WI Conference Weekly ENews - March 10, 2022 - Register NOW for WI Annual Conference 2022

3/10/2022 - Conference News

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Bishop's Day Apart for Clergy & Laity

During  these days  together, we will feature our quadrennial  focus, Radical Inclusion and Racial Justice, as our continuous mission and ministry direction. Our  Anti-Racism Task Force and Bishop’s Task Force are working on how we can build the beloved community together in the Wisconsin Conference. During Bishop’s Days Apart with Clergy and Laity, each district will participate in study and reflection on Radical Inclusion and Racial Justice. Read More

Registration links:

North West Clergy: https://wisconsin-reg.brtapp.com/NorthWestDistrictDayApartClergy
North West District Laity:  https://wisconsin-reg.brtapp.com/BishopsDayApartLaity
South East: https://wisconsin-reg.brtapp.com/southeastbishopsdayapart
South West: https://wisconsin-reg.brtapp.com/southwestbishopsdayapart

Register Now for Wisconsin Annual Conference 2022
June 10-13, 2022  l  KI Convention Center  l  Green Bay, WI

Registration for the Wisconsin Annual Conference 2022 is now open. Attendees have the option to attend in person in Green Bay, WI or attend online. Registration for Wisconsin Annual Conference 2022 is now online. All information about the event is available on the registration website. 

Register at: https://na.eventscloud.com/wac2022hybrid. This Conference-wide event is by invitation only. If your Lay Member to Annual Conference has changed, please update your leadership assignments in your church dashboard and contact Lori Denoyer at ldenoyer@wisconsinumc.org or 608-837-7328 with any questions. 
Early Bird Registration runs March 8 - March 31, 2022, at 11:45pm. 
Access Registration Website for More Information

Anti-Racism Task Force Cultural Competency Forum Presents Zoom Webinar:
"Exploring Cultures: An Examination of Diversity"
Saturday, March 26  l  10:00am - 12:00pm  l  Zoom 

Exploring Cultures: An Examination of Diversity provides a look into the various ethnic, orientation and ability cultures that comprise the Wisconsin Annual Conference. The values, worldviews and norms of selected cultures will be examined, and a panel composed of persons from selected cultures will share stories of who they are and important aspects of their lives. Participation is free of charge to Wisconsin Conference clergy and laity.
Learn More and Register Now
 

Wisconsin Conference Workshop-
“Leading the Church through the Pandemic World”
April 30  l  10:00am - 3:00pm  l  In-Person and Zoom

What kind of church are you planning to be moving through the pandemic world?  Bring your team of leaders and come experience this interactive workshop where you will create a Ministry Action Plan (MAP) to enact the needed game changing leadership strategies in your church. Kay Kotan, author of "Being the Church in a Post Pandemic World" will lead the workshop. 

For more information and to register please click here.

With 4 or more registrations from one church, you may request a Zoom Webinar for your local church. When registering, go to group registration, skip the place for meeting (Madison Bethany or Menomonie) and complete group registration.  Also inform Dick Jones of your request.  djonesgrafton@gmail.com 

Faith Alive 2.0 - Register Now!

Bishop Jung will be joining us on our Faith Alive 2.0 journey in April - and you are invited to join us, too!  Your involvement in the mission of the church has never been more necessary than now. Bishop Jung will lead us toward spiritual maturity and endurance for all times in CALLED TO MINISTRY AND LEADERSHIP.
 
This opportunity to learn and grow together will be available virtually on April 8 and 9.  Join both Friday evening (7:00-8:30 p.m.) and Saturday (9:00 a.m. -8:30 p.m. - with meal breaks). The cost is $40 and checks should be made out to the Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation.  If you have questions or need more information, contact Gail Burgess at 262-945-8578. Click here for more information and to register.

Advanced Lay Servant Course- Your Powerful Question
April 2 & 9, 2022  l  9:00 - 3:00pm  l  Faith UMC, Sheboygan Falls

Finding your Powerful Question within your Spiritual Gifts - Each of us has a Powerful Question lived out in the narrative of your own life's journey and one which is embedded within your God given Spiritual Gifts. This two-day ecumenical workshop is designed to help you become a more enlightened spiritual leader and move you to a more God-centered way of life. 

