Twelve families, including 19 children, aren’t going hungry over the weekends because of the generosity of the people of the Colfax United Methodist Church and other congregations in the community. “We just knew that there was a need,” says Rev. Terry Pollard, “and we’ll take care of it for however long it needs to be.” He was amazed when in just t…

“We’ve got to acknowledge that this is Holy Week, and that it’s going to be different, but that we’re still going to go through it together.” That’s how Rev. Nate Nims, Senior Pastor of Grace United Methodist Church describes the sacred journey from Palm Sunday to Easter. Even in a time of physical distancing the Grace community is connecting with …

“A record number of people have been cared for this month by the Grimes Storehouse,” reports Pastor Ben Wedeking…and he expects that the need will continue to increase. The Grimes Storehouse is “a community food pantry that feeds the whole person, and it does so partnering with other churches in the community. From sewing face masks to extending a …

“Because pastoring can be a very isolating experience,” Rev. Terra Amundson notes, a chaplaincy program has been established on each district. “It’s a way,” she says, “that we can care for one another” and something she hopes can be a “new way of being.” Rev. Amundson is the Dean of the Appointive Cabinet of the Iowa Annual Conference.…

Good Idea webinars and opportunities for Unscripted Expressions of Encouragement and Support will begin this week for laity and clergy of the Iowa Conference. Rev. Dr. Jaye Johnson, Director of Congregational Excellence describes the twice-weekly Good Idea webinars that will feature topics of interest and best practices and the Unscripted Expressio…

Through its compassionate outreach in the midst of the COVID-19 health crisis and the online worship presence, First United Methodist Church in Iowa City sharing the positive assurance that "hope is never going to be cancelled and the love of God is never going to be cancelled."By Iowa Annual Conference UMC

Transitional Intentional Interim Ministers are “responsible for the process, not the outcomes,” says Rev. Dianne Christopher. She and a team of three others led a seminar for twenty-six clergy who gathered for a training for ministry professionals to lead transitional congregations on an interim basis. The aim is to be able to provide pastoral lead…

Pre-Annual-Conference information sessions will be held on each of the eight districts in late April. In a wide-ranging conversation, Rev. Dr. Harlan Gillespie, Assistant to Bishop Laurie Haller, talks about how the gatherings will be an opportunity to have a voice in the future of United Methodist ministry in Iowa. He notes that the Bishop will be…

Registration for the 2020 Iowa Conference camping season is underway. In fact, according to Bryan Johnson, the Director of Camping and Christian Formation, interest is brisk this year. In our conversation, he talked about how camping can be a life-changing experience, something it was for him. A wide range of exciting experiences await 4-year-olds …

Circuits will be the future of ministry in the Iowa Conference. Rev. Bill Poland, director of new communities of faith, says, “We want to become a movement again,” and the circuit model will “help to provide growing, gifted leadership for our largest to our smallest churches.” Through circuits clergy and lay will be able to grow in their faith, red…

Rev. Dr. Barrie Tritle is a member of the Bishop’s Operational Team. He’s also the lead pastor of First United Methodist Church in Iowa City. As the convener of the operational team, he’s helped to lead the Iowa Annual Conference in a process of adaptive change as it moves into a future focused upon supporting the ministries United Methodist congre…

John Rothlisberger and Rev. Dr. Lanette Plambeck are two members of the Iowa Conference delegation to the 2020 General Conference. We recently traveled to Nashville for a briefing about the plans that will be presented to that worldwide decision-making body of The United Methodist Church in May. For Rev. Plambeck, there is “a call to do what feels …

Iowa conference Bishop Laurie Haller is the author of Wandering Into Grace: A Journey of Discovery and Hope. Drawing upon the chronicles of her 2018 Manaslu Trek in Nepal with her daughter, Bishop Laurie offers some guidance for a faithful life journey. Dr. Art McClanahan talked with her just prior to the book's release. Wandering Into Grace is a p…

The Grimes Storehouse is a caring place that cares for the whole person, through food, including perishables, vegetables, and meat, and supplies, relationships and friendships, and prayer. A ministry of the Grimes United Methodist Church, and collaborative effort with friends and business in the community, the Storehouse is "just the beginning" of …

The Christmas journey becomes complete for many who experience One Starry Night at Grimes United Methodist Church. To be immersed in the announcement of the angel, witness the struggle of Mary and Joseph and the Christ Child, to learn from the humble adoration of the shepherds is as personally rewarding for Phil Bargfrede, Grimes UMC's Director of …

Collegiate United Methodist Church/Wesley Foundation is committed to eliminating school meal debt in Ames by raising $47,000 through its Advent-Christmas offerings. This will help some 575 families move toward greater food security. An initiative of the congregation's Sending to Serve cluster, and in collaboration with anonymously-given gifts, the …

