MAKING CONNECTIONS

Linking Arms with Earthkeepers

By Marion Hansen

United Women in Faith and EarthKeepers have common interests in Creation Care, Creation Justice, and more. I am happy to announce that UWFaith and our MN EarthKeepers are linking arms.

 

To begin, we are sharing information:

• October 3-6, 2024 EarthKeepers training will be held at Hamline UMC in St. Paul. Not sure if you are ready for this step? Come to our UWFaith Annual Meeting at Centennial UMC at Roseville. See more information in this issue of Fresh Connection.
• Check out the UMC Creation Justice site for information related to their information updates, newsletters etc.
• Looking for related books, worship resources and study guides, check out their library of resources.
• Be Desciples website has a number of creation justice curricula created for United Methodists with a new one, How to Develop an Effective Green Team, coming out in August.

Thank you Cathy Velasquez Eberhart and Susan Mullin, MN EarthKeeper leadership, for linking arms with us.

PLANNING INTO 2025 AND BEYOND

By Marion Hansen

The Conference team along with the District Presidents meet for a weekend each year for a Visioning Retreat.

 

This year we focused on adapting to the MN UMC District structure and discussed ways we can work together to support the Districts (now called Area Teams) as well as enhancing communication and support with local units.

 

At our Leadership Development Days in October, we will dig deeper with District team members to determine where we can streamline our efforts to allow for more time in influencing issues that impact women, children and youth as well as addressing Climate Justice and School to Prison Pipeline issues.

 

Our teams are seeking women to join our area teams as well as our Conference team. I would love to hear from you. Click here to email.

 

I am happy to get you connected to a Nominations chair or answer your questions about how you might grow, engage and lead with United Women in Faith. 

COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS 2025 SLATE

Officers to be Elected
Chair, Committee on Nominations: Shirley Jackson (Class of 2027)
 
Officers Continuing in Office 
President: Marion Hansen (Term 1, Year 2) 
Secretary: Sophia Mahowald (Term 1, Year 2) 
Treasurer: Linda Oberg (Term 2, Year2) 

Appointed Officers to be Affirmed 
Program Coordinator: Linda Kotschevar (Year 4)
Education & Interpretation Coordinator: Carol Miller (Year 2) 
Reading Program/Lending Library Coordinator: Connie Scott (Year 1) 

Below are offices that still need to be filled. If you have a passion for serving or know someone else who may want to serve, contact Shirley Jackson or Marion Hanson to learn more about these positions.

Nominations will be taken from the floor at the Annual Meeting. Please talk to the person first before nominating.

Open Elected Offices 
Committee on Nominations

• Class of 2025 
• Class of 2026 
• Class of 2028 

Open Appointed Offices 

• Spiritual Growth Coordinator
• Membership Nurture & Outreach Coordinator
• Social Action Coordinator
• Communications Coordinator
• Mission u Dean
• Assistant Mission u Dean

Besides the vacancies listed, the team is seeking a Treasurer to work with Linda in preparation for service as Conference Treasurer.

PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 2025

By Linda Oberg, Conference Treasurer

 

It difficult to make a 2025 budget for is a year of transition. Beginning in 2025 churches will be in four new areas rather than the current five, putting them in a different area than they were in 2024. The proposed budget is based on expected income as we know it at this time. If income exceeds the estimated income, we will be able to pay more than our pledge to National.

 

PROPOSED CHANGES TO STANDING RULES 2025

KEY: Bold blue = add/change

Bold red strikethrough = delete

ARTICLE 1 – ELECTIONS

Section 2. 

B. Appointed officers shall be approved at the Annual Gathering for a one-year term to take office January 1 of the following year. 

·       Resource Manager 

·       Lending Library/Reading Program Coordinator 

ARTICLE 2 – MEETINGS

Section 5. The following Conference and District officers are required to attend annual leadership training: Presidents, Secretaries, Treasurers and Mission u Business Manager, Committee on Nominations, Program Coordinators, Mission Coordinators, Communication Coordinators, and Conference Technology Coordinator, and additional positions as determined by the Administrative Committee. If unable to attend, contact the Conference President.

Section 6. There shall be a Mission u Committee composed of the Mission u Dean as chairperson, Mission u Assistant Dean, Mission u Registrar, Mission u Assistant Registrar, Business Manager, President, Secretary, Treasurer, Spiritual Growth Coordinator, Communications Coordinator, and Technology Coordinator.

