Five Rivers District is a geographical and administrative subdivision of the Great Plains Conference. The boundaries of the district have been determined by the Bishop after consultation with the district superintendents. A district consists of all the pastoral charges within it’s boundaries. Five Rivers District is currently under the supervision of Rev. Micki McCorkle.

Primary duties of this administration and office relate to overseeing and supporting the work of the local churches, including presiding at Charge or Church Conferences, and supervising the work of the pastors, including participation with the Bishop in the making of appointments. 

Contact Us

5R Youth

 

Contacts:

District office: 785-841-4804 5riversdistrict@greatplainsumc.org

Great Plains Youth Information: https://www.greatplainsumc.org/youth

 Health Waiver

Prayer Calendar

Five Rivers District Prayer Calendar 2023 updated 07.12.23

Please remember to list in your bulletin and/or newsletter, and be in prayer for, the Five Rivers District Church(es) or the institution listed below

July   16   Centenary

Todd Seifert

July   23   Osawatomie/Lane

Hyun Ju Gil

July   30   Baker University Campus Ministry

Kevin Hopkins        

 

Aug. 6    Baldwin 1^st/Ives Chapel 

Amanda Baker

Aug. 13  Colony

Dorothy Welch

Aug. 20  Wesley KU Campus Ministry

Susan Mercer               

Aug. 27  West Liberty

Jim Brackett 

                                               

Sept. 3   Ottawa Trinity

Ron Bell                                   

Sept. 10  Paola

Jee Sook Gil

Sept. 1    Yates Center/Neosho Falls

Jimmy Yoo

Sept. 24   Humboldt/Big Creek

Blake Stanwood

 

Oct. 1    Williamsburg

Kathleen Whitmore       

Oct. 8    Elsmore

Ralph Peters                

Oct. 15  Princeton/Richmond

Lenise Eddings            

Oct. 22  Garnett

David Shrum                

Oct. 29     Mapleton

Connie Edgerton

 

Nov. 5      Hiattville/Uniontown

Carl Ellis

Nov. 12    Wellsville/Clearfield

Stephen Sim

Nov. 19    Lay Servant Ministry

Mary Brooks (5R Director)

Nov. 26     Disaster Response

Hollie Tapley

                                   

Dec. 3      Parsons District

Dec. 10     Director of Admn./Chief of Staff

Scott Brewer                

Dec. 17     Congregational Excellence

Jeff Clinger

Dec. 24    Lay Academy for Rural Church Ministries  Carl Ellis and Jada Hodgson

Additional events and people to pray for.

New to our district pastors:

Rachel Fetters ~ Prescott/Pleasanton

Dyton Owen ~ Iola: Wesley

Stephen Sim ~ Wellsville/Clearfield

 

New Charges/re-alignments or appointments:

Bob Conway ~ Mound City

Connie Edgerton ~ Mapleton

Brennan Cummings ~ LaCygne/New Lancaster

Marcia Eaton  ~ Gridley/Turkey Creek

Dean Lashley ~ Overbrook/Lyndon/Vassar

Bill Nelson ~ Welda

Kathy Symes ~ Louisburg

Kathleen Whitmore ~ Williamsburg

 

Southeast Regional Youth Ministry:

Youth Rally at Manhattan 1^st Aug. 26^th

Camp Chippewa Concert October 7^th JJ Weeks

Camp Chippewa Cloverton in Concert Dec. 9th

 

Baker University Campus Ministry

Kevin Hopkins 

 

Wesley KU Campus Ministry  

Susan Mercer

 

General Conference  April 23, – May 3, 2024

           

Annual Conference   June 6 – June 8th, 2024

 

Bishop Wilson and family

 

Five Rivers and Parsons District DS Rev. Micki McCorkle and family

District Admin. Asst. Marve’ Ralston and family

Five Rivers District Laity and Churches

 

Holidays:

Sept. 4^th             Labor Day

Nov. 23-24^th      Thanksgiving

Dec. 24-25^th      Christmas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional events and people to pray for:

Disaster Response Coordinator   ~   Hollie Tapley

General Conference:

