WPAUMC enews - June 8, 2022

6/9/2022

Peace with Justice Sunday is June 12!  Each year, on the first Sunday after Pentecost, United Methodists celebrate efforts across the connection that are building peace and receive a special offering to support them. Learn more and find resources.

BSA Update: New relationship agreements, formerly known as charters, for churches sponsoring Boy Scout troops will be ready by the end of June, according to a letter being distributed to congregational Scouting leaders. To help orient these leaders to the new relationship agreement, an online meeting has been planned for Thursday, June 16.  A video link and FAQ will be made available following the meeting to those scouting leaders unable to attend. Local BSA Council leadership will receive the same information. 

Annual Conference

AC Livestream: Videos and a wrap-up of the 2022 Annual Conference will be available through links on the Annual Conference page of the Conference website in the coming week. Find the links at www.wpaumc.org/AC.

Some photos of the Ordination Service are posted on the WPAUMC Flickr feed. More to come.

Leadership

Benefits of Bi-vocational Ministry: Challenging the perception that bivocational ministers are somehow “less than” those serving full time, Steven Van Ostran names four specific ways bivocational ministry can make the church more present to the community, more relevant, and more prophetic. Read more from Leading Ideas

Learn to Underreact: Overreacting to the criticism and complaints that are an inevitable part of ministry leadership only ups the emotional ante. Dan Hotchkiss says learning to underreact is a critical skill for every church leader and offers three tips for turning down the temperature. Read more.

Dismantling Racism

Juneteenth is fast approaching and the Commission on Religion and Race has information and resources available. See what they are

Racial Justice Prayer and Action: The Challenge begins on Juneteenth (6/19). You are invited to sign up and participate. Learn more.  

Mission

Mission Impact Event: Check out photos from the Mission Impact at Annual Conference on the WPAUMC Missions Facebook page here.
 
Health Care in Zimbabwe: Two United Methodists are making their mark on health care in Africa as leading cardiothoracic and pediatric orthopedic surgeons. Dr. Kudzai Kanyepi and Dr. Tongai Chitsamatanga are members of Chisipiti United Methodist Church in Harare, and Chitsamatanga spent six years at United Methodist-related Mutambara Mission Hospital.  Read story

UMC News

Judicial Council Rulings: The denomination's top court issued the final rulings on its fall docket on Monday. See what they were.
 
Protocol No Longer Viable? More than a quarter of the 16 leaders who negotiated the proposed Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace Through Separation say it is "no longer a viable proposal."  Five negotiators said they reached this conclusion after discussions with General Conference delegates and members of their constituencies. Read story

Resources

Ready to Take Steps to End Gun Violence? If you want to move from “thoughts and prayers” to “movement and action,” the UMC suggests ways for people of faith to help #endgunviolence. Learn more

Resources for Action to End Gun Violence: The General Board of Church and Society has resources to help United Methodists take action on “Our Call to End Gun Violence”, Resolution #2438 in the 2016 UMC Book of Resolutions. Find resources to combat gun violence

Talking with Youth About Gun Violence: Courageous Conversations for Youth from Discipleship Ministries is designed to equip a youth leader with a model to create brave spaces where youth can share their thoughts and feelings on pressing topics. Learn more