Clergy News Archives - Page 5 of 14 - Christian Church in Oklahoma

Joys & Sorrows Among Our Colleagues

Joys

Congratulations to Gregory and Kathryn Chambers who were married at First Christian Church in Gainesville, Texas on Saturday, November 9, 2019. Gregory is a student at Brite Divinity School and the son of Rev. Steven Chambers and Carolyn Chambers, New Hope Christian Church, Oklahoma City.

Sorrows

Rev. Arnold Nelson’s brother, Mark A. Nelson of LaVergne, Tennessee, passed away on August 29, 2019.
Rev. Chuck Jackson’s mother, Bonnie Ruth Jackson, Tulsa, passed away on October 13, 2019.
Eric Gray’s brother, Christopher D. Gray, Stratham, New Hampshire, passed way suddenly on October 16, 2019.
Rev. Marilyn Merle’s father, Walter Rogalla, Wheatridge, Colorado, passed away on October 30, 2019.
Rev. Kathy Weaver’s mother, Norma Rountree, Oklahoma City, passed away on November 11, 2019.

CCOK3012019-11-12T10:48:39-06:00Nov 12, 2019|Clergy News|Comments Off

2020 Ministerial Standing Forms

2020 Standing Forms Now Available

2020 Ministerial Standing Forms will be mailed October 31, 2019, which contain information we have on record for active and inactive clergy. You may update and return this form or complete a fillable PDF form.

For more details or to download a form click HERE. Submission deadline is December 2, 2019.

Questions About Standing Requirements
For questions about requirements for standing, please contact Rev. Debi Powell-Maxwell, Chair of Commission on Clergy at (405) 205-8071 or email debipowmax@gmail.com.

Questions on Completing the Form
If you have questions on how to complete the form, please contact Ellen at the Regional Office (405) 528-3577 M-Th 8:30 am – 4:30 pm or email ebeer@okdisciples.org.

CCOK3012019-10-30T12:35:26-05:00Oct 30, 2019|Clergy News|Comments Off

Oct. 18, 2019: FREE Clergy Continuing Education Opportunity in Tulsa, OK

Hillcrest Medical Center (OHI Lecture Hall) invites you to a FREE Pastoral Care Conference. The topic of the conference is “Being Good Shepherds in God’s Pasture”, presented by Professor Warren Carter. Clergy will receive 3 hours of continuing education for this conference. Click HERE to view the flyer.

This presentation focuses on the metaphor of shepherd and sheep in the biblical tradition. Biblical passages often address shepherds as societal leaders and ask questions about how society is organized, who benefits and who gets hurt. These passages raise matters that are of crucial importance for contemporary faith communities.

Conference Schedule:

8am: Registration and Complimentary Breakfast
8:45-10:15am: Session I – Why Are the Sheep Bleating?
10:15am – 10:30am: Break
10:30am- noon: Session II – Shear Them – Don’t Skin Them!

Date: Friday, October 18, 2019
Location: Hillcrest Medical Center OHI Lecture Hall, 1125 S. Trenton, Tulsa, OK
Registration: email maryfrances.holland@hillcrest.com or call 918-579-6210

CCOK3012019-10-09T13:26:43-05:00Oct 8, 2019|Clergy News|1 Comment

Oct. 28 – 29: Ministry in Transition Seminar in Kansas

Registration is now open for the “Ministry in Transition Seminar”. This training is to learn ministerial leadership skills during times of crisis or transition.

Learn where your congregation is and what gives it life, and lead the leaders from stasis to new life

Your instructors are Steve Bridwell, interim minister since 2001, assisted by Renee Bridwell, Kansas Regional Minister. Steve is currently in his 13th Intentional Interim ministry, and Renee has been on regional staff since 2008.

Learn tools for diagnosing the body of Christ, assessing congregational health, and welcoming a robust future. This seminar is jointly sponsored by the Christian Church in Oklahoma & in Kansas; leadership costs are subsidized by a grant from the Kansas Bible Chair. (Learn more about the Kansas Bible Chair here)

Where: Disciples Center at Tawakoni located at 8492 SW Tawakoni Rd. Augusta, KS
When: October 28 – 29, 2019
Time: Begins at 2pm on October 28 – ends at 3pm on Tuesday
Registration: Paid registration is required by Friday, October 25; the $110 fee covers 4 meals, lodging, and materials. Register by October 11 and save $25. No Refunds after Friday, October 18.

