WI Conference Weekly ENews - April 5, 2023

Conference News  l  Denominational News  l  Local News  l   Mission News  l  Events  Resources  l  Classifieds

Election of Additional Reserve Delegates to the Postponed 2020 General/Jurisdictional Conferences

In 2019, the Wisconsin Annual Conference elected delegates to the 2020 General and Jurisdictional Conferences of The United Methodist Church. Due to COVID-19, in 2020 the General and Jurisdictional Conferences have been postponed, first until 2021, then 2022, and now to 2024.

Since the election of delegates in 2019, there have been seven vacancies in the Wisconsin Conference delegation – 5 laity and 2 clergy.  At this time we are planning to elect additional Reserve Delegates during the 2023 Annual Conference Session. That may change. We are still waiting on instructions from the General Conference Secretary.

The delegates at General Conference speak for the entire United Methodist Church. The Jurisdictional Conference has responsibility for electing and assigning our Bishops, who will lead the Church into the future. Reserve delegates would serve, in the order of election, if one of the elected delegates is unable to fulfil that role during the General and/or Jurisdictional Conference session.

The Wisconsin Conference looks for our delegation to provide a witness to the entire denomination that we are devoted to holy listening, collaborative leadership and comprehensive representation. The delegation hopes to be seen as innovators, visionaries and leaders committed to reclaiming all that is great about The United Methodist Church.

Additional information about the Responsibilities, Expectations, Eligibility for Election, and Practical Requirements for serving as a delegate and/or reserve delegate can be found on the Conference Website at Conference Secretary - Wisconsin Conference of the UMC.

If you are ready, willing and able to make the required commitments and would like to be considered as a candidate for election as a Reserve Delegate, please complete the Online Reserve Delegate Candidate Form, found on the Conference Website using the link above. The deadline for submitting Reserve Delegate Candidate Forms is Monday, May 8, 2023.

If you have questions about the responsibilities or the nomination/election process, please contact Kevin Rice Myers, Conference Secretary, at 608-837-7328, ext 2250 (Office), 608-478-4490 (Office-Direct Line) or ConfSec@wisconsinumc.org.

Equitable Compensation Grant Cycle Application Deadline is April 14th- Complete Your Application Today!

Even though it’s Holy Week, we encourage churches planning to apply for an Equitable Compensation Grant to begin working on their Grant Application.  Equitable Compensation Grants are available for churches and charges served by a full-time pastor that are experiencing financial hardship. There will be two rounds of Equitable Compensation Grants this year, each totaling $20,000. Churches may apply for only one grant per year. The deadline for the first round of applications is April 14, 2023. The second round of applications will be due September 15, 2023. The maximum award to a church/charge for first time recipients is $4,000. 
 
Note – when you click on the link below to open the application, be sure to Download the File in order to make it a fillable document and to access the drop-down menus.
Open application

Sewing Machine Project
Partnership with the Evangelical Methodist Church in Bolivia

The "Sewing Machines" project has great news. In the North District, the first sewing machines arrived! Here are some pictures of the arrival. Your support, along with that of the local churches, is greatly appreciated. For any questions or to learn about how you can help, contact Rev. Anita Lang at anitalang130@gmail.com.

VIM Trip to Midwest Mission Distribution Center

Twenty-four Volunteers in Mission representing Wisconsin spent the week of March 20-24 at Midwest Mission Distribution Center in Chatham, Illinois (near Springfield). The majority of the group stayed in the dormitory onsite while a few stayed in a motel just eight minutes away. All 24 participants shared three delicious meals a day prepared by a kitchen crew of 4, morning and evening devotions presented by members of the team -- and clean up duties!

Projects completed during the week included putting together 1,710 Personal Dignity Kits (Towel, washcloth, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, razor and shampoo) and 288 Home Care Kits -- which included making sure the lid was on tight! Folks also helped sort through items for birthing kits, feminine hygiene kits, layette kits and student kits. Crews also spent time putting together (and taking apart) desks, repairing bikes and sewing machines, tracing patterns, counting into inventory and writing thank you notes.
 
A highlight for many of the participants was being present when the ninth and tenth shipments to Ukraine were sent out from Midwest Mission. Eighteen VIM'ers participated in the blessing of  Ukraine Shipment #9 on Monday, March 20. Inside the container were 37,220 rice meal bags (226,320 individual meals), 560 personal dignity kits, 140,000 pairs of food handling gloves, 3,311 pieces of clothing (socks, underwear), sporting goods, body wipes, 4500 disposable diapers, 43 blankets --for a total value of $122,440. The tenth shipment went out on Thursday and included more personal dignity kits and rice meal bags as well as 5 Minute Meals.
Read more and view all photos

National Workshop On Christian Unity
Hilton Milwaukee City Center, May 8-11, 2023

The National Workshop on Christian Unity is coming up quickly from May 8-11 in Milwaukee. It’s the annual gathering for many Christians in the US to get updates on ecumenical engagements and to worship and study ecumenism together. It’s also the venue through which UMEIT: USA takes place, the annual training for United Methodists who take leadership with ecumenism in the US. Bishop Jung will be one of the Opening Worship Leaders at the event.

