North and South OKC District

Class descriptions

1-1 Vacation Bible School Preview

EvaMarie Campbell
This class is directed to persons preparing / leading VBS in their local church. Come preview the wonderful activities for VBS that will lead your children to a closer walk with God, experience new songs and form bonds of friendship that will last a lifetime.

1-2 UMW: What's It About

Jo Ellen Reed
This class is for anyone interested in learning more about United Methodist Women. We will discuss who is a member and what does it mean in today's world. We will cover coming events and how they relate to the purpose.

1-3 Passionate Evangelism

Randy L. Scraper
This class is built on the expansion of natural evangelism that accompanies the meaningful growth of Christian spiritual maturity. It is directed at pastors and lay persons alike.

1-4 The Child and Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew

Sharon Betsworth
In Matthew 2, Jesus is only called by name once, but referred to as "the child" nine times. We will look at how this affects our understanding of Matthew 2 and Jesus as a child, and the relationship between Matthew 2 and Jesus' teaching about children in 18:1-5. This class is appropriate for teachers, laity or pastors.

1-5 Should Faith Mix with Politics?

Stan Basler
This workshop will address issues of systemic sin and explore biblically and theologically the role the church should play in forming public policy as a matter of authentic discipleship. The class is for anyone. The main points include discussion of systemic sin (corporate sin), enculturation of the church, and prophetic ministry, i.e. "Thus sayeth the Lord" to powers and principalities.

1-6 The Wesleyan Way

Susan Southall
The power of the Wesleyan revival of the 18^th century was in part due to John and Charles Wesley's strong beliefs that for the church to be the church out in the world, the people also needed a strong spiritual foundation based on the disciplines of prayer, scripture study, worship, and sacraments. In our effort to "be the church" in a fast-paced, "never enough time" culture, how can we call people back to our Wesleyan roots of works AND piety? In this class we will pursue how to help people find a way to be connected with God on a daily basis so as to strengthen them for the work of discipleship. Designed for small group leaders, clergy, or anyone who wants to "Stay In Love With God" (from Bishop Job's "3 Simple Rules")

1-7 The Use of Demographic Information for your Local Church

Diana Northcutt
Looking at census data and other information to help local churches make healthy decisions for the future of their church. Preregistration will enable local churches to look at their particular data and is recommended for this class.

1-8 Youth 101

Conference Youth Team
Basic understanding of youth ministry. UMYF, curriculum, answer and questions

1-9 The Communications Connection

Cindy Mason
Though our mission-to go and make disciples-remains the same today as it was for the first disciples, we live in a more broadly connected world. It is ever more challenging to make connections to effectively share our good news. This workshop will offer an interactive setting to introduce you to multiple media tools to enhance your church's ability to engage diverse communities. This class will use discussion, handouts, and video to highlight key components of effective Christian communication in our time.

1-10 Making a Difference: Starting a New Ministry

Judy Benson
Is God calling your church to expand your ministries? All laity who see a need or feel the heart tug for making a difference and desire methods for success in beginning new ministries are welcomed.

1-11 Advancing Hope Around the World: UM Missionaries & Their Ministries

Karen Distefano
"Missionary" is one of the oldest and most honored offices of the Christian church, with origins found in Paul's writings in the New Testament. United Methodist missionaries witness and serve in dramatically different locales and cultures and engage in a range of professions and activities. In this workshop, find out how your church can be actively involved in the work our missionaries do on our behalf. The class is great for anyone who wants to know more about how the United Methodist Church makes a difference around the world!

1-12 Effective Financial Leadership

Phil Greenwald
Are finances running your church or is your church running the finances? This class is designed for the chairs of Finance Committees, new and old, to discuss the leadership role of the chair.

1-13 "Who are THOSE People"...and how do we minister to them.

Annette Harper
Interacting discussion on holistic and healthy approaches to addiction ministry for the whole congregation.

1-14 Re-Ignite the Go-Go's, Slow-Go-s and No-Go's

Rosemary Keating
Discussions on how local congregations can minister to people based on mobility rather than age in the areas of spiritual development, health, fellowship, education, life transitions, service, intergenerational interaction, daily assistance, and National Grandparent's Day. This is directed towards anyone interested in ministry by, for, to, and with the growing numbers of older adults in our communities.

