Clergy News

Infographic of COVID-19 Congregational Impact

Infographic of COVID-19 Congregational Impact Survey by Pension Fund

In September and October of 2020, the Pension Fund did a survey of congregations they serve across the country concerning COVID and its impact on the congregation and the community.  There were eight hundred and eight completed surveys.  Here is the infographic of the final survey results which you might find interesting.

Click here to download a pdf document of the infographic.

2020-11-17T08:57:40-06:00Nov 17, 2020|Clergy News, Congregations|Comments Off on Infographic of COVID-19 Congregational Impact

Lexington Seminary Webinars: Creating Vital Congregations

Practical Help for Laity and Clergy

Lexington Theological Seminary is offering the Creating Vital Congregations webinar series to help equip pastors, church leaders and members alike with tools to address a wide variety of issues facing congregations today. The 2-hour workshops (1:30-3:30 pm ET) cost $10 per log-in with unlimited number of participants so are easily accessible for church leadership groups.

Lexington Theological Seminary is an accredited graduate theological institution of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Register here

For more information contact Ms. Deena Ainslie (859) 280-1212 or dainslie@lextheo.edu

Congregational Conflict
Oct. 17, 2020 • Rev. Dr. Aimee Moiso

Imagining a New World
Nov. 7, 2020 • Rev. Teresa Hord Owens

You Cannot Serve God and Money: Today’s Global Debt System as a Moral and Pastoral Emergency
Jan. 23, 2021 • Rev. Dr. Bruce Rogers-Vaughn

365 Days of Giving: Examining Generosity and Gratitude in Complex Times
Feb. 6, 2021 • Aimee A. Laramore

Intergenerational Ministry
March 20, 2021 • Rev. Dr. Olivia Bryan Updegrove

Leadership in the Multicultural World
April 24, 2021 • Rev. Lori Tapia

Dinner Church
May 22, 2021 • Rev. Rachel Nance Woehler & Rev. Tim Kim

2020-10-06T08:49:50-05:00Oct 6, 2020|Clergy News|Comments Off on Lexington Seminary Webinars: Creating Vital Congregations

Webinars: Caring for Your Congregation During Crisis

Caring for Your Congregation and Community During Crisis Webinar Series

Registration is now open for the Fall 2020 free webinar series, “Caring for Your Congregation and Community During Crisis”. It is sponsored by The Oklahoma United Methodist Conference, The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma, and Crisis Care Ministries. The series of one hour webinars for leaders is scheduled for most Tuesdays and Thursdays starting September 29, 2020, from 10:00 am – 11:00 am. Download a flyer.

Faith and community leaders are facing historic challenges, testing the limits of our creativity, strength, and resilience. In this free webinar series, experienced specialists in disaster response, recovery, health, mental health, and congregational and family life offer their expertise to help leaders gain new skills and knowledge to face the difficult crises impacting our communities.

Webinar Titles

  • COVID Conversations for Faith Communities – 9/29/20
  • Where are We? The Spiritual and Emotional Phases of the COVID-19 Disaster – 10/6/20
  • Explaining COVID-19 to Children – 10/8/20
  • The Disillusionment Phase: Assisting Others and Ourselves in Long-Term Recovery – 10/13/20
  • Ministry in an Age of Pandemic – 10/15/20
  • Providing Support to Schools After a Traumatic Loss – 10/20/20
  • In Good Faith: Why Legal Services are Critical for Disaster Survivors including COVID-19 – 10/22/20 & 11/10/20
  • Providing Support to Your Community After a Traumatic Loss – 10/27/20
  • Introduction to Stress First Aid – 10/29/20
  • Taking the Long View With Faith – 11/5/20
  • Managing Holidays in a COVID-19 Environment – 11/19/20
  • Navigating Political and Cultural Polarization Among Family and Friends – 11/24/20
  • Personal and Family Disaster Preparedness – 12/1/20
  • Caring for Those with Access and Functional Needs – 12/3/20
  • National VOAD Disaster Emotional Care & Disaster Spiritual Care Guidelines – 12/8/20

Click here for detailed webinar descriptions and presenter bios.

Free Webinar Series Presented By

Crisis Webinar Sponsor Logos

Presenters Include Representatives From

Catholic Charities (Archdiocese of Oklahoma City)
Crisis Care Ministries
Heart and Mind Pastoral Counseling
Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma
St. Luke’s United Methodist Church
Temple B’Nai Israel (Oklahoma City)
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma
The National VOAD Emotional and Spiritual Care Committee
The Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church
The Oklahoma Department of Health
The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
The Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps Stress Response Team/SRT Inc.
The Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief

Need continuing education?

Attendance certificates (PDF format) are available for all courses. Check with your affiliating organization for applicability.

About Registration

Register for individual sessions. Registration closes 24 hours before the session.
100 spaces available for each session.

Click here to register.

2020-10-05T08:12:55-05:00Oct 4, 2020|Clergy News|Comments Off on Webinars: Caring for Your Congregation During Crisis

Worship Design Studio Webinars for Advent and More

Dr. Marcia McFee Multi-Session Planning Webinars

The Worship Design Studio is offering live stream webinars for planning creative worship experiences. The liturgical year starts anew with the season of Advent. You will likely be taking a very different approach to worship during one of the busiest times of the year.

