South Carolina Conference Communications

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One of the questions I get most often is, "How do I make a website?" The truth is there is no easy answer. It's a lot like asking, "What car should I buy?" or "What camera should I get?" In 1998 there was only one way, you learned HTML and you coded it all by hand. However, the reality is that there are now so many ways to make a website and there are so many factors to consider when you make one, that building a website is a very personalized thing for every church. How much can we spend? What kind of skill do we have to manage a website? What information do we want, need, or wish for? All of these questions can lead to different answers and different ways for building a website. For example, if your church has $0.00 dollars to spend monthly on a website, going with an expensive content management solution like e-zekiel isn't a good choice. Maybe using a free Google webpage like the Charleston District website would be better for your needs.

Recently, I discovered a new website company called squarespace.com Squarespace is not United Methodist, it's not even a Christian company, but they are VERY good at providing people and companies with high quality, easy to build websites for very little money. A basic squarespace site can cost less than $8.00 a month and you get a lot of bang for those eight bucks. Even better is that you can try it free for two weeks and you don't need a credit card, just an email address.

I recently worked out a special offer for our United Methodist Churches. Sign up for any squarespace plan and use the coupon code UMCSC and receive 10% off the life of the account.

I've gone ahead and built a faily basic site using ONLY squarespace and some free easy to use google tools. Check it out. My Church UMC

It only took me about 4 hours to put it all together. Granted I know my way around and I'm familiar with the tools, but you should have the hang of all of that well within your first week.

I sat down with yesterday with a church that is reworking there website in squarespace. After a couple of quick tutorials they had the basic shell and navigation of there whole site done in less than a day.

If you are interested in using squarespace, would like for me to talk to you more about it, or come to your church to show a committe some options and ideas, give me a call or send me an email. Matt Brodie mbrodie@umcsc.org 803-786-9486

I am going to be posting more information on website and search engine optimization. We are very close to doing some very neat things here!

ANNOUNCEMENT:  The Council on Finance and Administration meeting on June 15, 2009 received the resignation of The Reverend James Knowles-Tuell as  Director of Administrative Services for the South Carolina Annual Conference / Conference Treasurer effective July 31, 2009.  The Reverend Knowles-Tuell will be relocating out of state for his wife's employment in the health care field.

Additionally, the Council announces the hiring of Mrs. Becky L. Buie as Interim Conference Treasurer and Director of Administrative Services effective July 1, 2009.  The Council graciously welcomes back Mrs. Buie who served most effectively in this position for many years. 

The Council will announce at a later day the search process for the hiring of a permanent Treasurer and Director of Administrative Services.  There will also be a time of appreciation and recognition for The Reverend Knowles-Tuell in the near future.  The Council is grateful for the ministry and contributions of Jim Knowles-Tuell to the life and ministry of South Carolina United Methodism.

The Reverend Edward H. McDowell, Jr. serves as President of the Council on Finance and Administration.  The Reverend David C. Surrett is Vice-President and The Reverend Dora Rogers Gafford is Secretary.

Tuesday June 16th 2009
 
Early this morning Robert W. Bedell, III President  of Southern Mutual Church   presented a check to the Rev. Willie  Teague Director of Connectional Ministries for $5,000.00. The check  will pay for the cost of the Hope For The Children of Africa Choir that will be touring the South Carolina Conference July 1st -12th. This means that all money received will go directly to the choir for its ministries.

The transportation for the choir is provided by Edisto Fork UMC of Cope, SC. Epworth Children's Home will host the choir. We are thankful for these acts of generosity.

We are also asking each congregation in our conference to receive an offering for the choir on July 5.

Number    Yes    No
I               449    790
II              338    908
III            189    1,049
IV            186    1,052
V             186    1,053
VI            368    863
VII          188    1,049
VIII         942    300
IX            888    353
X             185    1,063
XI           183    1,044
XII          185    1,045
XIII         179    1,048
XIV        178    1,052
XV         389    846
XVI        184    1,044
XVII       740    503
XVIII     180    1,047
XIX        1,053    191
XX         183    1,044
XXI        178    1,050
XXII       1,040    197
XXIII     187    1,043
XXIV     180    1,048
XXV      179    1,046
XXVI    179    1,047
XXVII    179    1,045
XXVIII   181    1,045
XXIX     185    1,040
XXX      181    1,045
XXXI    178    1,047
XXXII   176    1,048

Hello Disaster Friends, 

Though it is hard to tell how much is hype and how much is serious concern surrounding the current swine flu outbreak, I wanted to send this email out today to let you know that UMCOR is monitoring the situation and to offer some resources for your   use. 

