Communications News
Your church’s digital curb appeal is more important than ever
1/17/2024
In today’s digital society, a website is often more important than a building’s location, curb appeal, or signage. It’s important to ensure that your church has a robust, dynamic website that shares ...
#BeUMC campaign provides strategy, resources for outreach
2/7/2022
Nashville, Tennessee – A new #BeUMC online toolkit has launched to assist church leaders in creating engagement in their church communities focused on the work of the Holy Spirit being done through ...
Scammers target conference churches, ministries
12/13/2021
OKUMC Communications On Sunday, Dec. 5, Edmond-First sent out an email to its church members warning them about a potential scam. Text messages appearing to come from pastor Scott Keneda requested ...
Communications Ministry to produce TV special
5/1/2020
In a time when bad news seems easy to locate and share, a group of private donors and conference entities are collaborating to share good news in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. On Sunday, May...
Chairing history: Oklahoma delegate leads proceedings during legislative session
2/26/2019
By Meagan Ewton Even before he was elected the chair of the legislative committee, Rev. Dr. Joseph Harris knew the stakes would be high at this year’s special called General Conference. “There are ...
Letter from the Director
1/11/2019
To the readers of the Contact: Welcome to the new digital edition of the Contact. This format is designed to bring you all the United Methodist news and information that our readers have come to ...
Contact goes digital in January
12/7/2018
By Dr. Joe Harris, Director of Communications Ministry In the Novmeber 2018 issue we informed you about the changes that will occur in the new year related to the printed edition of Contact newspaper....
Contact to go digital in 2019
11/2/2018
Communications Ministry to introduce new digital publication and quarterly magazine By Rev. Dr. Joe Harris, Director of Communications Ministry The Contact newspaper has been a mainstay of the ...
Communications Ministry offers Advent resources
9/7/2018
A Different kind of Christmas Published Nov. 28, 2017 Mike Slaughter inspires viewers to approach Christmas differently and be transformed in the process. About 69 minutes, with guides for children, ...
CVLI survey required to receive CVLI coverage
9/7/2018
Churches who wish for CVLI coverage for the upcoming 2018-2019 year must complete the “2019 CVLI ministry with children” survey. It is included in the digital Charge Conference packet. Submission is ...
Meagan Ewton named editor in Communications Ministry
6/15/2018
Meagan Ewton has been named the new editor of publications for the Oklahoma Conference. Ewton fills the position held by Holly McCray, who retired June 15 and is moving closer to family. McCray had ...
Conference updates video and song copyright licenses
2/9/2018
This month, the Oklahoma Conference will renew the umbrella copyright licenses that permit every local church to use the extensive collection of songs and movies specifically licensed through two ...
Save the date
1/19/2018
VIM training for team leaders of youth/young adult missions Feb. 2-4 at Camp Canyon (West) Contact mdecastro@okumc.org, 405-530-2199 Feb. 16-17 at Camp Egan (East) Contact Green Country District ...
The church's news and why it matters
12/1/2017
One of the questions I am asked is why we need a Communications Ministry for the local churches and the annual conference. Recently Tim Tanton, who directs United Methodist News Service for the ...
Save the Date- Upcoming Events
9/29/2017
Retired Clergy/Spouse Retreat Oct. 9-11 at Canyon Camp Tex Sample returns as featured speaker. His topic: “The Rage of the White Working Class.” Line dancing with the McFarlin UMC Line Dancers from ...
Deaconess/home missioner: Option for ministry by laity
7/28/2017
BY HOLLY MCCRAY When people, especially young adults, ask what the Church is doing in the world today, Elaine Robinson can provide an excellent answer. She points to a little-known but far-reaching ...
OIMC Ordination
7/7/2017
As hands are laid upon them, three clergy elders are ordained by Bishop Jimmy Nunn in an open-air tabernacle during the 2017 Oklahoma Indian Missionary Annual Conference, held June 8-11 at the ...
