The President’s Corner with KO Conference President Jim French
Friends of the UCC K-O Conference, I am so grateful to have an opportunity to serve as president. The next two years will be an important time for our churches, our conference and, yes, our wider communities in the nation and abroad. As in all times, the need to witness and act as followers of the Way cannot be underestimated. More than ever we must demonstrate our compassion, bear the burdens of others, and be the agents of justice, mercy and love.
A little over a month ago, Rev. Lorraine Ceniceros, sent out a letter to all the churches in our conference. She outlined the priorities that were established at the annual meeting for 2024. We agreed that becoming more connected as congregations across Kansas and Oklahoma would help us share our gifts and more clearly appreciate and understand our diversity. We acknowledged that many of our clergy and laity feel isolated and lonely. We want to strengthen the ties that bind us in fellowship. Finally, there is a hunger to deepen our theological understanding as well as our experience of faith through practice. I am committed to keeping these priorities in focus over the next year.
In addition to our priorities, there are other things we are working toward. We, along with the Missouri Mid-South Conference, will host the 2025 Synod. We will be reaching out for volunteers as well as fundraising for this exciting event that will take place in Kansas City. We will also be exploring ways in which we can provide services supporting worship and leadership in local churches. Finally, we have have committed ourselves not just to sustain but to be an instrument of regeneration in our conference and churches.
Finally, the vineyard needs all sorts of workers. There will be those that preach, those that teach, those that work with their hands, those that can do the math. Not least among these needs are the ones that give of their financial wealth. Rev. Ceniceros ended her letter with an appeal to support the work through donations which could be made on an annual or monthly basis. A donation may only be for one time. But I urge all of us to consider making the wider church part of our tithing.
The KO Kindful link can be accessed here or your donation can be mailed to 302 W. 7th St #425, Junction City, KS 66441.
Thank you all for your support of the ministry of Christ. Together we can be a light to the world.
Peace,
Jim French
President, UCC Kansas-Oklahoma Conference
longview24@gmail.com