First, I would encourage you to check the UMCOR website for current updates.   Both UMCOR Emergency Services and UMCOR Health are working to provide you with the most   up-to-date information.   Please check www.umcor.org  

This Sunday, May 3, many United Methodist Churches will include the service of Holy Communion as a   normal part of their worship.   The General Board of Discipleship has posted a   great resource for the handing of elements.  Please see:  http://tinyurl.com/dgxnh2 

For   excellent general information on preparing and responding to the flu outbreak there is a "Faith-Based & Community Organizations Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Checklist" available at:  http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/community/faithcomchecklist.html

There   was excellent advice from Rev. Diana Holbert, pastor of Grace United Methodist   Church in East Dallas that was posted in a Washington Post blog.  Rev. Holbert in an email she sent to her church members had these words of   counsel:"

1. If you are coughing or sneezing, it's probably a good idea to stay home. Let us know and we'll send you a cassette tape of the service if you like!" says the   pastor."

2. If you are well, I encourage you to come together to worship and to pray for those who are sick or panicked."

She said she planned to   preach this Sunday on the 23rd Psalm ("The Lord is my shepherd...") "Let's take a deeper look at what Psalm 23 has to say to us today. It may just be what the   Doctor ordered," she wrote.

"Breathe peace, not   germs." 

We   at UMCOR continue to pray for those who are sick and have lost loved ones already to this spreading virus. We will also continue to do all we can to offer information and respond as we are able. We encourage all United Methodists to, Be There and Be Hope.

Tom   Hazelwood
Assistant General   Secretary
UMCOR Emergency   Services U.S.
100 Maryland Ave. NE    Suite 315
Washington, DC    20002
Phone:   202.548.4002
Fax:    202.544.4116
Cell:    703.624.3224
www.umcor.org  

Note to Editors: The letter is available in its entirety at www.umc.org/messageofhope

I received this to share from the General Commission on Religion and Race

The General Commission on Religion and Race has been engaging worship leaders from around the United Methodist Connection in discussing the racially charged events of the week, and ways United Methodists can be involved.

Bishop Gregory Palmer, president of the United Methodist Council of Bishop offers some notes that can help worship leaders answer the question, "Will Wednesday's NY Post Cartoon matter on Sunday?"

While profoundly disappointed with the NY Post and its racially charged editorial cartoon this week, Bishop Gregory Palmer, president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops, looks at the incident and the subsequent controversy as a fantastic opportunity. "It provides United Methodists with the tremendous opportunity to speak about radical hospitality, revelation and transparent disclosure, all elements of this season of Ephiphany." Bishop Palmer says that during this special season in the life of the church we are called to mirror God's deepest wish for humanity, to see the reflection of God in each other.
Bishop Palmer uses the Gospel text, Mark 9 to set the stage. "The cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud came a voice and the voice said, 'this is my son, my beloved, and listen to him.'"
In the text, God calls out to humanity and says, this is who I am. Look upon Jesus, know him as Beloved, and in turn, learn that we too are beloved. For every culture that has struggled with discrimination, this message - that God sees all of us as the beloved- is significant because it says we are accepted by the Author of our lives. It also calls us to look at our neighbor, the person who "looks like me" and is aligned socially, economically, and perhaps politically with me and see "beloved." But it also calls for us to look at the neighbor, the one who could use some ancient image of hate for the purpose of humor and see that one as beloved of God as well.
Bishop Palmer urges that we remember that as Christians, as United Methodists, we are designed to represent radical hospitality and that includes hospitality to those who may not look like us. We are called to exercise that hospitality in our own spheres of influence whether it's an office space or gymnasium, or on Sunday, in the pew.