May 15, 2020
IOWA NEWS
Iowa Annual Conference and Clergy Session Update

Dear 2020 Iowa Annual Conference members,
 
We thank you for your continued dedication and ministry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Like you, we are discovering new ways to continue our ministry and work together.
Caring Connections for May 13, 2020—"God Isn't Far Away from Any of Us"

Grace and peace in the name of our risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. What a beautiful time of year spring is here in Iowa! As I sit in my home office at my computer and look out the window, I see many children playing in their front...

May 19 All-Clergy Zoom Meeting to Discuss Re-entry Plans

Dear Clergy Colleagues,
 
As you may be aware, Governor Kim Reynolds announced this morning that she is relaxing COVID-19 restrictions in all 99 counties in order to open the state and boost the economy. Effective Friday May 15, she will be lifting mandated closures on barber shops and salons.

Iowa Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church Crisis Response Re-Entry Plan

The Iowa Annual Conference Crisis Operations Team is providing this Re-Entry Plan for the Iowa Conference of The United Methodist Church. This plan is guided by John Wesley’s  Three Simple Rules , which provides a message and methodology of how to approach our strategic and compassionate plan...

Is your church doing something creative as a response to the Covid-19 outbreak?

Churches of all sizes from all parts of Iowa are coming up with unique ideas such as sidewalk chalk drawing, giving away quarantine care bags, making and giving away masks and so much more.

We would like to hear your stories!

UMC Bishops call for justice in wake of Ahmaud Arbery’s death

The Bishops of The United Methodist Church are calling for justice and the eradication of racism and white supremacy in the aftermath of the killing of an unarmed Black man, Ahmaud Arbery, in Brunswick, Georgia. 

In a statement released today and signed by Council of Bishops President Cynthia Fierro Harvey...

RESOURCES
What’s Up With Camps, and Stewardship in a Covid-19 World

5/21/20: What’s Up With Camps? @ 2 p.m.
Bryan Johnson, Director of Camping and Christian Formation for the Iowa Annual Conference will be sharing what is going on with camps this summer. It was announced at the end of April there will be no onsite camping at Wesley Woods or Camp Okoboji this summer. Join us using this link  https://tinyurl.com/IAUMCCamp . The host will be Rev. Ron Carson, District Superintendent of the Northwest District. The webinars will be recorded and posted here www.iaumc.org/goodideawebinar and will be posted on social media. Podcast of the webinars are available. 

5/28/20: Stewardship in a Covid-19 World @ 2 p.m.
Wondering how Covid-19 will impact stewardship going forward? Rev. Scott Keele-Kober and Rev. Dr. Scot Meador will be our guest for a Good Idea Webinar May 28 at 2 p.m. Join us using this link:  https://tinyurl.com/IAUMCNewStewardship .  This team have been co-teaching stewardship at the School for Lay Ministry for a number of years and will be presenting some of their teaching to us with a special focus on the impact of Covid-19. Our host will be Lynn Calvert, President of The United Methodist Women and Dean of the Iowa School for Lay Ministry. The webinars will be recorded and posted here www.iaumc.org/goodideawebinar and will be posted on social media. Podcast of the webinars are available
Listen to the Good Idea Webinar Podcasts
Listen to podcasts of the current 13 episodes of  Good Idea  webinars on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and  Spreaker. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and hear the growing series of interactive presentations designed to provide resources and address issues and concerns of pastors and laity during the COVID-19 crisis.  

The Good Idea Webinars are a joint effort of the Office of Congregational Excellence, Office of Leadership and Clergy Excellence, the cabinet, and lay leaders Lynn Calvert and Angela Hansen-Abbas. The podcasts are a production of the Communications Ministry Team.
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