Whether you are anticipating making alterations to your community’s most beloved traditions or looking for some fresh ideas to bring comfort, hope, and peace to the folks in your care these webinars offered by nationally-known Dr. Marcia McFee can help.

The Advent/Christmas session took place August 12th but is recorded and available. You may watch the first session free.

Register to get access or subscribe for all six webinars to prepare for the entire 2020-2021 liturgical year.

Webinar Sessions

(Free) Design Webinar (Recorded July 29)
Deep dive into the creative process and tips for planning ahead in changing times.

Advent & Christmas Planning (Recorded August 12)
Immerse yourself in the theology and scriptures of the season while demonstrating online and adapted sanctuary ideas and techniques for making the season special even and especially in these difficult times.

Epiphany “Plus” Planning (September 16)
It is difficult to know what circumstances we will be in at the beginning of 2021 year when this season starts. Discern together how to invite people to new depths of spiritual resilience and transformation no matter what the circumstances.

Lent Ideas to Simmer – October 14
Lent planning explores the theological themes and scriptures of Lent but hold this lightly – let the ideas “simmer” until the next session after the onslaught of Advent/Christmas.

Lent Planning & Holy Week – January 6
Land on your Lent series decision and move quickly to start the production and details. Includes accompanying Holy Week scripts.

Easter Season Planning – February 10
Dive into the theology and planning of the season of resurrection and pray we are celebrating the life we have found even in the midst of this pandemic. We are an ever-renewing “Easter people” after all.

2020-10-06T11:06:09-05:00Sep 4, 2020|Clergy News|Comments Off on Worship Design Studio Webinars for Advent and More

Pension Fund Webinar: Clergy Financial Wellness

Ministers’ financial lives are complicated: salaries are varied, some are burdened with debt, and they want to be generous as well as save for the future. Learn how to cut through the confusion and about new resources that will help answer your toughest money questions so you can find your path to financial wellness.

Join Rev. Thomas McCracken with Pension Fund of the Christian Church at 3:30 pm (CT) on September 15, 2020. This webinar will explore elements of clergy compensation and share how Pension Fund is finding new ways to support clergy and their congregations.

At Pension Fund, our mission is For the Support of Ministry and we want to walk alongside you on the road to financial wellness.

Click here to register

Questions?

Rev. Thomas McCracken, Area Director
214-862-5612 • tmmccracken@pensionfund.org • www.pensionfund.org

2020-09-03T11:30:29-05:00Sep 3, 2020|Clergy News|Comments Off on Pension Fund Webinar: Clergy Financial Wellness

Faithful, Hopeful, Loving Annual Stewardship Campaign

Are you planning a season of stewardship? Do you need resources to help you?

The Oklahoma Disciples Foundation just hosted a webinar with The Center for Faith & Giving with Rev. Bruce Barkhauer. Rev. Barkhauer provided wonderful information and words of encouragement reminding us that even in the midst of a pandemic, stewardship is still valuable and a faithful act of discipleship. He has also prepared a document called “Essentials” to help us think theologically about the way forward when we don’t know exactly what to prepare for. Regardless of the circumstances, he says, our faith practices may look different, but they are still vital to loving and serving like Jesus. This certainly includes stewardship.

On your behalf, the Region invested in the 2020 Faithful, Hopeful, Loving Annual stewardship campaign materials and resources from the Center for Faith & Giving. Every minister serving a local congregation in Oklahoma now has access to these wonderful resources. Please use these resources as your church plans and encourages continued stewardship.

Downloads

If you have trouble accessing any of this information, please contact the Regional office or you may contact Rev. Bruce Barkhauer directly at 317-635-3100 or The Center for Faith and Giving.

May God’s blessing of abundance and joy continue to be upon you and your congregation.

Peace & God’s Grace,

Pam

2020-08-27T14:26:08-05:00Aug 27, 2020|Clergy News|Comments Off on Faithful, Hopeful, Loving Annual Stewardship Campaign

Commission on Clergy Announces Ordinations

Ordination into Christian Ministry

In May 2020, the Commission on Clergy approved CeCe Jones-Davis and Gregory Chambers for ordination. CeCe Jones-Davis, a graduate of Yale Divinity School, will be ordained by Edmond Trinity Christian Church on August 30, 2020 via Zoom.

Gregory Chambers, a graduate of Brite Divinity School, will be ordained by New Hope Christian Church, Oklahoma City in a gathering on May 30, 2021.

We celebrate and welcome CeCe and Gregory to ordained ministry!

2020-08-12T14:09:16-05:00Aug 12, 2020|Clergy News|Comments Off on Commission on Clergy Announces Ordinations

Clergy Continuing Education Requirements for 2020

Reminder: 2020 Continuing Education Requirements

The Commission on Clergy will still be requiring 16 hours of continuing education for 2021 standing. During this pandemic, there are many opportunities for online learning. The Commission hopes that clergy can take advantage of some of these opportunities, which include what is available through disciples.org or United Church of Christ, Center for Faith & Giving, or others.

