WI Conference Weekly ENews - June 29, 2022

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Volunteers Needed To Help Clean Up Camp Storm Damage

The camps are ready to welcome any and all help. Volunteers are asked to bring their own food, as camps don't have capacity to feed everyone right now. The good news is that WI UM Camps have received an UMCOR disaster grant, so expenses, food and mileage can be reimbursed. Financial donations are welcome through the camp websites. If you want to help in other ways, contact Sue D’Alessio, (262) 389.9351 or sdalessio@wisconsinumc.org, who is coordinating the help. Our Wisconsin UMVIM (Volunteers in Mission) are also coordinating full work teams. Contact Wes Hurlburt at   weshurlburt@gmail.com for more information about those groups.

New District Superintendent Contact Information 

Beginning July 1, 2022, we will have 3 new District Superintendents! We welcome them to their new roles and want to let you know how you can get in contact with them.

District Superintendent Contact Information:

North Central DS – Tsuker Yang – tyang@wisconsinumc.org 
North East DS – Park Hunter – phunter@wisconsinumc.org 
North West DS – Barbara Certa-Werner – bcertawerner@wisconsinumc.org 
South East DS – Ebenezor Insor – einsor@wisconsinumc.org 
South West DS – Amanda Stein – astein@wisconsinumc.org

Share Your Photos With Us From Annual Conference 2022

Did you attend Annual Conference and capture some photos that you would like to share? Click here to share your great photos with us for a chance to be featured in a Special Annual Conference 2022 Highlights Newsletter, the weekly ENews, or on one of our Social Media Platforms. We can't wait to see your photos!

WI Conference Finance Information: 
Wisconsin Sales Tax Exempt New 15 digit Number Effective 7/1/22

The state Department of Revenue sent out letters a year ago to organizations that had a current sales tax exempt number, asking if you were still an active organization and wanted to have a new sales tax exempt number.  We were then issued a new 15 digit number to replace our very old 4 digit number that the Conference had since 1964.  Many churches must have missed this notice, and have been asking what to do.  You will need to complete a new form S-103 to get your new number.  This is a simple form and can be done online.   Here’s a link to the Q&A about this:  DOR Nonprofit Organizations and Government Units - Certificate of Exempt Status (wi.gov)

Here’s one of the questions that explains what is happening as of 7/1:


Here's how to apply for it:


I would recommend  completing the Form S-103 (you can click on the form number above).  Include a copy of your old number to help them verify.  You can say you missed the original form last year.  If you have additional questions, there is a chat function on the Department of Revenue page.

Youth2023 Conference in Daytona, FL

In just over a year from July 25-28t, 2023, youth will be flooding in from all over the United States to worship, learn, and serve together! The Wisconsin Conference is working diligently to take our youth to Daytona Beach, Florida to participate in this AMAZING event. We invite you to take the following 2-minute survey to help us know how to continue planning: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GT5M9J9 

If you have any questions, contact Rev. Liz Alexander at youthministry@wisconsinumc.org. 
Learn More

School For Ministry at Green Lake Conference Center, Oct. 2022
Early Bird Deadline EXTENDED to July 15th

All clergy in the Wisconsin conference are invited and expected to attend School For Ministry 2022 for learning and sharing. We welcome and encourage retired clergy to join us. Our guest will be Dr. Rodolfo Nolasco Jr., the Rueben P. Job Chair in Spiritual Formation and Pastoral Theology at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. He also is Director of the Rueben P. Job Institute for Spirituality and Spiritual Formation. Dr. Nolasco works with mind-brain theory and how it influences spiritual formation. He will address:

• How life events can affect the brain
• Spiritual substance
• Self-care balanced with care for others
• Renewal, revitalization and rejuvenation

Participants are eligible for 1 CEU for attending and participating in School for Ministry. CEU certificate sent upon request to Lori at ldenoyer@wisconsinumc.org

• Early Bird registration $125.00, May 5, 2022 – July 15, 11:45 pm deadline
• Standard registration $150.00, July 16, 2022 - August 15, 11:45 pm deadline
• Late registration/walk-ins $200.00, August 16 - September 20, 4:00 pm final deadline

Learn more

Racial Justice Prayer & Action Challenge Week 2: Repentance

The second week of the Racial Justice Prayer & Action Challenge has begun. This week's theme is repentance and the scripture inspiring this week's prayers is Isaiah 1:16-17 (NRSV):

"Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes;
cease to do evil, learn to do good;
seek justice, rescue the oppressed,
defend the orphan, plead for the widow."

