Briefly

Day at Legislature: Feb. 13 On Feb. 13, criminal justice and immigration will be spotlighted at the state Capitol during the Day at the Legislature, sponsored by the Oklahoma Conference of Churches, an ecumenical group. Keynote speakers will be Rep. Kris Steele, who is speaker of the House and a member of Shawnee-Wesley UMC, and Father Don Wolfe, chairman of St. Gregory’s University. A prayer vigil in the second-floor...

Briefly

Media Library The Media Library has received three United Methodist-specific resources on DVDs. Contact Amelia Ballew at 405-530-2075, or aballew@okumc.org. "Imagine No Malaria—Faith in Action: A Video Collection." This DVD contains 10 videos that tell the story of the Church’s Imagine No Malaria initiative, including the feature presentation "A...

Briefly

Basset to lecture at Ministers Week Oklahoma clergyman Jeremy Basset will give the Fondren Lecture during Ministers Week 2012, on Feb. 6-8 at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas. He will speak on Feb. 6. His lecture title is "Aldersgate and Kingswood: A Wesleyan Missional Paradigm for the Local Church." Rev. Basset is director of Oklahoma Volunteers In Mission. He is a Rhodes graduate from South...

Briefly

Wanted: a banner from each church Every church is encouraged to provide a banner for Area Night next July at the South Central Jurisdictional Conference. The Oklahoma and Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conferences will host UM delegates at the Cox convention center in Oklahoma City. On Area Night, July 20, festivities will showcase the two conferences. Planners want to display banners from all the churches. "If...

Briefly

Teen serves by cycling A Claremore teenager is taking his Christian witness to the streets, literally. Alex Ramsey ran 30 miles in June to raise funds for mission. During the week of Thanksgiving, he plans to bike 500 miles across the state in another fundraising effort. Ramsey attends Claremore-First UMC and is a high school senior. He plays guitar for The Saving Motion and several church worship bands. He is active in both...

Briefly

Project Noel needs volunteers Project Noel leaders have issued a call for more volunteers at the primary distribution warehouse, in Oklahoma City, as the Christmas gift program moves into its fifth season. The program is directed through the Oklahoma Conference’s Small-Membership Church Commission. A new video is posted at www.okumc.org.  Choose "OKVideo" and then search for "Project Noel." To...

Briefly

Porter leads Tulsa district UMMen Men from 12 churches in Tulsa District gathered July 16 for an organizational meeting of United Methodist Men. Antonio Porter of Rose Hill UMC volunteered to serve as district president, and Michael Palmer of Aldersgate UMC will be vice-president. Memorial Drive UMC hosted the 33 participants, and new District Superintendent Dan Piel also attended. District Lay Leader James McAlister...

Briefly

FREE FROM DEBT—Cheyenne-First UMC burns the mortgage after fulfilling its financial obligation for the church building. Celebrating June 5 at the ceremony are, from left, Building Committee Chairman Becky Seay, Clinton District Superintendent Chuck Nordean, Pastor Greg Keith, and Trustees Chairman Eugene...

Briefly

CF&A videos available Now available online are two videos shown by the Council on Finance & Administration at the 2011 Annual Conference in Oklahoma City. Both can be viewed and downloaded as free resources for your church. Access them at www.okumc.org. Click the link "OKVideo" on the left side of that homepage, then search by title. Titles are: "God Is Not Finished With Us...

Briefly

Conference HQ moves to summer schedule On June 6, the United Methodist Ministry Center will begin observing summer hours. The Oklahoma City office will be open Mondays through Thursdays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., during June, July, and August. Regular office hours will resume on Aug. 29. Journal book orders due July 1 Deadline is July 1 to order the 2011 Journal printed as a book. Cost is $15. You are urged to place your order...

Briefly

Scraps, a raccoon puppet, and Jane Roul of Cokesbury cook up ideas for the "Shake It Up Café," a Vacation Bible School curriculum for 2011. They were both in Oklahoma City for the recent opening of the Christian bookstore at 7005 N. May. A Cokesbury regional manager, Roul is from Des Moines, Iowa. The...

Briefly

Johnson to lead Women’s retreat Frankye Johnson will lead a spiritual growth retreat for all women on April 29-May 1 at Canyon Camp, sponsored by Oklahoma Conference United Methodist Women (UMW). Rev. Johnson is superintendent of the Oklahoma City-South District and a native of Muskogee. She is a contributor to the Women of Color Bible and has been co-dean of the Local Pastors Licensing School. Raised in the...

Briefly

Frederick to host OSU Wesley rally At Frederick UMC on March 26, the Wesley Foundation at OSU will host the first in a series of campus ministry pep rallies. "First Regional Pep Rally" will be 6-8 p.m. at Frederick, in southwest Oklahoma. The fun will include a dinner of finger foods. Reservations are due by March 22. Contact wesleyosu@gmail.com,  405-372-5830, 405-880-7194. Event to...

Briefly

‘Five Practices’ author will teach in Norman The author of the highly acclaimed "Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations"—Bishop Robert Schnase of the Missouri Conference—will lead a workshop March 5 in Norman. McFarlin UMC is hosting Bishop Schnase’s presentations, and inviting clergy and laity from other churches to attend. The program will be held from 9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. at the Norman church,...

Briefly

Next LEAD seminar: Feb. 18 Feb. 18-19 are the dates for the second seminar of the clergy LEAD series. "Stewardship" and "Leading the Laity" are the topics for the program, to be held at the Meinders School of Business at Oklahoma City University. All clergy are welcome, and meals are included. Attendance at the previous event is not a prerequisite. On Friday evening, presenter will be Michael...

Briefly

FOR CHRISTMAS FEASTING—Vice presidents Maggie Ball, left, and Liz Hedrick help prepare food gifts for 50 needy families in the metro, following the annual "Light the Campus" holiday events Dec. 1 at Oklahoma City University. More than 1,500 toys were collected that night, too. Additional food was donated to Skyline Urban Ministry and the CJAMM...

Briefly

Bishop Dan Solomon and his family join McMurry University officials at the Oct. 15 dedication of Bishops Hall on the Abilene campus. McMurry University honors Solomon In Abilene, Texas,...

Briefly

National justice issue highlighted Clergy action is urged by two Oklahoma Conference groups to support the National Criminal Justice Commission Act. U.S. Senate Bill 714 would create a federal commission to review and identify effective criminal justice policies and make recommendations for reform. The legislation, approved by the U.S. House, awaits Senate action. Oklahomans recently were alerted to the issue through...

Briefly

Benefits explained for clergy November events are designed to inform Oklahoma’s clergy about the pension and healthcare benefits programs in which they participate. The "Clergy Benefit Essentials Retreat" is offered twice. Nov. 4-5 at Canyon Camp, Hardt Lodge Nov. 11-12 at Camp Egan, Holliman Lodge ...

Briefly

CONGRATULATIONS, GRADUATES—Three clergy members of the Oklahoma Conference graduated July 29 from the Course of Study program of Saint Paul School of Theology, Kansas City, Mo. They are, from left, Robert Foos, Charles Broam, and Mike Mahaffey. The Basic Five-Year Course of Study,...