Capitol Area South District
Weekly Updates May 5, 2017
A Bias Opinion  
  
A New Generation Of Methodists

Leonard Sweet says that the Wesleyan Revival was born on its knees, rooted in fasting and prayer. For Wesley, prayer was the most powerful force in the universe.

Listen to what others have said about the Wesleyan movement.
Roger Starr, a journalist known as a liberal, Jewish, Democrat, when writing for a journal called The Public Interest, discovered there was only one other period in world history that actually matched the time in which we lived. It was 18th century England. There were problems of addiction, families decomposing, pollution, crime, violence, and rioting.

To find out what pulled England out of its crises, he consulted a historian by the name of Nathan Hatch at Norte Dame University.   Through his research he discovered that the only thing that saved England was someone that he had not really heard much about. Someone by the name of John Wesley who started a movement called Methodism.  Starr wrote, "Now, I don't even know any Methodists. I don't know anything about them. But this Wesley started a movement that literally saved England. It was movement that had profound social, economic, and political consequences and transformed and indeed saved that nation. And maybe what we need to do is to study those Methodists to find out how they did it, and to duplicate what they did back in the 18th century."

About a month after Starr's article, George Will, a journalist known as a conservative, Roman Catholic, Republican, wrote an editorial for The Washington Post. Will wrote, "I never thought I'd agree with anything Roger Starr has ever written. But you know, this liberal has actually got a point. It is that in the 18th century you have the German and French revolutions, and other revolutions around the world, but you don't have an English Revolution. But they did, you see. It was called the Methodist revolution. Because these Methodists turned their world upside down, maybe what we need to do is to take Roger Starr seriously and look at what was the secret of those Methodists."

Then Will added, "I know this is going to sound strange for me, saying that we need some more Methodists to save this world, and I hate to end the column this way, but does anybody out there have a better idea?"

About a month after Will's article, Fred Barnes, a journalist known as an evangelical, Episcopalian, moderate, and editor of the New Republic, wrote an article in response to George Will and Roger Starr.

He registered both agreement and disagreement with both of them. Barnes agreed that the world today needs another Wesley, but found Will's and Starr's analysis coming up short.  He wrote that they forgot one thing: "The source of Wesley's power was religious faith, and religion of a peculiarly social kind. Wesley's evangelism was inseparable from his social activism." People today are not just hungry for the things of the world, but for the things of the Spirit. " A secular Wesley with tips on how to shake poverty won't grip the underclass.  A religious Wesley, a new Martin Luther King, Jr. might. I understand why Will didn't play up Wesley's religious appeal.  Some people insist that religion not only can't solve social problems, it shouldn't even enter the national debate on them at all.  I disagree on both counts."

Barnes writes, "What they forgot was that basically the Methodist Movement was at heart, a spiritual awakening. Yes, it had tremendous economic, social, and political consequences, but it began as a spiritual revival...And unless we get in this nation a spiritual awakening and a spiritual revival that will create these kinds of economic and political implications in our day, it won't work. It has to begin as a movement of the Spirit or else it doesn't go anywhere. But we have to begin. We have to have a new generation of Methodists who will do for this day what they did in the 18th century."1

A liberal Jewish Democrat, a conservative Roman Catholic Republican, and an evangelical Episcopal moderate all looking to the Methodists for the hope of our nation!

In the midst of the chaos and confusion of today, why don't we give them what they are looking for? A new  generation of Methodists who will do for this day what they did in the 18th century!

1.       Story adapted from Leonard Sweet, 11 Genetic Gateways to Spiritual Awakening, "The ALTARS-GATE Gene," page 171-172.
 
Rev. Dr. Reginald D. Olson died on Sunday, April 23, 2017. He was a retired pastor from The West Ohio Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church with the following appointment history: Appointed to attend School 1969; Muskingum College 1971; WV Wesleyan College 1979; Executive Director Campus Ministry Miami University 1989; and Transfer to WOC 1990.
Rev. Olson is survived by his wife, Barbara; three children, Beth Olson (Shelly Davis), Stephanie Kleinschmidt (Rick), and Jeff Olson (Gabby); and five grandchildren, Alex, Parker, Connor, Sofia, and Kendall.
  Obituary. A Memorial Service will take place on Saturday, May 20, 2017, in the sanctuary at Mount Pleasant Retirement Community located at 225 Britton Lane Monroe, Ohio 45050. Family and friends are invited to wear bright colors and join the family to celebrate Rev. Olson's life at 2:00 pm followed by a reception. Condolences may be sent to: Barbara Olson, 159 Xenia Ct., Monroe, Ohio 45050.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Rev. Olson's name to  Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Mount Pleasant Retirement Community, Ohio Hospice of Dayton, or the charity of your choice.

