KANSAS-OKLAHOMA CONFERENCE
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
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K-O e-NEWS
October 17, 2012
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A note from your Acting Conference Minister
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I'm back...
What can I say? At Annual Meeting in 2011 I said my good-byes to so many of you after more than two and a half decades of working with the good folks of the United Church of Christ in Oklahoma and Kansas. I wasn't expecting to be back quite so soon!
Nevertheless, it is good to be back with you, if only briefly, to share the journey through this time of transitions in the K-O Conference. I am here to serve you, so please don't hesitate to call me or email [email protected] . With many changes already in the works, it is my task to keep it all moving forward and provide a smooth transition for the Designated Conference Minister who will follow. Those transitions are happening in several key areas:
Financial operations. K-O is taking the lead in developing a new partnership with the national church setting that we believe will be to our mutual benefit and a model for other conferences. Most of our day-to-day financial operations will soon be handled in the national offices of the UCC in Cleveland. As a conference, we will realize financial savings and can benefit from the many specialized staff members available to us.
Committee on Ministry. As we live into the changes approved at the 2011 Annual Meeting, we will merge the 4 committees of our associations into one committee of the conference acting as an association. (That one committee actually has 3 sub-committees as outlined in the by-law changes we will act on at our 2012 Annual Meeting.)
Congregations in Transition. Many of our congregations are in the midst of leadership transitions. I have already talked and met with some of you serving on local search committees, and I stand ready to assist any of our churches in the search and call process.
Governance changes. This year at annual meeting we will vote on important changes to the Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, and By-Laws of the K-O Conference. These changes come as a result of decisions made in 2011 that seek to move us forward with more effective, responsive, and agile ways of being the United Church of Christ together in Kansas and Oklahoma.
So while I am on the subject, I hope to see you in Wichita as we gather November 8-12. We have important decisions to make this year, not the least of which is the election of a new Designated Conference Minister. With this past week's announcement of Edith Guffey as the nominee, it is clear that while this conference lets some of us sojourn elsewhere for a longer time than others, you still keep calling us back home. And the good news is that you are such an exciting place to be the United Church of Christ that we keep saying yes.
Grace & Peace,
Kent
The Rev. R. Kent Cormack
Acting Conference Minister
Kansas-Oklahoma Conference
United Church of Christ
316-686-4331 800-880-6466
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Kansas Oklahoma Conference Annual Meeting
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Youth at the Annual Meeting
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BIG things are happening!!
Don't forget to sign your youth up for the Annual Meeting!!
Stay tuned for more info....
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Germany Exchange trip for K-O Youth
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Calling all Youth for the next K-O Exchange to Germany!
Late May-Early June, 2013 (travel time about 2 weeks...firm dates to be set soon!)
Germany Exchange INFO PARTY!
Youth who took part in this exchange in 2009 will tell about their experiences and have photos to share....
Sunday, October 21
5:00 - 7:00
First Congregational Church
1701 SW Collins
Topeka, Kansas 66604
Hamburgers, hotdogs, drinks provided....bring a snack or side dish to share.
IMPORTANT...RSVP even if you can't come to the party but are interested in the trip! [email protected]
Do you have a youth that is interested in joining the Kansas-Oklahoma Germany Exchange with the German Protestant Churches in May/June 2013? We will be taking a group of youth ages 15-27 to be based in the Heidelberg area right after school is out this spring. The Protestant Church in Germany hosts us in homes paired up with German youth to experience their culture, country and form strong bonds of friendship across the sea.
We'll also spend some time in Taiz�, France where there is a wonderful community who invite youth from all over the world to experience their two aims: "to live in communion with God through prayer and to be a leaven of peace and trust in the midst of the human family". It is a lot of fun meeting youth from all over the world, sharing their experiences, enjoying this peaceful setting and laughing, talking, and sharing chores in large community. For more info explore: http://www.taize.fr/en_rubrique8.html
The first Kansas- Oklahoma exchange was in 2010...then in 2011, the German Youth visited the K-O Conference...now it's our turn to go back. All youth are welcome, new travelers and former travelers!!! Come to the Oktoberfest Info Party to learn more...or email to let us know you are interested and we'll send you information! [email protected]
Check out the Facebook Page for the Trip: http://www.facebook.com/pages/K-O-Conference-Youth-Trip-to-Baden-Germany/176354686202?ref=hl
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WMC invites you to Oktoberfest
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KCADP 2012 Abolition Conference
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Former Death Row Warden to Discuss Impact of Executions on Correctional Officers
Allen Ault to Speak on Death Penalty in Olathe, KS, November 10th, 1:30 p.m.
Topeka, Kan.--Former death row warden Allen Ault will give the keynote address at the 2012 Abolition Conference, sponsored by the Kansas Coalition Against the Death Penalty. Ault's speech will discuss the traumatic effects of capital punishment on the corrections officials responsible for carrying out executions.
