Registration for 2022 Regional Assembly is now open. Whether you’re excited to gather with us in person at Harvard Avenue Christian Church, Tulsa, or join us via live stream, please register and be in fellowship with your Oklahoma Disciples!
Rev. Dr. Cynthia L. Hale is the founder and Senior Pastor of the Ray of Hope Christian Church in Decatur, Georgia. A native of Roanoke, Virginia, Dr. Hale received a Bachelor of Arts in music from Hollins University; a Master of Divinity degree from Duke University; and a Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary. She holds five honorary Doctorates of Divinity and an honorary Doctor of Law degree.
As a woman of vision, Dr. Hale is revered worldwide for her leadership, integrity, and compassion. Her vision and leadership led her to establish two ministries; Elah Pastoral Ministries, Inc. and the Women in Ministry Conference, Inc. Elah is a mentoring program to assist in the spiritual and practical development of pastors and para-church leaders and the Women in Ministry Conference is a premiere national conference with a focused mission to develop, coach, and mentor Christian women in ministry for the 21st Century.
As a recipient of numerous honors and recognitions, Dr. Hale was inducted into the African American Biographies Hall of Fame, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers of Morehouse College, and the Atlanta Business League Women’s Hall of Fame. She is a recipient of the National Urban League’s “Women of Power” award, the Preston Taylor Living Legacy Award, the Balm in Gilead Keeper of the Flame Award, and she was recognized on Ebony Magazine’s “Power 100” list as one of the nation’s most influential African American leaders. In 2009, Dr. Hale was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve on the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships. She also served as a member of the 2016 Platform Committee for the Democratic National Convention and delivered the Invocation at the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.
Dr. Hale is a contributing writer for many books and publications including, Power in the Pulpit II: How America’s Most Effective Black Preachers Prepare Their Sermons and the preaching resource series, Feasting on the Gospels. In January 2010, she authored her first book entitled, I’m A Piece of Work: Sisters Shaped by God.
Dr. Hale presently serves as the Chairperson of the IC3 Conference Board, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Beulah Heights University, the Vice President for the Hampton University Ministers’ Conference, a member of the Board of Visitors of the Divinity School at Duke University, a member of the Board of Trustees at Hollins University, a member of the UNCF NFI Advisory Council and a member of the Welcome.US Council.
Dr. Hale is an active Lifetime member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She currently serves as the Co-Chairperson of the International Spiritual Oversight Committee and Chairperson of the Membership Committee of her local chapter, Nu Lambda Omega Chapter.
During her 42 years of ministry, her ministerial gift has drawn thousands, young and old, to witness the anointing of a woman totally sold out for the Kingdom of God.
Rev. Rebecca Anderson is co-pastor of Gilead Church Chicago and is ordained in The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She has a Masters in Divinity from the University of Chicago and a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Playwriting from Hampshire College (Amherst, MA).
Rebecca’s been on Snap Judgment (radio), and podcasts including The Broad Experience and Broccoli & Ice Cream. Active in the Chicago storytelling scene, she’s performed with events like RISK!, 2nd Story, The Moth, and This Much is True. As a comic (back in the day), she was featured in The Boston Globe and The Christian Century.
Rebecca has developed and teaches workshops designed to grow the practice of story-telling and foster interpersonal connection (more at EarshotStories.com). She also hosts potlucks, plants gardens, and knows the best places to pick juneberries.
Regional Assembly participants are encouraged to experience a Pro-Reconciliation Anti-Racism educational event at Greenwood Rising Friday afternoon. It will include a free 90-minute tour followed by a 45-minute conversation with Greenwood Rising Interim Executive Director Phil Armstrong, who is also the chairman of the board of the Greenwood Cultural Center and previously head of the Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission.
Participants are asked to meet for the 12:30 pm tour at Greenwood Rising, 23 N. Greenwood Ave., Tulsa. Please identify yourself as a member of the group associated with the Oklahoma Regional Assembly, Rev. Kevin Howe event coordinator.
