e~Aurora
A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference
Aurora
CONFERENCE NEWS
Dr. Cape to Preach at St. John UMC
This Sunday, August 20, the Rev. Dr. Kim Cape, the General Secretary of the United Methodist General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM), will be the guest preacher at St. John United Methodist Church.  Dr. Cape is a United Methodist elder with membership in the Rio Texas Annual Conference.  She has been the leader of GBHEM since 2010, and in that position she is responsible for the United Methodist relationship with United Methodist seminaries and other United Methodist related schools, colleges, and universities.  The Board also is responsible for advising and assisting annual conferences in preparing people for professional ministry in the Church through programs such as candidacy, commissioning, ordination, and the management of leaves and work schedules.

Dr. Cape will preach at all three Sunday morning services at St. John on the following regular Sunday schedule:

8 a.m.                Traditional Worship
9:15 a.m.          Traditional Worship
11:30 a.m.        Contemporary Worship

This is a great opportunity to gain some insight into how The United Methodist Church is in ministry beyond the local setting that has direct bearing on how local churches can fulfill their mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
The Passing of Rev. Gay
The conference received news that Rev. Richard Gay died this past Sunday, August 13 at 2:12 a.m.  His two eldest daughters were with him.  The rest of his children were with him Saturday evening.  They were grateful that he was aware of their presence.  While they are sad about their loss, they are glad that the difficulty of his final days is over.

Rev. Gay was an ordained Methodist pastor. His father was also a Methodist minister.  He came to teach at Alaska Methodist University in 1960 as a professor of religion.  He eventually became the chaplain at AMU as well as Vice President.  He was the first pastor of St. John UMC when it was only a fellowship.  He and his wife retired to Hope. His wife played the piano/organ at Turnagain United Methodist Church for a short time.

Services are pending.
NATIONAL NEWS
An Open Letter to Jeff Sessions and All United Methodists
This past weekend, the United States experienced terrorism at the hands of white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and the KKK during a rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Lives were lost and people were injured, all in the name of hatred, racism and xenophobia.
 
Rev. Dr. Susan Henry-Crowe, Church & Society of The United Methodist Church, has written a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Mr. Sessions leads the Department of Justice - the federal agency charged with protecting the civil rights of all people in the United States.  He also happens to be a United Methodist.
 
 
We must call upon our leaders to reject racism and bigotry and to take up the mantle of justice and peace.
 
Read the rest of Henry-Crowe's letter to all of us. 
Call to Commemorate the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation
Council of Bishops
The Council of Bishops has sent out a letter inviting all members and clergy of The United Methodist Church to make a special effort during the month of October to celebrate the day Martin Luther first made his 95 public appearances in 1517.
 
Closed Meetings Find Support, Criticism
The Commission on a Way Forward, charged with helping the denomination avoid schism amid divisions over homosexuality, continues to meet behind closed doors. Some in the church say that's needed for commissioners to build trust and candor. Others question whether the approach is wise or even permissible under church law. 
Native American Family Camp Returns
For the first time in nearly a decade, Native American United Methodists gathered in Oklahoma for the Native American International Caucus' Family Camp. The theme for the gathering was "Act of Repentance: Healing the Wounds from Within." 
Imagine No Malaria Impact Report
United Methodist Communications has posted a comprehensive impact report and an impact overview of what Imagine No Malaria is and what it has accomplished over the last several years.  If you would like to see some of the statistics and read about what our money went to help, see the links below.

CONFERENCE CALENDAR
August
26: Leadership Team meeting

September
12-14: GNW Cabinet Meeting - Carlo attending

October
4-7: New Clergy Orientation, Clergy Retreat, Fall Rendezvous Committee Meetings
6-8: United Methodist Women Annual Gathering at First UMC Anchorage
9-11: GNW Cabinet Meeting - Carlo attending
12-14: GBGM Board Meeting - Carlo attending
happy_birthday_candles.jpg
Upcoming
Clergy Birthdays
 
September 5 -
Charles Brower

September 22 -
Won Jea Keum

September 28 -
Darla Bradley




Conference Office
907-333-5050

Superintendent Carlo
907-854-8340
Submissions - If you have an article or event that you would like to share with the rest of the conference, submit it to the conference office by Monday evening for consideration.
AUMC Logo Mission Statement:
The mission of the United Methodist Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ.  Held and supported by the transforming relationship with God through Christ, we of the Alaska United Methodist Conference seek to be a community that creates a home for all peoples, finds our hope through grace and journeys together into God's preferred future.
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