Congo Week

In June 2010 the delegates to the Annual Conference Gathering voted to enter into a partnership with the Bokungu district of the Community of the Disciples of Christ in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Our first project with our new partners was to raise money to help them rebuild the church in Bokungu City that was destroyed by rebel forces during the ongoing conflict in the Congo. Over the past two years we have raised over $8000 to help build the church in Bokungu City. Our goal is $21,000. This past week I received an e-mail from Rev. Mbomba the district minister thanking us for our support and sharing some pictures of the construction of the new church. We have also received a carved wooden Bible and a carving of a pastor preaching at a lectern from our partners; both are on display in the conference office.  

Since we began our partnership many people have asked me, "Why the Congo?"   Global Ministries of the UCC defines partnership as meeting together at the point of deepest need. Let me share a few facts about the history of the Congo. Since 1996 over 6,000,000 Congolese have died in the ongoing conflict in this mineral rich nation. During that same period of time more than 250,000 women some younger than 14, have been publicly raped as an act of war and terrorism to force villagers to mine Coltan and other precious metals (more about this in a moment). Children are being forced to fight in rebel armies. The average income in the Congo is 35 cents a day. This is a country and a people with a history of violent repression and victimization dating back to the repressive rule of King Leopold of Belgium over 100 years ago. The Congolese are a people in need of partners who will meet them at their point of deepest need.  

The UCC and the Disciples of Christ through Global ministries have had a missionary presence in the Congo since the 1890's. Clela Anderson, a member at St. John UCC in Manchester, and her husband were missionaries in the Congo for many years. How will we continue this history of support and presence as we live more fully into our partnership with the Bokungu District in the Congo?  

This week is Congo week around the world. Take a few moments and go to www.congoweek.org and learn about the situation in the Congo.  I would encourage you to view some of the videos, read some of the articles, and break the silence that surrounds the atrocities taking place in this nation.

• Participate in the Cell Out this Wednesday October 17th. If you cannot participate this week have your own Cell Out next Wednesday. The Cell OUT is a "digital moment of silence" starting at 12 noon on Wednesday, October 17th to commemorate the millions of Congolese lives lost, raise awareness about the ongoing conflict in the Congo and the vicious scramble for Congo's spectacular natural resources. One such natural resource, is columbite-tantalite or Coltan, a black tar-like mineral found in major quantities in the Congo. When coltan is refined it becomes a heat resistant powder that can hold a high electric charge. It is used in many electronic devices such as cell phones and game consoles (Microsoft X-Box and Sony Play Station) and is mined illegally in the Congo by rebel militia and foreign forces then sold to multinational corporations.   To participate in the Cell OUT - TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONE FOR AT LEAST ONE HOUR THIS WEDNESDAY. You can learn more about the Cell OUT by going to www.congoweek.org and viewing the short video on the Cell OUT on their site.
• Invite our conference minister, Jeffrey Whitman, to make a presentation to your youth group, adult study group, women's group, or other group in your church.
• Take a special offering to support rebuilding the church in Bokungu City.
• Consider joining a Congo partnership committee for the conference. If you would be willing to be part of this committee please contact Rev. Whitman.

Finally, pray for our partners in the Congo as they seek to bring the good news of Jesus and a witness of hope and peace to a people who know too well the pain and injustice of conflict and war.    

Rev. Jeffrey Whitman

Conference Minister 

MMS Conference Council Highlights      

The Conference Council of the Missouri Mid-South Conference met on October 12-13 at the Rickman Center in Jefferson City.  The meeting began by welcoming new members to the council and continued with worship on Friday evening and reflection on the leadership and the qualities of leadership we look for in members of the Conference Council. Following worship, committee assignments were made and the standing committees of the council met for organization and planning.

The business meeting of the council began at 9:00 am on Saturday morning. The highlights of our meeting include:

