November 17, 2021

Charge Conference Schedule and Forms - Deadline Dec. 1

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. All forms should be approved by church council/leadership prior to submitting them to the district office by the deadline. 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. You are free to attend any location that best fits your schedule. We will not be holding any individual charge conferences this year. All churches must attend one of these.

• Sunday, January 9 from 2:00pm-3:30pm - Memorial UMC in Farmington

• Saturday, January 15 from 9:30am-11:00am - Hermann UMC

• Sunday, January 16 from 2:00pm-3:30pm - SunRise UMC

Each church should sign up once for your preferred location. To do so:

1. Check Sign Up for your preferred time slot

2. Click "Submit and Sign Up" Button

3. On the following screen, your name and time slot will appear. There will be another box for you to enter the number of people attending from your church.

4. Click "Sign Up Now" to complete your sign up.

The deadline to sign up for a location is December 1.

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. Any paperwork not turned in on time will result in removal from your timeslot on the Sign Up and a conversation with the DS. 

Full Time Clergy: Annual HealthFlex Enrollment Information

HealthFlex 2022 Annual Enrollment begins today, November 3, 2021, and continues through November 18, 2021. We want to provide you with some resources related to making your healthcare coverage choices.

Since this time last year, Wespath has transition to the new Benefits Access platform. This year, the HealthFlex annual enrollment process will occur on Benefits Access. It’s best to verify that you can log in before it’s time to make your HealthFlex selections.

If you have not registered, please go to Benefits Access, select “New User Registration,” and complete the registration process. If you need help registering for Benefits Access, please call Wespath Customer Service at 1-800-851-2201.

Click Here for resources that will be helpful as you prepare to make your elections, including plan comparisons, premium information and the 2022 PSF Addendum. The Addendum is due December 1 with your charge conference forms.

Giving Tuesday Focus: Mozambique Initiative

For teenage girls in Mozambique, marrying before age 18 isn’t uncommon. With no economic opportunity outside of marriage, many young girls find themselves in early and often difficult marriages.

Local United Methodist Churches in Mozambique are helping girls avoid these situations by training them to sew. This vocational skill allows girls and women to both be financially independent and to help support their families.

The Mozambique Initiative helps meet the greatest needs of partner communities in sub-Saharan Africa. Our partners in Mozambique shared their hope to empower women and support girls by multiplying these sewing and design centers at churches across the country. We’re asking YOU to consider making a gift towards the Mozambique Initiative’s Giving Tuesday campaign. This year Giving Tuesday is November 30.

Changing Church For a Changing World

Changing Church for a Changing World Missouri Vision Day 

December 4th, 2021 9:30 am - 3:30 pm

Charleston UMC 

1700 E Marshall St., Charleston, MO  63834

In the midst of a rapidly changing ministry landscape, Fresh Expressions invites you to join us for a day of envisioning the unique ways the Holy Spirit might be inviting you to step deeper into mission.  

In this interactive day of training you will: 

• Catalyze a vision for a church that sends out the everyday people of God to be on mission in their networks and neighborhoods

• Brainstorm ways to connect with people your church may not be currently engaging

• Discover how fresh expressions of church can emerge alongside your traditional church

• Explore creative ways of being the church in the world today

Click the file linked below for the flyer. For more information contact Charleston UMC, 573-683-6188 or Pastor Robb Webster.

2021 Conference & District Apportionments - Deadline Jan. 10

The final date to submit 2021 apportionment payments is January 10th, 2022. Any apportionment payment sent after December 31st, 2021  will need to be sent with guaranteed delivery before 4:30 p.m. on the 8th (i.e. FedEx/UPS/USPS Guaranteed Deliver). Payments may always be hand-delivered to the Conference Office in Columbia or the District Office in Ballwin during business hours. Any payments received after 4:30 p.m. on January 10, 2022 will not be credited to 2021 apportionments.

Missouri Annual Conference
3601 Amron Ct.
Columbia, MO 65202

Gateway Regional District
301 Sovereign Ct.
Suite 100
Ballwin, MO 63011

2021 Year End Stats - Deadline Jan. 24

Below are the important dates regarding the 2021 Year End Stats.

• Stats module opens – December, 27 2021

• Stats Deadline Entry - January 24, 2022

• Stats module closes – January, 31 2022 - No changes can be made after the module closes

The link to the Stats Module is below. The module is not open for reporting yet, but you can access previous years if you need that information now. You will need to know your church's Conference ID and GCFA #s. Both can be found on your conference apportionment statements.

Click Here for the conference's year end stats resources page to view previous webinars that are helpful in breaking down each line of the Year End Stats module. There are also other resources on this page that might be useful as you prepare to enter your 2021 stats.

UMC of St. Clair Seeking PT Office Adminstrator

Are you a self-starter with a great work ethic and possess the need to succeed? We are looking for someone who is a committed Christian and is actively involved in the ministry of their church. If you would like to work part-time somewhere that is here to make a difference, we would love to talk with you.

The Saint Clair United Methodist Church is looking for a Part-Time Office Administrator. This person would possess the skills needed to successfully support the Church’s mission and the continued administration and ministry of the church. The Office Administrator will work under the direction of the Pastor and where appropriate, the Treasurer.

Click Here for the full job description. Interested parties should contact [email protected].

Grace (St. Louis) Has Communion Cups/Trays Available

Available at no cost on a first come, first serve basis: 200 plastic communion cups, 100 glass cups, and two wooden trays. If interested, please contact the Grace UMC office at 314-863-1992