News Archive

Your church can submit videos to share through OKVideo, a new Internet tool offered by the Oklahoma Conference. Did you film volunteers serving in mission? Gather for a dedication ceremony? Get crafty...

Leia Williams emerges from beneath mosquito netting, part of the United Methodist "Imagine No Malaria" resources displayed at the 2010 Annual Conference in Tulsa-Boston Avenue Church. With her are ...

Ministries with civic youth groups: Who to contact in your district: Scouting/Other Youth Agencies Committee of the Oklahoma Conference This group supports Scouting Ministries in Oklahoma...

Richard Gentzler Jr. autographs one of his eight books, on aging and spirituality, for Phyllis Poston of Wagoner at the "Fully Alive, Fully Mature!" training event April 30-May 1 in Oklahoma...

As a way to help churches promote and grow their permanent endowment funds, the Foundation is now providing a Planting Seeds promotional kit for use quarterly. The kit supports and prepares church...

President Robert Henry's first day in office was July 1. Oklahoma City University welcomed Robert Henry as its 17th president on July 1. In late May, when United Methodists gathered at...

Saint Paul School of Theology at Oklahoma City University has announced Justine Smith will join its faculty at the start of the 2010-11 academic year. She will teach Biblical and Native American ...

The term safe sanctuaries prompts images of background checks of church staff who work with children. But the Safe Sanctuaries program encompasses other policies and procedures in addition to ...

From left, Jennifer, Norma, Elizabeth, Janet, and Amanda are moving their families into private homes and apartments after their stay at Pearl’s Hope, a Circle of Care transitional housing ...

As the Sept. 15 deadline nears, churches and ministries are encouraged to apply for the Oklahoma United Methodist Foundation’s Petree Grant. These funds are awarded for projects specializing in the ...

Each year, Oklahoma City University presents the Bishop’s Scholar Award to deserving new high school graduates as a part of its effort to identify and support academically advanced United...

Is your church considering relocating? Does your church plan major renovations? Perhaps a building addition? On Aug. 26, "A Day of Church Relocation" will be offered at Piedmont-First for pastors ...

In memoriam Verlyn Snell Memorial service for Rev. Dr. Verlyn R. Snell will be at 2 p.m. Aug. 14 at Nardin UMC. Rev. Snell, 75, of Overland Park, Kan., died June 18, 2010. He was born Nov. 10, ...

'My husband and I were planning a simple ceremony'—Leslie Long Leslie Long and Don Wheeler will never forget a church’s kindness to strangers. The Oklahoma couple wanted to renew their ...

The Hitchcock Church has heard God calling and has answered, "Send me, Lord." Lay Speakers James and Shirley Farmer are appointed as Supply Pastors at Hitchcock, where worship attendance averaged ...

Award presentations at Annual Conference spotlight outstanding ministries and inspire more efforts to transform the world as Christ’s disciples. Above, on behalf of the Commission on Religion & ...

New educational wing at Jones UMC On May 9, Jones United Methodist Church dedicated a new educational wing, free of debt. Mother’s Day 2010 was an appropriate date to celebrate a building...

Clergywoman Fuxia Wang of Norman has been approved by the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) as a new Church and Community Worker in Oklahoma. The announcement tops news of several changes ...

In mid-June, 33 people attended this two-week training course. Oklahoma City University annually hosts the school. Sessions range from how to conduct weddings and funerals, to financial ...

HOLY MOMENT—Rancher Ernie Milligan, center, is baptized at his home in late May by Pastor Billy Wright, left, of Copan UMC and Maurice Major, Bartlesville District superintendent. Milligan, an ...

Joe Lynch, left, and Daniel Llanos-Jimenez pray at the chapel dedication. In Tulsa, a new prayer chapel was dedicated May 23 by the Nueva Esperanza congregation. The Hispanic congregation...

Pastor Greg Tener and acolyte Versile Johnson prepare May 30 to lead the congregation of Poteau-First from the sanctuary to the Christian Family Life Center, the temporary worship ...

You can view online and download videos of presenters at the 2010 Annual Conference. The new OKVideo tool enables you to access these videos. They are offered as free resources for education and ...

Strategic Plan goal: fruitful congregations The Oklahoma Conference, proud parent of a 1-year-old, is expecting twins. Churches, that is. CrossTimbers United Methodist Church in Moore celebrated ...

Strategic Plan goal: spiritual leadership In his episcopal address May 31 to the Annual Conference, Bishop Robert Hayes Jr. vowed to help eliminate clergy debt due to educational expenses. He ...

