Latest News from Capitol Area South District

A Volunteer in Mission Team is scheduled to go to Managua, Nicaragua. The dates for the teams are November 5-14, 2010. The November team will also have a sightseeing extension of 3-4 days yet to be determined. Cost for each of the teams is estimated to be $1,200 per person.

For more information click HERE.

Mark Your Calendar

July 30: Pre Church Conference Briefing @ Brice UMC

August 5: Pre Church Conference Briefing @ Amlin UMC

October 4: Bishop Ough's Day on the CAS District (starting with 6:30 pm dinner @ Columbia Heights UMC)

Positions Available

Livingston United Methodist Church Seeks Director or Music Worship. Click HERE for details.

First United Methodist Church, Lancaster has an immediate opening for a part-time Youth Director. Experience needed in junior and senior high ministry, spiritual formation, group building, organizational skills, and United Methodist theology and practice. Resumes may be sent to First UMC, Attn: SPRC, 163 E. Wheeling St, Lancaster, OH 43130 and received no later than July 19.

"Love in Action, Building Bridges Out of Poverty" Was the Theme for Annual Conference
Aaron & Esther Brown
Denman Award Winners

With the theme of "Love in Action, Building Bridges Out of Poverty," the West Ohio Annual Conference met in session at Lakeside on Lake Erie during June 6-10.

The lay and clergy members heard two guest preachers who urged the members of the conference to return to their communities to engage in ministry to and with the poor. The Rev. Jorge Acevedo, pastor of Grace UMC in southwest Florida and the Rev. Janet Wolfe from Nashville, TN spoke passionately about the call of the gospel for all believers to engage in ministry with the poor.

Among the business conducted at the annual conference, Mr. Bill Brownson was elected as the treasurer/director of administrative services for the annual conference. He will replace the Rev. Stan Sutton who retired at this annual conference.

Several persons from the CAS District were given recognition at the annual conference this year including:

Certified Lay Ministers: Katie Clark, Dr. Faye Johnson, Candy Johnson, Pam Nickerson, David Pagura, and Jeff Walker were among those recognized as Certified Lay Ministers

Denman Award Winners: Esther Brown, daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. Aaron Brown and the Rev. Aaron Brown were recognized as recipients of the laity and clergy West Ohio Denman Award for Evangelism. Aaron and Esther are the first father and daughter combination to receive this recognition in one year at the annual conference

Retirees: The Rev. Scott Kelso entered into the retired relationship at this conference session.

Commissioning & Ordination: The following persons were ordained as elders and entered into full membership in the conference: the Rev. Jeremy Moyers, the Rev. Robert Sholis, and the Rev. Eva Marie Wolfe.

In addition, the Rev. Julie Nielsen Bingman was commissioned toward deacon.

The Miracle Offering resulted in the collection of 19,260 pounds of potatoes and offering that totals $160,187.11 as of 6/18.

Click HERE to for the full report of the 2010 annual conference on the West Ohio website.

Click HERE to read Tater's Thank You letter for the offering of potatoes.

Jim's Tool Box

Stewardship Help for Your Church

How is your congregation doing in the area of stewardship? I hope you are doing well, but my experience is that most clergy and lay leadership struggle with this area of ministry.

Any pastor or lay person who wants to get up to speed quickly on some basic, solid principles of stewardship, Christopher's book is a good place to start. Clif is a United Methodist pastor who founded the Horizons Stewardship Company in 1992. He serves as a consultant to congregations in all phases of building, finances, and church growth.

Among other things, Christopher feels strongly that the pastor needs to know about the giving records of persons in the congregation. How strongly does he feel about that? He calls if "clergy malpractice" if the pastor doesn't know.

Click HERE to read the article.

UM Community Ministries: Building Bridges Out of Poverty Update

Beth Weisbrod offers an update on the first Building Bridges Out of Poverty that was held in Circleville. You can check out other dates for training in Beth's article.

Click HERE to read Beth's article.

Here is an update on on the three district mission centers (Church for All People/Community Development for All People, Water's Edge, and New Life Community). All three centers are expanding programs or buildings.

