The Foothills District
Clergy Connection
Volume 2, Issue 1 Home Newsletter Archive January 2007
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Lots of things do not grow: my ink pen, my coffee cup, my Black & Decker turbo charged stud finder, and many more. They are things. They are not living. On the other hand, living things grow. They grow physically, emotionally, socially, relationally, mentally, spiritually, and more. If they do not grow in some way, we observe that they are beginning to die. What about churches? Can every church grow? Yes, every church that is living with a mission and a vision can grow. Pastor Bill Marshall, East Letart, told me that the church was down so far they were beginning to think that closing the church was inevitable. Now, they are talking about tearing down the old sanctuary to build a new one, right after they finish paying off the new fellowship hall they added recently. East Letart is not in high paced suburban growth, but they are impacting their community. |
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I visited with Junction City, Webbs, Maxville, and South Harvey just last week. They shared with me several examples of miracles happening in their churches and communities. Moreover, Junction City is in a building program, too.
How do these things happen? There are many factors, and each situation is unique. However, nearly every growing church I know began with prayer and Bible study. When leaders pray fervently for God’s vision (What fruit is God calling us to produce in the coming year?) and search the scriptures to experience God’s passion for people in our world; God does remarkable things.
I could go on. I am hearing many exciting stories across the Foothills District. There are many churches that are alive with the Spirit and growing in fruit.
I believe every church can grow. Is yours? What fruit is God calling your church to produce in the coming year?
That’s why we are counting the numbers in the Acts 2 data of faithful and fruitful churches. Each number represents a person whom God loves dearly. So the year end reports pastors and key leaders are preparing right now help us to see the fruit: new members, increased worship attendance, baptisms, professions of faith, small groups, and generous giving. In 2005, 44 churches demonstrated fruit in at least 5 of the 6 areas. An additional 29 churches documented fruit in at least 4 of the 6 areas.
Will 2006 and 2007 be better? It’s up to us.
NEWS
Foothills District Official
Effective January 1, 2007, the Foothills District will be official and legal. All financial and legal operations will begin. So, if you are sending a check to the district for apportionments, registrations, or any other purpose; please make it out to the Foothills District. We appreciate your patient cooperation in these matters.
The Georgia Harkness Scholarship Program
is available for women over 35 who have received a bachelor of arts or equivalent degree, are enrolled full time in a University Senate accredited school of theology in the master of divinity program, and who are currently certified as candidates for ordained ministry as an elder in The United Methodist Church. This program offers 10 scholarships at $5,000 each to be awarded each year by the first of June. The deadline for the applications is March 1st. Applications and more information about the program can be found at GBHEM's Clergywomen's website at www.gbhem.org/clergywomen or the application can be downloaded at http://www.gbhem.org/ResourceLibrary/HARKNESSAppform.pdf. The reference form can be downloaded and 4 copies printed at http://www.gbhem.org/ResourceLibrary/ResourceLetter.pdf.
New Apportionment Brochure
Have you seen the new apportionment brochure producing pictures and information about the many ministries supported by your offering dollars? If you have not seen it, or you ran out of copies; check out the Conference web site for a downloadable copy at www.westohioumc.org/home/moneymatters.aspx
Increase Giving in Your Church
David Bell, UMC Center for Christian Stewardship, will lead workshops across the conference for pastors who want to improve their church’s stewardship. Rev. Bell’s experience includes stewardship consultation, organizational management, leadership development, and non-profit fundraising. All workshops run from 9 am to 3:30 pm. Cost is $25 per person which includes lunch and all materials.
Jan 31 - Jackson Christ UMC
Feb 1 - Normandy UMC, Dayton
Feb 6 - Grove City UMC
Feb 7 - Bowling Green First UMC
Contact Julie Bassett in the Conference Center to register before Jan 19.
32 Wesley Boulevard
Worthington, Ohio 43085
1.800.437.0028
Fax 1.614.781.2642
New Pension Program Begins
The new pension program CRSP begins Jan 1, 2007. Every licensed and ordained pastor will either have to pay into the program or sign a notarized statement opting out of the program. For an opt out form, contact Beth Gibbs at bgibbs@wocumc.org
Year End Report Forms
Have you received your year end report forms yet? If not, contact Jack Frost in the Conference Center (800.437.0028). This is a good time to recruit some of your key lay leadership to provide you some of the information you will need for the year end forms.
These forms are critical in that they help us discern what churches are growing in their Acts 2 fruit. So take care to see that the information is accurate and prompt.
