News.NET
West Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church
February 2, 2009 - Vol 2, Issue 5 |
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| Prepare the future Ohio |
 West Ohio's Public Education Chairperson, Rev. Deb Stevens, has written a letter introducing a new ecumenical partnership formed to work on education reform in Ohio. "Prepare the Future Ohio" invites West Ohioans to be involved in helping to lift Ohio's children out of poverty and into a positive future. [letter] |
| Video series features West Ohio United Methodists |
 Two United Methodists - one a pastor and one a pastor's wife - are featured in a series of articles and videos by the Columbus Dispatch entitled "Death Perceptions." The series examines death through the eyes of professionals who deal with it every day.
Aaron Chivington, youth pastor at Stoneybrook UMC, is passionate in a story entitled "It's Part of the Gift." [video]
Carolyn Slack, child mortality expert, has a touching feature story entitled "Health of the Community." Carolyn is the wife of Rev. Tom Slack, pastor at Northwest UMC. [video] |
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| JAM gardens "help" stretch food supply |
 Congregations and individuals from the West Ohio Conference have donated seeds or financial contributions to the Jackson Area Ministries Green Thumb Gardening Project which encompasses 19 counties in southeast Ohio. With the inventory of food banks, pantries etc. becoming increasingly limited, the concept of "Growing" ones own produce becomes a necessity. To participate this year contact JAM Gardening, PO Box 603, Jackson, OH 45640, 888.237.3141 or jamjar@bright.net. |
| Casinos in Ohio...round three! |
 Penn National has presented an initial proposal to bring casino gambling to Ohio by working through the Ohio state legislature. The United Methodist Church, along with our ecumenical partners, is responding early to attempts by Penn National and others to expand legalized gambling in Ohio. On Monday, January 26, 2009 a press conference was held at the State House. Participating in the press conference were Mr. Tom Smith, director of public policy with the Ohio Council of Churches; Rev. John Edgar, chairperson of the United Methodist anti-gambling network in Ohio; and Ms. Belinda Wing, church and society leader of the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church. Now is the time to act! We want to encourage Governor Strickland and the Ohio senate president to stand firm in their opposition to gambling. For press conference statements, Call To Action and letters to send...... [details] |
| Historian of the year |
 The United Methodist Historical Society of Ohio wants to recognize all churches that are celebrating their 100th,125th, 150th, 175th, or 200th anniversaries in 2009, as well as recognize a Church Historian of the Year. The plaque and certificates for the churches and historian nominees will be presented at our annual convocation April 25 in Fremont. It is important that we honor and preserve our heritage so that it may guide and inspire our future. If you have a church historian you wish to nominate, please send a letter of recommendation and evidence of his or her work, a church history or other materials. Submission deadline is March 1. Send to Rev. Lowell Peterson, 1490 Autumnwoods Dr. Fremont, OH 43420, 419-334-6930 or lepeterson1@juno.com. |
| 2009 Annual Conference |
The theme for the June 7-11, 2009 Annual Conference session is Love in Action: Developing Leaders. As we gather at Lakeside, we will be celebrating the multiple ways the West Ohio Conference calls forth and prepares leaders for the church and the world. Annual Conference Information
Deadlines of Note:
March 15: All agenda items to Tim McCoy at the conference center.
March 23: All materials for the Book of Reports to Grace Gerber at the conference center.
May 1: All scripts and media materials to Sue Alley at the conference center.
May 1: All handouts to Grace Gerber at the conference center. |
| Undergraduate scholarships |
The West Ohio Conference offers scholarships to West Ohio United Methodist undergraduates attending colleges or universities. Scholarships range from $500 - $3000 and are funded with church apportionment giving through our West Ohio Next Generations Leadership funding. Leadership, merit and ethnic applications are available. For details, requirements, deadlines, and applications... [more]. |
| New Dates of Note |
DEADLINE EXTENDED: The deadline for applications to host and mentor a 2009 West Ohio Summer Intern as been extended to this Friday, February 6....remember to apply![details]
February 11 - Celebration of Black History, Methodist Theological Seminary [details]
March 27-28 - Reclaiming Social Holiness, North Andover, MA [details]
March 27-29 - Caring for Creation, Fayetteville, AR [details]
March 31-April 2 - Basic Training "Boot Camp" for Church Planters [details/more dates]
April 23 - A Wesleyan Institute: The United Methodist Way [details]
April 25 - Responding to Family Violence, Richmond, VA [details]
May 20 - Clergy Session, Ginghamsburg UMC...details coming soon. |
| Passages |
| Rev. Raymond Welch (retired 1980) died on January 26, 2009. Messages of condolence with reach his wife Helen at 27021 Caldwell Road, Circleville, OH 43113.
Mrs. Eleanor Kinney, wife of Rev. Craig Kinney, died on January 4, 2009. Message of condolence will reach Rev. Kinney at 615 Laurel Lake Drive #A-232, Columbus, NC 28722. | |
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