Passing the baton
5/19/2017
’Tis the season for clergy moves, and a late April event offered help with that transition for pastors arriving and exiting. Bishop Jimmy Nunn’s advice that day: "Lead with a question. Inspire ...
Son’s tribute reflects our gratitude to 2017 retiring clergy
5/19/2017
BY MATTHEW SCRAPER, PASTOR, OKC-SOUTHERN HILLS UMC An open letter to my father, Randy Scraper, on the Sunday of his retirement: There is only one window in my office. I find myself looking ...
Delegates can meet artist
4/28/2017
Luncheon and Q&A session with the artist, Wednesday, May 31, for conference delegates and guests, OCU Norick Gallery. Sign up by choosing "OCU School of Visual Arts" among the meal options in ...
Fast facts, not mystery
4/28/2017
BY CHRIS SCHUTZ What is fasting? Why are all United Methodists being urged to practice it as the denomination’s Commission on a Way Forward examines the Book of Discipline paragraphs about human ...
Get the app for Annual Conference news
4/28/2017
www.okumc.org/annual_conference BY HOLLY MCCRAY The A-to-Z aspects of Oklahoma’s Annual Conference begin with "app" and examine "Why?" (the theme) in sessions May 29-June 1 at Oklahoma City ...
It worked for us: winners
4/28/2017
Winners of the 2017 "It Worked for Us" awards have been chosen by the Board of Laity of the Oklahoma Conference. At the Celebrate the Laity Luncheon, on Tuesday, May 30, during Annual Conference, an ...
Master the media
4/28/2017
Get your smartphone and download Oklahoma’s Annual Conference app right now. You’ll find OKUMC in the iTunes (APP STORE) or Google Play store. This free software application, launched by your ...
OCU students make mission trek to Standing Rock
4/28/2017
Over the week of Spring Break, nine Native American students from Oklahoma City University joined an educational and mission experience at the Standing Rock Reservation, which spans the border ...
Prayers to fill conference week
4/28/2017
The week of May 28 to June 3 will be a special time for everyone in the Oklahoma Conference. Not only will it include Annual Conference, but also it will be a time for all Oklahoma United Methodists ...
Preacher’s kid finds door to Upper Room
4/28/2017
Deacon Beth Richardson teaches at Norman-St. Stephens UMC in March. BY CHRIS SCHUTZ Growing up as a preacher’s kid can be exciting, Beth Richardson says. Her family moved every few years in ...
Statistics help define seminary’s value in state
4/28/2017
BY HOLLY MCCRAY The Oklahoma Conference’s five-year Special Apportionment is set to culminate this year for Saint Paul School of Theology at Oklahoma City University. That prompted a series of ...
Used Book Sale returns
4/28/2017
Coordinated by Oklahoma’s clergy retirees, the Used Book Sale again will be held on the first floor of the Kramer East Building — just east of the Freede Center at OCU — during Annual Conference. The...
Accrediting agency sanctions Saint Paul
4/7/2017
BY HOLLY MCCRAY Saint Paul School of Theology must address issues that caused the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to change the United Methodist seminary’s status to "Accredited – on Probation." ...
Tulsa retreat on race examines current attitudes
4/7/2017
BY SHARI GOODWIN "I so appreciate how passionate and loving the discussions have been." "It’s important to ‘rub shoulders’ and become just people to each other." "We all must listen and learn — ...
Even small churches have HOPE
3/17/2017
When Jodi Cataldo offered H.O.P.E. to lay people from the smallest Oklahoma churches, her own story gave credibility to the presentation. She attends a small church too, although she works ...
Oklahoma Connections
3/17/2017
Bishop Jimmy Nunn continues a series of informal meetings as he begins the journey of relationship together with the people of the Oklahoma Conference. Representatives of Hispanic/Latino ...
Upper Room representative to visit Tulsa and OKC
3/17/2017
Beth Richardson, director of creative content for The Upper Room and author of three books, has several upcoming appearances in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. • March 24, Celtic Christianity workshop, 7 ...