UMCOR Stories
Did you know that President Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia, a United Methodist herself, has pledged support for Ganta United Methodist Hospital? If you didn’t, your people probably don’t know either. You can get stories like this and many more on the UMCOR web site: www.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/
2007 Ohio Ministries Convocation
Ohio Council of Churches is sponsoring the Ohio Ministries Convocation, Jan 22-23, featuring Dr. Paul Numrich, Dr. Kerry Cheesman, Dr. John Haught, and more. For more info, check out: www.ohcouncilchs.org/
Emotional Intelligence and Human Relations Training: Raising One’s Leadership Effectiveness Training
Roy Oswald, Sr Consultant with Alban Institute, will coordinate this seminar at St Marys By the Lake Conference Center, Mundelein, ILL, Jan 22-26. Cost is about $1,000. For more info, contact Roymoswald@aol.com
Pastor Parish Relations Committee Training
This training is for PPR Committees and other key leaders. Select the date and location most convenient for you. Please contact the District Office (see contact info below) with the date, location, and approximate number of your team. (If no one notifies us they are coming, we may cancel the night to use our time more wisely elsewhere.)
| Jan 7, 3 p.m. - Gallipolis Grace |
| Jan 10, 7 pm - God’s Net, Pomeroy |
| Jan 14, 3 pm - Racine |
| Jan 16, 7 pm - Belpre Rockland |
| Jan 21, 3 pm - Marietta Christ |
| Jan 24, 7 pm - Athens Richland Ave |
| Jan 28, 3 pm - McArthur |
| Jan 28, 7 pm - Nelsonville |
| Feb 5, 7 pm - Logan Trinity |
| Feb 6, 7 pm - Gibisonville |
| Feb 11, 3 pm - New Lex First |
| Feb 18 , 3 pm - Bremen First |
| Feb 25, 3 pm - Malta |
| Feb 27, 7 pm - Crooksville First |
| Mar 5, 7 pm - Somerset |
| Mar 6, 7 pm - Rolling Plains |
| Mar 13, 7 pm - Zanesville Coburn |
Brent’s Breakfasts
Brent and Tom are meeting for breakfast with whoever wants to show up. There is no set agenda. It is an opportunity to pick each other’s brains. It is purely voluntary. You can attend as many as you want. You are responsible for the cost of your own breakfast. All breakfasts are scheduled to start at 8 am. Here are the dates and places:
Jan. 9 – North Zanesville at Bethesda Hospital Cafeteria
Jan. 23 – West Meigs Co. at Millies in Middleport
Feb. 13 – North Perry Co. at the Snack Bar in Somerset
Feb. 20 – Washington Co. at the Redwood in Belpre
March 20 – West/Central Perry Co. at the Top Hat in Junction City
March 27 – North Athens Co. – location not determined yet
April 3 – Fairfield Co. at Shoney’s in Lancaster
April 17 – Morgan Co. at the Old Corral in McConnelsville
May 1 – Gallia Co. at Bob Evans in Gallipolis
May 15 – Vinton Co. at Momma Rennies in McArthur
June 5 – South Zanesville – location not determined yet
June 19 – East Meigs Co. – Krider’s Kountry Kitchen
July 10 – West Hocking Co. – location not determined yet
July 17 – Washington Co., Marietta area – location not determined yet
Aug. 14 – East Perry Co., Crooksville area – Hunter’s Run at 6 mile turn
Aug. 28 – South Athens Co. at Bob Evans in Athens
Sept. 4 – East Hocking Co. – location not determined yet
UM Rural Fellowship needs your help
If you know of anyone who supports the Rural community and would like to help during the General Conference, please contact Tom Graves, West Ohio Conference President of the UMRF. It takes a lot of workers for the National Rural Fellowship to pass out papers, staff the hospitality and food rooms, produce the daily newspaper, etc. Tom can be reached at tomngraves@mchsi.com and will forward the volunteer form to you.
RSI-led Capital Stewardship Campaign
RSI continues to lead churches in our Conference through the capital stewardship campaign process. RSI is our Conference’s stewardship counsel for “Strength for Today, Bright Hope for Tomorrow.” If your church is considering a capital campaign to retire debt, build, or renovate existing facilities, contact RSI’s Ministry Development Officer, Tim Owings, for information on how your can raise significant financial resources while having a strong, spiritually-oriented capital stewardship campaign. You can reach Tim at 1-800-725-0200, ext. 7526 or towings@vixcern.com.
