News Archive

By Jennifer Ahrens-Sims What do 19th century suffragists and 21st century women in ministry have in common? A shared common value that wherever they are, whatever they are doing and whatever gifts ...

Where did the summer go? Between annual conference, mission trips, family vacations, mobile camps, special projects, volunteer activities and everything in between, summer can feel like it’s gone in a...

Madison Day Allison McMurry The Wimberly School of Religion at Oklahoma City University has announced its selection of two incoming freshmen as recipients of the prestigious Bishop Scholar ...

By Meagan Ewton If it takes a special kind of person to volunteer for camp, it must take a little something extra to volunteer for camp nurse. Waking up early, caring for more than 100 patients, ...

By Tabitha Beckman and Meagan Ewton What does a collaboration between two Wesley Foundations to examine racial justice look like? A new documentary exploring this question debuted at Edmond-First UMC ...

By Tabitha Beckman There are many opportunities for college-aged young people in the Oklahoma United Methodist Conference to engage their faith in the world around them through the work of Young ...

Citizens Caring for Children and Circle of Care help foster children get ready for new school year OKLAHOMA CITY – Supply lists are out and preparations for the new school year are in full swing. That...

By Meagan Ewton Two years after a wind storm destroyed their sanctuary, Davis United Methodist Church has broken ground on a new building in a better location. The groundbreaking on the new 10,500 ...

By Lin Archer Every Wednesday night, around 60 people come to eat a free meal at Harrah United Methodist Church. Volunteers say their goal is 100. Marty Fry, a HUMC member since 2000, started the ...

By Meagan Ewton An overwhelming desire to bless local first responders has maximized the number of free copies available from the 2018 Oklahoma Annual Conference Special Offering. The special offering...

By taking a distribution from your IRA this year, you will likely pay more in taxes and may even reach a higher tax bracket. Rolling over part of your IRA’s “required minimum distribution” or “RMD” to...

Harold Swink, a former pastor and founding member of OKC-Mosaic, passed away on July 23. Harold served the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church as both a clergy member and a lay person ...

Saint Yootz Day Aug. 18, Frontier City, Oklahoma City Concert by Toby Mac www.okumc.org/youth New People New Places Grant Applications Deadline Aug. 31, due by midnight Nominate yourself or another ...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The final report of the Commission on a Way Forward has been released in all four official languages of the General Conference: English, French, Portuguese and Swahili.  The report ...

Left to right: Pastors Twila Gibbens (retired), Valerie Steele, and Ruth Atterberry hold up items used in diversity kits that were given away during the 2018 Annual Conference. The items are meant to...

On August 4, 2018, at Church of the Servant, at 4 p.m., the Wesley Foundation at Langston University will have its 10th Anniversary Awards Gala. The purpose of this event is to celebrate those who ...

By Chris Schutz Susan Waite has been named the new partnership coordinator for the longtime Oklahoma-Bolivia partnership with the Oklahoma United Methodist Conference. Waite, a member of OKC-Chapel ...

"Alaska is Calling and I Must Go" reads the back of the official OCU mission team t-shirts. On June 1, a team of 12 students, faculty and family members flew from Oklahoma City to Fairbanks, Alaska ...

The Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference held its 176th Annual Conference on June 7-9. Delegates and guests gathered at the OIMC’s Southwest Region Center a few miles west of Anadarko. The opening ...

By Chris Schutz Putting money in the collection plate may not feel hilarious, but it should. That was the message of “Hilarious Giving,” one of the workshops at this year’s Annual Conference. The ...

A plan is important, but an estimated 60% of Americans don’t even have a will. The Planning Your Legacy guide from the Oklahoma United Methodist Foundation will help you by making the process easy and...

Seventeen candidates attended local pastor licensing school, held June 15-23. Back Row: Devaunjue Williams, Cody Robinson, Reece Player, Taylor Anderson. Middle Row: Nancy Johnson (Dean) Donn Turner,...

By Meagan Ewton Adrian Holmes had only helped paint his little sister’s room before, but that wasn’t going to stop him from doing his best to paint a house. Holmes, a seventh-grade student from Moore,...

By Meagan Ewton Elizabeth Witt, who describes herself as a new believer, had only attended Antlers-First UMC a handful of times when she asked her pastor, David Mingus, how the church could support ...

Saint Yootz Day Aug. 18, Frontier City, Oklahoma City Concert by Toby Mac www.okumc.org/youth Grand opening, Wesley Foundation at Oklahoma State University Sept. 1, Stillwater info@okstatewesley.org ...