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.
• 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

Resource UMC: Social Media Day is June 30

Social Media Day is an excellent opportunity to embrace the power of social media and consider how it can help to open your church doors to those beyond your surrounding community. United Methodist Communications is here to lend a hand.

Social media is more than being social. It’s a ministry. United Methodist Communications is using social media to inform, encourage, motivate, inspire and engage followers of Christ--and we are resourcing local churches to do the same.
Social Media Resources

UMC Bishops Bemoan US Supreme Court's Decision On Abortion

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church says the decision by the Supreme Court of the United States to overturn Roe v. Wade has denied the sacred worth of women who face “the tragic conflicts of life with life that may justify abortion.” 

In a statement released today by COB President Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton, the bishops said the decision serves to create a further divide between persons of privilege who have the means to seek necessary health care and those who lack this privilege due to their current economic condition, their disproportionately affected lives, or the color of their skin. 

Bishop Bickerton noted that the overturning of Roe v. Wade is a call for the church to rise above the fray to offer words of support and hope in the midst of emptiness and despair and to advocate for women who are unjustly affected and unfairly harmed. 

“I call all United Methodists to a time of deep reflection, prayer, and mobilization as we continue the struggle to stand in the gap with intercession, advocacy, support, and grace for such a time as this,” said Bishop Bickerton. “In the midst of our diversity of opinion, may we be one in our response to those who are broken and to world that is divided.”
Click here to read the full COB statement on Roe v. Wade,

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 

Health Care Mission Trip to Satipo, Peru
March 3 - 13, 2023

Jody Pratt from the Michigan Conference of the UMC and Steve Blake from the Wisconsin Conference of the UMC will colead
a health care mission in the City of Satipo, in the Junin Region of Peru. This is a return mission to sites that were visited during October, 2021. We plan to have the team assemble in Lima Peru on March 3rd. Our team orientation meetings will be held on March 4th. The team will fly to Satipo on March 5th and return to Lima on March 12th. Five clinics will be scheduled in Satipo and the surrounding area during our time there. We will see patients, conduct sessions for children, and distribute reading
glasses and bras.

The cost is $1,500.00 plus round trip airfare to Lima. The round trip fare is to be arranged and paid for by participants. The $1,500 cost will cover all internal travel and food and lodging from March 3rd through March 14th. 

The application deadline is October 1, 2022. Questions may be directed to Jody Pratt at prattgji09@gmail.com or Steve Blake a spblake@charter.net. Application requests should be sent to Jody at prattgji09@gmail.com. Read more

Midwest Mission Distribution Center: Help Ukraine Today

Wisconsin Council Of Churches is Launching Empathetic Listening Series

The WI Council of Churches is excited to share their first video in the Empathetic Listening Series. Featuring church leaders across the state, these videos are a tool to talk about COVID vaccination but also teach simple empathetic listening skills that can be used in many situations. Thank you to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Wisconsin for their help in producing these videos. Are you interested in participating? We could use a few more readers for upcoming videos. Let us know.

UMC.org
Podcast: The need to be a well-informed church

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — People of faith cannot be effective and relevant in the world today if they are not well informed, says Tim Tanton, who oversees UM News. In a “Get Your Spirit in Shape” podcast, Tanton shares details about the news agency of The United Methodist Church.
Listen to podcast

Leadership Institute 2022 - Super Early Bird pricing ends Friday!

July 1st is the deadline to lock in Super Early Bird Pricing for Leadership Institute! Do you remember…a long, long time ago…before the global pandemic…before we had to pivot and rethink everything? A time when ministry leaders would trek from across the globe to learn together…grow together…and eat Kansas City Barbeque together? 
 
Well, it’s time to join us once more for Leadership Institute 2022, September 28-30th! On Day 1, from 9a-4:30p, we’re bringing back Pre-Institute and this time it’s filled with over 40 ministry specific breakout sessions to pick from! After that, we’ve also got a slate of keynote speakers and featured sessions that are sure to inspire and encourage you before you head back to your ministry context.
Learn more