Submitted by the Rev. Kirsten Barlow
Chair, Council on Finance and Administration
and the Rev. Amy L. Gearhart
Senior Executive for Transition and Conference Culture, Mountain Sky Conference of The United Methodist Church
On June 9, 2018, the Rocky Mountain and Yellowstone legacy conferences voted to become the Mountain Sky Conference.
Amy Gearhart of the Mountain Sky Conference reflects, "we witnessed the Holy Spirit help us through anticipation, uncertainty, and excitement to become a new community that brought together the hopes, histories, and futures of the Yellowstone and Rocky Mountain legacy conferences."
This historic vote occurred at the 2018 Joint Annual Conference in Ogden, Utah. After the vote, many conference participants joined in contributing a gift to the
Dream Big, Love Boldly, Give Believing campaign. These funds will contribute to the anticipated operating income needed for conference ministries in 2019.
To date, the campaign has received nearly $20,000 from those commitments and still has $7,837 in outstanding pledges. These gifts help increase revenue to sustain ministries, staffing and outreach. This campaign was created through the Mountain Sky mission to lead a re-energized peaceful and compassionate movement to claim the life-changing love of Jesus Christ for ALL people.
In order to further support the 2019 budget, the MSC Council on Finance and Administration is working with local churches and individuals to enhance stewardship practices and deepen discipleship. This budget was initially planned to need $155,000 of additional gifts over and above what is contributed in mission shares/connectional giving/apportionments. As future conference initiatives and missional priorities are developed, a formal capital campaign may occur.
There is still time to contribute. If you would like to give to the
Dream Big, Love Boldly, Give Believing campaign, please address payments to the Mountain Sky Conference, noting that the check is for the Dream Big campaign.
Thank you for your leadership and commitment to the mission of the Mountain Sky Conference. If you have any questions, please email Noreen Keleshian at
nkeleshian@mtnskyumc.org.