Online Registration Coming Soon: at www.kansasdisciples.org (NOTE: This charge will appear as some version of “SST*CHRISTIANCHUR840559 MOUNT VERNON OH” on your credit card statement.)
Or Mail Registration: Download the flyer HERE and mail registration form with payment to: Topeka Regional Office, 2914 SW MacVicar, Topeka 66611. (Make check payable to Christian Church in Kansas)

Bring:

XL Twin sheets or sleeping bag
Towels & toiletries
Notebook

CCOK3012019-10-08T11:01:14-05:00Oct 8, 2019|Clergy News|Comments Off

Retired Ministers Gatherings! Join us!

The Retired Ministers Gathering on September 23, 2019 at Harvard Avenue Christian Church was a blessed time together. The group enjoyed lunch at Delta Cafe, following the gathering and meeting at Harvard Avenue. Please plan to attend the next gathering on March 23, 2020 at Southern Hills Christian Church, Edmond.

These events will primarily be fellowship, and occasionally a program. And, we will be collaborating on some organizational matters. We are so grateful that the number of attendees for the Retired Ministers Gatherings continues to grow. Come join us in fellowship.

Future gatherings will be:

- Monday, March 23, 2020: Southern Hills Christian Church, Edmond, 3207 S. Boulevard, Edmond
- Tuesday, June 23, 2020: Christian Church of the Covenant, 1205 S. Cleveland, Enid

CCOK3012019-10-07T11:20:50-05:00Oct 7, 2019|Clergy News|Comments Off

October is Pastor Appreciation Month!

October is Pastor Appreciation Month. We thank each of our pastors and ministers for sharing their gifts, talents, energy, wisdom, kindness, and time to bless others. We appreciate all you do, every day for your local congregation and the Oklahoma Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Celebrate your pastor this month! Here are some ideas…..

1. Be Present in Worship: Join in worship with your Pastor and congregation.

2. Write a Letter: Take the time to write a personal note of encouragement and appreciation to your Pastor.

3. Provide Dinner: Pastors have to eat dinner too! How about a restaurant gift card or an invitation to your home for dinner one evening?

4. Supply Favorite Things: Think of a small treat your Pastor enjoys, such as M&Ms, fishing lures, coffee, etc. A thoughtful gift doesn’t have to cost much. The idea of knowing someone spent the time picking out one of your favorite things is a kind gesture.

CCOK3012019-10-01T10:38:34-05:00Oct 1, 2019|Clergy News|Comments Off

Megan Alleman’s Ordination

Rev. Megan Alleman was ordained on August 17, 2019 at Village Christian Church, Oklahoma City. Regional Minister Rev. Pam Holt presided and Larry Brown represented the Oklahoma Regional Commission on Clergy. Join us in congratulating Rev. Alleman.

CCOK3012019-09-10T09:40:12-05:00Sep 10, 2019|Clergy News|Comments Off

Worship Planning Retreat in OKC: August 18-21, 2019

Dr. Marcia McFee, is the Creator and Visionary of an online worship resource called the Worship Design Studio. She will host a worship planning retreat August 18-21, 2019 at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City. She takes participants on an immersive learning experience about the liturgical year and helps pastors and worship teams develop an intentional model for designing meaningful and memorable worship experiences. Register Here

Schedule and Agenda:
Sunday evening: THE CREATIVE PROCESS AND THE LITURGICAL YEAR – We’ll lay the groundwork with a look at planning seasonally, team processes, timelines and how to get the most out of your time at this planning retreat.

Monday morning: THE ADVENT/CHRISTMAS/EPIPHANY CYCLE – Make plans to start the liturgical year off with deeply meaningful worship that has people talking about “the best Advent season ever.”

Monday afternoon: THE LENTEN SEASON – This session offers glimpses into the possible depths worship leaders can offer congregations in this poignant season of personal and communal transformation. We will highlight the power of symbols and spiritual practices that flow easily between worship and home, connecting what we do in worship to our daily lives.

Monday night: HOLY WEEK – This will be a one-of-a-kind experience in which the theology of Holy Week will mesh with the message of the Oklahoma City bombing Memorial site–a stunning setting to experience music, poetry, ritual action, and reflection on our commitment to create a more peaceful world.

