News Archive

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...

Pastors across Oklahoma have been putting the adage “the church is not the building, it’s the people” into literal action since in-person gatherings were restricted to 10 or fewer on March 24 in ...

By Rebekah Hasty, Program Coordinator for Connectional Ministries and Development Dr. Ellen Blue is the Mouzon Biggs, Jr. Professor of the History of Christianity and United Methodist Studies at ...

April 19, 1995 is a day all too familiar to Oklahomans.  “Everyone knows Oklahoma for three things: tornadoes, the musical and the bombing. Even when I lived in the UK, that's what people knew about ...

With the restaurant industry reeling from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, OG&E announced its parent company OGE Energy Corp. will donate $250,000 to support local restaurants in partnership ...

Nashville, Tenn.: Subsequent to the announcement by the Executive Committee of the Commission on the General Conference that the 2020 General Conference will be postponed, the full Commission met ...

In light of health concerns due to COVID-19, the Oklahoma Conference and affiliated ministries have also cancelled or postponed several public events. A short list is available here. If you do not see...

The 2020 Native American Ministries Sunday celebration is scheduled for April 26, but congregations can observe this Special Sunday on a date that is convenient for them. This special giving day ...

Oklahoma City University has restricted campus access to all but essential personnel through April 5 and has moved all in-person classes to online platforms through the rest of the spring semester in ...

If you’re like me, you’ve spent the last few weeks in a fluctuating state of uncertainty, exerting as much control over your particular situation as you can. If you’re like my family, you may have ...

Bishop James Nunn recently announced several changes to district leadership, including the appointment of two new superintendents. The changes will go into effect on July 1. Rev. James Kim has been ...

As community members heed important health precautions and executive orders related to COVID-19, organizations across the world are restructuring how they meet the needs of their consumers and ...

Rev. Dana Wood passed away on March 7. She lived in Burkburnett, Texas and served as the pastor of Randlett, Oklahoma from June 2018 until her death. Her work in the State of Oklahoma Office of ...

  Rev. Wendi Neal, Rev. Derrek Belase, and Rev. Dr. Joseph Harris discuss the changes to General Conference, and address some common questions about it. Use the times below to reference what is ...

Due to growing concerns regarding COVID-19, or coronavirus, the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church is changing how it will hold Annual Conference. Instead of a three-day gathering held...

The Methodist understanding of connection began as a way for the denomination’s founder, John Wesley, to make sure every community of believers could be connected to the church as a whole. That ...

How two women worked to keep a ministry alive By Emily Robnett If there is one universal truth about small towns, it is this: word travels fast. For the Worth of a Child, a non-profit program that ...

The Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference By Ginny Underwood Before missionaries set foot on the continent, indigenous peoples in North America had a clear understanding of the principles of ...

General Conference will take place May 5-15. The Advance Daily Christian Advocate lists the petitions that will be considered by delegates during legislative committees, which will turn into calendar ...

Clergy in the Oklahoma Conference are responding to concerns about COVID-19, the official name for the coronavirus. Rev. Jeremy Basset, director of the Office of Mission, released a statement on March...

Conflict in interpersonal relationships is taking center stage during a six-week online training aimed at re-framing a person’s approach to conflict. Healing the Wounds that Divide Us is a training ...

The worship team has been a ministry of the East Central University’s Wesley Foundation since before campus minister Janey Thomas arrived in 2014. This semester, the team will spend 10 weekends on the...

Approximately 30 attendees gathered for a live stream of the inaugural Governor’s Prayer Breakfast at Epworth Villa. The prayer breakfast was held on Feb. 18 in conjunction with the state’s launch of...

The Oklahoma Conference has appointed a General Conference Operations Team to help local churches prepare for and respond to the 2020 General Conference, happening May 5-15 in Minneapolis. The ...

By Derrek Belase Lisa Greenwood, vice president for leadership at the Texas Methodist Foundation, is fond of saying, that growing organizations need management, and declining organizations need ...

2020 Friends of Children Banquet & Silent Auction April 4 | 5 p.m. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Guest speaker: Christina Meredith Tickets: $85 | Sponsorships available www.circleofcare.or...

With rising concern about the impact of the current coronavirus (COVID-19), Conference staff recently listened in to a webinar hosted by our travel insurance company, AIG Travel. This excellent ...

By Meagan Ewton Delegates from the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church met on Feb. 20-22 to interview candidates for bishop and discuss matters relating to the 2020 General ...

Scholarship applications for the fall semester are now open through the General Board of Higher Education & Ministry. The deadline to apply is March 3. GBHEM utilizes a single online application to ...

By Tabitha Beckman Mission partnerships and missional focal issues were at the heart of a recent informational event in Oklahoma City. The Together in Mission event, put on by Oklahoma United ...

The Oklahoma Conference is hosting two Vision Days through Fresh Expressions, a movement to establish new forms of churches that most benefit those who are not yet part of a faith community. Vision ...

Project Transformation Oklahoma is looking for college students to participate in its summer-long Young Adult Service Program. The AmeriCorps program includes housing, a living stipend and an ...

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Revs. Emily Robnett and Trey Witzel joined young clergy from across the denomination at the Young Clergy Leadership Forum on Jan. 26-29. The event was hosted by the General Board of Church and ...

When people think of doing ministry with Hispanic and Latino communities, they may imagine familiar worship services or outreach efforts translated into Spanish. However, there is much more to ...

Shirley Elizabeth Pike, wife of retired elder Rev. Dr. Roy Pike, passed away on Jan. 14. She was 83. The family requested donations be made to Jenks-First in lieu of flowers. Her memorial service was ...

Frances E. Willard Award Nominations Deadline | Feb. 17 Download form at www.okumc.org/WillardAward. Contact Rev. Emily Robnett at pastoremrob@gmail.com. Neustadt Lectures | Feb. 20 Featured ...

One pastor’s spiritual nudge has led a church to fund 2,000 hot lunches for students who would not otherwise be able to afford one. Meadowcreek UMC in Collinsville recently donated more than $4,300 to...

General Conference 2020 will take place from May 5-15 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. General Conference is the denomination’s highest legislative body, and what takes place at General Conference has the ...

Redemption Church, a congregation that intentionally seeks to minister to those who are currently and formerly incarcerated, recently held its 25th anniversary celebration at OKC-Penn Ave. The church ...

The upcoming General Conference made national headlines this month when the Council of Bishops shared a press release regarding a proposed plan of separation for the United Methodist Church. Although ...

Billy Sparks woke on Nov. 2, 2019 to the sound of a neighbor yelling for him to get to safety. At first he thought it was a bad joke, but when he opened his eyes and saw the black smoke, he knew it ...