Welcome to our weekly eblast, the Missouri Mid-South Conference eCourier. We are a collection of 140+ local congregations in the United Church of Christ denomination covering the geographic region of Missouri, Arkansas, and Memphis, TN.
No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here.
We believe in extravagant welcome. This is why we insist that God's communion table is open, not closed, and God's gift and cla  im in baptism are irrevocable. We advocate justice for all. Our congregations extend hospitality as a sign of God's inclusive love. We teach that evangelism - offering bread to those in search of it - is God's mission. Our perspective is global, not provincial. We work with - not against - people of other faiths. Why? Because God is still speaking,
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Ginny's Gems
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During this Lenten season of looking inward at who God created us to be, Ginny invites us to look inward as a professional exercise as well by introducing the book, "When Moses Meets Aaron: Staffing and Supervision in Large Congregations." This book is written by Susan Beaumont and Gil Rendle, who express the need for church staff to have dynamic Job Descriptions. These Job Descriptions include quarterly goals and then become the healthy tool by which one's performance can be evaluated in an objective way rather than as a way to nit-pick unnecessary things like not smiling enough or wearing a skirt. Job Descriptions include the job summary, essential functions, and core competencies needed in order to accomplish the job one was hired to do. Our churches would be healthier if more pastors and personnel committees used Job Descriptions as a dynamic and
objective mode of job performance evaluation.
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Ginny's Schedule
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Location
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Date
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Description
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Houston, TX
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2/19/16
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Out/Ginny's Sabbath Day
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Chesterfield, MO
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2/21/16
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Worship at St. John's UCC
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St. Louis, MO
| 2/22/16
| WA Committee on Ministry via Skype
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| 2/24/16
| Visit Marshallese churches
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St. Louis, MO
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2/25/16
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SLA Ministerium
Worship Planning w/Conference Min.
CAG Planning Meeting
Navigation Meeting
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St. Louis, MO
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2/26/16
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Out/Ginny's Sabbath Day
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St. Louis, MO
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2/27/16
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Gateway ONA Convocation
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Owensville, MO
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2/28/16
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Worship at St. Johns (Bem) UCC
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Union, MO
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2/29/16
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Camp MoVal Planning Meeting
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Houston, TX
| 3/2/16
| Work from home
| Houston, TX
| 3/3/16
| CHHSM Meeting
| Houston, TX
| 3/4/16
| Out/Ginny's Sabbath Day
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Columbia, MO
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3/5/16
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Covenanted Ministries Retreat
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Mayview, MO
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3/6/16
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Worship at Zion UCC
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Standing Rules for 2016 CAG
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The 2016 Conference Annual Gathering (CAG) will once again be held at the Holiday  Inn Executive Center in Columbia, MO, June 9-11. Below are the Standing Rules and Rules for the Introduction of New Business that have been approved by the MMS Conference Council. Please reference these if you have any new business that you would like us to consider in June. This same information was mailed to all churches back in September along with a letter from Joyce Bathke, Conference Moderator.
Please review the documents explaining the procedures and deadline dates:
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It's Still Church Yearbook Time - but you better hurry!
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Have you started your church yearbook reports yet? No?! You now have 10 days to complete your forms and enter your information into the UCC Data Hub. The deadline for churches is Monday, March 7. If you prefer our Conference to enter your information, your reports must in our Conference office no later than Monday, March 14. These deadline dates are set by Cleveland and are not negotiable. Thank you to the following churches which have either entered their church statistics into the Data Hub, or have provided our Conference paperwork*! If your UCC church is not included, please speak with your pastor, treasurer or church administrator so your church information can be included in the next national UCC yearbook. |
Hermann
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Zion Saint Paul UCC
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Blackburn
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Saint Paul's Church UCC
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Gerald
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Saint Paul UCC
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Higginsville
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Salem United Church of Christ
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Jackson
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Emanuel United Church of Christ
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Kansas City
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Bethel United Church of Christ
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Kansas City
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Peace Christian Church
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Kansas City
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Saint Peter's UCC
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Marthasville
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Saint Paul's UCC
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Owensville
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St. Peter's UCC
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New Cambria
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United Church of New Cambria
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Saint Peters
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Grace United Church of Christ
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Saint Louis
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Bethany-Peace UCC
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Saint Louis
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Brentwood Congregational Church
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Maplewood
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Christ Church, UCC (Maplewood)
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Washington
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Saint Peter's UCC
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Wentzville
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Faith United Church of Christ
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*as of 2/12/16
The various information/links provided below will give you the tools you need to complete your yearbook reports:
For assistance on this project, contact our Administrative Assistant, Kris Scott at 314-918-2605 or kris@mmsucc.org. Please DO NOT call or email Cleveland with your yearbook questions - contact our Conference office first!!!