Fresh Expressions is a new way of taking the church to the people. Rev. Bill Poland, Director of New Communities of Faith for the Iowa Conference, talks about the impact of this people-centered, mission-focused experience. Learn more about a Fresh Expressions Vision Day, set for February 15, 2020, at https://www.iaumc.org/freshexpressions…

Coming from a long line of United Methodist pastors, Rev. Dr. Moody Colorado is the new superintendent of the South Central District of the Iowa Conference. A prayerful preacher, he looks to build strong relationships with United Methodists of the district's faith communities.By Iowa Annual Conference UMC

Seeing himself primarily as a relationship builder, Rev. Doug Cue is a "what you see is what you get" pastor to the people of the southeast district as the new role as superintendent. He looks to help connect people and to their own faith-fulfilling ministries.By Iowa Annual Conference UMC

Pastor Robyn Plocher remembers the first Ingathering, which took place at Westmar College in 1980. She also talks about the excitement of meeting the truck that brought Ingathering-collected kits to the UMCOR depot and helping to unload what had been gathered in Iowa. She shares the memories with Dr. Art McClanahan…

Rev. Bill Poland offered the sermon for the fall 2019 gathering of pastors of large churches. His message was entitled, "Into the Great Unknown"By Iowa Annual Conference UMC

Rev. Catie Newman, the Iowa Conference Disaster Response Coordinator, shares an update on the current round ferocious weather impacting the state. She details three things that people can do, right now, to make a difference in the lives of people who “just want to get back to normal,” and offers a bit of practical advice about how to be prepared.…

Rev. Rob Cook is the senior pastor and Rev. Eric Mulanda is the associate pastor of Mt. Hope United Methodist Church. They will present the keynote teaching session for the 2019 Iowa Annual Conference.By Iowa Annual Conference UMC

Glenwood is one of the communities that has been particularly hard hit by this year’s flooding. Members of the United Methodist Church there are serving meals, collecting and distributing supplies, and providing water to the community. Pastor Kimberly Bowles says, “we see the other people in the community that are in need and we just want to do wha…

The record flood waters of 2019 are receding in the southwest Iowa town of Hamburg. United Methodist pastor Luke Fillmore reports that people should be able to get in and start working on their homes and businesses within the next few days. Four congregations will worship together on Sunday, March 24, and then, following the service, start to figur…

The long work of cleaning up after the flooding in western Iowa is just beginning. Even as the waters are still rising in some places power is being restored in others. Basements are starting to be pumped out. Volunteers are beginning to be welcomed. And the direction for months-long, if not years-long recovery is coming into focus. Financial suppo…

Flood waters are still rising in many places in Iowa, even as they are beginning to recede in others. For Rev. Catie Newman, disaster response coordinator for the Iowa Conference, this is personal…she was forced from her home with just ten minutes notice. The flooding is more widespread than any time she can remember. Rev. Newman provides an update…

John Rothlisberger, Iowa Conference delegate to the 2019 special General Conference of The United Methodist Church, shares his feelings about the global gathering.By Iowa Annual Conference UMC

Bishop Laurie Haller pastoral message to Iowa United Methodists following the called special General Conference of The United Methodist Church. Read the text of her message at: https://bit.ly/2GTFvCWBy Iowa Annual Conference UMC

Several billboards have popped up recently. The invitation is simple and direct…“Share the true meaning of Christmas with us.” Also set against the red background is an image of the manger scene with Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus, with the bright star shining in the sky above. These billboards, ten in all, were placed by United Methodist Communi…

A Budget Team has been tasked to recommend a 2020 budget that is missionally-directed by the three Strategic Priorities adopted by the Annual Conference (2013). The Team has also been tasked to propose expense reductions by $1 million. In this conversation Rev. Bill Poland describes the work of the Budget Review team and its proposals.…

Our purpose is love Beginning Sept. 23, Bishop Laurie Haller will travel across the state of Iowa to update the conference on the three plans being voted on at the Special Called General Conference in Feb. 2019. This is a letter that will be shared during the gatherings. You are invited to join her at one of the listening sessions being held in eac…

Iowa United Methodists are helping neighbors who are surviving summer flooding and tornadoes. Some 3000 homes sustained water damage and 27 tornadoes unleashed damaging winds. Hear Rev. Catie Newman talk about how people are reaching out help and how you can be prepared for the next storm.By Iowa Annual Conference UMC

By Iowa Annual Conference UMC

By Iowa Annual Conference UMC

By Iowa Annual Conference UMC

Bishop Laurie Haller gives the sermon at the Ordering of Ministry Service 2018.By Iowa Annual Conference UMC