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West Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church
April 11, 2009 - Vol 2, Issue 15
In This Issue
2009 Annual Conference
Souls for Soles
Health Station Opening
Ministry Recycles Computers
Bible Donations Needed
Education Reform
Black Caucus Gathers
New Workshops Scheduled
Hispanic Pastor Survey
Grants Awarded
Signs of New Times
Financial Aid
Seminary News
New dates of note
Resources

 
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Greetings!
Bishop OughWe are entering the season of Easter - a season of great rejoicing which culminates in the Day of Pentecost. We will be celebrating the presence, power and promise of Jesus' resurrection for the next several weeks.
 
It takes great faith and courage to believe in resurrections. It takes great hope and love to practice resurrection faith. 
 
But, the promise of Easter is that resurrection is not a one-time, long-ago event. The promise of Easter is that the Risen Christ is calling our names and inviting us to move from the ground of the dead to the place of the living. The promise of Easter is that Christ's victory is our victory. 
 
Thanks be to God!
 
(Read Bishop Ough's full Easter Message to West Ohio on his blog at www.bruceough.com)
Website offers ways to engage in June conference
ac logoThe 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. Flyers and posters are now available to download from the Annual Conference website. Included are ways to engage your church in the conference, a photo gallery of scenes from the 2008 conference and a video gallery with video clips. 
Unique Lenten Ministry at South Park UMC
SocksWhen a homeless man entered South Park United Methodist Church in Dayton one day, asking for warm, dry socks, a new ministry was born - Soul to Sole.  Throughout Lent, socks are collected each Sunday in laundry baskets in the worship center.  On Easter Sunday they will be blessed and distributed to homeless adults throughout Dayton area.  [more photos]
UM Church celebrates health station opening
ribbonThe United Methodist Church for All People in Columbus, and its Community Development Corporation are transforming lives and the community through housing, worship, meals, a free store, and now primary health care. Last Monday over 200 people celebrated the grand opening of the new Mount Carmel Health Station.  Community members, dignitaries, benefactors and partners from were present. [more]
New UM ministry recycles your old computers for families in need
Computer trashA new ministry at Turning Point UMC in Bowling Green, Ohio is helping the environment while they resource people in need. Computers for Charity will recycle your old computer equipment at no cost to you and reduce the impact on the environment by refurbishing and providing the gift of technology to families in need. Do you or your office have out-of-date computers? Don't throw them on the trash heap!!! Donate them to this worthwhile cause instead!  [more] 
Have an extra, gently used Bible?  Consider making a Bible donation.
biblesSt. Paul's UMC  (Toledo) is holding a Bible Drive, collecting and distributing new and/or gently used Bibles.  Bibles will be collected during the month of April and placed in the hands of those in the community seeking God's Word. Donations can be delivered to the church or the Maumee Watershed District Office. Contact St. Paul's Outreach Coordinator, Mark Maras for more information at 419.243.8284.
Grassroots engagement for education reform 
peducBishops Ough and Hopkins have led the UMC in Ohio to engage public education reform as an expression of our faith. Quality education can lift people out of poverty and open doors. Join a conversation about providing a quality public education for every child in Ohio. Learn about Prepare the Future Ohio, read the Bishops  statement on public education, download resources including a powerpoint presentation and steps for setting up your own discussion session.  [more]
Black caucus examines new church starts
grobertsThe Rev. Dr. Gwendolyn Roberts, Director of Metro Ministries for the West Ohio Conference, was one of nearly 400 members of Black Methodists for Church Renewal who came together in March for the 42nd national meeting. The members engaged in three days of speeches and sermons, discussions, workshops, networking,  fellowship, and inspirational praise and worship. One of the focuses explored the current challenges and strategies for creating ministries representative of its theme, "A New Church for a New Day." [more]
New Web Empowered Church Workshops scheduled
VIMThe West Ohio Conference & your district offices are partnering to provide a series of workshops across the conference to assist churches who do not have a web ministry in developing one. New workshops are now scheduled in Gibsonburg, Circleville and Columbus.  The workshops, led by Mark Stephenson of Web Empowered Church, provide 1/2 day of web ministry training applicable to any web software and 1/2 day of hands on learning. Online registration is open for all workshops. [more]
UMCOM Survey for Hispanic pastors
United Methodist Communications offers leaders of Hispanic/Latino churches several resources in Spanish to help you in your ministries. In an effort to ensure that you are receiving the best help that we can provide, we are taking a survey of pastors and leaders of Hispanic/Latino churches to better understand your needs. Deadline is extended to April 15.
 
Comunicaciones Metodistas Unidas ofrece a las iglesias hispano-latinas varios recursos en espa�ol para ayudarles en su ministerio. A fin de asegurar que usted reciba la mejor ayuda que podamos proveer, estamos haciendo una encuesta entre pastores y l�deres de las iglesias para entender mejor sus necesidades. Hemos extendido la fecha para recibir la encuesta hasta el 15 de abril. [survey]
Ethnic local church, Human Relations Day grants
gbgsUnited Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) awarded $185,231 in Ethnic Local Church Grants and $30,748 in a Human Relations Day Grant. The Ethnic Local Church Grants program is to strengthen congregations through education, advocacy or leadership development for social justice engagement. Funds were approved for a wide variety of ministries. [more]
Bishop Peggy Johnson's YouTube videos - signs of new times
pjohnsonBishop Peggy Johnson has a heart for those with disabilities, especially hearing and sight disabilities. So, when she decided to speak to her nearly 1,000 churches in the Philadelphia area of the UMC, she created six video messages: Ash Wednesday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, The Lord's Prayer, and two versions of an Easter message. The videos are posted on YouTube, with a main goal of making the Gospel accessible.
United Methodists can apply online for scholarships, loans
Students who need financial help for college costs can now apply online for United Methodist scholarships or loans. As of March 17, more than 1,600 applications had been submitted for scholarships for the fall term. Scholarship deadlines vary for the more than 60 programs administered by GBHEM, but the final deadline has always been May 15. Applicants are encouraged (especially renewal students) to apply early this year to ensure they are considered for funding. [more].   
Seminary news
Tuition for the four master's degree programs at Methodist Theological School in Ohio will remain unchanged for the 2009-2010 academic year. At the request of the MTSO administration, the school's board of trustees voted unanimously to freeze the figure for the upcoming year. The school also will continue its strong commitment to student financial aid.  
 
United Theological Seminary in Dayton, welcomes some prominent church leaders  - including several United Methodists - to its team of instructors for the spring semester. Classes are offered in short-term, convenient formats and new ones have recently been added to the spring schedule. [more] 
New dates of note

April 29...Legislative Advocacy Day and Reception, a day to prioritize the poor and vulnerable in out state budget and policy making processes.
  
May 9...Spring Open House, Methodist Theological School in Ohio.
 
May 30...Taste and See-Into Deeper Waters: Experience Contemplative and Social Justice Traditions, an opportunity to focus on God's presence or experience downtown Cincinnati ministries.

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