Tuesday morning: FREE TIME – After four packed sessions, participants will be ready to sleep in, catch up, or perhaps just use the time continuing to plan.

Tuesday afternoon: EASTER CYCLE AND THE DAY OF PENTECOST – This session focuses on ways to enhance festival worship and deepen our practices of communion throughout the year.

Tuesday evening: THE SUNDAYS AFTER PENTECOST – We’ll look at how to manage and plan for this long season, making “ordinary time” extraordinary! The goal here is to spark many, many ideas that pastors and teams can easily develop for the second half of the year.

Wednesday morning: CONTINUING THE PROCESS – Now that participants will have the broad brush strokes planned for the year, this session will help them know what to do when they go home, how to keep the creativity flowing, manage teamwork, and how to get to the nitty-gritty of planning details without falling back into a last-minute rut.

Contact Marcia McFee, Ph.D. with questions. marcia@marciamcfee.com

Can’t make it to the Retreat? Buy the Livestream for $195

The livestream participants will be able to follow along as the sessions happen and will be provided with the recordings after the event.

CCOK3012019-07-31T13:46:00-05:00Jul 31, 2019|Clergy News|Comments Off

Free Resources Available: Stephen Ministry Materials

Sr. Minister Ralph Ranney of Memorial Christian Church, OKC has a box of good quality used Stephens Ministry materials to donate. Please call Rev. Ranney at 405-590-6326 to inquire about them. Stephen Ministry congregations equip and empower lay caregivers to provide high-quality, confidential, Christ-centered care to people who are hurting.

CCOK3012019-07-29T12:33:49-05:00Jul 29, 2019|Clergy News|Comments Off

Pension Fund Announces “The Gathering – A Retreat for Clergy”

An article by Pension Fund

Indianapolis – As part of its expansion of Ministerial Relief and Assistance and in renewing its commitment to walk with clergy throughout all stages of ministry, Pension Fund of the Christian Church has announced The Gathering – A Retreat for Clergy. The Gathering is a biennial conference promoting the mental, spiritual, and financial wellness of Disciples clergy. The inaugural Gathering, which will also serve as a celebration of Pension Fund’s 125th anniversary, is scheduled for September 8-10, 2020 at the Intercontinental Hotel in New Orleans, LA.

“As part of our 2019-22 Strategic Plan, we are renewing our commitment to walking with clergy from their first day of credentialing until their last beneficiary takes their final breath” shared Rev. Dr. Todd A. Adams, Pension Fund President and CEO. “The Gathering is one way we can provide clergy, and especially those actively serving, with resources for their journey in ministry.”

The keynote speaker, Dr. Matt Bloom, Ph. D. is a professor at the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame with expertise in working with a variety of non-profit organizations. He leads the Flourishing in Ministry and Wellbeing at Work research projects which focus on the well-being of helping and caring professions. Matt is passionate about finding real solutions to make work a healthy, vibrant, life-enriching experience as a spouse of a former United Methodist minister. Matt will share the latest research on the well-being of clergy and practical insights about how to build and sustain that well-being.
The conference will open on Tuesday, Sept. 8 with worship led by Dr. Bill Thomas and Andra Moran, and the message by Rev. Starsky D. Wilson, President & CEO from the Deaconess Foundation, St. Louis.

Registration is $100 for those serving congregations with an average worship attendance of less than 99 members and $150 for all others. The registration fee includes the conference, two breakfasts, one lunch, and two hotel nights. Spouse registration is $150 to cover meal costs. Additional bookend discounted room rates are available over Labor Day weekend or following the conference for $156 per night. The event is limited to 500 attendees.

The low registration fee is made possible in partnership with the Lilly Endowment Inc., The Christian Church Healthcare Benefit Trust Endowment for Clergy Health and Wellness, and Ministerial Relief and Assistance from Pension Fund of the Christian Church.

For more information about Pension Fund’s 125th Anniversary celebration or to register for The Gathering, please visit pensionfund.org/125.
Pension Fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) provides pension and retirement savings accounts for clergy and lay employees of congregations, regions, general ministries and church-related colleges and seminaries of the Stone-Campbell (Restoration) Movement. Pension Fund manages over $3 billion in net assets on behalf of those serving in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and related international ministries.

CCOK3012019-08-26T10:32:20-05:00Jul 23, 2019|Clergy News|Comments Off