September 8, 2021

2021 Consultation Forms - Due Nov. 15

The 2021 Consultation Forms are now available for download on the Forms page of the district website.

• 2021 Pastor Consultation Form (for Lead/Senior Pastors)

• 2021 Appointed Associate Pastor Consultation Form (Completed by Senior Pastor and PPR for Associate Pastors)

• 2021 PPR Consultation Form (If you need help with the form, click here for a video tutorial)

Every pastor serving under appointment is required to complete a Consultation Form. The PPR at each church is required to complete one as well.

The deadline to submit the forms to the district office is November 15. It is important to meet this deadline to give the DS a chance to review the forms and set up the necessary meetings in preparation for Cabinet meetings in January. As a friendly reminder, if you do not submit your form by the deadline or let us know that the form will be late, we will put you down as a "Move". Please make sure all forms are completed and signed before submitting them to the district office.

Charge Conference Schedule and Forms

We are taking our fall charge conferences in an exciting new direction this year. Instead of doing them in the fall like usual, we are scheduling them in January. This will give churches additional time to set salaries in better alignment with their 2022 budget; and full time pastors to enroll in health insurance, complete the PSF and Addendum all at the same time. It also means new leaders for the coming year will not have to be nominated 3-4 months in advance of when their leadership role begins. Even though the charge conference dates will be in mid-January, the Pastoral Support Form and new leadership teams will still be effective January 1.

We are offering 3 locations for in person charge conferences in January. Each location will have a suggestion on the area of the district that should attend. However, you are free to attend any location that best fits your schedule. More information on registration for the locations will be sent at a later date. We will not be holding any individual charge conferences this year. All churches must attend one of these.

• Sunday, January 9 from 2:00pm-4:00pm - Memorial UMC in Farmington

• Saturday, January 15 from 9:30am-11:30am - Hermann UMC

• Sunday, January 16 from 2:00pm-4:00pm - SunRise UMC

All of the charge conference forms, including the Pastoral Support Forms, are now available for download on the Forms page of the district website. With the change in schedule, there is also a change in the deadline to submit the forms to the district office. All Forms, including the PSF Addendum for Full Time Pastors, will be due to the district office by Wednesday, December 1. We will not accept any forms that do not have the necessary signatures.

New Places For New People Grants - Application Deadline Sept. 15

Congregational Excellence is accepting grant applications from now until September 15 from churches that are establishing new places for new people. The first step is to fill out a worksheet and submit it to your District Superintendent.

Thinking Theologically Discussion Courses

Thinking Theologically provides intellectual renewal through small group, discussion-based courses focused on a single concept, theory or reading. Together we’ll connect these theological thoughts to aspects of congregational ministry, including preaching, community formation, age-level ministry, pastoral care and community involvement.

BMCR's "Resurgence: Navigating the Changing Ministry Landscape"

Is your church making a significant difference in relevant mission or ministry?  As a leader, are you seeking to know how to lead into the future? What would a fresh wind that rejuvenates a declining congregation, navigating societal shifts, look and feel like? One word: Resurgence, which is a rejuvenation of fresh wind. If ever there was time the church needed a refreshing and resurgence, it's now.

The St.Louis Chapter of BMCR is hosting a class based on the book Resurgence: Navigating the Changing Ministry Landscape by Rev. Drs. Candace Lewis and Rodney T. Smothers. They will be our teachers on Saturday, October 2 from 9 a.m. -12:00 p.m. This learning and leadership event is part of the Ignite Leadership Academy.

Fall Coach Training Opportunities

In partnership with Rev. Val Hastings and Coaching4Clergy, the Missouri Conference is offering the three steps of training required to become an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) with the International Coach Federation. It’s a great deal on some terrific training and all the details are below, including the link for registration.