Click HERE to read the update.

Download a bulletin insert about the ministry of the Church/Community Development for All People HERE.

Download a bulletin insert about the ministry of New Life Community UMC HERE.

The Community Ministry Festival will be held on Tuesday, September 21, from 5:30 to 8:00 PM, at the Columbia Heights UMC. The theme for the festival this year is "Bridges Out of Poverty." Download a flyer for the festival HERE.

Pastors Newly Appointed in CAS District

During the last week in June, many UM pastors in West Ohio had a "moving" experience when they were on the move to new appointments. In the CAS District some of the newly appointed pastors moved within the district. This district also welcomes pastors who are moving into the district from other areas. On June 15, most of these pastors along with members of the S/PPR Committees from their new congregations participated in a "Starting Well" event led by consultant the Rev. Doug Anderson from the Reuben Job Center.

Click HERE to pictures of the training event that also included pastors and laity from the Capitol Area North District.

On July 2, District Superintendent Hank Stringer and Assistant to the Superintendent Jim Waugh welcomed the newly appointed pastors to a new pastors orientation.

Click HERE to see photos of the newly appointed pastors in the district.

West Ohio Response to Northwest OH Tornados

Bishop Ough recently sent out a letter detailing the response of the West Ohio Conference and the United Methodist Committee on Relief to the deadly tornados that struck northwest Ohio on June 5. The letter also shares ways that you and your congregation can respond to the ongoing need in the relief efforts.

Click HERE to read the bishop's letter.

United Methodist Men's Gathering Set for August 7

The West Ohio United Methodist Men's Group is sponsoring a one day gathering from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday, August 7, at the Ginghamsburg UMC. The registration cost is $50.00 per person and reservations are due by July 30.

Click HERE for a registration brochure.

Training Events/Continuing Ed Opportunities

Here is information about two training events that have come into the district office recently:

For Pastors:

Leading the Middle-Sized Church This event is sponsored by the Intentional Growth Center and it will be held August 16-19 at Lake Junaluska. Click HERE for a regisration brochure and more information.

For Pastor and Laity:

LifeServe National Conference Group Publishing is holding a major training event on how to recruit, refresh, and reignite volunteers in your church. The event will be held at Hyatt Regency Hotel (next to convention center) in Columbus during September 29-October 1. Currently the registration price is $300.00 per person through June 30 when the price goes up another $50.00. There is a group discount if you bring three or more persons from your church.

Click HERE to go to the even website.

Happenings and Events in Local Congregations

Amlin Community Preschool Needs Gently Used Student Chairs

The Amlin Community Preschool of Amlin UMC is looking for sturdy, gently used chairs for its students. If you know of some which could be donated or purchased, please contact Casey Wilson at

revcaseywilson@aol.com.

Pleasant View (Pickaway Co) Issues School Supply Challenge

On August 7 at 4:00 pm, Pleasant View United Methodist Church will be distributing free school supplies to any student who is in need of them. Along with the distribution of the school supplies, there will be and ice cream social as well as inflatable's for the children. The church would also like to issue a challenge to all churches in Pickaway County as well as to all the Methodist Churches in the Capital Area South District. Click HERE for more details

Maynard Avenue (CAN) Seeks Volunteers for Help with State Fair Food Tent

If you would like to help with this project during the Ohio State Fair, please download the flyer HERE that describes ways you can make a difference.

Wesley Church of Hope Presents "Forever in Our Hearts Gospel Program" on Saturday, August 14

Wesley Church of Hope will sponsor a program dedicated to the memory of all murdered children and youth across America.

For more information download a flyer HERE.

Pastors Time to Sign Up for One to Ones

It is time for pastors to sign up for their annual One to One with Hank. Sign up now to get the time that you want. Call Carol Wilson at the District Office to sign up. You may also sign up at the Pre Church Conference Briefings on July 30 or August 5.

Click HERE to see a schedule of the summer One to Ones (July 9 - August 13).

Apportionment Update