Annual Conference

Bishop and Maye Saenz and family

District Superintendent Micki McCorkle and family

Admn. Asst. Marve’ Ralston and family

Five Rivers District Clergy and Laity

Local Church Records Archiving

Definitions and Guidelines

2008 Book of Discipline

1. Every local church “shall accurately maintain a membership record for each baptized or professing member.” (¶230

2. There shall be an “annual membership report and audit.” (¶231

3. Every local church shall maintain permanent membership records. This includes “baptism, membership, marriage, and funeral records…” Theses records “are the property of the local church and cannot be sold. If the church is discontinued, these records are placed in care of the Conference Commission on Archives and History.” (¶233)

4. Every local church is to be organized so that, among other things, adequate provision is made for “the proper   creation, maintenance, and disposition of documentary record material of the local church” (¶243)

5. The charge conference recording secretary shall keep an accurate recording of the proceedings and shall be the custodian of all records and reports, and with the presiding officer, shall sign the minutes. A copy of the minutes shall be provided for the district superintendent, and a permanent copy shall be retained for church  files. (¶247.4)

6. It is recommended that each local church elect a church historian. (¶247.5 a) There may also be a “local church  committee on records and history, chaired by the church historian…” (¶247.5 b)

7. Records and historical materials include “all documents, minutes, journals, diaries, reports, letters, pamphlets, papers, manuscripts, maps, photographs, books, audiovisuals, sound recordings, magnetic or other tapes, or any  other documentary material, regardless of form or characteristics, made or received pursuant to any provisions of the Discipline in connection with the transaction of church business by any local church of the United Methodist Church or any of its constituent predecessors.” (¶247.5 a)

8. Among other things, the responsibilities of the local church historian are: “to keep the historical records up to date;… provide an annual report on the care of church records and historical materials to the charge conference; and also provide, with the pastor and the committee on records and history, if any, for the preservation of all local churc  records and historical materials no longer in current use.” (¶247.5 a)

9. “Each local church, as it creates or maintains computerized information and data, is strongly encouraged to confer with its annual conference for recommendations and guidelines as it relates to information technology.” (¶245)

10. The “Responsibilities and Duties of Elders and Licensed Pastors” (¶340) include administering “the temporal  affairs of the church in their appointment. This specifically encompasses: “To care for all church records and local church financial obligations, and certify the accuracy of all financial, membership, and any other reports submitted  by the local church to the annual conference…” (¶340 2. c) (2) (f).

There is also information regarding general record retention at http://www.gcah.org. Use the search box and record retention to see a booklet of information including a local church records schedule.

 

Anything not being kept but with personal information and/or social security numbers on it should be shredded (preferably with a cross-cut shredder.)

 

If you have any questions regarding what needs to be kept you can contact Jenny at Baker University Archives which is where both Kansas East and Kansas West store most archived records. Call Jenny at 785-594-8380 or e-mail her at jmccollough@bakeru.edu.

Churches and Clergy in our District

Baldwin: First

704 8th Street
Baldwin City, KS  66006-0025
785-594-6612

Email: office@baldwinfirst.org

abaker@greatplainsumc.org

Rev. Amanda Baker

https://www.baldwinfirst.org

Worship Service: 9:30 a.m. Sunday school:  10:30 a.m.  

Worship Online: 9:30 a.m. at the below Facebook link.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/baldwinfirstumc/

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCMwpl81KtGg7h9AhRFW9NWQ

Baldwin: Ives Chapel

 

785-594-6555

Pastor’s cell phone: 316-207-3740

E-mail: abaker@greatplainsumc.org

Rev. Amanda Baker

Sunday worship: 11:00 a.m. , Sunday school: 10:00 a.m.

Worship Online:

Beagle

39101 Walthall Rd

Osawatomie, KS 66064-6158

Email: bratliff@greatplainsumc.org

Pastor Bascom Ratliff

Worship Online:

Beagle UMC

Big Creek

22965 Lyon Rd

Chanute, KS 66720

620-473-3242

Email: bstanwood@greatplainsumc.org

Rev. Blake Stanwood

Sunday worship: 9:30 a.m.

