Keep Summertime Attendance Up!

  Editor's Note: This is the latest in a series of copyright articles from CopyrightSolver. The conference's Commission on Communications partnered with CopyrightSolver to aid local churches in the complicated world of copyright information. Summer often means low participation rates for many church ministries. Some leave town for vacation destinations. Some—whether traveling or not—may simply “relax” their worship attendance as they slip into those lazy, hazy...

Boayue elected to legislative leadership role at General Conference

  The Rev. Dr. Charles Boayue, senior pastor at Detroit: Second Grace UMC, has been elected to serve in the leadership of the General Administration legislative committee at the 2012 General Conference session. The 13 legislative committees met today for the first time to elect officers and will begin considering and perfecting petitions on Thursday (April 26).   The General Administration committee is the primary legislative committee dealing with the petitions related to the...

Sutton appointed to lead Crossroads District

  Michigan Area Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton has announced that the Rev. Dr. Tara Sutton has been appointed to serve as the superintendent for the Crossroads District, effective July 1, 2012. Sutton, the senior pastor at Flint: Bethel UMC, is replacing the Rev. Dr. Andrew Allie, who has been the Crossroads District superintendent in a temporary capacity since April 1.    "The Rev. Dr. Tara R. Sutton has accepted the call to the Crossroads District," Keaton...

COMMENTARY: Making Good on Our Promises to Indigenous Peoples

  Editor's note: Delegates to the 2012 General Conference session will participate in “An Act of Repentance toward Healing Relationships with Indigenous People.” The service is intended to begin the process of spiritual healing between The United Methodist Church and indigenous peoples. It will take place on Friday, April 27, at 7:30 p.m.   The act of repentance and plans for continued healing in the months following General Conference stem from atrocities and...

Plymouth: First UMC choir to sing at 2012 General Conference

  The choir from Plymouth: First United Methodist Church has been selected to sing during the 2012 General Conference session, which will take place April 24-May 4 in Tampa, Fla. The choir will sing on Tuesday, May 1, performing a 30-minute concert during the lunch break and then singing during the evening worship service.   The choir was one of 55 musical groups that applied to perform at General Conference, and one of 19 selected to participate in the nine worship services that...

Delegation readies for 2012 General Conference Session

  The Detroit Conference delegation will travel to Tampa, Fla., next week to participate in the 2012 General Conference session, which will take place from April 24-May 4 at the Tampa Convention Center. The conference will be sending four clergy and four laypersons to serve as delegates to the top legislative body in The United Methodist Church.   Among the Detroit Conference delegation includes five members that will be serving as a delegate for the first time in 2012, while two...

Keaton announces retirement of Rev. Dr. Eugene Blair

  The Rev. Dr. Eugene Blair, who has served as the superintendent of the Crossroads District since July 1, 2009, has retired effective immediately according to a statement released today (April 2, 2012) from Michigan Area Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton.   "After consultation with the bishop, the cabinet, and the executive committee of the Board of Ordained Ministry, Rev. Blair is retiring April 1, 2012," Keaton said in his statement. "A new district superintendent will be...

Health Screenings to take place at 2012 annual conference session

  As part of its wellness initiatives, the conference Board of Pension and Health Benefits will offer a health screening during the 2012 annual conference session. The screening will be conducted by Personal Health Partners (formerly ProCheck for Health). PHP provides health screening opportunities for a number of annual conferences.   The screenings will take place on campus from 6:30-11:00 a.m. on Friday-Saturday, May 18-19.    The cost of the screening for all active...

2012 Congregational Leadership Institute to Focus on Church's Response to Polarized Culture

  The 2012 Congregational Leaders Institute welcomes Rev. Dr. James A. Harnish and Rev. Dr. Mark A. Fowler on August 5-9, 2012 at Bay View, Michigan. Harnish and Fowler will be speaking on the theme: Will the Center Hold? Seeking Gravity in a Polarized Culture. Is there a center of gravity that will provide stability in the tug and pull of our polarized culture? Can the central affirmations of the faith draw us together rather than push us apart? These questions and more will be explored...

Immigrant Welcoming Congregation Program Launches

  On Saturday, Feb. 25, representatives from 19 congregations of the West Michigan and Detroit Annual Conferences of the United Methodist Church gathered to begin a year long journey of exploration, conversation, and action to become Immigrant Welcoming Congregations.   The Immigrant Welcoming Congregation Program is being piloted by the General Board of Church and Society in seven Annual Conferences.  It is based on a model developed by the Chicago New Sanctuary...

