WI Conference Weekly ENews - July 20, 2022

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Accessing the People Portal Within The Conference Database

Clergy under appointment and lay persons who hold leadership positions within the conference have been access to the People Portal within the Conference Database.

The People Portal is accessed by a link on the bottom of any page of the conference website by using a username and password unique to each person. If you are unsure of your login information, please contact the District Office for assistance. If you know your username but have forgotten your password, please click the “Need help logging in” link and enter the email address on file with the Conference.

The People Portal is a way to securely access individual information we have about, and for, persons in relationship with our annual conferences. Most of us are familiar with this kind of online access through our doctor’s offices, where we have an individual log-in to see chart information and appointments.

In their People Portal clergy and lay assigned will find:

• Contact information which can be reviewed and updated if needed
• Education History which can be reviewed, updated, or added to
• Current forms which are being requested (these are available if they apply and during the window of time in which we are requesting them)
• If appointed to a local church, a link to the Church Dashboard and charge conference forms

People Portal access will be used more frequently for completing requested forms, including a new Clergy Compensation form process this fall. This is a low-stress way for clergy and lay pastoral leaders to review and update their contact information. We encourage you to get familiar with this mode of connection and communication between you and the district and conference offices. If you have questions, Heidi Careaga or Kristy Yang, in the District Office, can assist you.

We hope that you will log in and become familiar with your People Portal before Charge Conference Season.

Join Rev. Scott Carlson For A Journey To The Holy Land
February 8-17, 2023

Rev. Scott writes, "I am so excited about the opportunity to be helping to lead a pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan in February of 2023.  I invite you to pray and consider joining me on this adventure of faith.
 
Traveling to the lands of the bible has opened my eyes to a deeper understanding of the scriptures we read and hold as sacred.  It has been described that the land of the Holy Land is the fifth Gospel.  That has certainly been my experience.  Just being in the place that is talked about in the Holy Scriptures, opens up how I hear the stories anew. 

When in Nazareth, I had a chance to see how a first century home may have looked.  The home consisted of just a few rooms.  One was a living area, where the food was prepared.  Where, at night, the bed mats were laid out and where, during bad weather, the animals were brought in and placed (The stable).  Seeing this house helped me hear the birth stories very different." Read more
View Trip Brochure

Leading Public Prayer Lay Servant Course at Cudahy UMC:

Cudahy UMC is offering the Leading Public Prayer class on October 9th and 16th, 2-6 pm.  This will be a hybrid class with a registration fee of $10.  We will be using the book "Shaping the Prayers of the People" by S. Wells and  A Kocher  which is available in paperback from Cokesbury and paperback or Kindle on Amazon.

Please email cudahyclasses@gmail.com to register.

UM Church & Society Announces 2022 Grant Funding Cycle

The timeframe to submit grant applications to The General Board of Church and Society is August 1, 2022 to September 16, 2022 via the new online application system opening on their website (Grants page) August 1, 2022.

Funding is provided through three grant programs

1. Ethnic Local Church Grants
2. Human Relations Day Grants
3. Peace with Justice Grants

Applicants are asked to provide (1) a program/project summary, (2) budget and supporting documentation including no fewer than two references and (3) a letter from the Resident Bishop. Complete criteria and required documentation are provided on the application.
Read More

Registration is OPEN for August's Stewardship Conference at Pine Lake

Join us at the newly rebranded Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation’s Annual Stewardship Conference at picturesque Pine Lake Camp on August 12-13! The theme is: “Stewardship as the Dust Settles,” with keynote speaker Rev. Dan Dick. Registration is now open! Come for one day or stay overnight. NEW this year – a virtual option through Zoom. Educational materials are available for purchase.

Register at https://wiumcamps.campbrainregistration.com/. 
Find more information and an agenda at https://www.wumf.org/upcoming-events/ 
If you have a question, email jason@wumf.org or 608-837-9582.

United Methodist Religion and Race 
Racial Justice Prayer & Action Challenge
Week 5: Hope

The fifth week of the Racial Justice Prayer & Action Challenge has begun. This week's theme is hope and the scripture inspiring this week's prayers is Job 14:7-9:

"At least there is hope for a tree:
    If it is cut down, it will sprout again,
    and its new shoots will not fail.
Its roots may grow old in the ground
    and its stump die in the soil,
yet at the scent of water it will bud
    and put forth shoots like a plant."

As a reminder, there are a few things you can do to participate:

• Sign up as a participant on the Racial Justice Prayer & Action Challenge web page. It's not too late!
• Share the prayers posted daily on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
• Use the downloadable prayers and litanies in your church services.
• Join our private Facebook group for participants and swap ideas and encouragement.
• Use our hashtag (#prayforracialjustice) when posting or sharing content related to the challenge.

