News Archive
Mission & Ministry: Criminal Justice & Mercy Ministries
published 3/7/2019
“I was in prison, and you visited me.” (Matt 25:37) These are words that Criminal Justice & Mercy Ministries takes to heart. With Oklahoma being the state with the highest incarceration rate in the ...
OCU selected as GBHEM hub site
published 3/7/2019
The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) in Nashville has selected Oklahoma City University as the site of their North American Leadership, Education, and Development (LEaD) Hub. ...
Oklahoma delegates help shape Special Session of General Conference
published 3/7/2019
By Meagan Ewton Oklahoma’s delegates made key contributions to this year’s historic General Conference. The Special Session of General Conference was called Feb. 23-26 to address the denomination’s ...
Passages
published 3/7/2019
Nancy Brannon, wife of pastor Michael Brannon, died on Feb. 14. She and Michael were married for 47 years. A service was held on Feb. 25 at the Eufala First Assembly of God.
Save the Date
published 3/7/2019
Lay Delegate Self-Nominations Deadline Extended to midnight on March 22 Nominate yourself at www.okumc.org/LayNominees2020. Council Oak Lay Servant Training Friday, April 5, 6-9 p.m. | Saturday, ...
Watching and waiting: Experiencing General Conference from the sidelines
published 3/7/2019
By Meagan Ewton Dozens of Oklahomans, both clergy and lay, journeyed to St. Louis to observe the Special Session of General Conference, held on Feb. 23-26. Though personal viewpoints on the ...
Chairing history: Oklahoma delegate leads proceedings during legislative session
published 2/26/2019
By Meagan Ewton Even before he was elected the chair of the legislative committee, Rev. Dr. Joseph Harris knew the stakes would be high at this year’s special called General Conference. “There are ...
Book Review: The Three Box Solution
published 2/1/2019
By Rev. Dr. Joseph Harris Occasionally you run across a book that is not specifically written for the church but whose principles and context can be applied to the church. I have read such a book by ...
Conference Announcements
published 2/1/2019
Worship resources for GC 2020 now available A writing team of OKUMC pastors have created outlines and suggestions for the Sundays before, of and after General Conference 2019 (Feb. 17 and 24, and ...
Confirmation Camp heads to Canyon Camp on Feb. 22-23
published 2/1/2019
By Meagan Ewton What does it mean to be a United Methodist? Allen Carson, pastor of El Reno-Wesley, hopes to help youth answer that and other faith-related questions during a special 24-hour camp. ...
Connectional Opportunities now called Mission and Ministry
published 2/1/2019
During Annual Conference in May 2018, 14 ministries were removed from apportionment giving and given their own designation: Connectional Opportunities. Nearly nine months later, this collection of ...
District trainings prepare lay leaders to engage in ministry
published 2/1/2019
Several districts of the Oklahoma Conference are preparing people to engage in ministry whether or not they’re clergy. In the coming months, many of the conference’s eight districts will host at least...
High school youth invited to OCU Events
published 2/1/2019
Hundreds of high school youth from across Oklahoma will converge on the Oklahoma City University campus for a series of special events this spring. Youth groups and youth sponsors who are interested ...
Mission and Ministry: Camps & Conference Programming
published 2/1/2019
Camping ministry provides Oklahoma United Methodist churches the opportunity to engage in meaningful experiences, relationships, and ministry. Three campsites around the state provide a ...
Monday Meals ministry more than the sum of its parts
published 2/1/2019
By Paulette Henderson The coffee’s on in the Landes Center in Anadarko every Monday from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. In less than a year, over 6,000 meals have been served through Monday Meals, a lay ministry ...
Oklahomans in the Holy Land
published 2/1/2019
By Meagan Ewton The river. The garden. The desert. The sea. This January, 40 United Methodist clergy, spouses, and conference staff, including Bishop Jimmy Nunn, traveled from Oklahoma to Palestine ...
Save the Date
published 2/1/2019
OSU Wesley Gala Celebration - February 22 823 W. University Ave, Stillwater Doors open at 7 p.m. | Seating begins at 7:30 p.m. Cost: $60. RSVP by Feb. 15 Visit okstatewesley.org/gala COSROW 2019 ...
Wespath Orders Presentation
published 1/24/2019
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A Glance Back at 2018
published 1/11/2019
As we move into the promise of a new year, we take a look back on just some of the ways United Methodists have made an impact through our Connectional Ministries in 2018. Volunteers in Mission...
Avedis Foundation awards grant to Circle of Care to build foster homes
published 1/11/2019
The Avedis Foundation and Oklahoma United Methodist Circle of Care, a statewide foster care agency, have announced plans to collaborate on a building project to provide homes for sibling sets in ...
Charis Alive hosts inaugural Combined Christmas Celebration
published 1/11/2019
Charis Alive, an Asian-American multiethnic ministry led by Rev. Victoria Lee, held its inaugural Christmas Celebration on Dec. 15 at Church of the Servant. More than 10 nationalities were represented...
Connectional Opportunity: Project Transformation
published 1/11/2019
Project Transformation is one of the Connectional Opportunity ministries supported through the generous giving of churches in the Oklahoma Conference. Based on a model founded in 1998 in the North ...
Letter from the Director
published 1/11/2019
To the readers of the Contact: Welcome to the new digital edition of the Contact. This format is designed to bring you all the United Methodist news and information that our readers have come to ...
OCU honors distinguished alumni, university champions
published 1/11/2019
Oklahoma City University recognized two new recipients of the Bishop Paul W. Milhouse Award during the annual University-Church Relations and Wimberly School of Religion recognition banquet on Dec. 6....