ARTICLE 3 – FUNDS

Section 5. From the A&MD Fund, the Conference shall make the following provisions within the Conference:

E. The Business Manager of Mission u shall receive a pearl SMR upon completion of a two-year term in office and a Gift to Mission upon completing a second two-year term in office.

ARTICLE 4 – EXPENSES OF OFFICERS

Section 1. Each Conference elected or appointed officer shall present the officer’s expense account using the official voucher.

D. Vouchers must be signed and submitted with appropriate documentation within 30 days after the expense incurred. Vouchered expenses with appropriate documentation are to be paid within 30 days of the voucher being received.

ARTICLE 5 – COMMITTEES

Section 3. There shall be a Standing Rules Committee consisting of the President, Secretary, Treasurer, Chair of Committee on Nominations, or designated member of the Committee on Nominations, and at least two (2) others chosen from the Executive Committee.

D. Draft revisions shall be sent to the Conference Executive Committee TWO MONTHS prior to the Conference Annual Meeting.

D. Final revisions shall be shared with the membership in the Conference Newsletter ONE MONTH prior to the Conference Annual Meeting.

Section 4. The Assistant Dean, the Business Manager, Registrar, and Assistant Registrar will have expenses paid by Conference UWFaith when called to a Conference meeting. 

Section 4. The Finance Committee of the Conference shall be composed of the Treasurer who serves as chairperson, President, Secretary, Treasurer of each District, Communications Coordinator, and Program Coordinator, and Business Manager of Mission u.

ARTICLE 6 – MISSION U

Section 1. 

A. The Dean, Assistant Dean, the Business Manager, Registrar, and Assistant Registrar of the Conference Mission u shall be selected by the Mission u nominating committee from outside the Conference leadership. They shall be included in the installation service at the Annual Gathering. 

Section 2. The leaders of Mission u are approved annually by the Executive Committee to serve a maximum of two (2) years. The Business Manager’s term is a maximum of four (4) years.

ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 7, 2023

Resurrection UMC

Hastings, Minnesota

 

After Gathering songs led by Elizabeth Everitt, President Cindy Saufferer welcomed the members, and gave a Land Acknowledgement. Resurrection UMC’s United Women in Faith co-presidents Nancy Hoffman and Joann Vaughan and Pastor Mark Miller welcomed us to the church. Christie Brown led a worship service. Special music was provided by Craig Wasner, Pastor Mark, and Tami Miller.

 

Business Meeting

 

President Cindy called the meeting to order at 9:43. Linda Brinster, Conference secretary asked for the roll to be called. Big Waters (14), North Star (2), River Valley (29), Southern Prairie (3), Twin Cities (13), Total: 61

 

Secretary Linda Brinster reviewed the highlights of the meeting minutes of the 2022 Annual Meeting, printed in the program. The minutes were accepted as printed.

 

Treasurer’s Report: Linda Oberg shared the 2022 Financial report, as printed in today’s program, it comes as a recommendation from the Executive Committee and needs no motion or second, we asked for approval of the body. Approval given. The report will be filed for audit. Linda gladly reported the Minnesota Conference exceeded its pledge.

 

Linda reviewed the proposed 2024 A&MD budget of $44,595.00, the proposed 2024 Pledge to Mission of $101,000 and the proposed 2024 ENS goal of $ 43,300. The 2024 AM&D budget, Pledge to Mission and Emma Norton Services Goal come as recommendations from the Conference Executive Committee and do not need a motion or second, Cindy asked voice vote to approve all three. The membership in attendance voted yes unanimously.

 

Standing Rules: Shirley Durr, chair of the Committee on Standing Rules walked us through the changes as printed in the last Fresh Connection and in today’s program. All changes are recommendations from the Executive Committee and do not need a motion or second. Approval was given by voice vote.

 

Chair of the Committee on Nomination, Mary Reetz presented their report. Marion Hansen, as Conference President Year 1, Term 1, and Sophia Mahowald as Conference Secretary Year 1, Term 1 Seeing no other nominations from the floor. Cindy asks for a motion to cast a unanimous ballot. Kim Harris so moved. Shirley Durr seconded the motion. Cindy called for the slate to be approved by voice vote. Motion carried. Elected Officers remaining in office are Linda Oberg, Treasurer Term 2, Year 2 and Mary Reetz, Chair of Nominations Year 3. Approval given from the floor. Affirmation for appointed officers was given from the floor. Minnesota will send 4 voting delegates to North Central Jurisdiction, the Executive Committee recommended Myrna Kuehl, Melinda Kohrt, Linda Kotschevar and Cindy Saufferer to serve as delegates. Cindy asked for and received approval from the floor.

