March 21, 2022
Staying United Methodist
The United Methodist Church is not splitting, which would mean churches need to choose a side. Instead, some individual churches choose to disaffiliate under the provision of Paragraph 2553 in the Book of Discipline, which provides for a disaffiliation process if the church cannot remain due to its difference of opinion (reasons of conscience) relating to sexuality. The following story shares the perspective of some leaders in the Missouri Conference who hold a traditional position but are not considering leaving the United Methodist Church, at least not at this time. Instead, they share how they came to be United Methodists and why they continue to be United Methodists. Read more here→
Upcoming Events
Early Response Team Training
Join us in person in Kansas City on Saturday, April 22, for Early Response Team Training. ERTs fill a specific need in the days after a disaster to clean out flood-damaged homes, remove debris, place tarps on homes, and otherwise help to prevent further damage, while providing a caring Christian presence. Space is limited to 20 participants per class. Learn more→
Other Upcoming Events
See the full events calendars at www.moumethodist.org/events
Missouri United Methodist Foundation Scholarship Deadline
The deadline for 2023-2024 undergraduate scholarship applications is April 1, 2023. All materials must be postmarked by this date in order to qualify. Current college students as well as incoming freshmen are encouraged to apply. For more information or to download an application, visit https://www.mumf.org/students/undergraduate-scholarships/.
Featured Resource
Ministry Grants Available
Have a ministry idea that needs an extra boost? There’s a grant for that! Funds are available through the Missouri Conference and its related entities for your new or existing ministry idea. Missouri United Methodist Churches can apply for funds through several grant programs supporting local ministry projects. We encourage you to apply for multiple grant opportunities. Each program has a different focus and requires a different application. Learn more about each, and their spring application deadline, at www.moumethodist.org/grants.
Mental Health First Aid
What do you do if someone has a panic attack in the middle of a church service? How would you respond if someone in your congregation expresses suicidal thoughts or shows signs of post-traumatic stress? If someone in your Sunday school class appears isolated and depressed, how would you approach them? These are just a few of the situations where a church leader might encounter mental illness within the congregation. Mental Health First Aid is a skills-based training course that teaches participants about mental health and substance-use issues.
Ageism: What it Looks Like
Implicit ageism refers to the subconscious thoughts, feelings, and behaviors one has about the elderly (or young people). In many homes and cultures, negative stereotypes about old age become ingrained early in life. As a result, negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors can be activated automatically when older persons are present or enter a space. While elderly individuals have different internal reservoirs for coping with life’s challenges, older adults as a group may be the object of hostility in many social and institutional contexts, including the church.
See the full resource library at www.moumethodist.org/resourcelibrary
