July Connection 1

4 days ago
3 min read

July 1, 2026

DISCIPLES CONNECTION

AROUND THE REGION

Please join us in thanking Rev. Ron Routledge for his time as our interim Regional Minister and President.

And please join us as we welcome Rev. Dr. Lara Blackwood Pickrel as our new Regional Minister and President.

Our Region is so blessed by their ministry!

On Sunday, June 28th, Pastor Gina Johnson was officially

installed as Senior Minister at Overland Park Christian Church.

We welcome Pastor Gina to our Region from the Mid-America Region!

Our Camp season is in full swing! In June, we welcomed our Grandparents Camp 1, Day Camp 1, and CYF!

Thank you to all of our directors, counselors, keynoters, and chaplains for their ministry with our children and youth.

There is still time to register your camper for Day Camp 2, Primary Camp, and Chi Rho Camp.

General Assembly Livestream

July 10-11

While this summer's General Assembly is virtual we invite all of the Greater Kansas City Disciples to gather at Country Club Christian Church to participate together to participate together on Saturday from 10-6 lunch will be provided for a $12 donation.

The whole church throughout the United States and Canada, is invited to attend General Assembly 2026. Ephesians 3:14-21 invites the Stone-Campbell tradition of today and tomorrow to be rooted and grounded in the love of God that surpasses knowledge and barriers to build fuller relationships and ministries led by the limitless love of God. The prayer that calls to the church in Ephesus also calls the Christian Church to set a bigger table that surpasses our previous capacity.

More than just a series of meetings, General Assembly is a covenantal table set for education, discussion, worship, business, fellowship, and action. Each congregation is invited to boldly claim their covenantal place at the table by inviting everyone to attend online and by prayerfully designating 3 delegates to vote at General Assembly. Meeting every year online will allow more Disciples to connect more frequently and to work together more fully “to be the church we say we are.” If you’ve never attended General Assembly before, a special welcome is extended to you.

Click here to register today and take your place in this year’s General Assembly rooted in hope, inspired by purpose, and alive with possibility. Your voice, your presence, and your spirit matter. Come be part of what God is doing next. The Greater Kansas City Region will be gathering in person for the Assembly at Country Club Christian Church. All are invited to register and participate!

Every congregation may select up to 3 delegates to participate and vote at GA. Participation can be in person or via Zoom. Churches are receiving emails with details related to voting delegates. All ministers in good standing may vote.

UPCOMING REGIONAL EVENTS

Disciples Women's Ministry Fish Fry

Thursday, July 9

Join the Greater KC Disciples Women's Ministry in supporting Blue Springs Terrace. Blue Springs Terrace, Inc, is a residential retirement community for clergy of the United Church of Christ and Christian Church Disciples of Christ.

RSVP:

(913) 703 - 5881

kcdiscipleswomen@gmail.com

RSVP by 4 PM on July 5

Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation 2.0 Training

Thursday, July 23, 9:00 am-4:00 pm at Merriam Christian Church.

Anti-Racism 2.0 answers these questions:

"Where is the evidence that systemic racism exists in my community?"
"How did race prejudice and abuse of power shape many of the laws that systematized racism?"
"What are local Disciples of Jesus Christ doing to mitigate this sinful reality?"
"Me? Biased? I have lots of friends who are . . . "
"What can I and those I serve do to help change this sinful reality?"

Planned learning activities include: taking the Implicit Bias Test beforehand, exploring the origins of the pseudo-science of eugenics, and taking an in-house virtual tour of the Greater Kansas City area to learn about how racism shaped our communities. We will meet with local people who are making progress mitigating some of systemic racism’s effects.

Full Details can be found HERE.

This workshop includes several individual and small group activities. Please wear comfortable clothing.

There is suggested pre-reading. You can find more information HERE .

Anti-Racism 101 is a prerequisite for this workshop.