All participants are required to wear masks and required to have a temperature check before entry.
Reserve your ticket for this free event when you register to attend Regional Assembly.
The Oklahoma Region is proud to announce its speakers for the 2022 Regional Assembly: Rev. Rebecca Anderson and Rev. Dr. Cynthia Hale. The event theme is “More than a Moment: Rejoicing in Our Story.” It will take place April 29-30, 2022 as a hybrid event at Harvard Avenue Christian Church, Tulsa.
Rev. Dr. Cynthia L. Hale is the founder and Senior Pastor of the Ray of Hope Christian Church in Decatur, Georgia. A native of Roanoke, Virginia, Dr. Hale received a Bachelor of Arts in music from Hollins University; a Master of Divinity degree from Duke University; and a Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary. She holds five honorary Doctorates of Divinity and an honorary Doctor of Law degree.
As a woman of vision, Dr. Hale is revered worldwide for her leadership, integrity, and compassion. Her vision and leadership led her to establish two ministries; Elah Pastoral Ministries, Inc. and the Women in Ministry Conference, Inc. Elah is a mentoring program to assist in the spiritual and practical development of pastors and para-church leaders and the Women in Ministry Conference is a premiere national conference with a focused mission to develop, coach, and mentor Christian women in ministry for the 21st Century.
As a recipient of numerous honors and recognitions, Dr. Hale was inducted into the African American Biographies Hall of Fame, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers of Morehouse College, and the Atlanta Business League Women’s Hall of Fame. She is a recipient of the National Urban League’s “Women of Power” award, the Preston Taylor Living Legacy Award, the Balm in Gilead Keeper of the Flame Award, and she was recognized on Ebony Magazine’s “Power 100” list as one of the nation’s most influential African American leaders. In 2009, Dr. Hale was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve on the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships. She also served as a member of the 2016 Platform Committee for the Democratic National Convention and delivered the Invocation at the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.
Dr. Hale is a contributing writer for many books and publications including, Power in the Pulpit II: How America’s Most Effective Black Preachers Prepare their Sermons and the preaching resource series, Feasting on the Gospels. In January 2010, she authored her first book entitled, I’m A Piece of Work: Sisters Shaped by God.
Dr. Hale presently serves as the Chairperson of the IC3 Conference Board, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Beulah Heights University, the Vice President for the Hampton University Ministers’ Conference, a member of the Board of Visitors of the Divinity School at Duke University, a member of the Board of Trustees at Hollins University, a member of the UNCF NFI Advisory Council and a member of the Welcome.US Council.
Dr. Hale is an active Lifetime member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She currently serves as the Co-Chairperson of the International Spiritual Oversight Committee and Chairperson of the Membership Committee of her local chapter, Nu Lambda Omega Chapter.
During her 42 years of ministry, her ministerial gift has drawn thousands, young and old, to witness the anointing of a woman totally sold out for the Kingdom of God.
Rebecca is co-pastor of Gilead Church Chicago and is ordained in The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She has a Masters in Divinity from the University of Chicago and a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Playwrighting from Hampshire College (Amherst, MA).
Rebecca’s been on Snap Judgment (radio), and podcasts including The Broad Experience and Broccoli & Ice Cream. Active in the Chicago storytelling scene, she’s performed with events like RISK!, 2nd Story, The Moth, and This Much is True. As a comic (back in the day), she was featured in The Boston Globe and The Christian Century.
Rebecca has developed and teaches workshops designed to grow the practice of story-telling and foster interpersonal connection (more at EarshotStories.com). She also hosts potlucks, plants gardens, and knows the best places to pick juneberries.
God of justice and peace,
from the heavens you rain down
mercy and kindness,
that all on earth may stand in
awe and wonder
before your marvelous deeds.
Advent Greetings!
