News

Orders and Fellowship gather to hear about Ministry Study

The 2012 January Orders and Fellowship gathering, held at Marshalltown First United Methodist Church, focused on the Study of Ministry that will be presented to the General Conference in April.    Rev. Sean McRoberts and Rev. Mary Ann Moman described the work of the work of the Study of Ministry Commission in the morning session and guided small group conversations during the afternoon.   A photo gallery is posted at: http://www.iaumc.org/galleries/detail/111 and on Flickr...

Russ Wilson writes new book on major deferred-gift and fundraising

The Millionaire in the Pew, a manual on major and deferred-gift fundraising for clergy and religious leaders, is Rev. Russ Wilson’s new book. It presents a new approach to fundraising ministry and mission.   The Millionaire in the Pew presents an opportunity for clergy to develop new skills and abilities. Russ Wilson asserts that there is “untapped wealth in the Church that could be harvested…clergy and religious leaders possess many of the qualities of...

Fifty-five United Methodist Bishops endorse United Methodist Global Aids Fund

Fifty-five United Methodist Bishops have endorsed the 20/20: Visioning an AIDS-Free World initiative by lending their personal and financial support.  This effort by the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund Committee seeks to mobilize the denomination to raise $5 million for HIV and AIDS education, prevention, care, and treatment around the world.   Retired Bishop Fritz Mutti, Kansas City, Missouri, notes that “United Methodist episcopal leaders believe that global health is...

2012 Lenten Bible Study on Immigration now available for download

Bishop Trimble, the Iowa Conference Immigration Task Force, and a special writing team led by Rev. Denny Coon and Rev. Roger Betsworth, have created a Lenten Bible Study on Immigration for local churches, small groups, and individuals to use for sparking conversations, intentional reflection, and outreach/relationship building with immigrants for Lent 2012 and beyond. The Bishop has also recorded an introduction about the study for you and your congregation to view.  Please click here...

Rev. Thomas Carver and Rev. Lilian Gallo Seagren named Conference Superintendents

Bishop Julius Calvin Trimble, Resident Bishop of Iowa’s United Methodists has announced that Rev. Tom Carver and Rev. Lilian Gallo Seagren will join the Appointive Cabinet as Conference Superintendents. Their appointments will be effective July 1, 2012. Rev. Carver has been appointed to the Northwest District and Rev. Gallo Seagren has been appointed to the Southeast District.   Rev. Thomas Carver is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, Garrett-Evangelical...

Mobile strategies that work

"Placing your church within an arm's reach.  Mobile strategies that work!" is an article written by Eric Seiberling in a recent issue of MyCom, an e-newsletter from United Methodist Communications.  Learn how Apps and text messaging can be a new way of reaching the members of your congregation.  Read more >   The UM News Service reports that...Mobile device users can access information about The United Methodist Church on the go with a new free United...

Delegation endorses further study of "Call to Action"

The General and Jurisdictional Conference Delegation of the Iowa Annual Conference recently endorsed a document from the Council of Bishops titled, “For the Sake of a New World, We See a New Church:  A Call to Action.”  The document outlines suggested changes in The United Methodist Church, some will require General Conference legislation, some will not. The Rev. Brian K. Milford, head of the Iowa delegation said, “Our delegation specifically endorsed the...

Garber resigns as Director of Human Resources

Gena Garber, Director of Human Resources for the Iowa Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, has resigned her position effective December 30. She has been hired as the Director of Human Resources at Central College in Pella, where she began January 3, 2012. During her two years with the Conference, several initiatives and process improvements were made. With the new IT system implemented in October of 2009 came several challenges with the direct billing system. Gena, along...

Cotton publishes book about Madison County

New to The Iowan Books collection, A Madison County Journal is a personal reflection of the author's seasons of grace. Having spent nearly 50 years in Iowa, author Bill Cotton (who also pens the Thursday Memo for Preachers column) takes us on a journey of Iowa through the seasons — and the seasons of life. This collection of funny and poignant memories describes Iowa well. Readers will enjoy the beautiful watercolors, personal photographs, and poetry sprinkled with wisdom. Be one...

Youth Strike set for Feb 3-5, 2012

The registration deadlines for 2012 Youth Strike for Christ are coming up quickly. January 1, 2012, is the Early Bird Pricing deadline ($164 per person based on 4-person occupancy per room), and January 15, 2012, is the deadline for Regular Pricing ($199 per person based on 4-person occupancy per room). Youth Strike for Christ is February 3-5, 2012. For more information or to register visit the website link above....