Early bird registration ends on April 19, so now is the time to register. Go to www.nwcu.org for information, and/or contact Jean Hawxhurst  at jhawxhurst@umc-cob.org.  

Tech Crew Volunteers Needed At WI Annual Conference 2023

Our Annual Conference Tech Crew is still recruiting volunteers! No experience is necessary, we will teach you how to set up and use the equipment. As a team we will also have time to play games and do other fun thing to get to know each other. We are looking for committed and responsible volunteers to work for the Tech Crew/Stage Crew. Must be 12 years old or older, by June 1, 2022. In some cases, this time can be approved for community service hours towards graduation (check with school).  Download the application here. Applications must be submitted via email to Sue Snellenberger at Snellenbergersue@gmail.com by May 2, 2023.

We are also searching for a volunteer to drive a 26’ foot w/lift Penske Tech Truck from Sun Prairie, WI to the KI Convention Center in Green Bay, WI on Wednesday, June 7th, 2023 returning on Monday, June 12th morning or early afternoon. No CDL required. Must have a valid driver’s license; a background check is required through our office. Contact Angela Ullrich if interested at 608-837-7328.

2023 Ingathering Updates
New Items Needed & Updated Drop Off Sites List

The conference Mission Motivation Committee is working with Midwest Mission Distribution Center to collect items for Personal Dignity Kits and Home Care Kits. Midwest Mission distributes these items locally, nationally and internationally to those in need during times of crisis. All supplies are given free of charge regardless of gender, race or religion.  Although we are focusing on these two kits, we appreciate any items found at midwestmission.org.  All items should be NEW – and all kits should have only the items requested. View kit details

Urgent needs include the following:

• Shampoo (in bulk), 12-19 oz. 
• 100-150 oz. EMPTY liquid laundry detergent containers. We can use containers of any size up to 150 oz. (we are collecting full or empty liquid laundry detergent containers) 
• Sewing machines, electric and treadles (they don't have to be new; we accept sewing machines that need a little tuning up; we cannot accept the computerized ones. 
• Medical equipment -folding walkers, wheelchairs, crutches, canes, walking boots, slings 
• Blankets- new or gently used for disaster response  
• Non electric tools specifically shovels, brooms, rakes

Kits and items that make up those kits, should be brought to Annual Conference at the KICenter in Green Bay. The Midwest Mission truck will be there for collection on June 9th & 10th. To process donations efficiently and get them where needed quickly, we ask for a list of the items donated. You can help the person who delivers the items -and save everyone some time- by filling out the Donation Form ahead of time.  

Volunteers are needed to check in and load donations at Annual Conference in Green Bay anytime during our drop off hours: Friday, June 9th 10am-4pm and Saturday, June 10th 8am-2pm. Contact bonnieclement05@gmail.com to help.

2023 Ingathering Drop Sites List
2023 Ingathering Bulletin Insert
Ingathering Update 3-6-2023

Taize Worship At West Allis: First UMC

West Allis: First UMC was blessed to have a Taize Worship experience during Lent on March 12th and 26th at both services at 8:00 and 11:00 am. It was well attended by friends, neighbors and church members both in person and online. The purpose was to renew the local church both spiritually and missionally. Thanks be to God!
-Submitted by Pastor Sam Royappa

Watch Video Recording of The Taize Worship Service, Sunday, March 26,  2023

The Great Lakes Team Serves at Midwest Mission Distribution Center
Baraboo First UMC

Baraboo First UMC is a church on a mission. If they are not serving in their local community, they are ready and eager to meet the needs of those around the world. Recently, Baraboo First UMC sent two teams down to the Midwest Mission Distribution Center (MMDC) in Pawnee, Illinois. 

The first team of Jerry and Sandy Jackson, Revs. David and Barbara Kell, Judy Ellington and Cheryl Anderson served a portion of the week of January 29th at MMDC. The second team was a part of the “Great Lakes Team” that served in March. 

