Imagine God’s Love Revealed

We imagine God’s love revealed when Jesus called disciples to follow him
And we imagine God’s love revealed when our Region nurtures persons for ministry preparing them for ordination and commissioning.

We imagine God’s love revealed when Jesus drew his disciples into retreat
And we imagine God’s love revealed when our Region gathers children, youth, and adults in summer camps.

We imagine God’s love revealed when the Apostle Paul cared for congregations and helped them find their leaders
And we imagine God’s love revealed when our Region provides care for our pastors, encouragement to lay leaders, and support in transitions.

We imagine God’s love revealed when the early church found ways to break down racial, political, and economic barriers to form true community
And we imagine God’s love revealed when our Region assists pastors and congregations to honestly confront racism in our own time.

We imagine God’s love revealed when a young couple in Bethlehem, overwhelmed by God’s love, gave birth to one in whom they could see God’s face
And we imagine God’s love revealed when we see the face of God in our neighbor, the stranger, and the refugee.

We invite you to share your gift to the Christmas offering supporting the ministries of our Region as we continue our witness to God’s love in our midst.

The Christmas Offering is received December 12 & 19

Michael Davison2021-12-13T11:54:11-06:00Dec 11, 2021|Congregations|Comments Off

Pumpkin Patch Celebrates 25 Years of Outreach Ministry

Happy 25th Anniversary to the Pumpkin Patch at Southern Hills Christian Church, Edmond. The annual fundraising event draws families from across the city, some who’ve shopped for the perfect Halloween pumpkin for 15 years.

The church purchases the organically grown pumpkins from the Navajo Tribe in Farmington, New Mexico, who grow and sell to churches nationwide. Two separate shipments assure customers have high quality products. The congregation’s Disciples Men organizes and runs the stand along with a host of volunteer church members.

This year the profits were divided equally between the church’s Breakfast Ministry and Youth & Children’s Ministry, plus Central Christian Camp & Conference Center. The popular drive-up hot breakfast and sack lunch ministry feeds 50-60 people each Saturday and Sunday morning. In tandem with FCC Edmond’s weekday breakfast program, Edmond residents are assured a meal 7 days a week.

Congratulations Southern Hills CC on this fun outreach ministry!

CCOK3012021-11-08T10:13:52-06:00Nov 8, 2021|Congregations|Comments Off

Diana Butler Bass Speaking at FCC Norman

The Oklahoma Region and First Christian Church Norman invite you to welcome Dr. Diana Butler Bass this fall. The award-winning author of 11 books, a popular speaker and inspiring preacher will share about how faith intersects with culture and politics.

Event Schedule

Please join us at FCC Norman, 220 S. Webster, Norman on the following dates.

No Registration Needed • Masks Required • Social Distancing Encouraged

Friday, November 5, 2021
7:00-8:30 pm Lecture: Jesus: The Same Yesterday, Today and Forever?

Saturday, November, 6, 2021
9:30-11:00 am Lecture: Jesus: The Story and Our Stories

Sunday, November 7, 2021
8:40 am worship – preaching, Q&A 9:30 am
10:45 am worship – preaching

About Dr. Bass

Diana Butler Bass (Ph.D., Duke) is one of America’s most trusted commentators on religion and contemporary spirituality. Her bylines include The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN.com, Atlantic.com, USA Today, Huffington Post, Christian Century, and Sojourners. She has commented in the media widely on CBS, CNN, PBS, NPR, CBC, FOX, Sirius XM, TIME, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, Mother Jones and in multiple global news outlets.

You may follow her at dianabutlerbass.com or on FaceBook, Twitter and Instagram. She writes a twice-weekly newsletter, The Cottage, which may be found on Substack.

For information or questions about the event call FCC Norman at 405-329-2192. Download the flyer.

Books Available for Purchase and Signing

CCOK3012021-10-13T14:37:11-05:00Oct 7, 2021|Congregations|Comments Off

Are You Protected?

In the last month, our Region has become aware of congregations who called non-Disciples pastors who have unfortunately taken steps to lead the long time Disciples congregation out of the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). This is not a new phenomenon. It happens in many of our Regions and not just with Disciples of Christ congregations. To help us be aware and to help Regions navigate these moments, Sheldon Culver and John Dorhauer published Steeplejacking: How the Christian Right is Hijacking Mainstream Religion, Brooklyn, NY: Ig Publishing, 2007. This book outlines the history of steeplejacking, eye-opening examples of takeovers. Two of the most common ways this happens come from (a) families who have been long time members of the congregation who become a part of a conspiracy to destroy their church or (b) by calling a non-Disciples minister.

