Adam Hamilton brings Leadership Institute to Detroit Conference

  “If you don’t get at least two good ideas out of each of these three sessions, I have missed the mark or you weren’t paying attention.”   That’s how the Rev. Adam Hamilton, founding pastor at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, began his time with the Detroit Conference on Thursday night. Author of 14 books and several small group studies, Hamilton came to the Detroit Conference to address the topic of leadership, the...

'Through Death Comes Resurrection,' Conference Preacher Reminds

  A high-point of any Annual Conference is wonderful preaching, and for the Detroit Conference, this 45th annual meeting was no exception. The Rev. Dottie Escobedo-Frank, pastor at CrossRoads United Methodist Church in Phoenix, Ariz., offered two challenging sermons, focusing on revitalizing congregations and individuals.   Escobedo-Frank’s Friday morning sermon began by centering on Jesus’ death which, she said, is but the prelude to new life and resurrection.   ...

Bishop Kiesey calls for prayer for tornado victims

  The following statement has been issued by Michigan Area Bishop Deborah L. Kiesey in response to the devastating storms over the past several days, including the tornado that struck Moore, Okla., on May 20:   "As I listen to the reports still coming in from Oklahoma and surrounding areas, my heart is breaking for all those affected by these devastating tornados over the past several days.  My prayers especially go out to families who have lost loved ones, as well as...

Opening worship Remembers Detroit Annual Conference

  For Bishop Deborah Lieder Kiesey, who has served the Michigan Area since Sept. 1, 2012, this was her first time at the Detroit Conference. In her sermon, she noted that she had learned a lot since coming here.   “I have learned some interesting things,” she said. “Such as, the final ‘c’ is silent in ‘Mackinac.’ I have also learned that the people who live in the Upper Peninsula really are called ‘Yoopers,’ and there is such a...

Liberia missionary visiting Detroit Conference churches in May

  Princess Jusu, a missionary with the General Board of Global Minsistries serving in Monrovia, Liberia, will be visiting the Detroit Conference during the next two weeks.   Jusu is an instructor at the United Methodist Women's Leadership Training Center in Monrovia. Jusu’s ministry includes teaching skills which entail tailoring, tie-dying, knitting and home economics for women and girls who, for various reasons, have dropped out of school. She also assists with the village...

Amendments to UMC Constitution to be considered at 2013 annual conference session

  As part of the business of the 2013 Detroit Annual Conference session, members of the conference will consider four amendments to the Constitution of The United Methodist Church. These proposed amendments were passed by a two-thirds margin during the 2012 General Conference session in Tampa, Fla.   To be ratified, a constitutional amendment first requires a two-thirds majority vote at General Conference. It next must win a two-thirds majority of the total annual conference...

Collection for Cleaning Buckets to take place on May 29

  With the recent spring storms that have flooded not only the Michigan area but also the North Central Jurisdiction, UMCOR Cleaning Buckets have been in high demand.   The West Michigan Annual Conference has received 1200 Buckets to begin the process of cleaning up after the flooding in and around the Grand Rapids area.   The call has gone out for more buckets and here is how you can help.   The Detroit Conference's Disaster Response Team will be hosting a one-day...

Committee on Nominations introduces new process

  The Committee on Nominations will introduce at the 2013 Detroit Annual Conference session a new program to nominate and elect at-large members.  More than half of the committee is comprised of nominations from the annual conference session.  Previously, these individuals were nominated from the floor, which used valuable meeting time and had uncertain results due to the low number of nominees.   This year nominations for at-large members will be received via nominee...

Bishop Kiesey speaks on Michigan Area flooding

  The following is a statement from Michigan Area Bishop Deborah L. Kiesey on the recent flooding that has affected Michigan communities:   "Across the Midwest, rivers, lakes and streams are overflowing their banks, the result of record rainfall in our region.  As the waters rise, thousands are being displaced and millions of dollars in damage will be left behind.  Flooding has destroyed homes, businesses, farms and even some houses of worship.  Right now,...

Statement from Bishop Kiesey on Boston explosions

  The following is a statement from Michigan Area Bishop Deborah L. Kiesey on the explosions that occurred in Boston, Mass., on Monday, April 15:   "Our hearts and prayers are with the people of Boston as they grieve the loss of life and injuries sustained during the explosions at the Boston Marathon.  We continue to pray for all of those affected by violence where ever it happens across God's creation."...