 
50 Days of Love
Take or send a gift to someone you care for to express your love for them. The old fashioned practice of taking a pie or plate of cookies can help to build goodwill, appreciation, and love. Flowers and books are other possibilities. Preferably select a person to whom you would not normally send a gift. Continue to use the SOAPY Bible Study to explore the scriptures and pray for others. #50DaysLove
 

 
*DISTRICT CONFERENCE*

Capitol Area South District Conference And Pre-Annual Conference Briefing!

Brice United Methodist Church will be hosting our Church conference this year, please join us on
Sunday, May 7th - 2:00 PM
Honoring Mothers without Hurting Others
 
Mother's Day is a special day to honor mothers and grandmothers, but it also can be a painful day for many women. Some women struggle to get pregnant or to carry children to term. Others may have lost children during the previous year. There are even women who are struggling with their roles as mothers, while some women (and men) have recently lost their own mothers. For those who already are experiencing pain, this day of celebration can make things worse. So, how can the church appropriately honor mothers while also respecting the feelings of other people in the congregation?
2017 Annual Conference
Lakeside Chautauqua
Sunday, June 4 - Wednesday, June 7

Register Here

Register for Family Events at Lakeside!
 
There is nothing more important than spending time with your favorite people, especially at Annual Conference! Unite with other West Ohio Conference families, discover new friendships, and experience intentional faith conversations while having fun at one or more Family Connect events hosted at Lakeside. A list of events can be found here. Register your family before June 1 at  
Adult chaperones and Family Connect name tags are required to participate in free Family Connect events. Additional costs for specific events are listed. For any questions or concerns, please contact RaNae Street at  rstreet@wocumc.org
 
Lay Member Workshops Now Available for Registration

During Clergy Session at Annual Conference this year, four workshops will be offered for Lay Members: Best Practices in Transformative Missional Engagement for the 21st Century; Go with the Flow (worship planning); Embracing the Future with Impact and Excellence; and Reentry COPE: Experiencing the Effects of Incarceration with Families in the Community. These workshops will be held Monday, June 5, from 8-10 am, and registration is required by June 1. Seating is limited, so be sure to register early. For more information or to register online, click here
Churches: Some Reminders about Workers' Compensation

Many of you are making plans to say goodbye to your pastor and to welcome a new pastor. Please make sure your new pastor is covered under workers' compensation. For the clergy leaving your church, a U-117 form needs to be completed to remove the clergy person from being listed under your church. To get the new clergy listed under your policy, a U-3s form needs to be filled out. Both forms can be completed on-line at www.ohiobwc.com if you have an on-line account. You can also print and complete the forms and then mail them to the address listed on the form. Reminder: each church with a workers' compensation policy will be receiving a "true-up" form sometime in the month of May. This form MUST be completed by every church, regardless of your payroll. In July, you will receive a bill that covers July 1, 2017 thru June 30, 2018. As always, our Third-Party Administrator, Comp Management (800-825-6755), is available to assist with questions or concerns about work ers' compensation. 
   Employment Opportunities In Our District

Associate Pastor
Lithopolis UMC seeks a person with a passionate Christian faith having strong relational and team development skills to help... more

Intern for Youth Group and Music/Worship Leadership
Chatham Charge UMC is searching for a dynamic musically inclined individual to assist with their weekly Wednesday afternoon youth group as well as... more

Church Accompanist
Maple Street United Methodist Church in Lancaster, Ohio is in search of an accompanist for piano (mostly) and organ (occasionally).  This paid position could start... more

Assistant for Children and Student Ministries
The Assistant for the Children and Student Ministries Pastor is responsible for assisting the Children and Student Ministry Pastor and volunteers in the administrative...  more 
 

Director of Music
Alexandria UMC in Alexandria OH is seeking a Director of Music.  This part-time paid position inc
ludes directing the Chancel Choir and Bell Choir (currently inactive), more
 
The Gathering

A Joint Celebration of Openness and Inclusion
Sunday, May 7, 2017 at the Livingston UMC, 200 E. Livingston Ave, Columbus, OH.
 
You're invited!
Join us on May 7th for another gathering of West Ohio Reconciling United Methodists and Friends!  Laity and clergy alike are invited to hear an update from David Meredith, share fellowship, and hear another testimony about the significance of the reconciling work we do as community.
 
Details:  Sunday, May 7th, 3:00-5:00pm at Livingston United Methodist Church, 200 E. Livingston Ave, Columbus.  Childcare is provided.  RSVP not necessary.
 
Union County
Union County Coffee with UM Community Ministries

Church pastors and laity are invited for a time of coffee and conversation around visioning for mission and ministry in your area, and how Capitol Area Community Ministries can partner with you!
We welcome everyone from our Union County churches and the surrounding area to join us for this informal time of visioning and dreaming.  

Thursday, May 11th at 10:30 am at the Fifth Street Cafe, 117 E. 5th Street Marysville, 
Phone - 937-553-9300
 MAP  

For those attending, please consider these questions before the meeting:
What ministry(s) are you actively engaged in now?
How is this ministry creating a pathway to Discipleship?
Think about the ways that this ministry is transforming your community.

