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A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference
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You are invited to Table Talks!
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Bishop Elaine JW Stanovsky is encouraging United Methodist clergy and laypersons across the Greater Northwest Area to attend worshipful 'Table Talk' conversations about human sexuality, and about the future of the Church we love.
 Please watch the Bishop's invitation and share it with your local church! You can download a copy to use in worship and in other settings on the Greater Northwest Vimeo page.
The last Table Talk for Alaska is:
- May 12: First UMC, Fairbanks 9 am - 1 pm
For planning and logistics, we ask that you register if you intend to attend. REGISTER HERE TO ATTEND ONE OF THESE EVENTS Learn more here
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 Click here to read the invitation letter from Bishop Elaine Stanovsky inviting us all to attend Annual Conference!
Registration is live for attending Annual Conference in Seward. It is important for you to read through the FACT SHEET before you register. There are pieces of information that you will need in order to make choices on your registration.
REGISTER HERE for General Registration ($60)!
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 The pre-conference handbook with all the reports, budget, statistics, etc. is complete. For those that wanted them mailed to them, they have been mailed.
For the individuals who wanted to download the handbook themselves, you have been emailed the link. If anyone else would like to access it, you can view it here.
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Guest Speakers at Annual Conference
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We are delighted to announce that the following will be joining us at Annual Conference in Seward:
Rev. Dr. Amy Valdez Barker will be preaching at the Opening Worship which will be a Memorial and Communion Service. Dr. Valdez Barker is the new Executive Director of Global Mission Connections of the General Board of Global Ministries. She heads the programmatic unit of Global Ministries focused on cultivating new faith communities as well as connecting the local church in mission through regional offices in Asia, Europe, Latin America, the United States, and Africa. Before this role, Amy served as chief connectional ministries officer of the UMC Connectional Table from 2012.
Rev. Donna Pritchard will be joining Bishop Elaine Stanovsky in presenting this year's Episcopal Address. Rev. Pritchard is Senior Pastor at Portland First United Methodist Church in Portland, Oregon and is a member of the Commission on a Way Forward. Donna will also be leading a pre-conference workshop on the book "The Anatomy of Peace" which she says is one of the foundational documents that has informed the work of the Commission on a Way Forward.
Rev. Dr. Fred A. Shaw will be preaching at the Closing Worship which will be a Service of Commissioning, Ordination and Reading of Appointments. Dr. Shaw is the Executive Director of the Native American Course of Study of the UMC, a national school for Native American local pastors. He also chairs the Native American Comprehensive Plan (NACP of the UMC. Fred is a noted storyteller and served churches in the West Ohio Conference for 41 years prior to his retirement in 2010.
Other notable guests who will be with us in Seward include: Rev. Dr. Bener Agtarap, Associate General Secretary of Discipleship Ministries and head of Path One; Dr. Leroy Barber, Congregational Developer for Vitality of the Greater Northwest Area; Rev. Erin Martin, District Superintendent of the Columbia District in the Oregon Idaho Conference; and Rhondalei Gabuat, Administrative Assistant to Bishop Elaine Stanovsky.
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The Lay & Clergy sessions will be held on Thursday evening, May 31st. They will take place from 7-8:30 pm at Seward Memorial UMC.
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Visit to Spring Creek Correctional Center
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 On Thursday, May 31, clergy and lay have been invited to Spring Creek Correctional Center to hear about their work on Restorative Justice with inmates and victims. If you are interested, please contact Rev. Jim Doepken directly and let him know.
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 The April apportionment report has been posted to the conference website. Take a look!
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 Mark your calendar now for this coming Saturday, May 12th, to shop at the Anchor Park United Methodist Church Community Yard Sale. Hundreds of multi-family items. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. All money will go to various mission projects. Fabulous fine women's fashions. Lots of toys, camping items, kitchen items, clothes, snowblower, frames, sleds, small fridge, microwave, small bike, tools, Big Chief Smoker with chips, small shredder, etc. Indoor, rain or shine. 2300 Oak Drive (Lake Otis near 20th)
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Bishops' proposal garners range of responses
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In messages to their areas, United Methodist bishops are choosing to emphasize different parts of their motion for a proposed way forward. Advocacy groups also are making their thoughts known. Heather Hahn, Sam Hodges and Kathy L. Gilbert report on initial perspectives about what the bishops are submitting to the special General Conference in 2019.