This is not a time for anyone to panic. However, it is time for all of our 136 Disciples congregations in Oklahoma to do some housekeeping to insure your congregation is as protected from a takeover as it can be.

The most important strategy for congregations and clergy is to be informed and aware of the dynamics steeplejacking movement. Because your Regional staff cannot come to every congregation, we are encouraging you to purchase the book and do a book study with the leadership of the congregation.

A second important strategy is to spend some time reviewing our Disciples Identity and the Design. What does it mean to be Disciples of Christ, how can we renew our Covenant together, and how can we strengthen our connection to our sibling congregations?

A third important strategy is to review the Constitution and Bylaws and the Deed to the church property. Does the Constitution and/or Bylaws have a “reversionary clause”? Does the Deed to the church property have a “reversionary clause”? A Reversionary Clause includes these words: If or when the congregation ceases to be a Disciples of Christ worshiping community, the property and all assets will revert to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma. While these are not fail safe protective measures, it does eliminate some vulnerability and will help the congregational leadership and the Region better protect the congregation if and/or when this issue appears in your congregation.

Steeplejacking or takeovers of congregations are painful and hurtful to the soul of the faith community. If we can take some simple steps as outlined above, we will continue to be disciples of Christ together continuing to bring the love of Jesus Christ and the healing and wholeness of Jesus Christ to our communities.

Michael Davison2021-09-14T06:20:41-05:00Sep 14, 2021|Congregations|Comments Off

Disciples Were Virtual And Together

Nothing Can Separate Us

Was it a different Disciples gathering? Yes. It was the visible markers of a General Assembly: exhibit hall, bible study, workshops, and worship in digital presence. There was even the exhibit hall scavenger hunt.

Was it a different Disciples gathering? Yes. But, occasional tech issues, screens, slow internet, typing chats, video chats, and home communion cannot, has not, kept the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in local congregations, 31 Regions, or the General Church from the work of ministry that God has given us. That was evident as the Disciples Virtual Gathering moved through the day on August 7th. Like Regions and congregations have done, our General Ministries have discovered new ways to do their work on our behalf and tell the stories of their work.

It is hard to know how many Oklahoma Disciples participated in the Disciples Virtual Gathering. We hope to get news of participation in the coming month. A chat box served as lobby space where you could scroll through name after name to chat with individuals or drop a “hello from . . .” to the entire gathering. A photo booth for a selfie put faces to names. There were more workshops than one could attend. Fortunately, those who paid to attend Disciples Virtual Gathering will be able to replay the recordings which is not something that has been offered, except for worship, at previous General Assemblies.

We offer our thanks to the dreamers and planners who created the gathering out of digital code, organized speakers, and managed the technology during the day. We give thanks for the workshop (webinar) leaders. We give thanks for the office staff and leaders of our General Ministries.

In her sermon, Rev. Terri Hord Owens reminded us: “Church – Disciples – we don’t need a new identity. We just need to be the church we say we are.”

We are Disciples of Christ, a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world.
As part of the one body of Christ, we welcome all to the Lord’s Table as God has welcomed us.

That kind of church is needed in digital and physically spaces. That kind of church hasn’t been distant when responding to natural and human made tragedy here in Oklahoma and around the world. We are masked when necessary to protect community, but not sanitized to suffering that our action can ease or stop. It just takes a willingness to recognize our neighbor. “What are we willing to do to participate in intentional Christian community?” That is what the Commission for Children, Youth, and Young Adults asked and used as a compass when designing the health protocols that would allow the Region to offer summer camp this year. It is a good question for your congregation, and the Region, to consider however long it takes for this pandemic to mutate from health catastrophe to health nuisance.

Be the church you say you are. Be a blessing Disciples.

Michael Davison2021-08-10T09:00:10-05:00Aug 10, 2021|Congregations|Comments Off

Village Fosters New Ministry at Yale Avenue Christian Church

Yale Avenue Christian Church, Tulsa, gave birth to a new ministry this summer as they began a support group for foster parents called the Village Fosters. This group will meet to provide support, resources, encouragement, and advice about the foster system. They are partnering with other like-minded agencies to provide as much love and support as possible for these families.

Rev. Andy Campbell, Sr. Minister at Yale Avenue said, “We are all a part of the foster system, and we need the best possible outcomes.” The church has 11 foster families in their congregation.

The first official meeting of Village Fosters will be July 12, 2021 at 6:30 pm. The church looks forward to seeing where this journey takes them as they work to help those families who are going above and beyond to make the village better.

Village Fosters kicked things off with a cookout with all kinds of fun and fellowship on June 25th. Each of the foster families received a Tulsa Zoo Family Membership as a beginning to this ministry. Everyone had a great time!

For more information about Village Fosters email Rev. Campbell at [email protected] or contact the church at (918) 747-1304.