How does this ministry sustain itself?
If you're not actively engaged in ministry in your community, what are you dreaming about?  What is your vision for ministry in your community that will lead to a pathway to Discipleship, transforming your community and able to sustain itself?

Contact Rev. Karen Cook, Director, Capitol Area Community Ministries, with any questions,  kcook@wocumc.org, 614-222-0602.
Date: 05/11/2017 (Thu.)Time: 10:30am - 12:00pm EDTLocation: Fifth Street Cafe, 117 E. Fifth St., Marysville, OH.

Rx Riders May 20th

Please plan to join us on Saturday, May 20, for the first-ever Rx Riders. All proceeds will go to purchase breathing medication and inhalers for low-income individuals and families in Franklin County. Riders can choose from a 25-mile or 50-mile trek through the bike paths of German Village and downtown Columbus. Registration is $35 and all participants are encouraged to invite support from friends, co-workers and family. We'll give you all the tools you need to meet your own personal fundraising goal. To sign up, email melanie.charitablepharmacy@gmail.com and put "Bike Ride" in the email subject line to get started now!
"When Kids Come Out" - A Four-Session Class for 
Parents  of LGBT Children

When a child comes out to his/her/their family, it often raises many questions for
both the child and for the family. For example:
* What does it mean for the family when a child comes out to his/her/their
parents?
* What does it mean for the parents' relationship to their church?
* What does it mean for the parents' own faith?
* How do parents navigate their own "coming out" after their children have
come out to them?
These questions are among those that will be addressed in the four-session
class that will be held on Wednesday evenings from May 3 through May 24 at
the Worthington United Methodist Church. The meetings will begin at 7:00 pm
and conclude by 8:30 pm. The church is located at 600 High Street, Worthington.
Parking is available at the church. Look for signs directing you to
"Kids Coming Out" class.
The Rev. Jim Waugh, retired pastor in the West Ohio Conference...see more
 
B ishop Palmer Invites Us to Join in Light the Way Campaign
 
At Annual Conference this year, Tuesday morning worship will be of special importance as we launch the LIGHT THE WAY CAMPAIGN to support the bold leap of starting new diverse worshiping communities and collaborating with congregations to extend their vitality for our mission across Ohio. I am inviting you to join me in raising at least $200,000 in this offering. Our mission is clear - to equip local churches to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world...a world of justice, love and peace filled with people growing in the likeness of Jesus Christ. Our strategic plan guides us in reaching more people, more young people, more diverse people with the love of God through Jesus Christ. We have already made significant progress in just one year of identifying, assessing, training and preparing a new band of new church pastors. At the same time, vital congregations are reaching out in new and significant ways to those on the margins. To read more of Bishop Palmer's letter,  click here.
Dates: June 12-17, 2017

The purpose of the EXPLORE Institute at Ohio Wesleyan University is to provide rising high school juniors and seniors with six days of an academically-solid, spiritually-grounded foundation for discernment of God's calling for their life journey.
  Learn More. ...


LIVE YOUR FAITH
2017 All People Conference: 
Rise Up...and Build!
Early bird registration is now open through July 1! Register here 

Join us as we delve deep into God's heart for diversity, inclusivity, and justice in our communities. Each of our unique gifts strengthen the Body of Christ, helping us become local agents for community transformation. Explore how multiethnic and multiclass ministry can take your church community deeper in becoming the hands and feet of Christ on earth.
Whether you yearn to take the next step in reaching out to a community that is different from the people who sit in the pews on Sunday, or are already engaged in multicultural ministry and desire for it to grow, this event is right for you!
This conference is experiential. Participants will join members of our diverse community in worship, dialog, shared learning, and fun. Plenaries and workshops are designed to meet you where you are and engage your questions as we explore best practices for inclusive ministry.
You'll learn how to:
  • Foster a racially diverse congregation with members across the income spectrum
  • Use worship that is diverse and welcoming to strengthen your community
  • Launch outreach programs that use local assets to address community concerns
  • Engage a base of partners that can support and sustain your ministries
  • Maintain your spiritual center through the swirl of ministry
  • And so much more!
When:  October  21-23, 2017
Where:  UM Church for All People
(946 Parsons Avenue; Columbus, OH 43206)
Early Bird Registration  (Until July 1): $195
Regular Registration  (Until October 10): $225
 Late Registration  (After October 10): $245
The 2018 Revitalization/Capacity Building Grant has been posted on the WOC website (Stewardship & Finance, Grants & Scholarships).  There is a fillable form available, as well as a PDF that can be printed and then completed. 

The due date for the Revitalization/Capacity Building Grant applications is July 1, 2017.
STAY CONNECTED:
Visit our website to find:  
Classifieds, Calendar, Resources and more!

Please share these updates with others in your congregation!

If you have anything you would like to have shared or posted in our Newsletter, feel free to email your request to me by Wednesday at Noon.