News Archive

OKUMC Annual Conference | Nov. 20-21 www.okumc.org/annual_conference Ministry Center Closed Thanksgiving Holiday | Nov. 26 Circle of Care Sunday | Dec. 13  

The Global Mission Fellows Program will launch its US-2 application on Oct. 12. The US-2 track is for young adults ages 20-30 who are authorized to work in the United States, including citizens, DAPA ...

Circle of Care has been named among the 2020 honorees for the Angels in Adoption. The award is presented by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. Circle of Care was nominated by Senator ...

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Oklahoma Conference Disaster Response team obtained and distributed 125,000 masks and 24 55-gallon barrels of hand sanitizer to schools, churches and health ...

Tulsa-Boston Avenue held a Blessing of the Pets on Sept. 23 and on Sept. 27. The event was described as a time of saying thanks to God for beloved pets. Because of the pandemic, the occasion ...

Admissions Events Move Online Oklahoma City University continues to engage prospective students with a wide variety of virtual events! Academic interest events are also offered to answer questions ...

AC 2020 plans to be finalized Plans are still being finalized for the 2020 virtual Annual Conference session which will be held on Saturday, Nov. 21. The clergy session will take place at 3 p.m. on ...

Dr. James Buskirk, retired pastor and founding dean of the Oral Roberts University School of Theology, died on Sept. 9. He served three churches in the Oklahoma Conference between 1967 and 2009. A ...

OIMC Virtual Mission | Oct. 5, 7 & 9 Register here online Family Home Church Webinar A partnership between the Matthew Institute and the Pohly Center Oct. 23 | 10 a.m. | Cost: $12; $10 United ...

If your heart broke every time you went to work, what would keep you going every day? For Stacey Ninness, the answer is simple: seeing people’s lives change for the better. Ninness is the president ...

Start, improve & refine your online giving practices Before COVID-19 led to church closings in March 2020, only 33 percent of surveyed United Methodist churches in Oklahoma offered some form of ...

Why Rev. Dylan Ward considers his response to a racist message on Instagram "the bare minimum." Rev. Dylan Ward thinks it’s ironic to think that people are asking him, a “29-year-old white guy,” about...

Due to COVID-19, Criminal Justice and Mercy Ministries will host a virtual CJAMM Showcase as an alternative to its Annual Silent Auction Benefit. The virtual fundraiser will celebrate success stories,...

The Oklahoma Conference will host a clergy renewal retreat at Canyon Camp on Oct. 15-16. The retreat invites clergy to “Come Away,” disconnect from the world, and connect with God. Speakers include ...

The Oklahoma Conference has adopted an onboarding process for its leaders. New district superintendents and cabinet members underwent the process in August to help them better get to know their ...

The Oklahoma Conference has joined with Crisis Care Ministries and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma to present a new webinar series. “Caring for Your Congregation and Community ...

The General Commission on Religion and Race is hosting 30 Days of Anti-Racism in September. The campaign encourages participants to engage in an activity every day that helps them become more ...

When large gatherings were banned due to the COVID-19 pandemic, OK Camps looked for new ways to reach families with spirit-filled activities in a natural setting. The solution: Family Camps. Family ...

CCLI/CVLI may be removed from AC budget The Oklahoma Conference has announced the possibility of CCLI/CVLI licensing coverage being removed from the 2021 Annual Conference Budget. Since 2016 the ...

Rev. Barbara Brown passed away on July 23. The retired elder served six churches in the Oklahoma Conference between 1991 and 2012, including Franklin, Tulsa-Christ, Hugo-Paul’s Chapel, Moore-First, ...

Rural Life Sunday | Sept. 13 Theme: The Gifts of the Rural and Small Membership Church Learn more and find resources at www.okumc.org/rural2020 Restore Hope Ministries 14th Annual Golf Tournament ...

The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas announced that registration is now open for Leadership Institute 2020, held online Sept. 24-25. The online format will feature ...

In late June, Rev. Patricia Johnson, pastor of Wellston and Luther, oversaw the food distribution from GoFresh in Wellston with 15 volunteers from McLoud assisting. Johnson will lead another ...

ViaFaith McCullough, a senior political science student at Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas and member of the Oklahoma Conference, has been selected as one of four interns for the ...

Denman Award Winners Announced The Oklahoma Conference has announced the 2020 winners of the Harry Denman Evangelism Award. Rev. Brian Matthews and Evelyn Phyffer have been selected as this year’s ...