Worship Online:

Big Creek UMC

 

Bronson

501 Charles St

Bronson, KS 66716

Email: moranbronsonumc@gmail.com

620-939-4478

Pastor Tracy Smith 

E-mail: clearfieldumc@embarqmail.com

          ssim@greatplainsumc.org

Rev. Stephen Sim

Sunday worship: 9:00 a.m.

Worship Online:

Worship Online:

Colony
333  Maple St
Colony, KS  66015-7215

E-mail: dwelch@greatplainsumc.org

Pastor Dorothy Welch

Edgerton 
300 East 4th Street
Edgerton, KS  66021-0034
913-882-6735
E-mail: churchoffice@edgertonumc.org

rbaker@greatplainsumc.org     
Rev. Ross Baker

Sunday worship: 10:30 a.m.

Worship Online:

facebook.com/edgertonumc

Elsmore 

Elsmore, KS 66732-4094
620-754-3754

620-432-5138 (parsonage)

E-mail: none 
Rev. Ralph Peters

Eudora 

Eudora, KS 66025-8128
785-542-3200
E-mail: eudoraumc@gmail.com

            rbaker@greatplainsumc.org
Rev. Ross Baker

www.eudoraumc.org

Blended Worship 9:00 a.m., Sunday school 10:00 a.m.

Worship Online:

Facebook.com Eudora UMC

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCMwpl81KtGg7h9AhRFW9NWQ

Fontana

202 S Stephens St

Fontana, KS 66026-7846

913-849-3682

Email: bratliff@greatplainsumc.org

Pastor: Bascom Ratliff

Worship Online:

Fort Scott: First
301 S. National
Fort Scott, KS  66701-1313
620-223-1950

E-mail: info@firstumcfortscott.org
Rev. Christopher Eshelman

Sunday worship: 10:30 a.m., Sunday school 9:30 a.m.

Worship Online;

Garnett
205 S Oak St
Garnett, KS  66032-0405
785-448-6833
E-mail: garnettfumc@embarqmail.com

dshrum@greatplainsumc.org

Pastor David Shrum

Garnett’s Sunday worship: 10:30 a.m., Sunday school: 9:15 a.m.

Worship: Online

Gridley
517 Atherly St
Gridley, KS  66852-9284
620-836-2641

E-mail: meaton@greatplainsumc.org

Rev. Marcia Eaton

Hiattville
422 130th St
Fort Scott, KS  66701-7754
620-547-2589

E-mail: cellis@greatplainsumc.org

Rev. Carl Ellis

Humboldt
806 North Ninth
Humboldt, KS  66748-0056
620-473-3242
E-mail: humc@humboldtumc@hotmail.com

          bstanwood@greatplainsumc.org

Rev. Blake Stanwood
Humboldt Sunday worship 11:00 a.m., Sunday school 9:30 a.m.

Worship Online:

Iola: Wesley

301 E Madison Ave

Iola, KS 66749-3423

620-365-2285

E-mail: Iolawesley@gmail.com

           iolawesleypastor@gmail.com

Rev. Dyton Owen

9:30 a.m. Worship

10:45 a.m. Sunday School

Online Worship:

402 Chestnut
LaCygne, KS  66040-0293
913-757-2732
E-mail: sson@greatplainsumc.org

Website: https://lacygneumc.org

Rev. Brennan Cummings

LaCygne Sunday worship: 9:00 a.m., LaCygne Sunday school: 10:00 a.m.,

Online Worship:

Lane 

425 Oak St 

Lane, KS 66042-2156

913-755-4774

Email: hjugil@greatplainsumc.org

Rev. Hyun Ju Gil

Lawrence: Centenary 
245 N. 4th Street
Lawrence, KS 66044-1522
785-843-1756

E-mail: centenarylawrence@yahoo.com

            tseifert@greatplainsumc.org
Pastor Todd Seifert

Centenary Sunday worship: 11:00 a.m., Sunday school at Centenary 9:30 a.m.

