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| Resources |
Ohio Interfaith Power and Light Newsletter
Resources for Church Leaders
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West Ohio is on Facebook! | |
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| Greetings! |
 Going out in the mail this week to each pastor will be information from West Ohio about Rethink Church, a new initiative launched by United Methodist Communications. Inside will be a letter from Bishop Ough, a DVD, an invitation to a National Rethink Training event in Ohio this August and other materials. Find links to the materials on the conference website [more]. |
| Swine Flu - a faith based response |
 The high profile of the Swine Flu outbreak has provoked understandable concern and worry about contact with people in public settings. It is natural that church leaders and members are wondering about the risk of participating in such events as mission trips, worship, and sharing the bread and cup of Holy Communion. How do Christians continue doing what we do best - care for others - while protecting ourselves and our loved ones? [more] |
| Annual Conference Updates |
 Volunteer RN's, LPN's, EMT's or those certified in first aid are needed for the First Aid Station during conference sessions. Contact John or Deb Wade at 419.905.8200 or 419.905.6013.
Registration CD: The registration packets are "going green" this year and will be a Registration CD. All documents and handouts to go on the Registration CD should be provided to Grace Gerber as a PDF document this week.
Presenter Handouts: If you are a presenter and have a handout to be distributed during your presentation, it must be approved by the Conference Secretary and Bishop's Office. Only presenters on the agenda may provide handouts to be distributed in Hoover. Please send a proof of the proposed handout to Grace Gerber by May 15.
Presenter Media: All presenters on the agenda have been notified of their place on the agenda and the upcoming deadline on May 8 for media. Presenter Guidelines for media are online. | |
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| Liberian president sails through "Daily Show" interview |
 Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a United Methodist and the first female president of Liberia, was poised, serene and smiling through national appearances on US television. Sirleaf is on a book tour promoting her memoir, "This Child Will Be Great." Stewart reflected on the memoir, pointing out her many struggles and said he was amazed at the obstacles she has overcome to be the first woman head of state in Africa. [more] [video] |
| Final Session of Required Grant Training |
The Disciple Making Church Grant training (formerly known as BCCD) will be on May 12 from 10-12 at the West Ohio Conference Center. If you have not attended a training session for the 2010 grant cycle, you have a final opportunity to attend the necessary training in order to submit a grant proposal. Please share this information with your members and colleagues. We will have representatives of the Disciple Making Church team present to facilitate training on New Church Starts and Church Revitalization In order to submit a proposal, your church or representatives must have completed one of the training sessions offered for the 2010 Grant Cycle. Questions - Gwen Roberts or Julie Bassett at 614.844.6200 x 217. |
| Global mission board looks to future |
 As the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries considers the future of mission for the denomination, the way the agency staffs and operates its programs will change. Bishop Bruce Ough, president of the board, addressed directors at an April 27 meeting. The directors approved a series of recommendations aimed at developing a restructuring plan "for more effective ministry." The plan will almost certainly include a re-grouping of staff and program areas and possible staff reductions... [more] |
| DVD, new books provide help with ordained ministry |
| A new DVD provides moving accounts by elders, deacons, chaplains, and pastoral counselors about what it means to be called to ordained ministry in The United Methodist Church. The DVD shows deacons and elders in a variety of settings that include prisons, hospitals, and the military and can be used to promote understanding with staff-parish relations committees, district committees on ordained ministry and cabinets. [more] |
| Churches, schools get 31 ways to build relationship |
 How can the gap between United Methodist congregations and conferences and the denomination's academic institutions be bridged? The United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry is counting the ways. The agency has developed a list of 31 recommendations gathered from the "Bridging the Gap" events that it sponsored in each of the denomination's five jurisdictions. [more] |
| It's time to act - contact your Ohio Legislators and Governor |
 Race track and bar owners are asking the Ohio Legislature to allow slot machines at the seven race tracks and in bars. It is important to let our elected leaders know that slot machines and casinos are not the answer to our economic problems. Together, we can make a difference! Take Action.