Strength for Today, Bright Hope for Tomorrow Fall Offering
Approximately $14,000 was collected this fall with about 60 churches in the West Ohio Conference participating. Initiated almost two years ago, the Strength for Today, Bright Hope for Tomorrow campaign seeks to create a variety of new revenue sources for use in church expansion, development, and leadership.
Leadership Training
The Peace with Justice grant and Ethnic Local Church grant programs are now accepting applications. These grants are available through the General Board of Church and Society. A link to information on each of these grants is provided below.
http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/pp.asp?c=fsJNK0PKJrH&b=2280369
Dee Stickley-Miner
Director of Connectional Mission and Justice
Summer Internships for ethnic young adults: June 4 – August 11, 2007
Each year, the General Board of Church and Society provides summer internships for ethnic young adults 18-22 years old. The application deadline is March 15, 2007. Applicants must have interest in exploring issues of public policy, social justice advocacy and social change. In addition to the work of the internship, participants will live in Christian community with each other, lead nightly devotions, participate in field trips and Friday seminars and actively attend Sunday worship in United Methodist congregations. The internship will provide each participant with round trip air fare, housing for 8 weeks, commuter travel, and a $1500 stipend. If you know of young adults who are African American, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino American, Native American or Pacific Islander who would be interested, please encourage them to apply. For more information, please contact Dee Stickley-Miner at 800-437-0028; dstickley@wocumc.org. For a link to the application go to http://www.umc-gbcs.org/atf/cf/{325AB72F-313E-4CC3-BB1A-EFOA52968A8D}/APPLICATION-eya_internship-2006.pdf
January 18, 2007: Faith Community Nurse/Health Ministers Support Group, in
Dayton. For more information contact the Good Samaritan Hospital Health Ministries Program at 937/227-9454.
January 22-26, 2007: The Boomers are Coming!!! A Doctoral Program on Ministry
with Boomers: The Spiritual Journey at Midlife and Beyond. Enrollment is open for this United Theological Seminary D. Min. Program. For more information call 937/529-2201, email doctoralstudies@united.edu or go to www.united.edu.
January 27, 2007: “The Christ Journey: Preaching Lent and Holy Week”,
a one-day seminar presented by UTS in Trotwood. Cost is $65. For more information and to register contact cwpa@united.edu.
February 28-March 1, 2007: Children’s Ministry Forum ’07 Conference,
Birmingham, AL. For more information go to www.gbod.org/children/forum07-home.html.
April 25, 2007: Ecumenical Legislative Advocacy Day, Columbus, OH.
For more information contact Tom Smith, 614/885-9590 or tsmith@ohcouncilchs.org.
June 14-26, 2007: VIM Team to Kielce, Poland to put on a VBS Sports Camp.
For more information contact Ron Fontenot at ronbo3@prodigy.net or 618/628-8262
May 23, 2007: Clergy Session. This will be an all day session!! It will have a
mandatory sexual ethics training/renewal piece in the afternoon.
May 6, 2007: Foothills District Spring Conference at a location near the center of
the district, 3 pm.
June 10-14, 2007 Annual Conference at Lakeside
July 22-28, 2007 Local Pastors School at Widewater Retreat Center
Upper Room Ministries- www.upperroom.org
Interpreter- www.interpretermagazine.org
Volunteers in Mission- www.gbgm-umc.org
United Methodist Committee on Relief- www.gbgm-umc/umcor
West Ohio Conference- www.westohioumc.org
United Methodist Church- www.umc.org
Lewis Center for Church Leadership- www.churchleadership.com
Monday Morning Insight- www.mondaymorninginsight.com
The Alban Institute- www.alban.org
Rev magazine- www.onlinerev.com
Ministry in Motion- www.ministryinmotion.net
Incubator- www.l3incubator.com
Percept- www.link2lead.com
Pastoral Seasons as Life and Ministry- www.psalmats.org
Pohly Center for Supervision and Leadership Formation- www.united.edu/pohlycenter/
Christian Coaches Network- www.christiancoaches.com
International Association of Coaches- www.certifiedcoach.org
Congregational Resources Guide- www.congregationalresources.org
Pastors Retreat Network- www.pastorsretreatnetwork.org
Please send us any links on the web that will encourage leadership amongst our pastors
IMPORTANT ADDRESSES
Foothills District: Physical address- 47 Johnson Rd., The Plains, Ohio, 43780
Mailing address- P.O. Box 67, The Plains, Ohio, 43780-0067
Website: www.foothillsdistrict.org
Email: Tom Hanover- hanover@foothillsdistrict.org
Brent Watson- watson@foothillsdistrict.org
Office- office@foothillsdistrict.org