Information for the Local Church (click
here)
California-Nevada
Annual Conference
– Ava
Johnson, Co-Lay Leader,Good Samaritan UMC
The mission of the Conflict Transformation Team is to develop a
ministry of reconciliation within the Conference that supports healthy
local congregations through the teaching of relationship building,
conflict resolution and cooperative decision-making.
Do
these questions, or any other issues, raise concerns for you about
conflict within your congregation?
Does
your congregation struggle with indecisiveness in decision-making?
Are
diverse perspectives discouraged?
Are
there frequent misunderstandings or is misleading information being shared
within the congregation?
Is
there a tendency to ignore, deny, or move too quickly through important
and sensitive situations within the congregation?
Are
there special interest groups that seem to foster conflict and separation?
Do
people personalize the conflict by focusing on the people instead of the
problem?
For
more information, contact The Rev.
Cathy Morris, Dixon United Methodist Church, 209 N. Jefferson St.,
Dixon, CA 95620 or phone
(707) 678-219.
For resources or assistance, contact The Rev.
David Bennett, Central United Methodist Church, 3700 Pacific Ave.,
Stockton, CA 95204 or phone
(209) 466-5046.
"Igniting
Ministry 101"
This new online course
explores the advertising of the denomination, along with the importance of
developing a welcoming lifestyle - in your life and in our church.
Learn how to live the promise of "Open hearts, Open minds, Open
doors." Cost: $12. Enrollment information: www.training.umcom.org.
Questions? Send them to IMTraining@umcom.org.
Help Is Available for Church Newsletters
– United
Methodist News Service, Jan. 30, 2004
A year after its launch, a free service called News In Pews is
helping more than 1,400 churches provide news to their local congregations. News
In Pews provides churches with opportunities to create their own, high-quality
newsletters. Each weekly and monthly issue contains church wide news and
information and spotlights how giving to United Methodist projects helps spread
the Gospel. The free, e-mail subscription service is available in an eight-page
version and a four-page version. All that is needed for the service is a
computer that runs Microsoft Word (version 95 or higher) and a printer. More
information about News In Pews is available at http://umns.umc.org/newsinpews.
Bishops'
Initiative on Children and Poverty
The Council of Bishops calls every
United Methodist congregation and person to a deepened level of reflection and
action toward life together with the poor. The Initiative, launched in 1995
includes the goal: To reshape the United Methodist Church in response to the God who is among “the
least of these,” and to evaluate everything the church is and does in the
light of the impact on children and impoverished. A 2001 addition seeks,
To engage the church in biblical and theological reflection ...for reshaping
the church in the image of Christ. Available resources are www.umc.org/initiative
and Community with Children and the Poor, Congregational study guide,
#516543 from Cokesbury. To become involved with the Cal/NV task force, contact:
Linda Loessberg-Zhal or (919)-374-1506.
Drawing
the ENOUGH Line
The UM Foundation offers this free stewardship development
workshop for your church. Participants will get help creating a budget, putting
together a debt-reduction plan, and moving toward financial freedom. Contact the
Foundation at canvumf@aol.com or (888) 789-7374
and a Stewardship Associate will come to you.
United
Methodist Federal Credit Union
Members of CA/NV U Methodist Church's are eligible to
join the United Methodist Federal Credit Union, located in Southern California. The UMFCU offers a full range of banking services,
including low balance youth accounts, free checking for Seniors, ATM cards, car
and home loans, and Visa cards. Internet and telephone banking are available.
Visit: www.umfcu.orgor call (800) 245-0433 for info.
Safe
Sanctuary Resources Available From UMC
Resources for reducing the risk of child sexual abuse in church are
available by visiting www.cnumc.org
and clicking on Safe
Sanctuary Resources. A new book from Discipleship Resources is designed to help
ensure the safety of youth in our church programs and activities. Safe
Sanctuaries for Youth: Reducing the Risk of Abuse in Youth Ministries by
attorney Joy T. Melton is an excellent guide for reducing the possibility of
abuse in the church. The book is available from Cokesbury. Personal Safety
for Children: A Guide for Parents
is a free resource available from the U.S. Department of Education. It is
available at website www.nochildleftbehind.gov/parents/safety/index.html.
Cokesbury Offering Courses On-Line
On-Line classes for United Methodist pastors, lay speakers, lay
http://www.cokesburyacademy.com
Continuing education units and Lay Speaking credit are available for
several courses, including "The Christian Small Group Leader" and
"Pastoral Care for Spiritual Formation." A few Course of Study classes
for Ordained ministry are also offered.
You can register to receive email notices about upcoming classes.
Please forward this information to your local lay speakers, church school
teachers and other leaders in your congregations.
PSR Web
Site
PSR Alumni Directory Now Available On Line.
The
Pacific School of Religion Alumni/ae Directory can be found at: http://www.psr.edu/.
You can
keep informed on activities and events at Pacific School of Religion by clicking on their web site at www.psr.edu.
There is also an e-newsletter for events, plans, and opportunities offered by
the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and the Ministry at PSR. For
more information and access to the newsletter, go to www.clgs.org.
Red Cross Training
J.P. McGuire
is certified and available to teach First Aide and CPR to
groups - as a Red Cross representative. Contact at (916) 374-1574 or by
email.
