Detroit Conference Connection - July 7, 2010

The Detroit Conference Connection is the weekly e-newsletter of the Detroit Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. Subscribe to the Detroit Conference Connection.

 

To submit news items for the Detroit Conference Connection, please send stories to Paul Thomas, Director of Communications.

 

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What's In This Edition of the Connection:

Task Force Assembled to Facilitate Reduction of Districts

Outdoor and Retreat Ministries Experiences Help Prepare Seminary Student

Ministry With the Poor Workshop Offered On July 30-31

UMCom Looking for Churches Involved In Environmental and Immigration Activities

Peter Storey's Visit to Birmingham: First UMC Cancelled

Do You Blog?

Upcoming Events

Connectional News

CONFERENCE NEWS

Task Force Assembled to Facilitate Reduction of Districts

A 13-person task force has been commissioned by Michigan Area Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton to assist him in reducing the number of districts in the Detroit Conference from seven to six. The conference is reducing a district to comply with action taken by the 2010 annual conference session, which instructed the resident bishop to determine the boundaries of the new districts, and for the Conference Leadership Team to name them by no later than July 1, 2011. FULL STORY 

 

Outdoor and Retreat Ministries Experiences Help Prepare Seminary Student

Thom Victor is serving as a camp counselor at Judson Collins Center this summer.  He says that he experienced his call to ministry over a long period of time. Thom will begin his theological education this fall at Candler School of Theology, one of our thirteen United Methodist seminaries. READ THOM'S STORY 

 

Ministry With the Poor Workshop Offered On July 30-31

The second workshop of the 2010 Holy Boldness Urban Academy will take place on Friday-Saturday, July 30-31 at Flint: Charity UMC. The workshop, the second of three in the academy, will deal with ministry with the poor. The workshop will run from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Friday and from 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. on Saturday. FULL STORY 

 

UMCom Looking for Churches Involved In Environmental and Immigration Activities

UMCom is searching for local congregations involved in environmental and immigration activities. The re-launch of the seeker web site, www.rethinkchurch.org will highlight a “Church of the Day" that. Submit activity details to Jackie Vaughan at jvaughan@umcom.org.

 

Peter Storey's Visit to Birmingham: First UMC Cancelled

from the Rev. Dr. Jack Harnish

We just received word from Peter this morning (Tuesday, July 6) that Peter Storey will not be able to come to the U.S. this summer. Due to the World Cup, building costs have escalated and timelines have been delayed on the new Methodist Seminary he is leading in South Africa. They are due to open in September and he does not feel he can be gone at this strategic moment in their development. We regret the change in plans and we hope you will keep Peter, the seminary and the Methodist Church of South Africa in your prayers. 

 

Do You Blog?

Lynne M. Baab of The Alban Institute posted a great article last week about blogging. According to the article, "a blog can be used like a diary for recording responses to specific events or issues on particular dates, but it can also be more like a weekly or monthly newsletter column…" We encourage you to read the article and decide if blogging is right for you and your church as a communications method. We also would like to know of any clergy or church leaders in the conference that are blogging so that we can feature them on our website and occasionally feature their blog post in our "Other Voices" section. If you or someone you know blogs, please send the web address of the blog to Paul Thomas, director of communications.

UPCOMING EVENTS

July 9-13 - Kristin Markay Itinerating in Detroit Conference 

July 17 - United Methodist Women - School of the South 

July 18-23 - Michigan Area School for License as a Local Pastor 

July 23-24 - Looking Glass Community Services Mission Weekend

July 28-August 1 - Conference Youth Assembly 

July 30-31 - Holy Boldness Urban Academy Workshop - Ministry With the Poor 

July 31 - Southeast Michigan Emmaus Mega Gathering

August 17-19 - Michigan Area School For Pastoral Ministry 

August 18-20 - United Methodist Women - School by the Lake 

 

To view the conference calendar, please visit www.detroitconference.org/events.

CONNECTIONAL NEWS

United Methodists Support A Student's Dream to Become a Nurse

Kelsey Jordan, a lifelong United Methodist, figured out pretty early that she wanted to make a difference in the lives of children when she started volunteering at her church’s nursery. FULL STORY 

 

World Communion Sunday: Thankful Student off to an Amazing Start

College sophomore Jamiela Isaiah knows the value of an education and she is working hard her to earn it. Thanks to a scholarship through the World Communion Sunday Offering she is beginning her second year at West Virginia Wesleyan in Buckhannon where she is getting her bachelor’s in psychology. FULL STORY 

 

United Methodist Student Day - giving decline threatens scholarships

Economic woes in the United States don’t just affect those in the workforce—now they’re affecting those waiting to enter it.

 

A 13 percent decline in giving to United Methodist Student Day, coupled with increases in eligible applicants and reductions in other funds, means several hundred United Methodist scholarship applicants are likely to be disappointed this year, church officials said.

 

Although United Methodist Student Day is observed in November, donate now online.

 

InfoServ now offers online "Live Chat"

InfoServ, the official information service of The United Methodist Church, now offers an online “Live Chat” feature that allows customers to communicate directly with representatives. Launched June 1, 2010, “Chat with InfoServ” enables anyone with questions about The United Methodist Church to engage in real time conversation with InfoServ staff.

 

“This 'Live Chat' feature restores an immediate person-to-person connection with those who depend on InfoServ for answers to their questions about The United Methodist Church,” said the Rev. Larry Hollon, chief executive of United Methodist Communications. “Not only is it customer-friendly, it is budget-friendly as we continue to provide answers quickly, accurately, and economically.”

 

Customers are able to submit questions via e-mail at infoserv@umcom.org.  Answers to the most frequently asked questions are also available online at infoserv.umc.org.

 

2011 United Methodist Program Calendar Now Available

How much time do you spend gathering all the necessary information for your planning sessions?

 

The official 2011United Methodist Program Calendar – United Methodist Communications’ top-selling resource – is now available and it puts all the information you need at your fingertips.  Hymns, biblical readings, and liturgical colors for every Sunday are part of the vital information included in this resource.  Special Sunday information and celebrations―what are they? When are they? What are they for?  It also includes a planning checklist for every month and contact information for all boards and agencies.

 

The calendar is available in 10 designs, ranging from electronic to a pocket size that shows a week-at-a-glance. The most popular designs, known as the Standard and the Classic, measure 8.5-by-11 inches. The electronic calendar offered – is compatible with Outlook, Google calendar, iCalendar, and most calendar applications.  A DVD with giving stories and stewardship help is included with the Standard and Classic calendars.

The 2011 calendar is themed around the church’s four Areas of Focus: combating the diseases of poverty by improving health globally; engaging in ministry with the poor; creating new places for new people and revitalizing existing congregations; and developing principled Christian leaders for the church and the world.

To place an order, visit www.umcom.org/calendars or call toll free (888) 346-3862.

 

The Latest News From the United Methodist News Service

Volunteer teams aid in Haiti recovery - United Methodists have raised more than $40 million for Haiti.

 

Haiti volunteers already looking to 2012 - Space remains for additional volunteer teams this year.

 

Soccer Sundays: How do churches compete? - Congregations urged to make a public witness for keeping the Sabbath holy amid youth league conflicts.

 

July 4: An Army chaplain’s perspective - Chaplain often asks himself why he’s in Iraq, but is reminded every Independence Day.

 

Obama talks immigration at American University - In invocation, United Methodist leader prays “for those who seek a new life.”

 

Battle Hymn lyrics stir debate - Should worshippers sing “Let us live” or “Let us die” to make humanity free?

 

Looking in the mirror for fuel gluttony - Love of God and neighbor forces us to examine consequences of our lifestyles.