1-15 On To Perfection: Effective Manuscript and Non-Manuscript Preaching

Adam Shahan
Much of our continuing education as clergy and lay speakers in this conference is not coming in the area of pulpit ministry. It is imperative to continue honing this practice, which is both an art and a spiritual gift. This course is designed to equip clergy and lay speakers with the tools to work together in groups to become better preachers for our churches. Pre-registration is encouraged. Submit a typed manuscript or a video of a homily lasting no longer than seven minutes to ashahan@okumc.org  12 days before the workshop begins. One manuscript and one video will be used as object lessons. If your manuscript or video is selected, you will be informed five days before the workshop. Questions? Contact Adam Shahan @ 405-517-8133.

1-16 Celtic Christian Resources for Spirituality and Worship

Rodney Newman
"Celtic" worship services are becoming more popular, especially with young people. This class will introduce music, prayers, and practices from this tradition to enrich spiritual development and worship.

1-17 SPRC

Dan Pulver & Frankye Johnson
All members of the Pastor/Parish Relations Committee will benefit from this class that will deal with the responsibilities of their work.  We will offer you insights into how to deal with conflict within the congregation, how to support and encourage your pastor(s) and staff, and how to complete the Profile to the Superintendent. 

1-18 Coping with Conflict in Community

Dianne Peters
Creating and maintaining a healthy sense of Christian community is crucial in the life of the church. Conflict and disagreements will happen. How will we respond as lay and clergy leaders? What practices nurture trust, clear communication and reconciliation? How do we deal with difficult people? What is the theological grounding for conflict resolution? What can we do today to improve our future ministry?

1-19 YOUTH Drum Talk - Using drum circles for ministry

David Conrad
I will facilitate the use of a drum circle for team building, recreation, problem solving, physical/emotional therapy, support groups, faith discussions. This program is helpful for all groups and anybody and everybody can participate. No experience required. Everybody can benefit.

1-20 YOUTH Teens in the Bible

Andy Nelms
The class will be directed to youth of all ages, but will be open to anyone. We will search the Bible for instances of youth speaking up, causing disruption, and making their voices heard.

2-1 Children and Creativity

EvaMarie Campbell
Designed for those who work with children. Did you know that by the age of 40 we are operating on only 2% of our creativity? Children are growing their creativity - how can we help them continue to grow and develop their creativity?

2-2 Precious Memories: Oral Interviews and Local Church History

Bill Mullins
Local church historians and other laity interested in their church's history and church staff involved in maintaining official records and historical documents will benefit from this session. Information and materials about traditional programs and guidelines for preserving local church history will be provided. New this year will be a video presentation and discussion of oral interviews as a simple and yet compelling way to capture the history and heritage of your church and the "stories" of individuals who lived and helped shape its history.

2-3 How to Share Your Faith in Our Contemporary Society

Bob Pierson
This class gives clear understanding for sharing the faith in a very secular world, how Christians can be effective in reaching new people. It is based upon the new book, TELL by Bob Pierson.

2-4 The Child and Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew

Sharon Betsworth
In Matthew 2, Jesus is only called by name once, but referred to as "the child" nine times. We will look at how this affects our understanding of Matthew 2 and Jesus as a child, and the relationship between Matthew 2 and Jesus' teaching about children in 18:1-5. This class is appropriate for teachers, laity or pastors.

2-5 Making Disciples: In and out of Prison

Adam Leathers & Steve Byrd
The workshop will present opportunities for persons to live out their faith in ministry with incarcerated persons, formerly incarcerated and their families. The class is directed to lay and clergy looking for ways to be in ministry. The three main points are that ministry is possible to families of incarcerated, with formerly incarcerated in the community and in prison ministry.

2-6 Circle of Peace

Susan Southall
In a world filled with hurt, fear, and pain, where do we go to find peace? There is more and more violence in our schools, families are torn a part by issues and challenges. Even our churches find disagreements breaking up the fellowship of the congregation. How do we find a way back to a place of peace and reconciliation? How do we offer productive solutions for our church committees, our church families, and groups within our communities? This class will demonstrate how The Peace Circle is being rediscovered as a process for listening and reconciliation from the level of individuals to larger groups.