Thank you in advance for you cooperation and participation in this very important statistical gathering process of the UCC.
Renee
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Open Door UCC Scholarship Fund
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In 2013, the congregation of Church of the Open Door, United Church of Christ in Webster Groves, Missouri agreed that the proceeds from the sale of the church property go to the Missouri Mid-South Conference United Church of Christ. It was further agreed the money would be invested and the earnings would be distributed as follows: one-third to outdoor ministries within the Conference, one-third to theological education (a scholarship for a seminary student from the MMS Conference) and one-third to the Conference operating expenses.
This scholarship was established to utilize the income from this investment. The funds will be disbursed in accordance with the policies and practices of the Missouri Mid-South Conference of the United Church of Christ. The number of scholarships and the amount of each scholarship may vary for year to year. The MMS Conference Executive Committee (Joyce Bathke, David Mehl, Ken Ulmer and Linda Stenger) will review the scholarship applications and select the scholarship recipients. The names of those selected will be provided in the conference newsletter or eCourier. The selected recipients will be notified of their selection and the amount of the scholarship awarded to them.
Scholarship applications must be submitted to the Conference office by June 1 for consideration for the upcoming school year. Scholarships will be awarded during the summer so funds can be disbursed at the beginning of the fall semester. A student is eligible for the scholarship for a maximum of three years. The scholarship may be used for tuition, room and board, fees and books. The amount awarded will be paid directly to the seminary where the student is enrolled. Further information and application.
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Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Training
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The Stewards of Children program will increase knowledge, improve attitudes and change child-protective behaviors. This program is for any responsible adult who cares about the welfare of children. It is also appropriate for youth-serving organizations and personnel.
This training is being offered to Zion United Church of Christ in Union, MO and invited guests for NO CHARGE! The event is on Sunday, February 28th from 1-3pm. (Donations will be accepted to cover shipping costs of Interactive Workbooks.) Karen Loesch, Stewards of Children Facilitator will be
Topics Covered:
- Facts about the problem of child sexual abuse
- The types of situations in which child sexual abuse might occur
- Simple, effective strategies for protecting children from sexual abuse
- The importance of talking about the prevention of sexual abuse with children and other adults
- The signs of sexual abuse so that you might intervene and be able to react responsibly
What Outcomes You Can Expect:
- Increased awareness of the prevalence, consequences and circumstances of child sexual abuse
- New skills to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse
- Individual commitment to action via a personal prevention plan
CALL/EMAIL/TEXT TO REGISTER BY February 21, 2016, or confirm your attendance with Alysha Petry, Zion United Church of Christ: apetry@zionunion.org. Event flyer.
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Death Penalty Opposition Discussion
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Come hear a powerful faith story from Jeanne Bishop, sister of a murder victim, who  has come to oppose the death penalty. Bishop is the tenacious woman at the center of this true-life murder story and memoir. In 1990, her sister Nancy and brother-in-law Richard were murdered at their home in an affluent Chicago suburb. Readers follow the unfolding investigation to discover that the murderer is David Biro, a local high school student who had stolen a gun. Biro is sentenced and two decades later Jeanne enters a maximum-security prison, where she's asked a simple question: what is your relationship to the offender? Bishop captivates readers with her deliberate, painful, and utterly authentic story that answers that question. All are welcome - each event below is free.