Rev. Justus Edmondson passed away on June 27. He was a pastor in the Oklahoma Conference between 1952 and 1988. He also served as the president of the conference’s Board of Pensions for 10 years. A ...

Circle of Care, founded in 1917, continues to serve children and families across Oklahoma. Over the past two years, Circle of Care has built 6 houses focused on providing safe and loving homes for ...

GBHEM E-Panel Series | Aug. 12 “Leading in Crisis: Keeping the mission alive” Rev. Dr. Doug Powe of Wesley Theological Seminary and COB President Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey www.gbhem.org/e-resources...

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Beginning in July, the Oklahoma Conference is shifting from sending out weekly updates related to COVID-19 and other ministry needs via email to sharing updates twice a month: once in the Contact and ...

The Oklahoma Conference has appointed Rev. Bessie Hamilton as the new Coordinator of Multi-Ethnic Initiatives for the conference. Hamilton will serve in the role on a part-time basis as she continues ...

The Oklahoma Conference held its annual Local Pastors Licensing School online because of safety concerns related to COVID-19. From the top left: Nancy Johnson, James Graham (dean), James Baker, ...

Rev. J. Quitman McCrory passed away on July 2 at the age of 93. McCrory pastored 13 churches in the Oklahoma Conference between 1953 and his retirement in 1992. A family graveside service is scheduled...

GBHEM E-Panel Series July 15: “Leading in Crisis: Setting next steps when your feet are weary,” featuring Bishop LaTrelle Easterling of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, author Susan Beaumont and ...

The five jurisdictional United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) offices are entering a new phase of collaboration with a new website. The website address, www.umvim.org, will include resources ...

By Meagan Ewton. On June 13, 2019, the General Commission on Religion and Race released a statement regarding racist elements in a popular Vacation Bible School curriculum. Days later, I asked five ...

Rev. Alan Nagel distributed free masks to the patrons of the Nicoma Park UMC Thrift Store. The masks were donated to the church by Volunteers in Missions. Seen receiving a mask is Cyndee Sampson, a...

The Commission on the Status and Role of Women (COSROW) announced Dr. John Starkey as the recipient of the 2020 Francis E. Willard Award. Starkey, who died after a battle with cancer on Jan. 11, was a...

Editor’s Note: The following letter was sent on June 1. Dear Members of the 2020 Annual Conference: This is the third time we have written to you with updates related to our upcoming annual conference...

Rev. David E. Parker passed away on May 2. The retired pastored several churches in the Oklahoma Conference between 1961 and 1992, including Ada-Asbury, Tecumseh, Guthrie-First, Hooker, Blackwell, ...

Project Transformation Oklahoma Summer 2020 | Online Reading Program Cost: Free | Open to all K-12 students in Oklahoma Registration required online here. Contact Kelsey Ricks at kricks@okumc.org ...

From Bishop Jimmy Nunn; Dean of the Cabinet, Rev. Tish Malloy; Assistant to the Bishop, Rev. Dr. Joe Harris; Director of Connectional Ministries, Rev. Derrek Belase; Interim Treasurer, Randy Compton ...

In a recent blog, Christian author and speaker Carey Nieuwhof has addressed five awkward questions about how churches track online worship attendance. Nieuwhof encourages churches to consider five ...

Spring hailstorms resulted in broken windows, damaged siding and ruined Sunday school supplies at Lawton-Bethel on April 21. “It could have been much worse, but it looks really, really bad,” said Rev....

In a time when bad news seems easy to locate and share, a group of private donors and conference entities are collaborating to share good news in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.  On Sunday, May...

By Beth Case, Community Outreach Coordinator for Epworth Villa New acquaintances and friendships are blossoming. Sally Lenz, a call team member, said this project was a step out of her comfort zone. ...

By Tabitha Beckman Team leaders and churches who had planned local and international mission trips through Volunteers In Mission (VIM) now have to figure out how to prepare or continue to support ...

Speaker Jim Ozier has created a Passing the Baton webinar for the Oklahoma Conference. The webinar will be held on two different dates: Tuesday, May 5 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. or Thursday, May 7 from ...

Lucy Sayler-Shields passed away on April 4 after a long illness. Lucy was married to retired Rev. James Shields for more than 20 years. In light of the coronavirus pandemic, a memorial service will be...

Passing the Baton Webinar Created by Jim Ozier May 5, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. | May 7, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. No cost for the webinar. Registration required for Zoom inviation. https://okumc-reg.brtapp.com/Passing...