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Oklahoma Episcopal Area

Mission and Ministry
About 85 people gathered to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Exodus House, a ministry of the Oklahoma Conference of The United Methodist Church, on Oct. 21 in Oklahoma City. From left are Lesa Rhoads, Exodus House assistant director; Lew McGinnis, a member of the Exodus House board; Keith Dobbs, executive director of Criminal Justice and Mercy Ministries; Robin Wertz, resident director of Exodus House; Anne Robertson, intern for CJAMM; and Kristin Ferrell-Wilkes, New Day Camp office assistant. Photo by Boyce Bowdon, UM News.

Exodus House celebrates 25 years of changing lives

The Oklahoma Conference ministry for prisoners reentering society started receiving residents in 1998, but it began two years earlier in the minds of two United Methodist pastors who wanted to do something about recidivism.
Bishops
The Rev. David Wilson, the first Native American United Methodist bishop, accepts congratulations after his election to the episcopacy at the South Central Jurisdictional Conference Nov. 2 in Houston. File photo by Sam Hodges, UM News.

Bishop Wilson shares priorities, hopes for future

Bishop David Wilson, who leads the Great Plains Conference, shares his thoughts about being the first Native American bishop in The United Methodist Church and what he hopes to accomplish in the next four years.
Human Rights
Ebiye Seimode, a student at the Boston University School of Theology and participant in the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference Immersion Experience, samples a flute for sale at Oklahoma Native Art & Jewelry on March 9, 2023, in Oklahoma City. Photo by Jim Patterson, UM News.

Native immersion explores culture, horrors

A group of nearly 30 students, United Methodist church members and pastors toured central Oklahoma to learn about the culture and mistreatment of Native Americans. The experience was sobering yet hopeful.
Local Church
The Rev. Derrek Belase. Photo courtesy of the author.

A church closing that hits home

The Rev. Derrek Belase, director of connectional ministries for the Oklahoma Conference, shares the emotions he’s feeling as he prepares for the closing of the United Methodist church where he grew up.

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