• Following a presentation by Diane Meatheany COO of St. Andrews Management Services the Conference Council voted to recognize St. Andrews as a covenantal partner of the Missouri Mid-South Conference and to recommend that they be granted membership in CHHSM (Council for Health and Human Service Ministries)
• There was conversation about the format of our Conference Annual Gathering in June and the Council voted to ask the CAG planning committee to focus on the educational and connection aspect of the gathering.
• The Executive Committee shared the results of the Conference Minister evaluation and requested that the Conference Council establish a pastoral relations committee for the Conference Minister.
• The Executive Committee is developing a position description for a task group to review the conference by-laws for consideration by the Conference Council at their January meeting.
• The Finance and Administration Committee has been reviewing the fund accounts of the conference and came to the Council with a recommendation that we close unfunded asset accounts in the amount of $385,607.57 and that a letter explaining this action be sent by the Conference Moderator to the churches of the conference.
• The Conference Council approved a position description establishing a Youth Covenanted Ministry.
• Associate Conference Minister Marc Wessels provided an update on planning for Mission 4/1 Earth and the council adopted a motion to encourage all congregations, associations, and agencies to participate in Mission 4/1 Earth.
• Associate Conference Minister Dale Parson presented a draft of a new OCWM brochure the conference is producing in cooperation with the national setting of the church.
• The council approved a motion that the 2013 Conference Annual Gathering be held June 7-9 at Drury University in Springfield, MO
• The council approved a motion that The Missouri Mid-South Conference become a "Faith In" conference and that we encourage the congregations of our conference to join us a "Faith In" congregations.

These are highlights of the October 12-13 meetings. The official minutes of the meeting will be posted on the conference website after they are approved by the Conference Council at the next meeting on January 12, 2013 at Columbia UCC in Columbia, MO.

- Jeffrey Whitman

Honoring the Gifts of UCC Women      

There are some important changes ahead for how we in the United Church of Christ will celebrate the leadership gifts of UCC women at our General Synods. For many years now, two different sponsored meals were organized to honor the recipients of the Antoinette Brown Award for outstanding clergywomen and to celebrate the gifts of Honored Laywomen who had been lifted up by our Conferences. Each event has been well attended and important as ways to recognize the leadership of women. 

We will continue to celebrate the gifts of leadership of women in the UCC at the 27th General Synod in Long Beach next year but in some different ways. There will be one sponsored meal, "A Celebration of Women's Leadership," which will recognize and celebrate as a whole the leadership of women in the UCC rather than focus on individual women, lay or clergy, to be recognized. We will no longer seek Conference nominations of laywomen as has been done in the past and the nomination process for the Antoinette Brown Award will be temporarily suspended in 2013 as we look to develop new ways to continue this recognition and provide leadership development and support for ordained UCC women.

This decision comes after considerable conversation and input from around the UCC. The survey conducted two years ago is one source of information. We heard from women that they are ready for some new approaches to strengthening the leadership skills and opportunities for UCC women. Input from Conference Ministers and a staff table in the national setting which is focusing on collaborative ways to resource women also weighed in. The Honored Laywomen's event had become one with uneven participation on the part of our Conferences. Some remained involved, some no longer participated, and some were unable to underwrite the cost of sending those being honored to Synod.

As for honoring clergywomen who demonstrate the qualities that inspired the Antoinette Brown Award, there is a desire to continue but to look for ways to develop this as a significant leadership event for UCC clergywomen. There would still be the opportunity to honor outstanding clergywomen at this event with the Antoinette Brown Award which we feel is a significant tradition and part of our history as the United Church of Christ.

Finally, we want to convey how important it is to thank, celebrate and honor members of our churches who provide faithful leadership in our churches, communities, Associations and Conferences as followers of Jesus. As we develop new ways to resource women in the UCC, support these networks and develop new ones, we will find ways to tell the stories of women whose gifts for leadership are uplifting to us all. We hope that this will occur in all settings of our church - not just once a year or once every two years - but every day. 

Loey Powell              powelll@ucc.org

David Schoen           schoend@ucc.org

A Message and Invitation from Gateway ONA (Open and Affirming in St. Louis)      

Gateway ONA, a ministry arm of the United Church of Christ congregations in the St. Louis area that have voted to become open and affirming, has accepted responsibility for developing a new ministry project as a result of a request for pastoral help that came from a south St. Louis family. The family had been attending a church of another denomination and was pleased with their experience there until the day when one of their teenage children acknowledged being gay. Sadly, the church they belonged to rejected and criticized the family, making them feel humiliated and unwanted.  

The Gateway ONA member who was approached by this family contacted others in the ministry team, and received a great outpouring of interest in helping families and individuals who experience such rejection within the religious community. It was recognized that, while many of our UCC churches would be open to them and welcoming, we did not currently have a supportive fellowship in place to which we could refer a family undergoing this kind of emotional trauma. A brainstorming meeting was held at Peace Church in Webster Groves in early September to begin thinking through some ways to respond. Out of this meeting came the plan for a gathering on Tuesday evening, October 23, at 6:30, at Kirkwood United Church of Christ, Dougherty Ferry Road, at Lindeman. Please consider attending this event or encouraging someone from your church to represent you.