Lawrence: Central

1501 Massachusetts
Lawrence, KS 66044-4253
785-843-7066
E-mail: cumcsecretary1947@gmail.com 

aseifert@greatplainsumc.org        

Rev. Amy Seifert 

www.lawrencecentral.org

Sunday worship: 10:45 a.m., Sunday school: 9:30 a.m.

Online Worship:

https://www.facebook.com/CentralUMCLawrence

https://www.lawrencecentral.org

Lawrence: First
946 Vermont
Lawrence, KS  66044-2832
785-841-7500
E-mail: office@fumclawrence.org

Kay Scarbrough’s email is kscarbrough@greatplainsumc.org

Jennifer Anderson’s email is jeni@fumclawrence.org

Susan Mercer’s email is susan@fumclawrence.org

Rev. Kay Scarbrough Senior Pastor
Pastor Jennifer Anderson West Campus Lead Pastor

Pastor Susan Mercer Associate

www.fumclawrence.org

Sunday worship: Downtown – 9:30 a.m. Life (praise)

11:00 a.m. Sanctuary, (traditional)

West Campus at 867 Hwy 40, Sunday worship 9:00 a.m. (contemporary)

 

Online Worship:

FUMC Website

https://www.fumclawrence.org/worship-onine/

First Church Lawrence Ks YouTube Channel

 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1BmHBNa-QsQ8LXt5rkfaUw

Free Online Church First Church Page Link

 

Louisburg
249 N. Metcalf
Louisburg, KS  66053
913-837-2374
E-mail: HR@louisburgumc.org

     Pastor’s email: kathy.symes@louisburgumc.org

Rev. Kathy Symes

www.louisburgumc.org

Sunday worship: 9:30 a.m., Children’s Church (Sunday school) 8:30 a.m.

Online Worship:

https://louisburgumc.org/ (click on the worship online tab)

Lyndon
126 West 8th Street
Lyndon, KS  66451
785-828-4744
E-Mail: Lyndon.umc@gmail.com

           dlashley@greatplainsumc.org
Pastor Dean Lashley

Sunday worship: 9:30 a.m., Adult Sunday school:  10:30 a.m.

Online Worship:

Mapleton

2489 95^th St

Mapleton, KS 66754-9126

Email: cedgerton@greatplainsumc.org

Pastor Connie Edgerton

Sunday Worship: 11:00 a.m. Sunday school: 10:00 a.m

Online Worship:

Melvern 
620 NW Emporia
Melvern, KS 66510
785-549-3464

E-Mail: abruening@greatplainsumc.org

Rev. Alex Bruening

Melvern Adult Sunday school: 9:30 a.m., Sunday worship 10:30 a.m.

Online Worship:

https://melvernumc.wixsite.com/mysite

 

Michigan Valley
21259 S Michigan Rd

Quenemo, KS 66528-8282

E-mail: drbutchr@icloud.com

Rev. Butch Ritter

 

Moran

129 S Cedar St
Moran, KS  66755
620-322-9889
E-mail:moranbronsonumc@gmail.com

Pastor Email: tracy.smith@greatplainsumc.org

Pastor Tracy Smith

Mound City
280 Main St
Mound City, KS  66056

913-795-2898 

E-mail: rconway@greatplainsumc.org

Rev. Robert Conway

www.umcmc.com

Neosho Falls 

111 W 12th

Neosho Falls, KS 66758

620-625-2266 (Yates Center office)

E-mail: jyoo@greatplainsumc.org

Pastor Jimmy Yoo

New Lancaster

36665 New Lancaster Rd

Paola, KS 66071-7267

913-757-2732

Email: bcummings@greatplainsumc.org

Rev. Brennan Cummings

New Lancaster: Sunday school: 10:00 a.m., New Lancaster Sunday worship: 11:00 a.m. 

