The Region would like to share a useful document about copyright information. This could be useful to you and your church. It was published by the General Council on Finance and Administration of the UMC.
Click HERE to open the document.
You are invited to Soup for the Soul, an ecumenical Lenten dinner and discussion held annually at Western Oaks Christian Church.
This year’s theme is focused on the scripture Micah 6:8 with an emphasis on “Justice”. What does it mean to seek justice and how does loving kindness and walking humbly with God influence that pursuit of justice? Western Oaks Christian Church brings in various guest speakers from the area to present their own perspective on a particular topic.
Speakers include Rabbi Vered Harris, Rev. Lori Walke, Dr. John Starkey and Rev. Dr. George Young. We hope that you will join Soup for the Soul, for a bowl of soup and an opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue on Sundays Feb. 25-March 18th at 6:00pm.
For more information about this event and to read more about the speakers. Click Soup for the Soul 2018.
The Christian Church in the Southwest and Brite Divinity School invite you to attend Pro-Reconciliation/Anti-Racism Training facilitated by Sandhya Jha and David Bell.
DATE: Friday, March 9, 2018
TIME: 10 am to 4 pm
WHERE: Bass Conference Center at Brite Divinity School
COST: Registration fee: $20 and includes a light lunch ($10 for Brite students)
WHO: Who should attend? Clergy and laity are welcome! Clergy will receive continuing education credits for this class.
For more information or to register click HERE or call the Christian Church in the Southwest at 817.926.4687
Rev. Sandhya Rani Jha is a respected and inspiring speaker, preacher, workshop leader and a pro-reconciliation/anti-racism trainer with the Christian Church (DoC). Sandhya serves as Director of the Oakland Peace Center, a collective of innovative non-profits working to create justice and peace in the city of Oakland and the Bay Area. She is the author of Pre-Post-Racial America: Spiritual Stories from the Front Lines and Transforming Communities: How People Like You Are Healing Their Neighborhoods.
Rev. David B. Bell is Minister for Indigenous Peoples Concerns at Yakama Christian Mission, Washington, and a pro-reconciliation/anti-racism trainer with the Christian Church (DoC). In the multi-cultural community of the Yakama Reservation, the mission offers a social justice ministry to create opportunities for young people and seeks to change systems outside the reservation through programs which challenge systemic racism.
Wildewood Christian Church is raising safety awareness by offering free resources for prevention of and response to an active shooter in a House of Worship.
Did you know that violence in houses of worship is on the rise? In the United States we have had 92 deaths and numerous injuries in the past ten years.
Do you know how to create a balance between your mission and crime prevention efforts? A congregation should not worship in fear, nor should the worship experience be altered to the point of distraction with guard dogs, metal detectors, or armed security officers guarding the entrances to the sanctuary.
Do you have a current Emergency Operation Plan for your site? Wildewood Christian Church is offering free resources to teach congregations how to write an Emergency Operation Plan and give examples that will provide an overview of how to be prepared before, during, and after an incident.
The two-hour presentation covers:
If you are interested in scheduling a presentation at your location, or need more information, contact: Jim McBride Office (405) 425-7589 Cell (405) 823-5729
Email [email protected]
OKLAHOMA OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY
www.homelandsecurity.ok.gov
At Leadership Training School 2018, two additional classes on this topic will be offered. More details to follow soon on the Region’s LTS Website.
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:
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 [email protected] or 573-808-3579.
Oklahoma City Community Foundation Awards Grants to Seven Christian Churches
The Oklahoma City Community Foundation is providing warm meals to homebound elderly citizens this winter through $65,400 in grants to Mobile Meals programs, including seven Christian churches. Grants were awarded to Edmond Mobile Meals, Meals on Wheels of Norman, Mobile Meals of Oklahoma County and 54 churches that prepare and deliver meals.
Since 2008, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation’s support of Mobile Meals programs in central Oklahoma has grown, awarding nearly $325,000 in the past decade. As the aging population continues to grow, the need for elderly support from Mobile Meals programs also increases, making the nearly 60 percent in increased support from the Community Foundation this year all the more valuable.
“We have had a rough couple of years between the state budget crisis and churches closing, which has really limited our ability to serve this vulnerable population,” said Allen Johnson project director at Mobile Meals of Oklahoma County. “The grants from the Oklahoma City Community Foundation came through at the best possible time allowing the churches to expand their services so they can serve as many people as possible.”
By providing caring, personal contact and nourishing meals, hardworking volunteers at churches and other organizations help Mobile Meals of Oklahoma County serve more than 1,000 metropolitan area seniors age 60 and older who are unable to prepare their own food. Edmond Mobile Meals provides more than 1,000 meals per week and the Norman Meals on Wheels program serves more than 300 clients a day.
“Mobile Meals provides a lifeline to homebound elderly allowing them to remain independent and in their homes when options are limited,” said Nancy B. Anthony, Oklahoma City Community Foundation President. “This year, thanks to generous contributions from an anonymous donor, we were able to increase our support of this vital program.”
Grants were awarded to the following Christian churches that provide meals through Mobile Meals of Oklahoma County:
About the Oklahoma City Community Foundation:
Founded in 1969, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity that works with donors to create charitable funds that will benefit our community both now and in the future. To learn more about the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, visit www.occf.org.
MidAmerica Center will have new life as of January 1, 2018, the ministry of the Center will be transferred to Phillips Theological Seminary. The boards of both the Center and the seminary agreed the seminary will be a good place for the next phase of the Center’s ministry. Under Phillips’ auspices, the seminary will continue the work of ministry training. In addition, the seminary will offer ministry training students some new resources, such as access to an extensive library and hospitable librarians, as well as a broader base of support for their education.
Courses will be offered through Phillips Seminary beginning in January. Registration is open on the seminary’s website at www.ptstulsa.edu/ministrytrainingprogram. The cost has been lowered per course cost, as was the case in the last few years of the Center’s life, the program remains completely online.
For more information please go to Phillips Seminary website.
Midwest Blvd. Christian Church, an Oklahoma Disciples Foundation grant recipient, hosted its annual “Christmas for Others” ministry event on Saturday, December 9th. Over 70 families received free groceries, Bibles, children’s Christmas gifts and pet food as well as an opportunity to take home donated used clothing and household items. The children in each family also received new shoes, socks and underwear.
On Monday, December 11th until 3 p.m. and on Wednesday, December 13th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Midwest Boulevard Christian Church is opening the doors of its Activities Center (the large building behind the church and next to the Food Pantry) to anyone wishing to take home items from the remaining donated clothing and household items.
All are welcome, no proof of income or identity is required. Stop by the Activities Center located behind the church at 320 N. Midwest Blvd in Midwest City, OK on Wednesday, December 13, 2017 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
As friends of AdminIsMinistry, we want to keep you in the loop on the latest offerings. Please read the Press Release – Dealing with Conflict Jan 2017 to find out more about the latest webinar titled “Dealing With Conflict”. Rev. Christy Drechsel will be facilitating this webinar which may be beneficial to many congregations.
This webinar will take place on January 17, 2018 from 10am-11am.
Cost is $20 a person. If cost is an issue, email [email protected] for assistance.
For more information contact:
Micah James
405.694.1818
[email protected]