Bishop Jung Calls for an End to Threats of War in Korea

  Editor's note: The following statement is from Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, resident bishop of the Wisconsin Area of The United Methodist Church, on the recent developments in the Korean peninsula:   He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. Isaiah 2:4   The situation on the...

Russian Spring Center staff to visit Detroit Conference

  The Rev. Rauza Landorf, pastor at Grace United Methodist Church and director of the Spring Center Children's Ministry in St. Petersburg, Russia, will be visiting churches in the Detroit Conference from April 18-23 to talk about the work being done in Russia. Ekaterina Landorf, youth director at Grace UMC, will also be in attendance at the presentations.   The Spring Center is one of the Advance projects (#3021571) supported by the General Board of Global Ministries. The Spring...

Don't Put Your Eggs in One Basket

This is the latest in a series of copyright articles from CopyrightSolver. The conference Commission on Communications partnered with CopyrightSolver to aid local churches in the complicated world of copyright information.   Why a CCLI License Leaves Cracks in Your Copyright Coverage It sure would be nice if one license covered everything churches want to do when it comes to using copyrighted material. Unfortunately, that’s not the case, and it can leave cracks in your...

Michigan Area Communications Team Announced

Michigan Area Bishop Deborah Lieder Kiesey today (March 20) announced a comprehensive plan, developed in cooperation with the Detroit and West Michigan Annual Conferences, to enhance and streamline communications in the Michigan Area.  The bishop has named Mark A. Doyal as Director of Communication for the Michigan Area, effective April 1, 2013.  The new director will oversee communications for the Episcopal Office, Detroit Conference and West Michigan Conference and manage an Area...

A Long-time prayer answered

  Editor's note: the following is an editorial by Erik Alsgaard that appears in the March edition of the Michigan Area Reporter.    At long last, my prayers have been answered.   After nearly 30 years of praying, God finally saw fit to make it happen, and I couldn’t be more thrilled.   After first springing the idea on the Detroit Conference Council Director in 1986, finally, this coming July 1, the Michigan Area will have ONE director of communications! &n...

Creative Church Easter Planning Ideas

  This is the latest in a series of copyright articles from CopyrightSolver. The conference Commission on Communications partnered with CopyrightSolver to aid local churches in the complicated world of copyright information.    It’s one of those unique years when Easter falls in March (the 31st). Worship and creative leaders have barely caught their breath from Christmas programs, when they must look for inspiration to create programs that help their community experience...

Escobedo-Frank named preacher for 2013 annual conference session

  The Conference Program Committee is pleased to announced that the Rev. Dottie Escobedo-Frank, pastor at CrossRoads United Methodist Church in Phoenix, Ariz., and author of the book, ReStart Your Church, will be the guest preacher for the 2013 annual conference session. Escobedo-Frank will preach during worship services on Friday and Saturday, May 17-18.   Escobedo-Frank grew up on the mission field, living on the border of Arizona and Mexico. She has worked as a social worker and...

Local churches invited to apply for Ministry Exploration Intern grant

The Detroit Conference is seeking participants in the Ministry Exploration Internship program, an eight-week program to help local churches engage young people from their congregation to explore the ministry of the elder. The Ministry Exploration Internship is a $2,000 grant awarded to 12 local churches within the Conference to help them support a young adult between the ages of 18-25 in exploring pastoral ministry. The funding comes from The Conference Leadership Team's Vision Pathway 2...

JFON-SEMI celebration dinner to feature Cass Ambassadors

  The Cass Ambassadors, a unique vocal group composed of formerly homeless men, will be the featured performers at an event aimed to help immigrants make a new life in their new home.   The group will share their Old Gospel and Motown favorites as part of a celebration dinner hosted by Justice For Our Neighbors of Southeastern Michigan (JFON-SEMI), part of the national charitable organization founded by the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), which provides free,...

Copyright compliance - Licensing for 2013

  This is the latest in a series of copyright articles from CopyrightSolver. The conference Commission on Communications partnered with CopyrightSolver to aid local churches in the complicated world of copyright information.   Looking back on Christmas, many worship ministry leaders probably scrambled at the last minute trying to obtain copyright clearances for their programs. In keeping with the tradition of making New Year’s resolutions, NOW is an excellent time to get the...