Our plan for the gathering is to discuss two topics for specific action:

1. Forming a core planning team to initiate a monthly gathering open to lgbtq persons, their families, friends and supporters. This gathering will have the combined character of sociability, mutual support and topical conversations.
2. Forming a small group of pastors and counselors who will agree to be contacted to provide personal spiritual support to individuals or families in crisis and refer them to appropriate resources within and outside of the religious community.

There is some feeling among our Gateway ONA members that a facilitated support group that could minister to the needs and requests of persons and families undergoing stressful circumstances could be developed using the gifts and professional resources that are available among us. At this point, creating such a group may be considered as a possible second step in our discernment process.

Those of us who are active in Gateway ONA would like to encourage participation in the planning of this ministry project by anyone who feels it is an important need to be met. We welcome you, whether or not your congregation has officially voted to become ONA. We do ask that those who attend be comfortable in affirming that lgbtq persons should be welcomed into the full life and ministry of the church. Thanks for your support.

For further information, feel welcome to contact Allen Fluent (314-971-90

41), Marilyn Stavenger, (314-252-3180) or Mark Busse (314-432-7646),

Holy Land Trip    

Our Conference Minister Jeffrey Whitman will be leading a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in February 2013. During our two weeks in Israel/ Palestine we will visit Bethlehem, Capernaum, the Sea of Galilee, Samaria, Emmaus, Mt. Carmel, Jericho, Jerusalem, and sites in Jordan including Petra. You can register for the trip until October 22. After that date the price is no longer guaranteed and participation will be based on availability. For brochures or more information please contact Rev. Whitman.  

Camp MoVal Sunday October 21 
 

Click here for a short video about outdoor ministry that was put together over the summer from the National Youth Event and camping programs from UCC camps all across the country...moving and inspirational!!!  

Many might ask, what is Camp MoVal Sunday? Why is it in the fall instead of the spring? There are many more questions along those same lines, but a short explanation is in order. There is also much more to share. Camp MoVal Sunday is a specific time where we ask our Churches to collect a specific offering for Camp MoVal, this is an annual ask of our partners in ministry to help support Outdoor Ministry at Camp MoVal. Some might say "we give to OCWM, Our Churches Wider Mission, is that not enough?" I wish the answer was yes, but unfortunately it is not and there are a few specific reasons why. The first is, the summer camp opportunity is so important to all of us, we specifically keep the cost of camp much lower than the actual cost to make sure camp is affordable for all. The second reason we ask for support is to make sure every person can come to camp, regardless of resources is able to attend. Camp MoVal gives out several full scholarships each summer. The last is to help with the cost of camp staff, both paid and volunteer. Each summer over one hundred individuals give time and service to make sure Camp MoVal can deliver the quality Outdoor Ministry Program that is and should be expected.

For all of those who have attended MoVal, they understand what camp and the outdoor ministry programs are and how they impact their lives, but for those who do not, here are a few reasons why camp is important. First, camp is a safe and loving environment where all people are welcomed into to the community and are included. Secondly, camp gives everyone the opportunity to enjoy the natural world around them, most people do not know how to unplug and be outdoors today, we provide that opportunity. Christian education and faith formation are an important part of campers daily life, not only in Spirit Rally time, but all throughout all activities, we see every chance as an opportunity to not only teach, but to learn ourselves. There is also a sacredness and holiness that is unique to the outdoor ministry experience; one never knows where or how they may experience God's presence.

Thank you to each and everyone one of you for all the support and generosity you have shared with Camp MoVal over the past fifty years. Thank you in advance for your generosity on Camp MoVal Sunday. If you would like some to come to your local Church and share about Outdoor Ministry with your local congregation, there still are some dates available. Again, thank you for your support of Camp MoVal and Outdoor Ministry.

Jeremy N. Force
Director of Outdoor Ministries - Camp MoVal 

PIPHANY - JOURNEY WITH VISION

Saturday November 3, 2012   9:30 am - 3:30 pm

St Paul United Church of Christ, Hermann, Missouri

ADD AN ECUMENICAL TRADITION: THE MORAVIAN LOVEFEAST

  - Rev. Dr. Michael Bone, Zion, Union - Bring an old tradition into your congregation's celebration of Christmas - the origins and practice of the Moravian Lovefeast, particularly during the Christmas season.

BECOMING AN EPIPHANY CHURCH

- Rev. Dr John Bracke, retired Professor of Biblical Studies

Explore how the Epiphany Season might offer congregations a way to hold together being an Epiphany Church and acting like an Epiphany Church. We will explore the kinds of visions of church that emerge from the lectionary texts for the Epiphany Season (Year C) consider a planning model that might allow a congregation to act creatively upon its vision of being an Epiphany Church.  

