Missionaries Ut To and Karen Vo-To Visiting Detroit Conference

  The Revs. Ut To and Karen Vo-To, missionaries with the General Board of Global Ministries, will be visiting the Detroit Conference from May 19-22 and June 2-5 to make presentations on their ministry in Vietnam The Tos  are two of the 20 missionaries that are in a covenant relationship with the Detroit Conference.   Ut To is a country director and mission superintendent, where he trains Christian leaders in developing new congregations and nurturing Christians. He...

Conference Leadership Team Announces District Names

  The Conference Leadership Team has announced the names of the six districts of the Detroit Conference that will take effect on July 1, 2011. The re-naming of districts is necessary due to the elimination of a district as a result of action taken by the 2010 annual conference session.    As part of the new district boundaries, determined by Michigan Area Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton, the current Detroit East and Detroit West Districts were combined into a new district that...

DS Loses His Head for Bishop Keaton

  The Flint District had Bishop's Day this past Saturday (March 19), "Part Two - ReThink Bishops Day, ReThink Church." We wanted to move out of the classroom and into the streets. We gathered at the Fenton UMC for prayer, instructions, and work site assignments. About 150 people set out for about 10 different work sites and evangelism ministries. About 300 people participated in both parts of Bishop's Day, including free car washes, free hot dogs, coins for laundry, free coffee...

The East Africa Annual Conference - A Pearl in Africa

  I have spent a good of my life in East Africa as a missionary, consultant and mission interpreter. At the request of Bishop Daniel Wandabula, I recently returned in February 2011 for a two week training tour of three countries to train district superintendents.  Few people know much about the East Africa Annaul Conference or the work of the UMC in east Africa. It is an exciting and dynamic place for ministry and it is growing everyday.   For the most part, the United...

Leadership Team Outlines District Renaming Process

  Fulfilling legislation passed at the 2010 annual conference session, the Conference Leadership Team has developed a process for the renaming of the districts of the Detroit Conference, which will be reduced to six on July 1, 2011.    The resolution passed at the 2010 annual conference session states:    "Be it resolved that the number of districts comprising the Detroit Annual Conference be reduced from seven to six, effective no later than July, 1, 2011....

Bishop's Day Events Planned for March

  Churches and leaders in the Detroit Conference will be learning about "Ministry with the Poor" in March during the annual Bishop's Day, which will take place at seven district sites across the conference. Each district has arranged for keynote speakers and workshops to highlight Michigan Area Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton's annual continuing education event.   "Faith Stories: A Transformation Experience" is the title of the Ann Arbor District Bishop's Day, which...

Flint District Creates New District Leadership Team

  The Flint District Council on Ministries has announced that it is moving to an alternative new structure for the leadership of the district. The district has moved from a Council on Ministries model and created a Flint District Leadership Team, which is allowed by the Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church. The leadership team, which includes about 20 people, is far less than the 50-person Council on Ministries and mirrors the new Detroit Conference Leadership Team model,...

Flint District To Offer Lewis Pastoral Leadership Inventory For Pastors

  The Flint District Committee on Ordained Ministry and the Rev. Dr. Eugene Blair, Flint District superintendent, are offering pastors in the district and conference the Lewis Pastoral Leadership Inventory (LPLI) - a resource to help pastors grow as leaders and improve the effectiveness of their ministry. An orientation for the LPLI will be conducted by the Rev. Dr. Lovett Weems, executive director of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary, on Saturday, Oct....