WI Conference Weekly ENews - February 10, 2022

Bishop's Convocation of Laity Leadership 2022  This Saturday February 12, 2022! Online Event via Zoom 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM All are invited to join us in connecting with our Conference Lay Leadership. Please invite others in your congregations to join us! Bishop Jung has asked all participants to have read John Wesley’s sermon “The Unity of the Divine Being”. Registration deadline is February 11, 2022, at noon. Sponsored by the Conference Board of Laity. For questions about the event, contact Ben Brancel at brancelangus@gmail.com. No cost to join the event but you need to be registered. Register here    Download Bishop Jung's Study 2021 Statistics Update Thank you to the many church leaders who have been working to accumulate and key in their congregations’ 2021 statistics.  The Northwest District is still leading the way with 22% of the churches completing and another 32% in progress. Note for this week:  We know that many of the pastors showing on the reports are incorrect.  We are working with GCFA and the EZRA software to correct this.  Don’t worry.  We have the correct information in our Brick River database. If you have any questions, check out the recorded training video and the Power Point slides at Statistical Reporting - Wisconsin Conference of the UMC (wisconsinumc.org).  Contact statistics.wisconsinumc@gmail.com if you have questions on the report, or Sarah Sneider at 608-837-7320.

Black History Month: Wisdom from an Icon Civil rights icons like John Lewis cite his influence often. United Methodist pastor and activist James M. Lawson is known as the "architect of the nonviolence movement" in America. Lawson was a close ally to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and trained the young people whose peaceful witness at lunch counters in the South sought to end racial discrimination in businesses and public places. In 2016, at age 88, he looked back at the pivotal moments that shaped his life and ministry. Watch video here

Tony A. Kearney, Sr., Executive Director of Northcott Neighborhood House Receives 2022 Black Excellence Award
Tony A. Kearney, Sr., Executive Director of Northcott Neighborhood House is honored to be one of the award recipients for the 2022 Class of the Black Excellence Awards.
 
Mr. Kearney said, "this is a reflection of the Northcott Neighborhood House team, staff, board members and partners; fulfilling the mission daily by dedicating their lives to the people of Milwaukee for the last 61 years. We THANK YOU Black Excellence Awards for this distinguish honor."
 
Please find below the link to review the WISN interview with Diana Gutierrez, and please feel to share the good news of Northcott Neighborhood House.   
https://www.wisn.com/article/black-excellence-awards-tony-kearney/39003197

WI UMW Mission Action Day (Virtual) - SAVE the DATE!
Save the date for the WI UM Women's Mission Action Day, April 9, 2022 from 9:00 am to Noon.  The theme this year is "A Time to Connect with our Wisconsin Native American Sisters". The presenters this year are  Candi Cornelius, MSN RN, CLC-Oneida Prenatal Care Coordinator and Alice Skenandore, Founder and Director of Wise Women Gathering Place.  Registration information coming soon!  If your church would like to host a watch party for the event, please contact Josie Gobel at josiegobel@charter.net. 

First Aid for Mental Health – See the world through the eyes of others

Live, virtual training – March 10 and 24

Recognizing the need to create a more empathic community and environment within the United Methodist Church for those struggling with mental health, Wespath is offering first aid training for mental health. First Aid for Mental Health is for EVERYONE. Clergy and their spouses, Church leaders, staff and congregation members are all invited to attend—at no cost. The skills acquired can be applied to many situations, including home, social and professional environments. For more information and to register, scan the QR code or visit the First Aid for Mental Health event page at Wespath.org/r/firstaidmh. 

Anti Racism Task Force Cultural Competency Forum Power, Internalized Oppression and Cultural Competency This forum is an emerging platform created to enable persons and congregations to become culturally competent.             February 25, 2022, 7pm - 9pm              February 26, 2022, 10am - 12pm              Via Zoom - Register here

Continuing Education Event for both Clergy and Laity

The Wisconsin Conference and the North West District are hosting continuing education seminars for clergy and laity.  Rev. Dr. J. Samuel Subramanian, Ph.D., an elder in The United Methodist Church, will lead the study based on his recent publication "The Four Gospels".  The dates of the seminars are Feb. 28, Mar. 28, Apr. 25, 2022 from 9:30-12:00 pm. To register or find out more information, click here.