Long before this season of Advent begins, youth from Oklahoma and Regional Ministers have pondered over the scriptures and began reflecting about what these upcoming Advent days hold. In this season of preparation for the birth of Jesus, we are presenting you with two resources to guide your journey down Advent Road. One resource has been created by the Oklahoma Regional Youth Council. A second resource has been created by Regional Ministers from our 31 regions and ethnic ministries.
We hope you enjoy these devotions. May something from them stir your heart into awe and wonder of God’s marvelous deeds.
Peace & God’s Grace,
Regional Minister Pamela Holt
CLICK HERE to visit our Dropbox and download the ebook in PDF format.
Soon Afghan families will be our new neighbors as they move into the metropolitan areas of Oklahoma. Some of our Disciple congregations are already making preparations to help welcome them. As you might imagine, the needs to help one family relocate are tremendous, and there will be many families who need our help. If your congregation would like to join this ministry and work together, please contact Mary Heath, Chair of the Region’s Refugee & Immigration Commission or the Regional Office. Please note there are many resources to help understand the needs of our Afghan communities. The resources below are just a start!
These links will take you to the most comprehensive resources to learn about Disciples hospitality and welcome of Afghanistan refugees into our midst. You are welcome to use any and/or all of these resources in your congregation.
Disciples Statements on Refugees and Immigration
Share this video from Rev. Terri Hord Owens, General Minister and President, and this video from Week of Compassion on Afghan Welcoming.
These links will direct you to many resources for your congregation to learn more about the Afghan refugees.
Web Resources Facebook Resources
Church World Service is an organization in the US serving the Afghan resettlement program. There are twenty-one CWS offices around the US. Just recently, CWS approved the Afghan Placement and Assistance Program to make it possible for CWS to provide resources to communities who want to partner with CWS who are further than 100 miles from a CSW office, places like Oklahoma and West Virginia.
Please follow the links below to help your congregation learn about the CWS Afghan Resettlement ministries and worship resources.
5 Ways You Can Help Welcome Afghans Video
Resources and Worship Guide for Reflecting and Praying for the Displaced
The Region of Oklahoma has eight congregations already preparing to help in the resettlement of Afghan families.
The needs of resettlement are great. Here are some of the many ways your congregation can be a partner in this ministry.
1. Pray for these Afghans who have been displaced from their home and are seeking a new home — here.
2. Partner with a larger congregation who is already in motion.
3. Designate a point person in your congregation to contact one of the congregations noted above to see what the needs are and report back to your board to determine the best way for your congregation to partner. Some of the needs include:
4. Make a financial contribution to the Region’s Restricted Fund: Refugee & Immigration Afghan Resettlement.
We cannot do this ministry by ourselves. We work best together. Let us welcome and love our new neighbors with joy and gratitude!
Peace & God’s Grace,
Rev. Pamela Holt
The Regional Executive Committee has taken into consideration the Regional Ministers’ Travel during this continued pandemic, and especially during the surge of the Delta Variant of COVID-19. The Executive Committee created the following protocols for our Regional Ministers who long to be with congregations, but who also recognize the risks as they move from congregation to congregation. This new protocol is designed to remain effective until further notice.
Regional Ministers Travel During a Pandemic
09.16.2021
The mission of the Regional Church is to connect, equip, and empower Disciples of Christ across the Region of Oklahoma. The attendance and participation of Regional staff at various services and events across the Region are vital to the continued ministry of the Regional Church. Yet in the midst of a global pandemic, Regional staff must take into careful consideration everyone they may come into contact with during their ministry, including a significant population that is unable to be vaccinated.
As such, the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the Regional Church (Disciples of Christ) of Oklahoma have instructed Regional staff that attendance and participation in such services and events will only be permitted so long as all participants at the service or event will be following CDC guidelines, including but not limited to wearing face coverings and practicing social distancing.
Should the Regional Ministers arrive and participants are not adhering to the expected CDC guidelines noted above, the Regional Ministers are instructed to leave the service or event immediately.
