WPAUMC e-news for May 9, 2012

Safe Sanctuaries Update: Hundreds of clergy are registered for this Friday’s Safe Sanctuaries training at Bakerstown UMC. Please be aware that overflow parking is available across the street at St. Thomas in the Fields church. There’s a crosswalk with a crossing button at the end of the drive. Sign-in begins at 8 a.m. and the training begins promptly at 9. It’s due to end at 3 p.m., when CEU certificates will be available.  Lunch is on your own.  

COSROW Monitor Training: The WPA Commission on the Status and Role of Women will hold training for annual conference monitors on Wednesday, May 16 at 6 p.m. at Slippery Rock UMC. Monitors track and report on roles of women during annual conference. For details or if you are interested in learning more about COSROW, e-mail revlota@comcast.net.

General Conference Wrap-Up: For a good synopsis of General Conference action, read Rich Peck’s wrap-up report for UM News Service.  Get Bishop Bickerton’s analysis of what happened in this blog post.  Linda Bloom’s Week 2 Wrap has links to full stories on many of the actions.

Scouts Prepared Morrison for GC Post: Handling the arrangements and organization for General Conference seems like a monumental task, but Alan Morrison said basically it isn’t much different from what he had to do for a patrol camping trip as an 11-year-old as an 11-year-old scout. Learn more.

Church Restructuring: Late on the last afternoon of General Conference, the Judicial Council announced that an approved plan for restructuring the UMC was unconstitutional. Reviewing that plan kept the Council from considering two other GC actions that were referred to it. One was the action to end “guaranteed appointments” for clergy beginning in 2014. These will be considered by the Judicial Council in the Fall.

GC Volunteers: In last week’s e-news we neglected to list the Rev. Clara Belloit as one of those from Western PA volunteering at GC2012. It was her fourth General Conference as a volunteer page. She noted that the increase in delegates’ use of smart phones and other electronic devices has decreased the number of messages and other papers the pages have had to deliver to delegates. See her picture and other newly added photos in the WPAUMC.org General Conference gallery. (Scroll down for the newest shots.)

GC Videos: There are some great UMTV videos on various aspects of General Conference on umc.org. Don’t miss the one on the beautiful prayer room, where Jaye Beatty and Rev. John Jefferis volunteered, and take a look at the display area in the one entitled “Booths.”

GC Podcasts: Among a number of interesting General Conference podcasts, you can listen to Rev. Stephanie Gottschalk’s well-crafted, heartfelt statement   , which echoed thoughts of some other young adults at GC2012.

Progress Against Malaria: To watch Bishop Bickerton tell the General Conference about the progress made against Malaria, click here.

Behind Schedule? If you’re still planning your Mother’s Day worship, check this bin on Ministry Matters.

Screens in Worship: Still having issues related to use of screens in worship? Check out these Top 10 questions – with answers!

UMC Trivia Quiz: Check your knowledge of UMC history with this quiz. On Facebook, you can post your score on the UMC page  if you want.

Extravagant Generosity: Tune in to a webcast introducing "Extravagant Generosity.” It's one of the key practices of fruitful congregations, and also an exciting stewardship program available for your congregation. Join the webcast at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, May 17 and see if "Extravagant Generosity: The Heart of Giving" is right for your church! Register now.

June Cross and Flame: The June edition of the Cross and Flame is online now. Click here to read or download.