Read the story
Read the Council of Bishops press release & Bishop Elaines response
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With passing of gavel, Bishop Carter becomes president of UMC bishops
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With a handshake and passing of a new, official Council of Bishops' gavel, President Bruce R. Ough on Thursday night transferred leadership to Bishop Kenneth H. Carter as the next President of the Council of Bishops.
During a special evening celebration of leadership and passing of the gavel on May 3 at the Hilton Rosemont Hotel near Chicago, Bishop Ough said it brought him great pleasure to pass the mantel of presidency to Bishop Carter and said the Council of Bishops was in good hands.
"Ken has a keen mind, matched with a collaborative leadership style and a deep love for Jesus and the Church," said Ough. "His intimate knowledge of the work of the Commission on a Way Forward, as one of its moderators, will benefit this Council and the entire United Methodist Church as we move from this place to the Special Session of General Conference in February, 2019 and then on to the regular session of General Conference in May, 2020."
A humble Bishop Carter said he was honored and grateful to serve in this new role in his ministry journey. "When I became a bishop, it was very clear to me that we really do this work for others," said Carter. "We are all set aside by God for a particular season in our lives to do a very particular work and that is to be spiritual leaders of this church that we love. I am blessed to know Jesus Christ and I am blessed to be a part of The United Methodist Church."
Read the full release
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Church ratifies 3 constitutional amendments
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 United Methodists said "yes" to the Council of Bishops holding its members accountable and "no" to two constitutional amendments that promoted women's equality.
Read the press release
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United Methodists encouraged to celebrate 50th anniversary of the denomination alongside Pentecost
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May 20 is being called a "once in a lifetime" event for United Methodists, offering an opportunity to commemorate the church's history alongside the celebration of Pentecost. Numerous event-specific resources are available for congregations, including a video created to honor the church's legacy since April 23, 1968, when leaders of the Evangelical United Brethren Church and The Methodist Church declared the creation of a new denomination, The United Methodist Church.
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May 20, 2018 is Pentecost PLUS!," said the Rev. Fred Day, general secretary of the
General Commission of Archives and History (GCAH). "Not only is the third
Sunday of May, Pentecost, the culmination of the great 50 days of Eastertide, the day for celebrating the loosing of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the gift of Christian unity, it is also Heritage
Sunday. This year the Heritage
Sunday theme is 'Jubilee' in a nod to the 50th anniversary, which often is referred to as the Golden Jubilee.
"Don't miss this once in a lifetime intersection," Day said.
In addition to the video, numerous
resources have been developed and made available specifically for the 50th anniversary of the uniting conference, including liturgical materials, the original uniting conference
video, and a
reference guide to the church's history.
UMC.org, the official website of The United Methodist Church, is featuring anniversary content at
UMC.org/umc50. A hashtag -- #UMC50 - is being used for all anniversary-themed content across social media channels.
Read the full press release
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Read about auto loans with 90-day no payment OR 1% cash back in the spring 2018 UMFCU newsletter. The 70th anniversary CD special at 1.71% APY is still available for a limited time.
A wealth of additional information on credit union products and services can be found at www.umfcu.org. To receive a membership packet contact your California Headquarters at 800-245-0433 or your New England Branch at 207-591-6449.
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Peace with Justice Sunday | May 27
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This Special Sunday of The United Methodist Church makes it possible for the General Board of Church and Society to do their ongoing ministries of peace and reconciliation.
When we give generously on Peace with Justice Sunday, we show that The United Methodist Church is unwilling to ignore injustice, both in the United States and around the world.
Access the Pastor and Leader's kit now!
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8-10: GNW Cabinet Meeting - Carlo attending
9: Crystal out of the office
12: Table Talks - First UMC Fairbanks
12: AUMC Leadership Team meeting
13: Mother's Day
16-18: Crystal out of the office - attending UMW Assembly in OH
28: Memorial Day - office closed
31: Pre-Conference workshops at Seward Memorial UMC
June
1-2: Alaska Annual Conference at Seward Memorial UMC
22-24: PNW Annual Conference
27-29: GNW Cabinet Retreat - Carlo attending
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The Conference Office hours are:
Monday - Thursday: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Friday: 9:00 am - 11:00 am
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Upcoming
June 8 -
Jim Doepken
June 10 -
Carlo Rapanut
June 15 -
Matt Reinders
June 27 -
Teri Erbele
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Conference Office
907-333-5050
Superintendent Carlo
907-854-8340
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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.
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 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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