New United Methodist Church to launch June 4

    A new United Methodist Church is forming in Imperial and will hold its first service on Sunday, June 4.
    Erin Konecky, who is coordinating the launch of Faith United Methodist Church of Chase County with a committee of seven, said they have leased the Upper Republican NRD office building in Imperial on a temporary basis for their Sunday services going forward.
    Their first service June 4 at 9:30 a.m. will be led by Rev. Jeff Clinger of Topeka, Kansas, who is Director of Congregational Excellence for the Great Plains United Methodist Conference.
    Prior to the service, she said there will be a gathering time at 9 a.m. with coffee and pastries.
    Konecky said they have lay leaders and pastors lined up to lead services each Sunday in June.
    One of those will be her father, Warren Cico, a UMC pastor in Potter, who will lead the service on Father’s Day, June 18.
    She said the launch committee is anticipating 20-40 people to attend their first service.
    Konecky said the core of the United Methodist worship service has been kept as they made plans for the new church.
    “Our philosophy is we want to be a church open to everyone. We want to build an inter-generational faith community where families can thrive,” she said.
    Konecky said she stepped into the leadership effort for the church because she and her family wanted to stay with the United Methodist Church.
    “I am leading that effort because it is that important to me,” she said.
    The committee has been holding regular meetings, and for the past nine weeks, have met weekly.
    “A lot of work has gone into this,” she added.
    The committee has considered input and revisions from those who want to be involved so they have had a voice, she added.
    They have acquired an altar, altar cloths, a cross, hymnals, a podium and other supplies through the conference and elsewhere, she said.
    Konecky said they will have Wednesday night youth groups in the fall and  a  Confirmation class in the coming year.
    There will be services every Sunday and, eventually, after they are fully functioning, they expect to have their own pastor who will be assigned by United Methodist Church hierarchy.
    Efforts to launch Faith United Methodist Church of Chase County began after the Imperial United Methodist congregation voted earlier this year to disaffiliate.