Delegates approved a budget of $16,534,735 for 2011. That total reflects an overall Apportionment increase of $550,000 over the current year. About two-thirds of that increase is for healthcare ...

Calls to act quickly were generated for two urban ministries of the Oklahoma Conference: Skyline, in Oklahoma City, and Restore Hope, in Tulsa. Internet voting through June can help Skyline’s "...

The Annual Conference conducted business by following the Strategic Plan on May 30-June 2 at Tulsa-Boston Avenue United Methodist Church. The delegates’ work tracked the progress of the Plan’s ...

Strategic Plan goal: partnership ministry The United Methodist connectional system astonishes with transforming work that one church could not accomplish. Annual Conference provides vivid ...

Thomas Bickerton preaches at Annual Conference. By Holly McCray The bishop held a baby girl in his arms and prayed for her during his recent tour in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Two ...

Retreat for young adults Terry Koehn of Lawton is dean for "Colors@Cross Point," a retreat for young adults, ages 18-25, on July 29-Aug. 2. "Those first years after high school," said Rev. Koehn, "...

In memoriam Charles Puckett Rev. Charles D.W. Puckett, 86, of Broken Arrow died May 30, 2010. He began his ministry career in 1947 and retired in 1994. Charles was born Jan. 31, 1924, in Broken ...

Twila Gibbens-Rickman and Lesly Broadbent take turns pouring water as 38 clergy and spouses are memorialized. (Photos by Holly McCray) By Holly McCray Testimonies of transformed lives ...

From left, Bishop Robert Hayes congratulates Ronnie and Glenn Cox after they received the Foundation’s Jim Egan Legacy Award at Annual Conference. By Kristin E. Van Nort The Foundation ...

The Class of 2010 from the Wimberly School of Religion: from left, Tasha Sargent, Shannon Rodenberg, Michael Madison, Eric Brown, Tino Herrera, Adam Shahan, Tina Dean-McDaniel, Andy Nelms, ...

Using Internet live streaming for the first time, more than 4,600 virtual guests witnessed the Oklahoma Annual Conference. Online viewers watched a total of 1,280 hours, tracked by ...

Commissioned on May 31 as provisional elders are: front row from left, Michael Frazier Sr., Everisto Chikanga, Tiffany Smith, Adam Ricks, and Josue Araujo; Linda Lusnia, upper left; and Sandra...

Churches receive new and returning pastors this month. In advance, this clergyman wrote for the Tishomingo UMC newsletter. By Will Pasieczny I’m taking a break from homework—I have just one week of...

Your DAILY ONLINE VOTE is crucial for Skyline Urban Ministry in these final days of an Internet contest to secure a $50,000 grant. The grant would provide school clothes for needy children in Oklahoma...

Deneese McLaughlin tells her story of accomplishment through The Education and Employment Ministry. Photo by Amelia Ballew The annual TEEM Builders’ Luncheon on May 11 raised $128,000 to ...

Retired Bishop Raymond Harold Owen, 78, died Saturday, May 15, 2010, in Oklahoma City. Survivors include two sons, Darryl and Dyton, who are both United Methodist clergymen. "Ray" Owen was ...

Summer hours announced at Church headquarters On June 7, summer office hours will begin for the United Methodist Ministry Center in Oklahoma City. The Church’s headquarters building will be ...

Pastor George Lupton, at center, of Altus gathers United Methodist College Ministry participants for a group photo. In Altus, leaders report a successful service year is concluding for the ...

Births Charlotte Elizabeth Smith was born May 18. She is the daughter of Allyson and Rev. Trevor Smith, pastor at Waurika and Temple.  James Matthew Watson was born May 11. He is the son of ...

Marcia Shoemaker, pastor at Tulsa Aldersgate UMC, recently received the West Award, given to clergy who show outstanding leadership and service to their church. Rev. Shoemaker has been in ...

  See more photos on our facebook page Photos by Holly McCray ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’(Romans 10:15, NIV) More than 100 clergywomen from several states ...

George Elswick takes his turn as staff members plant a buckeye tree on Arbor Day, April 30, at the United Methodist Ministry Center in Oklahoma City. Elswick has been supervising the Mail Room since ...

Two tours in September reflect the ongoing ministry partnership between Methodist churches in Bolivia and Oklahoma. Engineering work on display On Sept. 7-18, a group will survey projects in ...

Wanda Dunlap teaches Trenam Verbick to search for Easter eggs during a hunt on acreage owned by BridgeView UMC in Norman. Photos by Holly McCray NORMAN—Wind swept the field and the ...