THE WISEMEN: AN EPIPHANY

- Dr Marc A. Wessels, Associate Conference Minister

Rediscover and reclaim the traditional story of the Wise Men through artwork and prose. Participants will be challenged to consider how we celebrate these symbolic figures and their vision in the season of Epiphany. Participants are encouraged to bring images and figures of their own Wise Men from their family or church mangers.

EPIPHANY - MAKE IT A BANNER SEASON!

 - Linda Heck, member, St Paul, Hermann

This workshop explores the themes of Epiphany and encourages the creation of banners for the worship community. Come and explore the richness of symbols and materials utilized at St Paul to create banners. Consider how banners can be used as a form of artwork to reinforce the themes of the liturgical period following Christmas known as Epiphany.

EPIPHANY: AN EPIPHANY EPIPHANY

- Rev Cliff Aerie, MMSC Artist in Residence

Make a first-hand opportunity to experience a liturgical drama that invites the entire congregation to follow the Three Wise Men on their quest for the Christ Child. Participants will receive scripts, provided production notes, costume ideas, staging instructions, and discussion starters for theological reflection. You too can present this in your church on Epiphany Sunday.

A creative Epiphany-themed worship will close our time together!

LUNCH - Brown bag Lunch - drinks and desserts available

Registration: $10/participant; maximum $50 per congregation

Register online at www.missourimidsouth.org or by check paid to

"MMSUCC-Epiphany Event" mailed to Laura Errante, 483 East Lockwood Ave.,

Suite 15, St. Louis, MO 63119.

Registration deadline October 30th

Late registrations - $15 individuals and $55 per congregation

The creation of a Missouri Mid-South Conference "Music Photo Album" is underway. We are asking each MMS congregation to share 5 random pictures of their church and congregation. To be easily recognized, send 1 picture of your church sign which includes your church name, and 1 picture of your church building. The other 3 pictures are totally up to you, so your congregation can showcase your church's unique qualities and spirit. The pictures will be arranged randomly in a computer photo album and then put to music. The hope is that this project will be completed by the 2013 Conference Annual Gathering. Currently, only 3 congregations have provided pictures which have been used to create an example video of this project. Anyone can see the short video by following the internet link provided at the bottom of this article. We cannot stress enough that to make this project a success EVERY congregation MUST be represented. Pictures can either be mailed to the Missouri Mid-South Conference office or emailed directly to Rev. Dr. Doug Kaufman. Both the snail mail and email addresses are provided at the end of the video. Please spread the word about this project because we want each MMS church represented.  

Thanks so much! Keep The Faith.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWT6j-uhgLg 

Decisions have recently been made by our local partners in Binghamton, Joplin and Minot to continue work on repairing homes through December 2013.  In all three places work will continue through the Winter months (weather permitting).  Please share throughout your Conference the need for volunteer work groups especially in these places noted here.  There is a lot of work still to be done and Minot and Binghamton are particularly in need of volunteers.  Details for groups are included via the links below.  Your help is greatly appreciated.

Joplin, Missouri:

http://www.ucc.org/volunteer/disaster-recovery-volunteers/joplin-mo.html

Minot, North Dakota:

http://www.ucc.org/volunteer/disaster-recovery-volunteers/Minot_ND.html

Binghamton, New York

http://www.ucc.org/volunteer/disaster-recovery-volunteers/binghamton-new-york.html

The Mission & Social Concerns Committee of the Eastern Association of the MO Mid-South Conference, UCC invites you to

Deepening the Conversation:

A Moderated Panel on Religion-Government Relations

(the second panel in our "Deepening the Conversation" series)
Click here for a printable bulletin insert 

3pm, Sunday, October 21

St. Peter's UCC, 20 East Fifth Street, Washington

Refreshments to follow.

Whether it's a news story covering President Obama's former pastor or Governor Romney's Mormon faith, religion and religious language continue to play an important role in contemporary U.S. politics. At the same time, questions arise in each election cycle surrounding the application of the First Amendment and the appropriate relationship between religious institutions and wider political processes.

Join our discussion in thinking about how houses of worship and faith-based groups relate to government institutions and what role people of faith are called to take on regarding electoral politics in our society.

Our Panelists: 

David Gerth

Executive Director, Metropolitan Congregations United

Allen Ladage

Chair of the Board, Missouri Interfaith Impact

Mary Ann McGivern

Sister of Loretto and Missouri Network of Nuns on the Bus

Jeanette Mott Oxford

Missouri House of Representatives, 59th District