CCOK301, Author at Christian Church in Oklahoma

Year Book Forms Are Due March 15, 2018

Year Book and Directory forms are important to maintaining your church’s 501(c)3 tax status with the IRS. Submission Deadline is March 15, 2018. The General Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) votes and approves the list of member churches, church agencies and institutions published in the Year Book for submission to the IRS. This assures contributions to your congregation may be properly reported as tax exempt to the IRS.

Choose a Way to Submit:

Online at http://disciples.org/yearbook/ then click on the link under Congregational Reporting for English, Spanish or Korean. To file online you will need your CHURCH PIN # found near the top left corner of your Year Book Form, which was mailed to each church on January 24th. If you need help finding your PIN # please contact the Regional Office for assistance. 405-528-3577.
Email a scanned copy to the Regional Office to be received by March 13th: office@okdisciples.org
Fax a copy to the Regional Office to be received by March 13th: 405-283-1668
Mail the form to the Regional Office to be received by March 13th. Christian Church in Oklahoma, 301 NW 36th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73118-8661

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:41:32-05:00Feb 7, 2018|Congregations|Comments Off

New Nebraska Regional Minister Called: Rev. Christopher Morton

The Regional Board voted unanimously to call Rev. Chris Morton to serve as the next Regional Minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Nebraska, beginning in April. Chris has served as a pastor of congregations in Indiana, Minnesota and Washington, and in senior leadership and/or executive director of ecumenical and interfaith organizations in Minnesota and Washington.

Additionally, Chris has been executive director to a few secular nonprofit organizations, and for nearly 10 years provided organizational development consulting to a variety of not-for-profits. He will move to Lincoln and will begin his ministry in Nebraska in early April.

Much appreciation is expressed to the search committee, co-chaired by Eileen Kunz, (pictured with Chris at left,) and Gayle Gengenbach, (right).

“Chris brings to us the needed balance of pastoral care, administrative ability, fund-raising experience and a vision for future ministry,” Eileen said. Other members of the committee were Jay Mitchell, Daryl Lauber, Ann Pope, and Phyllis Dunlop.

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:41:38-05:00Feb 6, 2018|Regional News|Comments Off

Join the Fun at CYF Day 2018 at TCU in Fort Worth, TX

You and your youth group are invited to CYF Day 2018 at TCU! CYF Day is a longstanding tradition at TCU in which students come to campus for a day, get a tour, have lunch on campus, learn all about TCU while getting to meet current students and staff, worship as a community, and of course go to a baseball game (Go Frogs)!

CYF Day is FREE and is open to both high school and middle school students this year.

CYF Day will take place on Saturday, April 7, 2018 starting at 9:00a.m. at University Christian Church, 2720 S. University Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76109.

Breakfast and coffee are available before the admissions information session! Activities are available for middle school students that may not want to sit through an admissions information session.

Please RSVP HERE by March 25. If you are traveling from outside DFW and need a place to stay for the night, please email JOSHUA.T.JACKSON@tcu.edu to coordinate. TCU is working with local churches to arrange lodging for groups, as needed. TCU will also provide entertainment ideas in Fort Worth throughout the weekend for the groups that are interested.

For more information email JOSHUA.T.JACKSON@tcu.edu, LEA.MCCRACKEN@tcu.edu, or dalton.goodier@tcu.edu for more details.

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:39:40-05:00Feb 1, 2018|Youth|Comments Off

Register Today for “Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate” Seminar with Dr. J. Clif Christopher

Oklahoma Disciples Foundation is pleased to announce that Dr. Clif Christopher, noted author, pastor and certified church growth consultant, will be the featured speaker at a Foundation-sponsored stewardship seminar at First Christian Church, Moore, Oklahoma, on Tuesday, March 6, 2018. You don’t want to miss an opportunity to hear Dr. Christopher share stories and insight about his experiences within the church relating to generosity and stewardship.

Dr. Clif Christopher

Mark your calendar now and plan to attend. Please register HERE by February 23, 2018.

Dr. Christopher founded the Horizons Stewardship Company in 1992 following a challenging career in pastoral ministry. He serves as the company’s CEO to this day. In his twenty years as a pastor, he led numerous major building and capital campaigns. Since founding Horizons, he and his strategists have led consultations in over 2,000 churches, conferences, synods and diocese in all phases of building, finance, and church growth raising billions of dollars for ministry.

Dr. Christopher is a certified church growth consultant and has earned the coveted title CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive). In 1995, he was given the National Circuit Rider Award by the United Methodist Church for outstanding leadership in developing vital congregations.

He has personally worked in over 42 states and is a frequent speaker at stewardship seminars around the country. He is the co-author of the book Holy Smoke, the author of Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate, Whose Offering Plate Is It?, Rich Church – Poor Church and The Church Money Manual.

Dr. Bill Easum, noted consultant and author, said, “No one knows more about local church stewardship than Clif Christopher.”

Mega church pastor, Adam Hamilton said, “When I have a stewardship question, I call Clif Christopher.”

Foundation director, David Atkins said, “Clif is one of the most effective communicators in the field of church fundraising today.”

Author and highly successful pastor, Mike Slaughter said, “Clif Christopher is one of the top authorities on church finance and stewardship in America.”

Abingdon Press has described him as “The leading voice of finance and stewardship in the Christian Church.”

Clif has been an ordained minister of the United Methodist Church since 1975, is a combat veteran of the Gulf War, and is married and living in Little Rock, Arkansas.

