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...

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...

Dr. Marcia McFee to bring "Worship Design Studio" workshop to Grand Rapids and Detroit areas

  “How do we create vital and passionate worship consistently without getting burned out while still caring for all the other duties of the ministry?” Dr. Marcia McFee, a national worship leader and educator will address this common question at two workshops for worship teams: Grand Rapids area, Saturday, January 19, at Rockford UMC and Detroit area, Saturday, January 26, at Farmington Hills: Nardin Park UMC.    “The desire to create meaningful and memorable...

United Methodists to Receive Discounts at Staples

  The General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) has entered into an agreement with Staples, one of the world’s largest office products companies to provide preferred pricing and discounts on purchases.  Staples® Advantage is the business-to-business purchasing program available to churches, district offices, annual conferences, jurisdictions, general agencies, and other United Methodist related institutions.  Given the rising costs of copies, office/cleaning...

Cordle to be featured speaker at "New Places for New Faces" workshop

The Rev. Steve Cordle, senior pastor at Crossroads United Methodist Church in suburban Pittsburgh, Pa., will be the featured speaker at an upcoming workshop hosted by the Detroit Conference new congregational development committee.   "New Places for New Faces" will be a workshop on multi-site and adoption models in starting new churches and expanding existing ministries. The workshop is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 19, from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at Fenton UMC.   The...

Make plans for 'A Different Kind of Christmas'

  "A Different Kind of Christmas" is the theme for the new Advent resources offered through a collaborative effort of Rethink Church at United Methodist Communications and Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church in Tipp City, Ohio, and the United Methodist Publishing House. Resources A Different Kind of Christmas: Living and Giving LIke Jesus, by the Rev. Mike Slaughter, is the basis for the collection that encourages exploring what it means to be "living and giving like...

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...

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...

Communications Commission partners with CCS to help churches with copyright compliance

  Copyright compliance can be overwhelming for most church leaders. Obtaining proper licenses for compliance is often a confusing, difficult and time-consuming process. With that in mind, the Detroit Conference Commission on Communications is partnering with CopyrightSolver by CCS to provide churches with the answers and resources they need. CopyrightSolver’s goal in this partnership is to make copyrights simple for the churches of the Detroit Conference.   "Helping...

Registration open for Keep Making Peace event

Shane Claiborne, sought-after speaker and bestselling author, will speak at the 10th annual Keep Making Peace event at University United Methodist Church in East Lansing.   Registration is now open for the event, which will take place from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 31. To register, visit http://msuwesley.org/claiborne or call 517-332-0861. The event is free for students, $15 per person and $25 per family. Lunch will be included, and space is limited for the...

Change the World weekend set for May 19-20

  Change the World, a global movement of United Methodists to build community locally and fight malaria globally, will take place on Saturday-Sunday, May 19-20, 2012. Local churches are being asked to begin planning for the denominational event, as the church seeks to have 4,000 events take place worldwide.    Change the World, an event that began in 2010, is an opportunity to connect mission-minded disciples with the mission of The United Methodist Church, which is to make...

Rethink Church invites churches to Journey to Hope this Lent

  United Methodist Communications, through Rethink Church, is inviting churches to take a 7-week Journey to Hope this Lent. During the series, you will travel with Jesus to the cross and discover the Hope that can be found in the midst of life’s most difficult circumstances. This series was previously released in 2010 and has been updated to include small group, children and youth/young adult supplements.   Journey to Hope will inspire people to reflect on Jesus’...

Spanish Language Workshop being offered for clergy and lay leaders

  Recently, as part of the Saginaw Bay District Mission Celebration, I gave a sermon at Laporte United Methodist Church. My sermon was about the day of Pentecost. In my sermon, I did not focus on the actions of the apostles, but on the response of the community members that gathered there that day. That day, as we know, the Holy Spirit came down and filled the apostles and they started to speak in different languages. Normally, our focus is on the apostles and their ability to speak...

Clergy sexual ethics training scheduled for March 19-21 across Michigan Area

  The office of Michigan Area Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton announced today (Dec. 13) that mandatory sexual ethics training for all clergy in the Michigan Area will take place at three sites from March 19-21. All clergy currently under appointment or anticipating an appointment are required to attend one of the single-day sessions.   The dates and sites available for clergy in the Michigan Area are as follows: March 19 - Birmingham: First UMC March 20 - Gaylord: First UMC ...

Powerful demographic tool available to conference churches

  The New Church Development Committee of the Detroit Conference has announced that it has made available MissionInsite - an online demographic tool - to all conference local churches free of charge.   MissionInsite (www.missioninsite.com) provides instant access to community information for churches. The web-based program gives you access to demographic data for a variety of geographic levels and is a powerful discovery tool for exploration and out of the box thinking for church...

Mandatory sexual ethics training for clergy to be held week of March 19

The office of Michigan Area Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton announced today that there will be required sexual ethics training for all clergy in the Michigan Area. This training will be conducted during the week of March 19, 2012.   According to the Bishop's Office attendance is mandatory for all clergy – Elders, Deacons, Local Pastors and Retired Clergy - in order to be in good standing for appointment (see Resolution 2044.7 in the 2008 Book of Resolutions). Retired clergy who...

GBHEM awards $60,000 in scholarships to Detroit Conference students

Thirty-two individuals from 24 churches in the Detroit Conference were recipients of loans and scholarships from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry in 2011, the GBHEM reported recently.    Of the $5.3 million awarded in 2011, over $60,000 was given to members of the Detroit Conference. The average scholarship or loan amount was $1,900, and the scholarships and loans ranged from $600 to $5,500.    Of the 32 individuals that received money, 10 are attending...

America's Sunday Supper promotes service

United Methodist Communications and the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society are urging communities to Rethink Church in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with America’s Sunday Supper on January 15, 2012. America’s Sunday Supper will be a nationwide night of simultaneous dinners and discussions shared in churches, homes, community centers and kitchens to promote positive change in the world. As an activation partner with Points of Light, United Methodist...

Popular Christian Activist Speaking March 31

  Shane Claiborne, sought-after speaker and bestselling author, will speak on March 31, 2012, at University United Methodist Church in East Lansing.   With tears and laughter, Shane Claiborne unveils the tragic messes in the world and the tangible hope that another world is possible.  Shane has worked alongside Mother Teresa, in a wealthy, mega-church, and written "Jesus for President."     He is also a founding partner of The Simple Way, a faith...

Board of Ordained Ministry encourages Called to Ministry Sunday

Dear Pastors, Church Leaders, and Congregations,   In October, the Rev. Mary Ann Gibson heard the challenge during the Clergy session at Annual Conference to have a Called to Ministry Sunday and shared her call story one Sunday.  As a result, two people responded to God's call to ministry!   In our efforts to create a stronger Called to Ministry culture in our conference, we are asking you to fulfill the challenge made to you at last year's Annual Conference.   Please...