2019 budget set up in two ministry tiers BY HOLLY MCCRAY OKLAHOMA CITY — The amount apportioned to each church in 2019 will be 6.36 percent lower than the individual church’s 2018 apportioned amount. ...

Meagan Ewton has been named the new editor of publications for the Oklahoma Conference. Ewton fills the position held by Holly McCray, who retired June 15 and is moving closer to family. McCray had ...

.well { background-color: #00AEEB; } .well2 { background-color: #FFF358; } Mission U July 20-22/22-23 at OCU Learning Together for the Transformation of the World SPIRITUAL GROWTH STUDY - ...

NEWLY ORDAINED ELDERS — From left are (front row) Lory Fahle, Shannon Rodenberg, Bishop James Nunn, Patricia Johnson, and Jennifer Kellogg; (middle row) Mark Polson, Andrew Haire, Thomas Corrigan ...

Doing the kind of good we believe in takes sacrifice. There is a cost and we make sure it isn’t perceived as a loss but always manifests as thoughtful investment. You probably have a story of how ...

During two ceremonies on May 5, Oklahoma City University conferred 543 undergraduate and 362 graduate degrees in its 113th annual commencement exercises. OCU President-Designate Martha Burger, ...

BY MEAGAN EWTON OKLAHOMA CITY — More than 20 workshops were offered at the 2018 Annual Conference to provide 1,200 delegates and other church leaders with practical tools to fulfill the mission of the...

BY CHRIS SCHUTZ United Methodists across Oklahoma stepped up to help when public schools closed, some for 10 days, in early April during a teacher walkout and protests at the Capitol about education. ...

The Conference invites college students to apply by Aug. 1 for its new Collegiate Internship Program, set to launch as the fall academic semester begins. The young adults will work alongside staff of ...

OKLAHOMA CITY — Tenants facing possible eviction in Oklahoma County can get help from Oklahoma City University’s Law School to remain in their homes. The law school recently received a “generous grant...

EDMOND — Where is Christianity and where is it headed? Those issues will be part of a free talk June 22 on missional movements and leadership, hosted at Edmond-Acts 2, about ways churches can increase...

Bill Junk and Craig Stinson received honorary doctorates from United Methodist-related Oklahoma City University on May 6. Junk is president of Oklahoma United Methodist Foundation, and Rev. Stinson is...

BY KYLE WESTFALL TULSA — For several years, the modern service at Tulsa-First United Methodist Church has celebrated immersion baptisms with a soundtrack anchored by Phil Wickham’s song “This is ...

New faith community seeks to fulfill prophecy BY HOLLY MCCRAY OKLAHOMA CITY — In the home of Victoria Lee, you’ll find the genesis of a United Methodist church. This newest faith community in the ...

Plans are under way for a year of events celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel on the Oklahoma City University campus. Consecrated on May 9, 1968, Smith Chapel has been ...

Students at Oklahoma City University have a new food option on campus. After months of construction in the lower level of the Tom and Brenda McDaniel Student Center, Chick-fil-A opened for business in...

In 2019, the Foundation will be 75 years old!  The Foundation’s legacy is more than dates and events.  It’s a legacy of the heart. It’s a story about people who were compelled by grace, gratitude, and...

TULSA — Two young adults active in United Methodist campus ministry at the University of Tulsa wrote about its value in their lives for the Wesley Foundation’s newsletter. Gloria Hrncir is a junior at...

BY CHRIS SCHUTZ STILLWATER — Applications are being accepted for residential space in the soon-to-be completed three-story Wesley Foundation building that sits just south of Oklahoma State University’...

    EDITOR’S NOTE:  Victor McCullough becomes the Heartland District superintendent in June, as announced by Bishop Jimmy Nunn. Ordained in 1990, Rev. Dr. McCullough has been senior pastor at ...

BY HOLLY MCCRAY The eight district meetings previewing Oklahoma’s Annual Conference (May 29-31, Tuesday-Thursday, in OKC) took Treasurer Norma Quinn on a quest across the state. Associate Conference ...

Annual Conference Special Offering BY HOLLY MCCRAY OKLAHOMA CITY — Fire Chief Terry Ford keeps a dog-eared devotional book in his briefcase. For this man who heads up the 85-member civilian ...

A collection of DVDs, some with guides for leaders and participants, has been donated by Edmond-New Covenant to the DVD library at the conference center. They are available for free checkout. To see a...

BY CAITLIN DRYKE TULSA — As someone who studied sociology, I find that I best understand a place by understanding the people of that place. New to Boston Avenue United Methodist Church, I am coming to...