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:41:43-05:00Jan 29, 2018|Regional News|Comments Off

Oklahoma Disciples Foundation Grant Applications Due Feb. 15th

In 2017, ODF implemented a grant-making process to provide funds for Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma related programs, ministries and missions. Over the years, several permanent endowments have been established by donors or through closed church memorial funds with specific, varied purposes to provide ongoing funding to the Foundation’s grant program. The endowments support ministries and missions for children, youth and young adults as well as provide for the education of clergy, laity and congregations on the guidance and art of spiritual giving. Endowments also provide funding to benefit healthcare ministries for seniors, church innovation and ecumenical spiritual education for students. View the endowment summaries at the link above.

Please see the summary below of estimated grant funds available this year. The deadline for applications for 2018 Grant Funding is 5:00 p.m., February 15, 2018. Links to current Grant Guidelines, 2018 Grant Application and Grant Scoring are available HERE. The grant program awards funding based on events or programs with potential to make the greatest impact. A grant-making committee of current and former ODF board members reviews applications and makes recommendations to the ODF board of directors. Grant checks will be mailed by the end of March.

Email Julie Bowers at jabowers@okdfdn.org to be included on a list of interested parties for email updates. Or call 405.525.6530 for more information.

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:41:48-05:00Jan 29, 2018|Regional News|Comments Off

General Conference of Disciples Men Annual Meeting

Mark your calendar and plan to join the General Conference of Disciples Men for their Annual Meeting. The men have a spring meeting every year. This year the men will meet at Camp Christian in Ohio (10335 Maple Dell Rd., Marysville, OH 43040) on March 2-4, 2018. The theme this year is “What’s in Your Toolbox”.

See the attached FLYER for more details and registration information.

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:43:58-05:00Jan 25, 2018|Disciples Men|Comments Off

The Oklahoma Conference of Churches Announces the Retirement of The Rev. Dr. William Tabbernee

The Executive Director of the Oklahoma Conference of Churches, Dr. William Tabbernee has announced his retirement. Please read Dr. Tabbernee’s letter below.

“At a recent meeting of the OCC Board, I gave official notice that I will be resigning my position as Executive Director of the Oklahoma Conference of Churches on March 31, 2018.

Following a serious health scare in September, I decided that it is time to retire and, hopefully, enjoy a less busy life for another 10 or 15 good years. The decision to set my retirement date, however, was done with mixed emotions as I have loved and continue to love my ministry with OCC.

My decision to retire has been made easier by the fact that we have in place an outstanding staff in the Rev. Mary Hughes Gaudreau (Director of Disaster Emotional and Spiritual Care), the Rev. Shannon Fleck (Director of Community Engagement), Ms. Courtland Powers (Director of Development and Finance), and Ms. Aly Shahan (part-time Administrative Assistant to the ESC Program). I look forward to the remaining months of my ministry with the Oklahoma Conference of Churches, and spending time with you all in the coming months.”

Warmest regards,

Join OCC in a Reception Honoring Dr. Tabbernee. A reception in Dr. Tabbernee’s honor will be held on Monday, February 5, 2018 from 4:30-6pm at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City (1232 North Classen Blvd., OKC, OK 73106), with a brief program to take place at 5 p.m. All are invited to attend. RSVP to sfleck@okchurches.org

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:44:02-05:00Jan 16, 2018|Regional News|Comments Off

Journey to Lent Resources: 2 Free Webinars

Get help with Lent Worship Preparations. Gather your team and join worship consultant and professor, Dr. Marcia McFee, LIVE on January 10th and 17th for two special webinars that will teach you, inspire you, and guide you toward an amazing Lent series of sensory-rich worship experiences for your community.

Sign up HERE.

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:44:07-05:00Jan 11, 2018|Clergy News|Comments Off

Ministry Training Program at Phillips Theological Seminary

Don’t miss these courses available at Phillips Theological Seminary beginning January 8, 2018.

The Ministry Training Program at Phillips will continue the work of training persons for local church ministry, providing continuing education, and making ministry training available to a broad audience, including laity.

The Certificate in Pastoral Ministry program includes twenty-two online courses that are practical, hands-on learning experiences and encourage engagement with the local church.

This year is full of educational opportunities and we don’t want you to miss the first three courses. Who do you know that would be interested in learning techniques and tools for Evangelism, learning the how, why, and what of the Mission of the Church, or taking a closer look at the Bible?

Please contact Leslie at leslie.lesieur@ptstulsa.edu or 573-808-3579.

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:44:12-05:00Jan 11, 2018|Congregations|Comments Off

January Pastors Retreat: Transforming Leadership with Brian McLaren and Jacqui Lewis

SHORT NOTICE, but a wonderful opportunity for a Pastors Retreat in January. The name of the retreat is Transforming Leadership. It is four focused days with Brian McLaren & Jacqui Lewis.

DATE: January 22-26, 2018
WHERE: St. Charles Ave. Baptist Church New Orleans, LA

This retreat will combine fun and respite with study, worship, and conversation – all in the heart of the Crescent City. Each day, you will consider one or more From/To transformations in pastoral leadership, such as:

• From organized religion to organizing religion
• From pastor of the congregation to pastor from the congregation to the community
• From service provider to messenger/motivator/model
• From expectation meeter to expectation setter
• From money-avoider to money-addresser
• And more!

Several spots remain. Do not miss this amazing opportunity.

Additionally, the retreat occurs just prior to the beginning of Mardi Gras, therefore it is important that you book your accommodations as soon as possible. St Charles Ave. Baptist Church is located right on the St Charles Ave Streetcar line.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:44:18-05:00Jan 9, 2018|Clergy News|Comments Off