During his time as a death row warden in Georgia, Ault had the responsibility of overseeing executions. These experiences had a traumatic impact on Ault and many of the correctional officers with whom he worked. On November 10 in Olathe, Ault will share his concerns about the death penalty from the perspective of a former warden who has spent a lifetime working in corrections.
"We were giving psychological help to all the staff that participated [in executions]," said Ault when referring to his time as warden. "Then I realized I was suffering pretty badly about it. 'Cause you have to understand that it is the most premeditated murder." Ault is one of a number of former wardens and correction officials across the country who are beginning to speak out about the traumatic impact of conducting executions.
"Ault's story highlights a concern sometimes forgotten in debates on capital punishment," said Mary Sloan, Executive Director of the Kansas Coalition Against the Death Penalty. "When we look at the death penalty, it is important to examine its full range of consequences. Our broken system of capital punishment is a source of pain at every stage of the process - from the lengthy trials and appeals that can inflict additional harm on murder victims' families, to the execution itself, which can have a traumatic effect on corrections officials," said Sloan.
Ault's address is part of the 2012 Abolition Conference. Following Ault's address, there will be educational workshops focusing on different aspects of the death penalty. The conference is free and open to the public.
WHAT: Keynote Address by Former Death Row Warden Dr. Allen Ault
WHEN: Saturday, November 10. Dr. Ault to Speak at 1:30PM.
WHERE: Center of Grace, 520 S. Harrison St., Olathe, KSCONTACT:Mary Sloan, KCADP Executive DirectorOffice: 785-235-2237 Cell: 785-608-7229 Email: [email protected]
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KS-OK Women Service Project
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At the K-O Women's FALL ASSEMBLY this August, the service project involved putting together items for Church World Service BABY KITS. The group at WMC completed 8 baby kits which were shipped to CWS with the $2.00 per kit required so that they might be sent to women in need. The additional cloth diapers, blankets, etc. were then delivered by Jo Ann Chance to the KS Disciples Women Retreat in October. The KDW were also doing the CWS Baby Kit service project, and combining the kits and materials brought to the MidWeek and the Weekend Retreat sessions, 142 kits were sent plus the $2.00 per kit for further shipping. K-O and KDW Women have worked together to help other women served by Church World Service here and abroad.
Thank you to all who helped and who might continue with this worthy service project throughout the year!
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K-O PRAYER CALENDAR |
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Rev. Leslie Penrose - Representative to the National UCC Justice and Witness Ministries
Mr. Mike Munz - Treasurer of the K-O Conference
The President, Staff and Students of Phillips Theological Seminary, Tulsa, OK
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UCC CALENDAR OF PRAYER
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K-O UCC CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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Link to
the K-0
Calendar
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K-O Conference Annual Meeting
November 8, 9, 10 & 11 Wichita Airport Hilton
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We know there is a lot of things going on around the Conference. Let us know. If you have something you want to share, please send it to us at [email protected]
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K-O INTERIM CONFERENCE MINISTER'S SCHEDULE
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October 19, 2012 ~ Outdoor Ministries Meeting, Topeka KS
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K-O CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
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Central Congregational UCC, Topeka, KS ~ Rev. Scott Kenefake is interim pastor Carrier Congregational UCC, Carrier, OK ~ Rev. Gordon Epps is interim pastor. Colonial UCC, Prairie Village, KS - has made the decision to call an Associate Minister for Christian Development to work with the congregation and their Senior Pastor, Rev. Aaron Roberts Community of Hope, Tulsa, OK First Congregational UCC, Anthony, KS First Congregational UCC, Centralia, KS First Congregational UCC, Great Bend, KS ~ Rev. Stan Crawford is interim pastor First Congregational UCC, Manhattan, KS ~ Rev. Victor Force is interim pastor First Congregational UCC, Onaga, KS First Salem UCC, Wichita, KS Immanuel UCC, Ellinwood, KS - Rev. Chris Edwards will serve as interim pastor beginning October 1, 2012 Open Table UCC, Owasso, OK Puritan Congregational Christian Church, Drummond, OK. ~Rev. Matt Perkins is supply pastor United Church of Norman, Norman, OK ~ Rev. Warren Jensen is interim pastor Zion UCC, Junction City, KS. ~ Rev. Patty Brown-Barnett is interim pastor |
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CONTACT INFORMATION
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Rev. Kent Cormac, Acting Conference Minister
Kansas-Oklahoma Conference
1245 Fabrique
Wichita, KS 67218
800-880-6466
Sara Shaw, Camp Director
1271 South 1050 Road
Council Grove, KS 66846-8520
620-767-5165 (Camp Office)
620-202-0311(Cell)
Kelli Moore, Office Associate
1245 Fabrique
Wichita, KS, 67218
800-880-6466
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