The following information has been compiled from the Oklahoma Disciples Foundation for informational purposes only. It is recommended you check with your accountant or a tax advisor for details regarding this new tax benefit and your charitable gifts.
Expanded tax benefits have been enacted for individuals and businesses through the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020, last December.
In 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) expanded the deductibility of charitable contributions in 2020 allowing up to $300 for cash contributions to charity in 2020 to taxpayers taking the standard deduction.
In 2021, the charitable contribution deductions is $300 for individual taxpayers taking a standard deduction and married couples filing joint returns can deduct charitable (cash) gifts up to $600.
The requirements for deductibility:
Charitable IRA Rollovers
Eligible taxpayers (those over 70½ years of age) have a beneficial way to support their favorite, qualified charities, including your congregation and the Regional Church, through the Charitable IRA Rollover, which has been in effect permanently since 2015. These charitable gifts can replace the required minimum distributions (RMD) that are required annually from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA).
If you are an IRA owner over the age of 70½, you can make charitable gifts directly from your IRA totaling up to $100,000 per year. These contributions will not be included in your adjusted taxable gross income for that year. Your IRA manager will be able to provide you with the paperwork.
If you are interested in making a gift to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma through an IRA Charitable Rollover, please contact the Regional Office at office@okdisciples.org or 405.528.3577.
For individual taxpayers who itemize deductions: Individual taxpayers who itemize their deductions may now deduct certain charitable contributions up to 100% of the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income (“AGI”). Prior to the CARES Act, taxpayers were limited to deducting certain charitable contributions up to 60% of the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income.
The requirements for deductibility up to 100% of AGI:
If a donor gives more than 100% of their adjusted gross income, the donor may carry forward excess deductions for up to five subsequent tax years; although this deductibility may be set to expire after 2021.
Additionally, corporate limits for charitable cash deductions has increased from 10% to 25% of taxable income. Businesses donating food inventory in 2021 may also qualify for increased deduction limits.
You can easily make online gifts to the Region here or to the Oklahoma Disciples Foundation on their website to one of the funds supporting the ministries and missions of the church. Click this link “Together We Touch Lives” to see a list of endowment funds that support church ministry, missions and grant funding. Gifts to Disciple Club, Endowments or the Grants Program may be made in honor or memory of an individual. If requested, the Foundation will send a gift acknowledgement on your behalf. For information call (405) 525-6530
This summer, the Region granted me a three month sabbatical. I was hungry for some rest, yes, but I was also very hungry to find a deeper, stronger, more resilient faith. After a wonderful, restful, and fruitful sabbatical, I am pleased to return to the call to serve the Regional Church! I am grateful for the Regional Executive Committee and the Regional Board for their encouragement and support for this sabbatical time. And I am also grateful for the Regional Staff and Rev. Paxton Jones for their dedication, knowledge, and wisdom to continue the ministry as expected.
So what did I do on this sabbatical? Several things. On May 1st, Randy and I moved temporarily to a cottage on a sizable horse ranch in Mineral Wells, Texas. We brought our cat, our dog, and our two horses with us. While there, we also welcomed a feral cat, a longhorn, and a crawdad! The month of May was a muddy mess. It rained every single day!
I began this sabbatical by taking the Faith Institute’s “Teaching Healthy Boundaries 101 & 201.” While this course was intended for me to join our other trainers in preparation for teaching Healthy Boundaries to clergy, it really helped me understand more fully why self-care boundaries are so important for clergy, even during sabbaticals.
Randy and I both were refreshed in our souls by sharing many evenings with friends we have not seen in several years. Around many tables, we broke bread and drank wine. We laughed and we wept with one another as we shared our joys and lamented our sorrows we had experienced over the last several years.