Survey tracks technology use among United Methodists

  While most younger people in the church are immersed in new technology, many older members are also jumping on the bandwagon.  That’s according to a new study conducted by United Methodist Communications that tracks how United Methodists are adopting and using new technology.   The purpose of the United Methodist Emerging Technology Survey was to help determine the need to broaden the use of certain new technologies in order to reach members and seekers. The survey...

Certified chainsaw operators needed for Dexter recovery

  Eric Miller, the disaster response coordinator for the Detroit Conference, is compiling a list of certified chainsaw operators to aide in the recovery efforts in the community of Dexter, Mich.   Certified chainsaw operators willing to help are asked to provide their name, skills, and availability to Bob McCormick (mccormickrj@hotmail.com) or Miller (emiller629@woway.com). In addition, Miller stated that a list is being compiled of those willing to haul brush for the chainsaw...

Sherry Parker to address Laity Session

  One of the Detroit Conference’s leading advocates for dynamic clergy-laity partnerships will address lay men and women participating in this year’s annual conference.   The Rev. Dr. Sherry Parker, lead pastor of Brighton First United Methodist Church, will be the featured speaker during the laity session on the opening day of the 44th Detroit Annual Conference on the campus of Adrian College.   The laity session will be 7:00 p.m., on Thursday, May 17, in Adrian...

Simple Copyright Solutions for Traditional Easter Outreach Celebrations

Holidays are some of the best opportunities churches have for outreach. Although unchurched friends, neighbors and relatives may not be likely to attend services, they are often open to attending these more “entertaining” forms of outreach. Easter Egg Hunt, Easter Parade, Easter Breakfast/Brunch Whether music is played during an Easter egg hunt, featured on a float in an Easter parade or performed as background music for Easter Sunday Brunch, most of these activities will...

Detroit Conference responding to Dexter tornado damage

  UPDATE (March 20): Eric Miller, the conference's disaster response coordinator, is looking for names of certified chainsaw operators willing to volunteer in the recovery effort. Click here for details.   UPDATE (4:30 p.m., March 17):  In consultation with on-site personnel, led by Jeremy Wick, the disaster response coordinator for the West Michigan Conference, and Michigan Area Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton, the Detroit Conference has applied for and received an emergency...

Detroit Conference petitions to General Conference not included in ADCA

  The five General Conference petitions that were supported by the Detroit Conference during the 2011 annual session have not been included in the advance edition of the Daily Christian Advocate due to a submission error.   The Rev. Tracy Huffman, conference secretary, expressed her deep apologies and explained that the petitions were mistakenly sent to an alternate e-mail used during the submission process, causing them to not be considered. She indicated that she has been in...

Helping to Ensure Your Easter Celebrations Are Copyright Compliant

Editor's Note: This is the latest in a series of copyright articles from CopyrightSolver. The conference's Commission on Communications partnered with CopyrightSolver to aid local churches in the complicated world of copyright information. We recently announced our Detroit Conference partnership with CopyrightSolver. In addition to the always-available information on our Detroit Conference landing page (http://www.copyrightsolver.com/detroitumc), we will periodically bring you additional...

Commentary: 2012 Act of Repentance of The United Methodist Church

  Note: During the 2012 General Conference session in Tampa, Fla., an "Act of Repentance and Healing for Indigenous Persons" will take place. This commentary is a series of articles developed by the General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, which is the general agency responsible for the act of repentance. For more information, please visit the GCCUIC's website.    Those of us who come from Native American communities in the United States...

Free Piano Accompaniments Available for Churches without Musicians

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Feb. 27, 2012 /GBOD/ – The many churches—rural and urban, large and small—which have no musicians to provide support for their congregational singing can now download hundreds of piano accompaniments of familiar hymns from The United Methodist Hymnal for free.   The growing resource is being made available as a joint project of the General Board of Discipleship (GBOD) and United Methodist Communications, said Dean McIntyre, GBOD’s Director of...

Bishop's Day 2012 to focus on improving health globally

  "Improve Health Globally" is the theme of the 2012 Bishop's Day, which is set to take place in each district of the Detroit Conference during the month of March. The theme is tied to one of the Four Areas of Focus of The United Methodist Church, "stamping out killer diseases of poverty by improving health globally." Each of the conference's six districts has planned at Bishop's Day event that focuses on global health in a variety of ways, from providing fresh water...