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 March 30, 2022
	
		
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 New District Office Hours2022 Clergy Evaluation Forms - Deadline April 25
 Rev. Linda Harris Retirement Luncheon
 Annual Audit - Deadline June 1
 Letter from Bishop Farr on the Postponement of General Conference
 Continuing UMC in Missouri Regional Conversations
 2022 Annual Conference
 New Places For New People Grants
 MUMF Spring Ministry Grants - Deadline April 1
 
 
			
			 
				
					
						|  | New District Office HoursStarting the week of March 14, the district office will be open M-W for our normal hours. Becky will be working from home on Thursdays and Fridays. She will still check VMs left on the office phone periodically throughout those days, however, email will be the best way to communicate. If you have an immediate emergency, you can contact your DS on their cell phone or Email Becky and she will contact them.   Rev. Linda Harris, Gateway Regional DS: 314-583-7251 Rev. Robin Bell, Gateway Central DS: 816-694-4832 
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						|  | 2022 Clergy Evaluation Forms - Deadline April 25The 2022 Evaluation Forms are ready for download on the Forms page of the district website. There are 3 forms: 
							
							2022 Pastor Self Evaluation - To be completed by all Senior Pastors
							2022 PPRC Evaluation - To be completed by each church/charge PPR for the Senior Pastor
							2022 Associate Evaluation With Lead Pastor - To be completed by the Senior Pastor with the Associate Pastor The deadline to submit the completed and signed forms to the district office is Monday, April 25 Please Note 
							
							All Churches receiving a new pastor this summer do not need to fill out an evaluation form. 
							All Pastors who are retiring, moving out of, or moving into new appointments in the district do not need to fill out an evaluation form. 
							Lay Persons supplying churches on an assigned basis do not need to fill out an evaluation. Linda will set a time to meet with assigned lay persons. 
							Churches who have lay persons assigned (preaching every Sunday): Linda is glad to meet with church leadership teams in churches who have a lay person assigned. Please call Becky to make arrangements.   Click the Sign Up Link for the 2022 Clergy Evaluation Meeting Sign Up. All Clergy, with certain exceptions listed above, must schedule an evaluation meeting with Linda. All evaluations will take place either virtually or at the District Office. The Location column on the Sign Up will specify which. There is a range of dates and times set for evaluations. Please review them quickly to ensure you find a slot that fits in your schedule. If you have a full-time secular job, please contact Becky directly and she will facilitate a time to meet that accommodates your working hours so you do not have to take time off. If we do not have all of your completed and signed forms by the deadline, we will have to reschedule your meeting. |  
						|  | Rev. Linda Harris Retirement LuncheonThe Gateway Regional Mission Council will host a Retirement Luncheon for District Superintendent Linda Harris at Annual Conference. The luncheon will be on Sunday, June 12 from 12:00pm - 2:00pm at the Hilton Conference Center in Branson, MO. Gateway Regional clergy and laity are invited to attend. Please click the button below to RSVP by May 13.   We will have a box at the reception for cards and/or notes of gratitude. If you cannot attend but would still like to send a card, you can send it to the district office (301 Sovereign Ct, Suite 100, Ballwin, MO 63011) by June 24. In lieu of gifts, Linda has requested donations be made to the Mozambique Initiative. |  |  
 
	
		
			|  | Annual Audit - Deadline June 1All churches are required to complete an audit every year. The deadline to submit the audit to the district office is June 1. You can email the completed form to Becky Hoener, fax it to (636) 891-9700 or snail mail it to the office (301 Sovereign Ct, Suite 100, Ballwin, MO 63011). Blank copies of the form can be found on the Forms page of the district website under "Annual Fund Balance Form (Audit)". |  
			|  | Letter from Bishop Farr on the Postponement of General ConferenceMissouri Bishop Bob Farr issued an Episcopal letter today responding to the postponement of General Conference and addressing his vision for where the Missouri Conference is headed. |  
			|  | Continuing UMC in Missouri Regional ConversationsBishop Farr is planning a series of regional conversations around the state at the end of April. He would like for every clergyperson under appointment to attend at least one of these conversations. There will be clergy-only afternoon sessions and optional lay sessions in the evening as well as Sunday and Saturday options. These conversations will not be recorded and will not be livestreamed. |  
 
	
		
			|  | 2022 Annual ConferenceInformation on the 2022 session of Annual Conference was emailed out recently by the conference office. This information includes details on registration and hotels. Registration is now open.  |  
			|  | New Places For New People GrantsApplication deadline is April 1 The Center for Congregational Excellence is accepting grant applications from now until April 1 from churches that are establishing new places for new people in the five categories of small group, missional community, recovery ministry, new worship service, and new church or multi-site. The first step is to fill out a worksheet and submit it to your District Superintendent |  
			|  | MUMF Spring Ministry Grants - Deadline April 1The Foundation grant program continues to grow in size and service  thanks to the generous gifts of donors across our state. Gifts ranging from large estates to modest memorials continue to build the endowments that generate the grants and scholarships. Twice each year, the Foundation Board receives and considers proposals for ministry projects from United Methodist churches and related agencies throughout Missouri. Funding decisions are determined on a case-by-case basis and are dependent on funds available and the merits of each request. Applications must be postmarked by April 1 for Spring consideration. Both an electronic submission as well as a hard copy (that is postmarked no later than April 1st) are required to make the April 1st deadline. |  |