Online Worship:

Osawatomie
504 Pacific
Osawatomie, KS 66064-1246
Phone 913-755-4774

E-mail: hjugil@greatplainsumc.org

Rev. Hyun Ju Gil

Ottawa: First
203 East Fourth
Ottawa, KS 66067-2305
785-242-1419
E-mail: ottawafumc@gmail.com

            jay.pi@greatplainsumc.org

Rev. Jay Pi 

www.ottawafumc.org

Sunday worship: 10:30 AM, Sunday school: 9:00 AM

Online Worship:

https://www.facebook.com/OttawaFUMC

Ottawa: Trinity 
630 North Cedar
Ottawa, KS 66067-1802
785-242-1428 Church

Pastor’s cell: 405-246-6205
E-mail: otumc1884@gmail.com
Rev. Ron Bell

Overbrook
1005 N. Maple
Overbrook, KS  66524-0129
785-665-7345
E-mail: office@overbrookumc.org

dlashley@greatplainsumc.org
Rev. Tarrel (Dean) Lashley

www.overbrookumc.org

Sunday worship: 11:00 a.m.

Online Worship:

Facebook.com  Overbrook United Methodist Church

YouTube: OverbrookUMC (worship services)

Paola
209 South Silver
Paola, KS 66071-1661
913-294-3475
E-mail: jgil@greatplainsumc.org

            info@paolaumc.org         

Rev. Jee Sook Gil

Sunday worship: 9:30 a.m., Sunday school: 8:15 am 

Online Worship:

www.facebook.com/paolaumc

Parker

312 W Main St

Parker, KS 66072

913-898-4565

Email: bratliff@greatplainsumc.org

Pastor Bascom Ratliff

Worship Online:

Pleasanton

751 Main

Pleasanton, KS 66075-0466

E-mail: rfetters@greatplainsumc.org

Pastor Rachel Fetters

Prescott

256 W Main St

Prescott, KS 66767

Email: rfetters@greatplainsumc.org

Pastor Rachel Fetters

Princeton

321 Prairie St

Princeton, KS 66078

E-mail: leddings@greatplainsumc.org

Pastor Lenise Eddings

Sunday worship: 9:00 a.m.

Online Worship:

Quenemo 

105 S 5th

mailing PO Box 144
Quenemo, KS 66528

913-549-3464

Email: abruening@greatplainsumc.org

Rev. Alex Bruening

 

Redfield 

312 N Cedar

Redfield, KS 66769

620-756-4803

Pastor Susan Cole

Richmond 

116 North Kallock

Richmond, KS 66080

913-205-4688

Pastor Lenise Eddings

email: leddings@greatplainsumc.org

Sunday worship: 11:00 a.m., Sunday school: 9:45 a.m.

Online Worship:

Richter 

3100 Idaho Rd

Ottawa, KS 66067

E-mail: jay.pi@greatplainsumc.org

Rev. Jay Pi

Turkey Creek

1644 Hawk Rd

Yates Center, KS 66783-4410

Phone: 620-836-2641

Email: meaton@greatplainsumc.org

Rev. Marcia Eaton

Uniontown
107 5th Street
Uniontown, KS  66779-8072
620-756-4359

E-mail: no e-mail

Rev. Carl Ellis

Union Chapel

Ottawa, KS 66067

Email: lizaperry17@gmail.com

Lay Speaker Liza Perry

Vassar

23211 South Croco Rd

Vassar, KS 66543

785-828-4550

Email:dlashley@greatplainsumc.org

vassarumc@embarqmail.com

Pastor Dean Lashley

 

Waverly
407 W. 4^th Street
Waverly, KS  66871-0367
785-733-2656

E-mail: eelliott@greatplainsumc.org

Pastor Emily Elliott

Waverly Sunday worship:  10:00 a.m.

Welda

22017 SW Smith

Welda, KS 66091

785-448-2358

Email: bnelson@greatplainsumc.org

Pastor Bill Nelson

Sunday Worship: 11:00 a.m., Sunday school: 10:00 a.m. 

Online Worship:

Wellsville
302 Locust
Wellsville, KS 66092-0458
785-883-2737

E-mail: umcwellsville@embarqmail.com

          ssim@greatplainsumc.org

Rev. Stephen Sim

Sunday worship: 10:45 a.m., Sunday school 9:30 a.m.