Rev. David Kell has been going to Midwest Mission since 2003. He has done everything from painting and building in the warehouses to mowing the lawn. He loves woodworking on the desks and found some schools bleachers from Darlington High School for MMDC here in in Wisconsin. His wife, Rev. Barbara Page-Kell says, “I think for both of us, one of the greatest joys was seeing the flood buckets on the pallets across from Festival (grocery store) when there was flooding here in the Baraboo area.” Midwest sends things “around the corner and around the world” as their mission says. Barb continued, “Not 24 hours after the last tornadoes, they were shipping out needed things.” David added, “This is one of the greatest ways to be in hands on mission.”

 -Submitted By Rev. Cathy Christman, Pastor serving Baraboo First UMC in Baraboo Wisconsin
Read more

Jewish Music & Food Cultural Night
Wauwatosa Avenue UMC

On Sunday, March 27, Wauwatosa Avenue United Methodist Church hosted the Milwaukee Jewish Community Chorale as part of its Cultural Night Series. The evening featured Jewish singing and food that was enjoyed by almost 100 people! It was such a pleasure to bring together this group with the church's congregation, friends and people from the community to share how we are all one under God.

-Submitted by Paula Fink

Share Your Story!

We are called to share the good news in all the ways we can. Sharing your stories is way for us to be in community together. Every church has a story to tell and we want to hear about them and what is happening in the life of your church.  We want to hear from churches around our conference so if you have a story that you would like included in an upcoming ENews please use the link below and fill out the form.  We would love to have pictures to accompany the story! Submit story here

Share Your Event!

We're looking for events that celebrate local church communities across the state. Help us spread the word about your upcoming event by sharing it with us here!  Please be sure that your submission provides complete details. Subject to our editorial review, we will add your event to our Events Calendar and share it in the weekly Enews. Submit your event here 

Resources For Native American Ministries Sunday
United Methodist Communications

ATLANTA — Native American Ministries Sunday is April 23, and resources are available to mark the date. The Native American Ministries Pastor and Leader Kit includes posters; pre-written emails and other social media content; infographics; videos; and pew cards. Donations made on this Special Sunday help develop and strengthen Native American ministries in annual conferences and communities.
Download resources

United Methodist Communications Releases 2022 Annual Report

Nashville, Tenn.: United Methodist Communications has released its 2022 Annual Report highlighting the agency’s communications initiatives and activities on behalf of The United Methodist Church around the world.

“The past year was a time of challenges and celebration,” shared chief agency executive Dan Krause. “We worked to address emerging priorities as we continued to lead the church forward in communicating more effectively, expanding communications support outside the U.S., collaborating with other church entities and evolving in ways that are relevant for the future. We focused on equipping church leaders as they continue to adjust to ministry in a post-pandemic environment, providing clear and relevant information and reinforcing and celebrating our core identities as United Methodists.”
Read press release

GCORR Board Of Directors Gathers For Spring Meeting In San Antonio
UM News

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR) Board of Directors recently gathered in San Antonio, Texas for their Spring board meeting from March 24-26, 2023. Hosted at La Trinidad United Methodist Church, the historic Mexican-American church welcomed board members from across the world to discuss business, share insights from their respective contexts, and learn about the history and ministries of San Antonio. 
Read press release

Donations Needed As MMDC Prepares To Send Disaster Relief
Midwest Mission Distribution Center

On Friday, March 31, tornadoes swept through the Midwest, leaving paths of destruction throughout several communities. 

We need your help in preparing to send disaster relief. 

As we learn about the level of damage, Midwest Mission is preparing to respond. We anticipate sending Midwest Mission Tornado Kits, shovels, rakes, and tools. When called upon, we will work with local partners to distribute requested supplies. You can play a vital role in disaster relief - assisting in getting items to people in need.

Pray
Your prayer is needed. Pray for those affected by the tornadoes, for those responding to the disaster, and for the relief process. Pray that the right people will receive the resources they need.

Donate Monetary Gifts
Your monetary donations allow us to promptly respond to requested supplies. We anticipate totes being the number one request, and we will purchase in bulk to maximize shipping and storage. Donate here

Donate To UMCOR US Disaster Response

Recent storms and tornadoes throughout the Mississippi Delta region caused massive destruction. More than 25 people died with dozens more injured. Amid this devastation, The United Methodist Church is responding with love and compassion to help rebuild lives. Your gift to UMCOR ensures that communities have the resources they need to rebuild and restore.
Give now

Online Service Of Lament Planned
Discipleship Ministries

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Discipleship Ministries is planning an online worship experience titled “Out of Ashes: A Service of Lament in a Season of Disaffiliation.” The service is scheduled for 11 a.m. U.S. Central time April 20 and is intended to be a time to name loss while seeking the new thing God is doing.
Read press release
To register