 

President Cindy Saufferer adjourned the meeting at 10:24.

 

Program: “A Legacy of Bold Giving” 

 

Deaconess Christi Compos, who serves as the Executive for Development and Donor Relations for the National office of UWFaith, shared news about and purpose of The Legacy Endowment Fund and 1869 Society. And how to put the “Fun” into Fundraising. 

 

Emma Norton Scholarship Fund: Myrna Kuehl explained that Emma Norton’s original intent for the scholarship was to help women seeking training for full time Christian vocation, not just women attending seminary. 

 

Elizabeth Evert, Chair of Committee on Nominations for the North Central Jurisdiction UWFaith invited all our members to attend the Jurisdiction Event in Indianapolis Indiana, May 30-June 2. There are scholarships available from Minnesota UWFaith Conference and North Central Jurisdiction UWFaith. 

 

Financial Interpretation: Linda Kotschevar

 

Offering & Prayer: Linda Oberg

 

Grace: Elizabeth Everitt.

 

Break for Lunch.

 

Pledge Service: Linda Oberg

 

Campaign for Restoring Waters: Shawna Nelson-Wills gave us the latest news regarding Emma Norton Services and Restoring Waters. The building should be complete by April 2024 and the capital campaign is at about 75% of reaching its goal.

 

Officer Recognition: Mary Reetz

 

Officer Installation: Christi Campos

 

Thank you & Announcements: Linda Kotschevar

 

Closing Worship: Pastor Mark Miller

 

Your Sister in Christ, Linda Brinster, Secretary Minnesota United Women in Faith

EMMA NORTON: SCHOLARSHIP • MISSION FUNDS • LOVE IN ACTION • DONATION NEEDS

Emma Norton Scholarship for Luther Seminarian, Mission funds to ENS

The Emma Norton Endowment Fund Committee, tasked with reviewing applicants for the Emma Norton Scholarship awarded to women going into full time Christian service, approved the 2024 scholarship going to Alyssa Saleem. 

Saleem, a member of Centennial UMC, is an international student from Pakistan working toward a Master of Divinity at Luther Seminary in St. Paul. She’s also pursuing ordination in the Minnesota Annual Conference.

 

The Committee’s recommendation for the 2024 mission fund going to Emma Norton Services was approved at the Minnesota Conference UWFaith Executive Team meeting on August 11.

 

Hoping to receive more scholarship applicants in the future, the Committee is working on actions to take to more widely disseminate information about the Emma Norton Scholarship.

 

Members of the Committee include Melinda Kohrt, Jane Baker, Kathy Husebus, Ann Girres, Marion Hansen, Shirley Jackson, and Marily Nicol.

Baby Season @ Emma's Place! 

We have four babies arriving to our family site in Maplewood. Some are coming with families moving in and some are due to be born as you read this.

We need to refill our supply of baby products to support these young families! We're seeking donations of diapers, pull-ups, wipes, baby blankets, pacifiers, and formula. Please note that we need these supplies for newborn to 18 month old babies.

If you are able to help us meet these needs for our clients, please reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator, Mo Mayberry, to coordinate a donation appointment, at (612) 889-6887 or click here to email. 

 

Love in Action @ Emma’s Place

 

Members of the Emma Norton Board of Directors volunteered to help with clean-up at Emma’s Place: Kathy Hulsebus (BW Emma Norton Representative), Melinda Kohrt (TC District President), and Marion Hansen (Conference UWF President.)

Restoring Waters Seeks Art Supplies

The nonprofit Art to Change the World is bringing art classes to Restoring Waters starting in September! We are so excited for our residents and want to make sure as many as possible are able to take these classes.

 

With that in mind, we're seeking donations of the following art supplies:

• Glues and 2 part epoxy
  

• Fiskars scissors

• Metal rulers

• Small battery powered drill and bits

• Jewelry findings and beads

• Frames

• Art hanging hardware

• Good quality brushes/sponges

• Exotic fabrics and threads

• Good quality watercolor paper

• Watercolors

• Large roll of craft paper (to cover tables)

• Tissue paper

• Elmer’s glue

• Cleaning bucket with eco-friendly cleaners

• Canvas board 11X17 or 24″ x 36″

• Empty journals – journals which could be converted and customized