Save the Date
published 1/11/2019
GBHEM Scholarships for Fall 2019 Open | Jan. 3 – March 7 www.gbhem.org/loans-and-scholarships/scholarships Ministry Center closed for Martin Luther King Day | Jan. 21 Metro Retired Clergy and Spouse...
Bishop William B. Oden
published 12/23/2018
The Council of Bishops is saddened to announce the death of former Council of Bishops President Bishop William B. Oden. With his family surrounding him, Bishop William B. Oden passed away on ...
AU scholarship named to honor Stroud UMC pastor
published 12/7/2018
By Meagan Ewton A scholarship at Africa University has been named in honor of a graduate currently serving the United Methodist church in Stroud. Gérard Nsabimana, who earned a bachelor’s degree in ...
Canyon Camp raising funds for nurse’s station
published 12/7/2018
By Meagan Ewton Canyon Camp is raising $40,000 for a new nurse’s station that they hope to build in time for the summer season, according to Director David Combs. The camp began to focus on ...
Challenge grant matches up to $25,000 for independent living program
published 12/7/2018
Circle of Care is raising $25,000 to match a $25,000 challenge grant from the Paul Milburn Gift Fund at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation.This grant will benefit the Preparation for Adult Living ...
Contact goes digital in January
published 12/7/2018
By Dr. Joe Harris, Director of Communications Ministry In the Novmeber 2018 issue we informed you about the changes that will occur in the new year related to the printed edition of Contact newspaper....
OCU holiday shows make the season bright
published 12/7/2018
The fall semester at OCU will come to a close with some fun holiday performances. The American Spirit Dance Company’s annual “Home for the Holidays” showcases the school’s world-renown program with a ...
OCU: Bishop Scholar Application Now Open
published 12/7/2018
High school seniors who feel called to ministry and who are interested in studying in the Oklahoma City University Wimberly School of Religion are encouraged to apply for the prestigious Bishop ...
OKUMC announces emergency health insurance contribution increase for local churches
published 12/7/2018
The Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church has announced an emergency increase of local church contributions for health insurance coverage. Without immediate increases, the conference’s ...
OKUMF: Ending the year well
published 12/7/2018
There are a number of charitable planning strategies that can help you lower your income and taxes this year. Here are some ways you can shift tax dollars to charitable dollars and support your ...
OU Wesley Foundation holds open house
published 12/7/2018
The Wesley Foundation at the University of Oklahoma held an open house and dedication on Nov. 10 to celebrate the completion of a $700,000 rennovation. Updates include asbestos abatement, a redesigned...
Passages
published 12/7/2018
Rev. William (Bill) Moss passed away on November 10. Moss served as an OKUMC pastor for 35 years. A service was held at Claremore-First on Nov. 16.
Save the Date
published 12/7/2018
Circle of Care Sunday- December 16 Ministry Center Closed for Christmas and New Year Holidays December 24-25 and January 1 Self-nominations open for 2020 General Conference January 14
Self-nominations for GC 2020 lay delegates opens Jan. 14
published 12/7/2018
Lay church members who wish to represent the Oklahoma Conference in 2020 are invited to nominate themselves for election as Lay Delegates. The nomination process will open online beginning Jan. 14, ...
Albright UMW makes 172 Christmas stockings
published 12/6/2018
By Royce Caldron The United Methodist Women’s group from Albright have sewed and decorated 172 Christmas stockings by hand to give out during the Christmas season. The completed stockings will be ...
Blue Christmas honors grief and loss during the holidays
published 12/6/2018
By Meagan Ewton "It’s not the most wonderful time of the year for everyone.” For pastors like Nathan Mattox, this statement is more than a casual acknowledgement; it’s a call to care for those who ...
Celebrating the holidays with Thanksgiving giving
published 12/6/2018
By Tabitha Beckman Oklahoma City In the fellowship hall at OKC-Wesley, a large group of current and former residents of Exodus House and their families gathered for a Thanksgiving meal. Exodus House ...
ATTN: Health Insurance Increases!
published 11/20/2018
Related: OKUMC announces emergency health insurance contribution increase for local churches Q&A on Health Insurance Increases 1. What does it mean to say that our health-insurance plan is ...
Challenge grant matches up to $25,000 for transitional living program
published 11/2/2018
Circle of Care is raising $25,000 to match a $25,000 challenge grant from the Paul Milburn Gift Fund at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation.This grant will benefit the Preparation for Adult Living ...
Contact to go digital in 2019
published 11/2/2018
Communications Ministry to introduce new digital publication and quarterly magazine By Rev. Dr. Joe Harris, Director of Communications Ministry The Contact newspaper has been a mainstay of the ...
Counting on connection
published 11/2/2018
By Meagan Ewton Andre Contino wears a clergy collar to his downtown office in Oklahoma City every Wednesday, where he offers prayer and communion to more than 100 people gathered in the parking lot ...
Disaster response transitions to “blue sky time”
published 11/2/2018
By Jeremy Bassett, Director of Office of Mission Some five years ago, together with multiple partners, our Annual Conference’s Disaster Response ministry geared up for the work needed following ...
New nonprofit turns coffee into employment
published 11/2/2018
By Meagan Ewton In a small basement office in Oklahoma City, a new non-profit is hoping coffee can address a societal problem: employment after incarceration. Red River Roasters is dreaming big and ...
OCU student named “Champion of Character”
published 11/2/2018
Devaunjue “Jay” Williams has been named as the recipient of the 2018 Sooner Athletic Conference’s Champions of Character Award. The award recognizes a junior or senior student-athlete who demonstrates...
OCU: Musical and Bible study join the national conversation
published 11/2/2018
The OCU Musical Theatre Department is bringing the American opera “Susannah” to the main stage Nov. 16-18. Based on the biblical story of “Susanna and the Elders” from the Apocrypha, this modern ...