New website premieres December 14

The Iowa Conference website will have a new look beginning December 14, 2011.    Colors and images will be new. Navigation will be easier. Access to information will be even more direct.   Endorsed by the Communications Advisory Team, the Communications Ministry Team and Conference’s IT Manager have worked with Brick River to create a bold, fresh new look. The home page will be entirely contained “above the fold,” without scrolling down for...

Budget cuts on table for General Conference

By Heather Hahn* A recommended budget of $603 million for the 2013-2016 operations of the denomination’s general agencies will go before General Conference in 2012.   The figure represents a 6.04 percent reduction from the previous four years and marks the first time a smaller budget will go before the church’s top legislative body for approval. General Conference could adjust the recommendation when it next meets April 24-May 4 in Tampa, Fla.   In a separate action,...

Bishop to nominate new Conference Chancellor

Bishop Julius Calvin Trimble has announced his intention to nominate John H. Moorlach, Esq. to become the next Chancellor of the Iowa Annual Conference. Mr. Moorlach is an attorney with the firm of Whitfield & Eddy P.L.C.   He is admitted into practice in all of Iowa’s state, federal and bankruptcy jurisdictions and is a member of the Iowa state bar.  He served as a law clerk to the Hon. Robert W. Pratt, Chief Judge for the United States District Court for the...

Pastoral letter from the Council of Bishops

November 10, 2011   Dear United Methodist Sisters and Brothers in Christ:   Grace and peace to you from Jesus Christ who calls us to faithfulness during a time of great and unsettling change around the world that God loves so deeply and also within the Body of Christ where Jesus is both head and redeemer.   We give thanks for each one of you as you seek to be faithful witnesses and fruitful disciples wherever God has called you to live and share the grace that offers...

"Reclaim Your Holidays" " Practical Ways to Create Ministry

The Reclaim Your Holidays program helps Iowans create meaningful and earth‐friendly holidays by providing practical and inspiring information as well as opportunities for dialogue and idea‐sharing. At this fun, interactive and inspirational session learn how to green your holidays and make them more meaningful.   Learn more at a Cool Congregations Coffee, December 1, 7pm – 8:30 pm. It will be held at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church   Register online at...

Rethink Church resources for 2012

 How well does your community know your congregation? What do people remember about your church? Are you the church with the food bank, the community garden or the pumpkin patch? Are you the one with the parish nurse or the global missions program? In many ways – great and small – God is made visible whenever Christians show love in tangible ways. Rethink Church can shine a light on God’s work in your community. Click here to learn about opportunities for your...

Broken to Peace

Video study series helps people find faith in times of trouble Christians facing difficult life circumstances can find help dealing with them through a new inspirational video study series called Broken to Peace.  Designed for group study, the six-part series features people sharing compelling real-life stories that brought them to their knees and how faith helped them cope. The video discussion starters follow the journeys of people who have faced difficult issues – breast...

Summary report of the November, 2011 meeting of the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church:

More than 110 active and retired members of the Council of Bishops gathered at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina from Sunday, October 30 through Friday, November 4. The week was centered on our life together and our council leadership for the mission of the church, to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. "Ecclesiology" was a theme that ran through much of the week as the bishops entered into conversation about the theology, nature, mission, and character of...

III Encuentro Latino en Iowa

By Humberto Gonzalez   Desde muy temprano en la mañana del sábado 15 de Octubre se vio algo inusual en la Iglesia Metodista Unida de Oakwood. Un desfile de rostros y lenguas latinas adornaron aun más ese hermoso templo.   Después de un todo un año por medio, Dios nos dio la bendición de reunirnos una buena representación de los ministerios Latinos del estado de Iowa. Desde Cousil Bluffs, Perry, Muscatine, Iowa City y...

Church Leaders sign-up for Interpreter Magazine

 Interpreter is a publication for lay and clergy leaders in local United Methodist churches across the United States. Articles in the magazine connect you to: · God, · Other United Methodist leaders, and · Ideas and resources to use in your ministry.   Published six times each year by United Methodist Communications, each issue includes a cover package of feature articles for local leaders and other stories and articles providing ideas...