Clergy, please keep a record of what you have watched: the date, the title of the webinar, the time you spent watching/learning. This is what you will add to the standing form when it comes to you in November.

2020-08-12T13:45:24-05:00Aug 12, 2020|Clergy News|Comments Off on Clergy Continuing Education Requirements for 2020

Register to Attend: Stewardship in a Time of Crisis

The Oklahoma Disciples Foundation is excited to host Rev. Barkhauer (co-host) for two one-hour live video presentations on August 17 and August 18. Pick the day and time most convenient for you: Monday, August 17, 2020 at 7 p.m. Central Time, or Tuesday, August 18, 2020 at 11 a.m. Central Time.

Pre-registration is required. You must provide your name, church and email so we can email you a link to the Zoom video presentation. There is no cost to participate. Gather your stewardship committee members and logon to learn. (A computer or laptop with a camera is necessary to participate in the Zoom conference.)

Click HERE to register.

How should churches make an annual appeal during 2020? How can the church connect with members while practicing social distancing? People have lost income, so is now an appropriate time for the church to ask for money? What’s next in church finance? How do we prepare?

If you are a pastor or member of a congregation asking these questions, you won’t want to miss a live opportunity to hear Center of Faith and Giving Director Rev. Bruce A. Barkhauer’s take on “Stewardship in a Time of Crisis.” It will be a time of helpful and faithful conversation, questions and suggestions as we examine how to think and talk about stewardship during this global pandemic. Discussion will also provide suggestions for the best use of the “Faithful, Hopeful and Loving” materials provided by the Oklahoma Region as well as how your community of faith can maximize or “start” an electronic giving program.

Over the years, Rev. Barkhauer has graciously traveled to Oklahoma to make various stewardship presentations in conjunction with the Foundation. If you haven’t heard him speak, you’re missing out. Rev. Barkhauer brings creative energy to his presentations and shares real life examples with sometimes-humorous undercurrents.

Rev. Barkhauer was called as the first “Minister for Faith and Giving for Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)” in 2010. For 25 years, he led congregations in Ohio and Indiana in achieving high levels of financial support for local and global missions. He is a noted speaker, educator, consultant and writer.

“His energy, vision and entrepreneurial spirit enhance gifts in both business and ministry,” according to the Center of Faith and Giving website. “He brings a biblical based understanding about stewardship combined with theological integrity and weds them to the current trends and best practices related to spirituality and money.”

We hope to see you there!

2020-08-12T14:11:44-05:00Jul 27, 2020|Clergy News|Comments Off on Register to Attend: Stewardship in a Time of Crisis

Which Story Will You Choose?

Dear Friends in Ministry,

Thank you for serving as a minister in the Region of Oklahoma! I am always grateful for your pastoral presence, your leadership, and your faithfulness especially in the last few months. I know you all are physically, mentally, and spiritually weary from all that you have had to do to transition to on-line worship. And yet, you are still hopeful, encouraging, and caring for your flock in amazing, creative ways. While I highly recommend some down time for rest and re-creation, I also realize this weekend is bringing another round of anxiety, especially in Tulsa.

The Presidential Rally is headed to Tulsa. Hundreds of thousands of people will be attending this Presidential Rally. My mind and heart cannot even fathom the timing of this event on Saturday, June 20th, for a couple of reasons. June 19th is the celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation, and Tulsa’s history includes one of the worst race massacres in history in 1921. I also am having a difficult time imagining all the people already arriving in Tulsa expecting to stay in hotels and eating. Yes, the economy will receive a boost with sales. Yes, the protests will be significant, extensive, and maybe tumultuous, despite all efforts to be peaceful. Unfortunately, the biggest attender of this event will be Covid-19.

The Digital Poor People’s Campaign is also on Saturday, June 20th. This campaign is a movement of tens of of thousands of people across our nation who will be participating safely from their own homes. This campaign seeks to end the interlocking injustices of systemic racism, poverty, militarism and the war economy, ecological devastation, and the distorted moral narrative of religious nationalism. The Poor People’s Campaign needs our presence, our voice of advocacy, and our dollars to make a difference in our fragmented world.

I do not wish to tell you what to choose because both are important each in their own way. But I do wish to share that my family and I are participating in the Poor People’s Campaign. I am participating in this campaign because I want to stand with and advocate FOR our most vulnerable neighbors, the millions of poor and low-income people, with my presence and my dollars. These people are blessed, they matter to me and my family, and I believe our voices matter more in this movement.

We are certainly in a holy and historical season of uncertainty, deep grief, and hope. I continue to pray mightily for each and every one of you, your families, your church members, your community, our Region. As we rise strong to follow a call to action for justice, may God’s love, peace, and grace continue to surround us and speak through our voices.

Peace & God’s Grace,

P.S. If you would like to participate in the June 20 Digital Poor People’s Campaign, here is a link for more information. The Mass Poor People’s Assembly & Moral March on Washington

2020-06-18T09:29:29-05:00Jun 18, 2020|Clergy News, Pamela Holt Blog|Comments Off on Which Story Will You Choose?
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