Be Warned of Shady Practices - Signatures are being gathered for Penn National's proposal to bring four casinos to Ohio. Some of those who are gathering signatures are being dishonest in their practices. The West Ohio Conference office has heard from several people that they have been asked to sign a petition to keep gambling out of Ohio. This is NOT true. They are actually gathering signatures to place the issue on the ballot. Before you sign a petition, always ask to see the petition. Be aware....some people will use shady tactics to achieve their goal. |
| West Ohioans honored with Living Faith Award |
| Bishop Bruce R. Ough and UMC member Edna Vaughn will be among the honorees at the Columbus Metropolitan Area Church Council (CMACC) Eighteenth Annual Living Faith Awards Breakfast. This year's Social Justice Award will be presented to West Ohio's Bishop Ough. Edna Vaughn, member of Christ UMC in Columbus, and president of the church's chapter of United Methodist Women, will receive the Interfaith Award. [more] |
| United Methodist Children's Home expands care through adoption |
 Traci Keesee, LSW, joins the United Methodist Children's Home (UMCH)as Adoption Coordinator. The addition of her position is the result of tremendous increase in the number of inquiries about adoption that UMCH has received over the last few years. Just last year 14 children were adopted through UMCH by their UMCH foster families.UMCH has been responding to the needs of the community's children and families since originating as an orphanage in 1911. [more] |
| Early Response Team Training - June 13 at Village Chapel UMC |
 Early response teams assist survivors of natural disasters to return to safe, sanitary and secure homes. Come join us in learning to practice what Jesus preached. Roger Thatcher and Jim Rodgers will be giving the UMCOR certified course to all who wish to attend. Certificate of completion and I.D. badges will be issued. This I.D. badge will be required to participate in early response disaster ministry. [registration]
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| Churches need courage to welcome warriors |
 The Rev. Laura Bender, a UM Navy chaplain, has designed worship material for The United Methodist Church to help churches welcome soldiers returning from war. Bender cautioned pastors and church members who want to help a soldier reintegrate into civilian life to remember these men and women returning from Iraq and other wars have a new world view and are wise beyond their years. "They have seen dangers few can imagine," she said. [more] |
| An event 115 years in the making |
 As the congregational members of London's First UMCcelebrated the glorious Easter season, they had many opportunities to reflect upon a historic event that took place earlier this year within their own sanctuary. Not since 1894 has a Bishop been in the pulpit at London's First Church. That was when the building was consecrated. So, when Bishop Bruce R. Ough graced the altar area of their church, it was truly a day of biblical proportions. [more] |
| Let Justice Roll training events scheduled at Annual Conference |
| In partnership with MTSO, Let Justice Roll will be offering two different training opportunities during the 2009 Annual Conference Session. Health Care as Prophetic Action and Worship led by 4 people including a former legislator and an MTSO professor will be offered over lunch on Monday. Over Tuesday's breakfast, the Rev. Ryan Grace will be leading an educational session on immigration. We invite you to come and explore how a witness for justice can be incorporated into daily life and worship. [more] |
| Peace and Justice served with coffee |
| Once a month at Powell United Methodist Church, Marj and Bob Heffelfinger, an elderly couple in their 80's, prepare a table display with Equal Exchange fair trade coffee, chocolate and other products as part of their Peace and Justice ministry. Sales are quite good-their average monthly intake is about $200. [more] |
| Village Church Easter celebration |
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On Easter Sunday, The Village Church gathered in a park shelter house, overlooking the Maumee River to celebrate God's gift of Hope for our world. For a group of sixty people to gather in a park on Easter morning is not so unusual. However, many of the folks attending this service have no church home, and The Village Church, a new church start in Toledo, has a vision to reach them, and many more like them. [more] |
| New dates of note |
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May 14...Working on the Dream, a 75 city speaking tour with Rich Melheim of Faith Inkubators, designed to help families laugh, learn and lighten loads" in their faith development. Email Dr. Jacqueline Nowak, Director, Institute for Applied Theology, UTS at or call 937-529-2278.
August 18-20...Here I Stand: Leading Change Through Self-Differentiation,
a facilitator training event sponsored by Lombard Mennonite Peace Center. [details]
October 19-21...Advanced Clergy Clinic in Family Emotional Process, a leadership
training program sponsored by Lombard Mennonite Peace Center.[details]
November 9-11...Clergy Clinic in Family Emotional Process, a leadership training program sponsored by Lombard Mennonite Peace Center. [details] |
| Passages |
Dr. James C. Dunaway, pastor in the West Ohio Conference for 50 years, died on April 20, 2009. Messages of condolence may be sent to his wife Carole at 9138 Woodstream Lane, Dayton, OH 45458.
Rev. Russell Chrisman, Jr., (retired 1987), died on April 16, 2009. He was the father of Rev. Joe Chrisman, pastor at Mt. Blanchard UMC. Messages of condolence may be sent to the Chrisman family at 102 Creek Drive E., PO Box 105, Mt. Blanchard, OH 45867.
Mrs. Virginia Stewart, surviving spouse of Rev. James K. Stewart (deceased 2007), died on April 9, 2009. She is survived by her daughter Joy Stewart and two sons, James and David Stewart. |
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