CCOK3012021-06-30T11:42:32-05:00Jun 30, 2021|Congregations|Comments Off

Scholarships for Disciples Virtual Gathering

The Region is pleased to announce the availability of scholarships for Oklahoma Disciples who wish to attend the Disciples Virtual Gathering event on August 7, 2021.

The online event is an opportunity for Disciples to connect, experience Bible study, learn from workshops, worship and imagine new ways of gathering as church.

Apply today for a $25 scholarship to reimburse your cost of Regular Registration. Applications are due no later than August 6th.

Download Scholarship Application

CCOK3012021-06-21T15:02:55-05:00Jun 21, 2021|Congregations|Comments Off

Faith Still Standing: Tulsa Race Massacre

100 Years Later – Commemoration of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Trevor Bach writes, “On Memorial Day Weekend in 1921, as Jim Crow segregation laws seized the country, rumors about a young Black man sexually assaulting a white woman in an elevator sparked a frenzy in Tulsa, Oklahoma. As the racial tension escalated, a white mob descended on the city’s Greenwood neighborhood, a highly prosperous area known as “Black Wall Street,” and committed among the United States’ most egregious acts of racial terror, looting businesses and burning entire city blocks. Later estimates would cite as many as 300 Black Tulsans killed from the violence – some likely from firebombs dropped by private airplanes – and as many as 10,000 left homeless. Greenwood lay in ashes.

Nearly 100 years later, a series of projects aims to both commemorate a long under-recognized massacre and help revitalize the iconic American neighborhood. Read the full article.

While this horrific story of racism is part of our past and difficult to confront, this is the time for us to know the story, embrace the pain and grief, support the Greenwood Rising projects with our dollars and prayers, and turn our hearts, our minds, and our hands to become unrelenting catalysts for anti-racism.

Pine Street Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Recognized

Pine Street Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Tulsa is one of the churches that will be acknowledged and recognized, for being in the historical Greenwood area for over 100 years. Pine Street Christian Church (est. 1907) has congregants who are descendants of the massacre. A special event “Faith Still Standing” to commemorate the Greenwood congregations will take place May 30, 2021. You may find event details as they become available on the Commission’s events schedule.

Disciples of Christ Descendants

An ordained Disciples of Christ minister Rev. Zenobia Mayo of Tulsa is one of the descendants. Her great uncle was Dr. A.C. Jackson who was an African American surgeon who was killed during the Tulsa Race Massacre in 1921. According to the Greenwood Cultural Center, Jackson was considered as the “most able Negro surgeon in America” by the Mayo Brothers, founders of the Mayo Clinic.

There are other Disciples descendants as well. The Region will be releasing a podcast soon of a couple with those voices.

Event Schedule Released

The primary dates of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commemoration are May 26 – June 6, 2021, see the Event Schedule.

Download an Event Schedule

CCOK3012021-04-12T10:25:54-05:00Apr 12, 2021|Congregations|Comments Off

Easter Around the Region

Christ is Risen!

Our lives and our service are the Hallelujah Chorus of our discipleship and journey in faith.

Michael Davison2021-04-12T16:31:28-05:00Apr 12, 2021|Congregations|Comments Off

New 2021 Free Stewardship Resources

Center for Faith & Giving Releases Free 12-Month Stewardship Resources

Rev. Bruce Barkhauer has announced the release of new stewardship resources titled “Created To Be a Steward”. To meet changing circumstances, the Center for Faith and Giving determined that “business as usual” for resourcing stewardship was simply not going to work. The new “dynamic resource” provides fresh installments made each quarter as the year progresses. It is designed to to be relevant in the moment rather than hope we “guessed right” where your congregation finds itself throughout the year. It is intended to keep the stewardship conversation alive throughout the year by providing preaching, teaching and personal practical resources.

Created To Be a Steward

“Created To Be a Steward” is a 12-month stewardship emphasis for congregations that seeks to explore four major themes of biblical stewardship:

Self-Care (January – March)
Earth Care (April – June)
Resource Management (July – September); Gospel
Sharing [Evangelism] (October – December)

What is Included?

Each quarter, the free materials will contain:

Three background pieces for sermon preparation
Three companion educational curriculums based on the texts for preaching
A commitment card for that particular theme (self-care, earth care, resource management, gospel sharing)
Additional “experiential” exercises
Links to additional resources and ideas (updated during that quarter)
Worship resources including: prayers, call to worship, and offering and communion meditations
An entire separate resource of “campaign guidance” meant to help you organize and manage a financial campaign

How Do I Access the Free Resources?

Visit the Center for Faith and Giving website here. When you request the materials you will be given a link to the folders that may be downloaded free of charge.