Online Worship:

 

Yates Center
307 South Grove
Yates Center, KS 66783-1541

620-625-2266
E-mail: YCUMCKS@sbcglobal.net

Pastor Jimmy Yoo

Safe Gatherings is a Biblically-based boundary awareness and abuse prevention program developed by the Kansas East and Kansas West conferences to certify volunteer workers, staff and clergy, enabling them to work with children, youth and adults with developmental disabilities in accordance with the policies of the conferences.

In 1996, the United Methodist General Conference adopted a resolution to reduce the risk of child sexual abuse int he church. The resolution outlines specific steps to be taken to protect vulnerable people. Local churches and conferences are directed to develop an ongoing education and training program and screening and safety procedures. The resolution was affirmed in 2004 and 2008.

The annual conferences adopted policies in accordance with this resolution for the protection of children, youth and vulnerable adults. The annual conferences’ program applies to all conference and district events, as well as all local church events and activities. By completing this certification program, individuals are authorized to work with children, youth and developmentally disabled adults in any church-related setting.

Safe Gatherings replaces Kansas East’s Safe and Sacred Space program and will replace Kansas West’s Boundary Awareness program.

Beginning July 1, 2012, all persons in the Kansas East Conference who are renewing or completing first-time certification will complete their education and certification process online. Both conferences will use this new online system, which replaces the current face-to-face training for certification.

Start the Safe Gatherings process

Kansas West will begin using the system Sept. 1. Background checks, except for Kansas Social and Rehabilitation Services, will be done electronically. The State of Kansas still requires an original signature, so a downloadable form will be provided for applicants to complete, sign and return to obtain the SRS background check.

Once registered with the online learning system, applicants have 30 days to complete the training process for certification. Training may be completed anytime, anywhere using the online system. Applicants may complete the training modules at their own pace and request reference letters electronically.

The cost is $30 for state and federal background checks. Applicants are responsible for making a secure online payment to cover the cost of their background check. Some local churches have opted to cover this expense for people associated with their congregation. If your local church is covering these expenses, that will be indicated as you complete the online application process.

 

CONTACT US at SafeGatherings@kswestumc.org or 800-745-2350 for more information or with questions about the program.

Baker University

Camp Chippewa

UM Foundation

United Methodist Women

United Methodist Women Purpose:

The organized unit of United Methodist Women shall be a community of women whose purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.

 

Five Rivers United Methodist Women Officers for 2023

President:

Donna Grigsby, PO Box 661, Iola, KS 6674

703-403-8257, donna.grigsby46@gmail.com                                                                       

Class of 2026

Vice-President:  Vacant

Secretary:

Dorothy Miller, 23723 NW Mitchell Rd., Garnett, KS 66032

(785) 448-3007, rdmillr62@gmail.com

Class of 2023

Treasurer:

Donna Beebe, 1995 600 St, Colony, KS 66015

(620)228-1916, dvbeb@yahoo.com

Class of 2026

Communication:

Julie Ward, 701 Arkansas St, Lawrence, KS 66044

MISSION COORDINATORS:

 

Spiritual Growth:  Nancy Rockers, PO Box 37, Greeley, KS 66033, (785) 867-3933,

Wrock21@aol.com                                                                                           Class of 2023

 

 

Education & Interpretation:  Position Vacant                                            Class of 2026

 

Membership, Nuture & Outreach:  Ruth Jansen, 741 S Tremont, Ottawa, KS  66067, (785) 241-9471,

 ruthjansenZ13@gmail.com                                                                              Class of 2023

 

Program Resources:  Roberta Selvy, 601 W 14th St., Pleasanton, KS, (913) 352-8360,

(813) 789-8116, rlselvy@gmail.com                                                               Class of 2023

 

Nominations Chair:   Position Vacant                                                            Class of 2026

 

Nominations Committee

      Position Vacant                                                                                                    Class of 2026

      Position Vacant                                                                                                    Class of 2026

      Position Vacant                                                                                                 Class of 2026

 

 Links:

 Remittance Form

Living Water Monthly Publication of the Five Rivers District

The Signal  Bi-Annual Publication of the Five Rivers District Women

Great Plains Conference UMW

General Board of Global Ministries