Briefly

Basset to lecture at Ministers Week

Oklahoma clergyman Jeremy Basset will give the Fondren Lecture during Ministers Week 2012, on Feb. 6-8 at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas.

He will speak on Feb. 6. His lecture title is "Aldersgate and Kingswood: A Wesleyan Missional Paradigm for the Local Church." Rev. Basset is director of Oklahoma Volunteers In Mission. He is a Rhodes graduate from South Africa.

Other lecturers will address preaching, Hispanic ministry, and church branding.

Ministers Week at Perkins is an annual continuing education program, with prestigious lectureships, worship, symposia, and social events. Ministers and their spouses attend from all over the nation.

Early registration deadline, Jan. 8, offers a discounted rate. Programming begins Monday afternoon and concludes at noon Wednesday.

www.smu.edu/perkins/publicprograms

OCU president will teach Honors class

Next semester, Oklahoma City University President Robert Henry and state Sen. David Holt will co-teach a weekly undergraduate Honors class, called "Trending: Hot Topics in Politics."

Each session will examine a political issue at the federal, state, or local level, such as the federal budget deficit, water policy, and MAPS 3.

These professors have extensive experience at every level of government.

UMW scholarship available for Quadrennial Meeting

Deadline is Dec. 31 for Oklahoma women to apply for a scholarship to the South Central Jurisdiction’s United Methodist Women Quadrennial Meeting, on June 22-24 in Abilene, Texas. The funds will assist a first-time attendee. For an application, contact Kathy Caldron, 1804 Yale Ave., Ponca City, OK 74604; caldronr@onemain.com.

Improved billing process coming in January

Beginning Jan. 1, major improvements will be in place for the process by which the Conference Treasurer’s Office bills local churches for the Pension and Health Insurance Benefits premiums.

Some of the changes:

• Statements will be emailed monthly to the local church.

• Amounts due for both Pension and Health Insurance Benefits will appear on the same statement.

• Each church or individual will have the ability to view/pay the bills online.

• No more monthly coupons to tear off and send with payments.

Church treasurers and clergy will receive mail soon with more information on these changes. You also may visit www.okumc.org/benefits.

 St. Luke’s plans holiday children’s musical

"Chris-myth Busters" is title for the children’s musical Christmas production at OKC-St. Luke’s.

Four performances are planned, each with a new cast. Times are at 6 and 7:15 p.m., on both Dec. 14 and 15, in Poteet Theatre.

Directors are Jay Prock and Charlie Ludden. Ticket information: 405-609-1023, or go online.

LEAD II topics:generosity, conflict, leadership

On Jan. 13-14, the second series of special leadership seminars for clergy continues with LEAD II.

Topics and presenters will be: "Developing a Plan for Generosity in Your Church," by Michael Reeves, on Friday evening; "What’s Your Leadership Style?" by Bob Spinks, Saturday morning; and "Leading in the Midst of Conflict," by Robert Martin, Saturday afternoon.

Held at OCU’s Meinders School of Business, the program begins Friday evening and concludes at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

www.okumc.org/registrations/register/105

Apportionments due Jan. 6

The deadline is Jan. 6 for the Conference Treasurer’s Office to receive and credit 2011 Apportionment contributions from any church. If sending these funds after Jan. 2, mail your check directly to the Treasurer’s Office, 1501 N.W. 24th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73106.