Family Time
We spent two weeks of this sabbatical time in Pagosa Springs, Colorado where we gathered with our children, our three year old grandson, and Randy’s sister and brother-in-law. This time was absolutely delight-full as we ate together and played together. Our adventures included fishing, hiking, shopping, and exploring through the eyes of a three year old! We also gathered as family at Lobo Lookout at Wolf Creek Pass to finally spread the ashes of our son Brook who died in December of 2018.
We also gathered with my family to finally join the ashes of my mother, Shirley Green, with my father in Arlington, Texas.
Sorrow permeated my sabbatical when Rev. Dr. Don Pittman died. And that same week, my favorite professor from TCU, Dr. Ronald B. Flowers died, and Rev. Bob Stewart died. All three of these men influenced my call to ministry in profound ways. I cling to the joy of knowing them and remembering them in simple and profound ways.
True Connection
The pinnacle of my sabbatical was a surprise invitation to participate in an eight day horse conference north of Dallas, Texas. The leader would be a woman I had never heard of, Ingela Larsson Smith, a professional horsewoman from Canada, who was offering an opportunity to have “True Connection” with your horse. I had one hour to decide and pay to reserve my place. I had the time, the horse, the trailer, and the money, and a very supportive husband!
Of course, I went with one set of expectations and came away awed and fulfilled . . . let me explain, very simply. In the first lecture, Ingela shared that she was a professional dressage rider and horse trainer around the world. She has trained the Queen of England’s horses and horses for the Sheik in the Middle East. Impressive, right? But she continued to say that her performance path left her heart yearning for something more, something deeper. So she turned to the Christian faith. She shared with her twelve students that we could never have “true connection” with our horses unless we had a “true connection with God.” Full stop, right? In other words, we as humans can make horses perform and work, but for a horse to choose us as a leader, and choose to be in relationship with us, we have to find a way to be fully present.
Before we ever got to the arena with our horses, she invited us to consider our relationship with God. God’s deepest desire, or hunger, is that we will choose to be in full relationship with God. That is easier said that done and where we often get confused. For a visual, Ingela placed three chairs in front of us. One of the three chairs represented the unbelievers in the world. People who have not yet heard the good news or choose not to believe it. A second chair represented all the believers, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, all those who believe in God and have a faith tradition. This is a good place to be, of course, but it is a place where we are also driven by the cultural demands of society . . . achieving, doing, ladders to success, demands. It becomes a place where we begin to hunger for more and more only to discover exhaustion and depletion.
The third chair represented God — the full, unconditional, steadfast love of God, who is fully present to us and lavishes us with love and grace when we choose to be in God’s presence, every time. This is the place to gently push aside and silence the many voices that question our goodness and to trust that you will hear a voice of blessing, and most importantly to realize that God walks with us, together. Ingela asked us, “In which chair would you like to sit?”
Of course, we all opted for the third chair because we are deeply hungry for this true connection with God, but we realized that we all, even as the best disciples of Christ, find ourselves in the second chair most often, distracted by the demands of our culture and daily work/tasks, and often lured by the critical voices in our head. To have true connection with your horse, Ingela said, you must find your way into the chair of God for yourself, to be loved without any distraction, to be fully and truly accepted for all that you are created in God’s image, and to be anointed over and over again with goodness and mercy. This, Ingela said, is the kind of presence you will need to be with your horse — fully present in your mind, in your heart, in your soul. At that moment, your horse will find true connection with you and you will walk together.
In the afternoon practical applications of Ingela’s lectures with our horses, all twelve of us found that magical and mystical moment of true connection with our horses. As you might imagine, holding on to it is another challenge!
I was on the edge of my seat for every word Ingela uttered about faith and relationships. And, feeling truly inspired and connected, equipped and empowered, I have discovered a new level of servant leadership both with my horse and with ministry. What I know for sure is that it is not all about me, it is about “we” and what we do together.
Again, I am deeply grateful for this time of rest and renewal to discover a deeper, stronger, more resilient connection with God, and I am equally as grateful to return to you as we do ministry together!
Peace & God’s Grace,
Pam