January 9, 2024
Praying to End Gun Violence
Faith leaders from around Missouri and beyond came together at Trinity Episcopal Church in St. Louis for a prayer vigil of lament, hope and resolve centered around ending gun violence. Read more here→
Upcoming Events
UMC Polity Online Class
Wednesdays, 7-8:30 p.m., Feb. 28 - March 20
Have you ever wondered how this movement of Methodism started, how and why we do what we do and how we do it, at the local, district and Conference level? This class unpacks the history of Methodism, along with why we believe what we believe, and the “how’s and why’s” of why we are organized the way we are. This is a great class for all laity to understand who the people called Methodists really are. The four-week online class will be taught by Rev. Steve Jones (Camdenton UMC). Sign up →
Other Upcoming Events
See the full events calendars at www.moumethodist.org/events
Featured Resources
Implicit Bias Courses Training
The Missouri Conference has partnered with the UMC General Commission on Race and Religion to create a Missouri-specific version of the course “Implicit Bias: What We Don't Think We Think.” Any Missouri Conference member – clergy or lay – is invited to take the training for free to learn about the unconscious bias we all experience. Learn more and enroll→
Learn and Lead Podcast: Reclaiming Rural Ministry with Rev. Allen T. Stanton
Many Missouri Conference churches are in rural areas. In this podcast Rev. Allen Stanton describes the challenges and opportunities facing churches in small town America and the unique position they have as potential agents of change within their communities.
Traditional Churches: Four Steps for Starting New Things and Reaching New People
The reality of decline is felt on so many levels. Survival has become the goal. If we are willing, we can do better than that. Fresh expressions of church are new, contextual faith communities that are tethered to an established congregation. They exist to reach different people, but they also have the ability to bring new life and energy to a traditional congregation. Introducing your congregation to the Fresh Expressions mission is very doable, but it does take some thought and may even be painful at first. There is a process or path to walk that can lead to new life and an energized Gospel mission.
See the full resource library at www.moumethodist.org/resourcelibrary
