News Archive

“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 ...

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. ...

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 ...

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.

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, ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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. ...

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 ...

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...

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 ...

Camping ministry provides Oklahoma United Methodist churches the opportunity to engage in meaningful experiences, relationships, and ministry.   Three campsites around the state provide a ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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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...

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, 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...

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 ...

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 ...

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....

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...

  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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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....

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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...

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.

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

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, ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

  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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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...

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 ...