Thank you for your support and we hope that you'll continue to join us in this time of prayer and action. Join The Racial Justice Prayer & Action Challenge

UM Finance and Administration
Training Opportunity for Administrative Staff

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The General Council on Finance and Administration, the denomination’s finance agency, will host the 2022 Academy of Church Business Administration Aug. 22-Sept. 1. Through the academy, church administrators receive the necessary in-classroom training to obtain their designation as a certified church administrator.
To learn more
Frequently asked questions (PDF)
To register

Fountain Park UMC in Sheboygan Hosts Group Camp Fixing Homes in Sheboygan County

During the week of June 26th, Christian youth from around the country gathered in Sheboygan County to fix-up homes. Their journey to do this job actually started over two years ago. In 2019, plans were made by the host church, Fountain Park UMC in Sheboygan, working in coordination with Group Workcamps. Unfortunately, those plans came to a halt due to the pandemic in 2020. The members of Fountain Park UMC didn’t lose hope and immediately shifted plans to a future date. Those plans became a reality in 2022 when 201 teenagers and their adult leaders from eight states arrived in Sheboygan on June 26th.

Group Workcamps is a non-profit ministry and interdenominational Christian volunteer home repair organization headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado. Each summer over 12,000 high school youth and adults participate in 35 work camps in communities across the United States. Read More
View All Photos

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 

Midwest Mission Distribution Center is GROWING!
A new Quonset hut will provide needed storage space

"Two years ago, Operations Specialist Ramon Ortiz and former employee now volunteer Zach Suter made the trek to Florida to disassemble, load, and bring back a Quonset hut. It is made of curved pieces of steel. After the arches are assembled, each arch is bolted together to create the structure and can actually last up to 100 years. The new addition is on the east side of campus just beyond the dormitory. 

"That durability is what we need," says Operations Manager, Brad Walton, who is the staff member who has overseen the project. "It's going to be an important resource for us, housing our trucks, mowers, and tractor to keep it all protected from the elements. By getting this equipment out it opens more space in the warehouses where it's a temperature-controlled for inventory items we send out." 

Dianne and Richard Williams of Chandler, AZ are leading the volunteer charge. They have previously led many large construction projects including the staff offices, and rear loading dock. When they heard that Midwest Mission was building a Quonset hut, they were ready for the challenge. 

Local volunteers, Bill Walden and Todd Shelly have also stepped up, literally, onto the scaffolding to ensure the steel arches are assembled and then bolted securely. 
"It's been a team effort from the beginning," says Brad. "Brian Abshire is a local farmer who is lending his time, expertise, and tractor to the project. It isn't something that can be completed overnight. It takes a group of dedicated people and we have that!" 

Midwest Mission recently received the necessary financial resources from the Brick-by-Brick campaign to pour the foundations so the building could go up. It's only when we ask you to prayerfully consider meeting the financial goals for bigger projects and you answer that call, that we get to move forward with these kinds of upgrades. Midwest Mission only spends money when we have it. We operate completely debit-free."

Wespath
How Disaffiliation Can Affect Pensions

GLENVIEW, Ill. — The church agency that handles pensions is offering a video explaining how pension plan funding can be affected when churches choose to disaffiliate from the denomination. The video, also available as a podcast, answers questions such as whether clergy pension plans are fully funded and why a disaffiliating church is required to make a payment to the conference it is leaving.
Read press release and watch video
Listen to podcast

United Methodist Communications:
Facebook Q & A
July 27th  I  11:00am- 1:00pm CST

Join our Local Church Services team on July 27 for a special Facebook Q&A event set for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. U.S. Central time. During this two-hour period, simply visit Facebook.com/umcom, where you can ask questions and get answers about growing your church through marketing and outreach. Get your questions ready ahead of time and then submit them during the online event.

Learn more

United Methodist Communications
How to Create Artisan Communities 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Despite God's beautiful example, many people don't incorporate the arts in their spiritual lives. Setting up a faith-focused artisan community could be the perfect way to bring people from multiple generations together in one ministry. Gavin Richardson has some tips on getting started.
Read story

The GFCA Collaborator-
More Savings For Your Ministry With Ace Hardware

Did you know that you can save 10%* on purchases for your ministry, school, and camp at www.acehardware.com and in participating** stores? For details on how to enroll in the program so you can receive your exclusive discount, click here. 

Ace offers everything you need to maintain your facilities, including paint and painting supplies. As you plan for your next ministry painting project, come to Ace for top brands you can count on. We offer Benjamin Moore, Wooster, Purdy, ArroWorthy, Linzer, Whizz, and more. Click here to learn more about painting applicators you can save on with your discount.