registration.
2009 New Church Leadership Institute - February 9-13 and October 12-16, Mt. Sequoyah Conference Center in Fayetteville, AR. Details.
National Youth Ministry Conference 2009 - February 27-March 2, The Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, OH. Details. |
| Volunteers in misson news |
| UMVIM construction team to Brisas del Mar Colombia - January 9-16. Contact Robert Rabb. |
| Passages |
| Rev. James Kendrick (retired) died on December 6, 2008. Messages of condolence may be sent to his wife, Jane Kendrick, Otterbein St. Marys, 11808 Mallard, St. Marys, OH 45885.
Mrs. Marjorie Watts, surviving spouse of Rev. Lester J. Watts (deceased), died on December 2, 2008. She is survived by daughter, Debra Davis of Zanesville; sons, Greg Watts of Centerville and David Watts of Anchorage, Alaska.
Rev. Donald J. Morgan (retired) died on December 14, 2008. Messages of condolence will reach the family at www.toftfh.com. | |
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