For more information and to register, please go to www.askyourpowerfulquestion.com or click here

Wisconsin Conference Communications Department launches website support for churches

Your church website has become more important than ever these days. Is your website current? Do you know how to edit your website? Do you need to create a website? Are you asking "Where do I start?" We are here to answer your questions and help you get your website up to date.  Lisa Wink, Director of Communications and Scott Huelsman, a professional webmaster, have created an online community for you to ask your questions and get the support you need. Join the community now! Click here to access the Microsoft Team. Please contact Lisa Wink at lwink@wisconsinumc.org with questions. 
Denominational News
 

UMC General Conference Postponed Until 2024;
Bishops Exploring Various Pathways

Washington, D.C.- The Commission on the General Conference today announces the further postponement of the postponed 2020 General Conference of The United Methodist Church. The next General Conference will be in 2024. In response to the decision, Council of Bishops President Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey said:
I give thanks for the Commission on the General Conference, a committed and faithful group of laity and clergy. The Commission continues to serve tirelessly, and their work is deeply appreciated and valued. The decision regarding the postponement of General Conference rests with the Commission alone and does not come without significant study and care. The bishops do not serve as voting members of the Commission.
Read More

Ukraine Pastor and Eurasia Bishop Reflect on Invasion of Ukraine

Rev. Dr. Fred Vanderwerf, Southern Prairie District superintendent, and his wife Stacy spent eight years as missionaries in Ukraine. He recently interviewed two United Methodists with unique perspectives on the situation there: Pastor Volodymyr Prokip, who leads a student ministry in Lviv, Ukraine, and Bishop Eduard Khegay, resident bishop of the Eurasia Episcopal Area (which includes Russia and Ukraine).
Read More
Local Church Stories
 

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

Mission News


Save the Date: 2023 Mission Trip to Lima, Peru
March 3-13, 2023  l  Faith UMC, Sheboygan Falls, WI

Faith United Methodist Church located in Sheboygan Falls Wisconsin will be leading a Mission Trip to Lima, Peru in March 2023. The total cost for the trip will be $1,500 plus airfare to and from Lima. Applications will be accepted until October 1, 2022. Please email Jody Pratt at prattgji09@gmail.com for applications and more information. Stay posted for updates about this trip!

Tornadoes Slam Iowa- Midwest Mission Distribution Center offers ways to help

On Saturday, March 5, 2022 a large, severe storm front moved across Iowa resulting in EF 3 tornadoes in the late afternoon. Many communities have been impacted and sadly these storms resulted in 7 deaths.
There are many ways to help:

  • Pray for those affected, those in shelters, and those responding
  • Donate a financial gift to Iowa Disaster Response, Special Advance #223 or to a church impacted by the storm
  • Reach out if you know someone impacted by the storm. Check in with them.
  • Make clean-up buckets and personal hygiene kits (visit umcor.org for kit-making directions) and bring them to Annual Conference
For more information on how you can help, contact Pastor Catie Newman at 712-899-4067.
 
Upcoming Events

Other Resources
 
 
Wisconsin Council of Churches Presents Webinar- "Spirituality and Family Systems: Caring for Ourselves as We Care for Our Congregations"
March 15 at 2:00pm  l  Rev. Karen Hagen  l  Webinar

 How do we more than survive this time? Is there a way we may thrive/ Our careers have been marked by great grief and intensity given these pandemic years. Many pastors consider joining the great resignation in the face of such daunting times. Is there a way we may thrive? How do we as pastors stay spiritual, resisting the urge, and sometimes congregational directive, to have it all together meeting everyone's needs in ever-evolving and more ways/ How do we truly lead during this challenging time? Let's talk!

This is an online webinar facilitated by Rev. Karen Hagen, Tippecanoe Faithing Community. For more information, email Breanna at illene@wichurches.org. 

Commemorating 55th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's Riverside Speech- Beyond Vietnam
April 4 at 7:00pm   l  Zoom Webinar

Clergy and people of faith across Wisconsin will gather via Zoom on April 4 to commemorate the 55th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s powerful and prescient "Beyond Vietnam" speech with a virtual Read-In. The event will also be livestreamed on WISDOM's Facebook page. Representing Jewish, Christian, Sikh, Unitarian, and Buddhist faiths, clergy, high school and college students, Black, White, Latinx, gay, straight, and trans, will all come together to read the speech collaboratively. 

The Read-In is co-sponsored by MICAH, Wisconsin Council of Churches, the Wisconsin Council of Rabbis, Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice, and WISDOM.
Register Here

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