Regional News

Midway through Saturday afternoon, 1400+ Disciples were in the chat section of Digital General Assembly. Wow! So many names that sometimes the chat moved faster than you could read.  That number, 1400+, may not include people who attended DGA26 at a host site at one of the 100+ across the denomination.  Though the majority of Oklahoma Disciples attended from a device at home, our sites were:
First Christian Church, Edmond
First Christian Church, El Reno
Central Christian Church, Enid
First Christian Church, Ponca City
First Christian Church, Norman

The last reported count: 2400 Disciples registered for Digital General Assembly 2027.

Oklahoma Disciples: 104 registrations representing 40 congregations [43 delegates/ 61 clergy]

Our delegates representing the Region for this triennium:
Carmen Jackson (East 6th Street Christian Church, OKC)
Chris Payne (Harvard Ave. Christian Church, Tulsa)
Sally Wheeler (First Christian Church, Duncan)

Andrea and I really enjoyed GA and your Zoom too. Silver lining to the COVID storm cloud :-)
(Mike and Andrea Morriss)

Phillips Theological Seminary was a sponsor of DGA26 and had an active exhibit booth.  It may be hard to imagine a digital exhibit hall.  When you clicked the PTS logo on the exhibitor page, you were transported to a screen and greeted by PTS staff on live video.  There were links to downloadable handouts about the seminary.  You could video chat with staff and others present, or the chat window was active as alums and others took a few minutes to catch up.  Other exhibitors had similar formats.

I was glad to be able to attend a Group gathering, and to meet some new people.  It was nice to have a GOOD lunch provided, along with some snacks.  (Rev. Diane Morgan)

If you’ve attended a General Assembly in person, the DGA chat window is like walking through the exhibit hall or between sessions and stopping to talk to old friends and new ones.  The main chat window was for all attendees, and there was a Messenger-like chat for one-on-one or small-group conversations.  During the unexpected need to reset the hosting platform on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, I opened a Zoom room for Oklahoma Disciples to drop in and say hello.  First Christian Church, El Reno, and First Christian Church, Ponca City (two of our host sites) joined the Zoom along with others at home.  And, on Saturday morning, I was at First Christian Church, Norman, and a few Disciples from other Regions dropped in to say hello.  Connections!  Moments of grace.

Saturday afternoon focused on presentations on economic justice, which was the topic for education, discussion, and prayer (TEDP).  From the DGA26 participant website:

Disciples are doing ministry across the US and Canada while facing rising utility costs, insurance rates, healthcare costs, and other economic challenges. The communities we love and serve are also facing economic challenges. Following TEDP Talks, we will talk together in small groups about how Disciples are responding and how God’s surpassing love is moving among our movement for wholeness.

The disciples gathered at Central Christian Church in Enid had a good discussion about the ways their congregations serve their community, recognizing the struggle to balance the work of charity with efforts to change systems that create poverty.  If you attended DGA on your own device at home, you had the option to join a digital small group discussion on the TEDP topic.

Worship closed each day with a blend of pre-recorded music, live readings, prayer, and preaching.  Our General Minister and President, Rev. Terri Hord Owens, preached Saturday afternoon.  The sermons are on the denomination’s YouTube channel.

Disciples General Minister and President Rev Terri Hord Owens reminded the Church that “outside” is where we learn and grow. Outside is where we see new things, meet new people, and have new experiences. Being outside of our normal, even just a bit, can help us to better see our neighbors. It can help us learn more about ourselves, too. (Rev. Susan Payne, Interim Sr Minister at First Christian Church, El Reno)

Amid the latency of the Internet and network signals, the DGA platform provider’s reset, and low audio followed by HIGH audio, there were many genuine moments of grace and learning in this new way of gathering for our little movement for wholeness in a fragmented world.  There are always lessons to learn from our gatherings that can be applied to the next experience: DGA27 (July 9-10, 2027).  If you were present, thank you.  If you missed it this year, I encourage you to get involved in your local congregation and with our siblings in faith beyond our borders.  It’s one way Oklahoma Disciples can connect, equip, and empower our Region and all Disciples to love and serve like Jesus.

Disciples, you are a blessing.

By Rev. Jesse Jackson

Disciples from Oklahoma joined others from around the country in Dallas, Texas, June 11th – 14th for the 29th Biennial Session of the National Convocation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The National Convocation was born when the International Convention merged with the National Christian Missionary Convention (NCMC) in 1969. The NCMC was organized by Rev. Preston Taylor and others in 1917.

Although a few African American individuals were members of early Restoration Movement congregations, churches that were organized and led by African Americans were not gathered in a “common witness”, until Taylor and others led to the founding in Nashville. The intention was always to be “partners in mission, instead of “objects” of mission.

After the merger of the two churches, the National Convocation became the home of the African American constituency of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). This Biennial was marked by dynamic preaching and powerful worship, as usual.

But activism and actualizing ministry were front and center when Bishop William Barber, a former Disciple pastor from North Carolina, now of Yale University, was powerful as he connected our civic and theological responsibilities. The Rev.

Dr. Freddie Haynes, a nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives, spoke on the State of the African American Life and Witness in the United States.

The educational opportunities were dynamic and covered everything from Congregational Vitality, End of Life Care, Getting your Financial House in Order to Demystifying Artificial Intelligence, and so much more. Our national church was present from our General Minister and President, Dr. Terri Hord Owens, to Disciples Home Mission President, Dr. Chris Dorsey, Global Ministries President Dr. Lamarco Cable and many others.

Our region was well represented by Phillips Theological Seminary. President Doug Powe and recruitment staff manned a booth and sponsored a lunch that was well attended. Vice President and Dean Dr. Lisa Davison gave us a vital update of new programs that Phillips is now offering.

In addition to Phillips, our Regional Minister, the Rev. Michael Davison, along with pastors and members from East Sixth Street, Wildewood, Shepherd Street, and In the Spirit, were also present.

The Administrative Secretary, the Rev. Dr. Delesslyn Kennebrew has already announced that in June of 2028 the 30th Biennial Session will return to Dallas.