WI Conference Weekly ENews: UMCOR Response, Clergy Tax Workshop, Upcoming Trainings

UMCOR Disaster Response to Recent Tornados

United Methodists in Kentucky, Tennessee and neighboring states are coming to terms with the devastation of a string of tornadoes Dec. 10-11, while also mobilizing quickly to provide food, emergency shelter and other relief.

The storm system that struck on Friday evening into Saturday morning — including one tornado that caused destruction across some 240 miles — is blamed for nearly 90 deaths.    Read More

Please continue to hold victims, survivors and relief workers in your prayers and make a gift to UMCOR’s U.S. Disaster Response and Recovery Fund at https://umcmission.org/advance-project/901670/.

Additional Ways to Help:

Contributions can be sent directly to the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Annual Conferences. (They are currently the Memphis and Tennessee Annual Conferences, but a merger is on the way)! You can find detailed information on their disaster relief efforts at: Disaster Response - (twkumc.org)

One of our pastors, Dr. Jerome Sahabandu from Menomonee Falls Community UMC has had direct contact with the Mayfield, KY United Methodist Church. Their pastor, Rev. Joey Reed responded with this message: Jerome, I'm so happy to hear from you. We are so happy to hear of your prayers!  Please continue praying for our efforts to rebuild our small town. The city of Mayfield is a wonderful place, but we are hurting. We would be honored if you would give to the disaster relief fund at mayfieldfirst.com. Any gift of any size would be greatly appreciated ! Thank you again for reaching out! Joey Reed

Mayfield UMC website is: Mayfield FUMC | Serving Christ in the Heart of the Purchase and their Facebook page is: (20+) Mayfield First United Methodist Church | Facebook

La Farge UMC Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Church Building The La Farge United Methodist Church recently hosted a special service to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the church building.  The special anniversary celebration was held to the day of the first service held in La Farge’s new Methodist Church building on December 5, 1971.  Read More

2022 Clergy Tax Workshop – In-person and Virtual, January 24, 2021 The Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation’s Clergy Tax Workshop is designed to assist you in the preparation of your 2021 Federal and Wisconsin state income tax filings. This year's tax workshop will be both in-person, at Sun Prairie United Methodist Church, and virtual. James Tarp, a tax consultant with Mennenga Tax & Financial Service will facilitate.  Feel free to bring your tax returns, which you can finish filling out during the workshop. If you are a church treasurer and have questions about clergy taxes or tax forms, this workshop could be informative to you as well.   This workshop is made possible through a grant from a bequest from the Rev. Carl Berry is provided at no cost to the Wisconsin Conference or to apportionments. Workshop is January 24, 2022 from 1-4 pm.   Registration closes on January 17. Register here: https://forms.gle/ZFVUmBA6twy4Df9o6   Save the Date! Bishop's Convocation of Laity Leadership Saturday, February 12, 2022 is the date set for the Bishop's Convocation of Laity.  Each year the Board of Laity hosts the Bishop's Convocation of Laity Leadership forum.  This is open to all lay persons in the Wisconsin Conference. More information about the gathering will be available soon!

Training Event: Reconciled Churches: Models of Cultural Competency

The Anti-Racism Task Force is pleased introduce the Cultural Competency Forum of the Wisconsin Annual Conference. Participation in the Forum is free of charge to Wisconsin Conference clergy and laity.
You are invited to begin a journey which will lead to cultural competency by registering for Module 1- Background and Foundational Concepts and participating in the Module’s third and final monthly training and application event: Reconciled Churches: Models of Cultural Competency.  To learn more or to register, please click here.

Lay Servant Ministries Academy Cudahy United Methodist Church will be offering a Lay Servant Ministries Academy March 19 &20, 2022.  It will run from 9am to 3pm Saturday and 1:30 to 5:30 Sunday. The Academy will offer 3 classes from the Lay Speaker Program:  Polity in the UMC which will be in person or zoom, and Spiritual Gifts, in person only, both on Saturday and History of the UMC in person or zoom on Sunday.  We will also have the Introduction class available during the week leading up to the Academy on zoom at times convenient to those persons who need this Introduction class. The Academy will cost $30.00 to take 1 of the Saturday classes and the Sunday class and includes a meal both days.  There is an additional cost of $10.00 for those taking the Introduction as well. Direct any questions and register by email at cudahyclasses@gmail.com and be sure to include your choice of classes. Inquiring Candidates Retreat - January 2022 Do you know someone who is feeling called into ministry?  Maybe you are feeling called, but don’t know where to begin. The Inquiring Candidates Retreat is the starting place to exploring ministry in the United Methodist Church in Wisconsin.  Participants will be offered time in community conversation, prayer and individual discernment about the call to ministry God is prompting in their lives.  At the end of the retreat participants will know the next steps to pursue ministry in the UMC in WI.  The retreat will be at Pine Lake (https://wiumcamps.org/pine-lake/) Friday, January 21 (evening) through Sunday, January 23 (morning). We will follow all mask and social distance protocols that are in place. Cost of this retreat is $75.00. Scholarships are available. To register please contact Rev. Ty Hines, Coordinator of Clergy Credentialing and Vocational Discernment at bordmin@wisconsinumc.org. When registering, please indicate if you will need special accommodations or translation.