KANSAS CITY EVENTS - Sunday, March 13
- Southwood UCC, 7904 Raytown Rd. Raytown, MO at Noon
- St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 1001 E. 52 St, Kansas City, MO at 2:30
JEFFERSON CITY EVENTS - Monday, March 14:
- Morning Press Conference at the Capitol
- Visits with legislators and state officials
ST. LOUIS EVENT - Monday, March 14
- Eden Seminary, 475 E. Lockwood Ave, St. Louis, MO at 3:00
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Conference Council Opportunities
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The Leadership Development Committee of the MMSUCC wants you to know we have several leadership opportunities. We ask you, as Conference and Association leaders, to
help us identify prospects for the following:
1) Conference Council seats (three year terms) for first term election at June 2016 CAG:
(i) Eastern Association: Two nominees - currently held by
- female Lay member and
- male Lay member
(ii) St. Louis Association: One nominee - currently held by
- male Lay member
(iii) Western Association: Two nominees - currently held by
- Clergy member and
- female Lay member
The Conference is seeking a highly qualified, diverse pool of potential candidates for the limited number of Conference Council positions. We are gathering names Conference-wide and through the Associations. Prospects are vetted and selected by the Conference Leadership Development Committee as to the best fit for the needs of the Conference. Those ultimately nominated by the committee are carefully chosen so the Council represents diverse population groups and can bring to its deliberations a variety of points of view and life experiences, as well as access to cultural, religious, educational, civic, business and economic resources.
2) Synod Delegates for 2017 (Baltimore) and 2019
Various seats INCLUDING YOUTH / YOUNG ADULT delegates, (youth between the ages of 13 and 18 years old and young adults between the ages of 19 and 20)
Please prayerfully consider who might be prospects to serve in these very important roles in the life of our church.
Laura Dierberg Ayers
Leadership Development Committee, Chair
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Next Generation Leadership Initiative Application
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Hopefully you have heard by now about the investment in young transformational leaders and the church of the future through the Next Generation Leadership Initiative. The Pension Boards is seeking to contribute to the greater good by encouraging, equipping and sustaining young clergy for service in local congregations of the United Church of Christ.
Those selected for participating in NGLI will receive...
- Ten years of advanced training and education to hone their pastoral leadership skills and gifts for service to the Church,
- Participation in a cohort of colleagues that encourages, challenges, and reflects together on the life of a local church pastor in the twenty-first century,
- Financial incentive-a $10,000 seed contribution is made to the participant's Annuity Plan account, which should have a value of approximately $75,000 at the end of a 35-year career. (Figures based on an assumed growth rate of 6% per year over a 35-year period. It will be 50% vested at the end of the fourth year and fully vested at the end of the tenth year.)
We need your assistance in helping reach the pool of all eligible pastors. We have identified the ideal candidate as:
- 35 years of age or under at the point of admission to NGLI,
- Authorized for ministry in and on behalf of the UCC by an Association/Conference,
- Served a total of five years or less as an authorized minister in a parish,
- Hold a called position of 20 hours per week or more in a parish setting,
- Committed to long-term ministry in local churches of the United Church of Christ.
Please help the Church by getting the following materials in the hands of any eligible clergy you may know-- notice of intention to apply is due March 7-so don't delay! Application FAQ's Spread the word and be a part of the transformation in this way!
If you have any questions, feel free to contact Krista Betz at kbetz@pbucc.org or 800-642-6543 x2716. The website ngli2030.pbucc.org is also a good source of information.
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Contact Us
|  Missouri Mid-South Conference United Church of Christ
483 E. Lockwood Avenue, Suite 15, St. Louis, MO 63119-3168
877-877-5884 / 314-962-8740 / 314-918-2160 fax
www.missourimidsouth.org
Email Renee Cordes for future submissions. Not all submissions may be shared in future eCouriers.
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In This Issue - 2/19/2016
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Installation of the Rev. Wendy Bruner
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2016 Spring Association Meeting Dates
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Annual Women's & Men's Retreats
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MoVal Christian Music Festival
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Eden Seminary Spring Convocation
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Installation Services for the Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer
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