Apportionments drop $1.6 million
2/24/2017
BY HOLLY MCCRAY Apportionment giving fell by $1.6 million (3.2 percent) in the Oklahoma Conference in 2016, compared to the previous year. Churches sent forward $13,292,544 in Apportionment ...
Get on the Bus to Tulsa: Let’s Talk About Race
2/24/2017
Join in timely conversation about racism and justice at this event in Tulsa. 6 p.m. March 24 — 3 p.m. March 26 Featuring: • Keynote by Hannibal Johnson, author of “Black Wall Street — From Riot ...
A cautionary tale about church Wi-Fi
2/10/2017
Counsel about copyright compliance for churches that offer Wi-Fi access to guests comes from the Conference’s Communications Ministry. Those churches are strongly urged to require that each guest ...
Let’s talk about race
2/10/2017
Get on the Bus to Tulsa — Let’s Talk About Race," a weekend seminar, is planned in late March and sponsored by two Conference commissions: Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century and ...
Upcoming events
2/10/2017
Cookson Hills fishing derby "Fishers of Men" Cookson Hills Center March 31-April 2 • Fishing derby on Lake Tenkiller • Wild game dinner, spring work projects, more at the mission center More ...
Church & Society aims to counter gun violence
1/13/2017
When the 2016 General Conference passed the resolution “Our Call To End Gun Violence,” a team went to work to provide relevant resources for United Methodist congregations. Then they presented that ...
Conference connection provides copyright licenses for all
1/13/2017
In February, the Oklahoma Conference will renew the umbrella copyright licenses that permit every local church to use the extensive collection of songs and movies specifically licensed through two ...
Help COSROW identify women to grow leadership
1/13/2017
BY JENNIFER AHRENS-SIMS Oklahoma’s Commission on the Status and Role of Women (COSROW) is seeking to bring greater balance in male/female leadership in both programming and administration at the ...
Where have all the boomers gone?
1/13/2017
Largest U.S. generation is missing in churches While United Methodism has been intensely focused on becoming younger and more diverse, people in the largest U.S. age group need attention, too, ...
Church historians’ sleuthing can turn up painful pasts
12/16/2016
BY LINDA S. JOHNSON, NORTH TEXAS CONFERENCE Being a church historian means telling the truth, even if it’s painful, Ted Campbell of Perkins School of Theology told local church historians at an ...
H.O.P.E. for a Changing Church
12/16/2016
Feb. 22, Pawhuska UMC Feb. 23, Fairview UMC at Slapout Feb. 25, Coalgate UMC Feb. 26, Anadarko-First UMC Keynote: Jodi Cataldo, director of Laity in Leadership, of Discipleship Ministries ...
Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference - New church at Durant reports progress
12/16/2016
Four years after the land was donated, construction of Chihowa Okla UMC at Durant has started. This is a new church in the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference. In late September, two teams of ...
Oklahomans join group in ‘ministry of memory’
12/16/2016
Celebrating Ted Campbell for distinguished service, organizing for 2017-2020, welcoming new board members, and blessing Bishop Jeremiah Park as he set off on a special mission to Mongolia ...
Welcome to the neighborhood
12/16/2016
A Nov. 17 reception honoring Bishop Jimmy Nunn also provided a chance for him to learn more about Neighborhood Services Organization, a national United Methodist mission agency in Oklahoma City ...
OIMC honors Nunns’ arrival
11/18/2016
More than 200 people worshipped and feasted as the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference (OIMC) celebrated the assignment of Bishop Jimmy and Mary Nunn, on Nov. 6 at Oklahoma City University. They...
Boards call voters’ attention to state questions
11/4/2016
Leaders of two Oklahoma Conference boards have shared their members’ concerns about state questions that voters will decide on Election Day, Nov. 8. Seven state questions will be on the ballot. The...