2-7 Small Membership Congregations

Diana Northcutt
We will look at the great things small membership churches can do. What are the key indicators for healthy small membership churches. Network with one another. What is some of the new research saying about the viability of the small membership church

2-8 Congregational Based Youth Ministry/Sustainable Youth Ministry

Conference Youth Team
This class will be for churches who want to look at long term youth ministry and what that means to the congregation. This is not a 101 class. We will look at job descriptions, youth ministry as congregational ministry and the sustainability of youth ministry with a youth minister lasting longer than 1-2 years.

2-9 Social Media: Getting the Message Out in a TGIF (Twitter, Google, iPhone, Facebook) World

Jeremy Smith
Come learn about technology, communication and boundaries when using social media for your church. Share ideas for what has worked in your ministry as we brainstorm how to reach a generation more focused on their phones than church bulletin boards."

2-10 It Worked for Us Ideas/Models

Judy Benson
One of the beautiful things about the United Methodist Church is that we are connectional. Because we are connectional we are open to allowing the Holy Spirit to help us learn from each other. This class will provide an opportunity for the sharing of what ministries and or events worked for your church and then in turn you will receive information on what worked for other churches around our Conference. To attend this class, we ask that you bring with you at least one ministry that has worked for your church to share with others. This will be a time of constant discussion, brain storming and question and answering. We are the Church, together!

2-11 The Doctor Says It's Cancer

Karen Distefano
A cancer diagnosis is a frightening experience. The individual may feel fear, uncertainty, anxiety, depression, anger, isolation and hopelessness-sometimes all at once! Family and friends, too, go through a wide range of feelings, including helplessness: we want to help, but we just don't know how. Having a cancer care ministry in your congregation can help bridge that abyss of despair and suffering. As Christians, we are called to minister to the sick. At the same time, however, we need to be very careful in how we interact with people who are experiencing a serious diagnosis.

2-12 Trustees, More than just Buildings

Phil Greenwald
The job of the Trustees includes managing the buildings, risk management, other legal issues, and bequests.

2-13 Guiding People into Ministry

Dianne Peters
This class will help Pastors, PPR members, Youth Directors and other interested laity have conversations with people who are hearing God's call for a future in Lay or Ordained ministry. "Did you know we have at least 17 possibilities for specific ministries in the United Methodist Church?"

2-14 College and Young Adult Ministries

Andy Henson
College ministry to young adults (18-40) takes place on college campuses, but also in local churches and communities. This class is led by Andy Henson, who serves a local church and has also been a Wesley Foundation minister on a college campus. Bringing both of these experiences to the fore, attendees will gain a greater grasp and appreciation of ministry to young adults in different ways and in different settings, and will learn how to become more involved in ministry to this age-group.

2-15 *EFFECTIVE* Dialogue on Social Principles in Local Churches

Adam Shahan
"Gambling is a menace." "Capital punishment limits the ability of Christ to redeem." "Homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching." "Same-sex couples deserve power of attorney rights and equal civil privileges under law." "Abortion is never desirable, but necessary under certain circumstances." RILED up yet? Most people are about these pressing and, at times, controversial issues. However, unless we can commit as a church to faithful and effective dialogue concerning these issues, we will never move forward as a body and the house will divide.

2-16 Living Right Relationships: Why has God put Us Here?

Glenn Harris
As Christians are we living a Christ-like lifestyle? Or, are we living an anti-Christ like lifestyle? This class will help provide a clearer understanding of the importance in building a right relationship with God, from a spiritual perspective. It will also look at the importance of building right relationships among Christians.

2-17 SPRC

Dan Pulver & Frankye Johnson
All members of the Pastor/Parish Relations Committee will benefit from this class that will deal with the responsibilities of their work.  We will offer you insights into how to deal with conflict within the congregation, how to support and encourage your pastor(s) and staff, and how to complete the Profile to the Superintendent.

2-18 YOUTH The Real World: Middle School

Charlie Ludden
Dealing with the pressures of being a Christian, in middle school. Covering topics such as peer pressure, bullying, and staying true to who you are.

2-19 YOUTH Prevenient Grace - how we see Christ in the Culture around us!

Sam Powers
This class will focus on our United Methodist understanding of Prevenient Grace and how we see Christ present in the secular world. It will be a multimedia format using video clips, pop songs and scripture.