 |
|
A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
You are invited to Table Talks!
|
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 Table Talks for Alaska have been scheduled.
- May 5: First UMC, Anchorage 9 am - 1 pm
- May 5: Aldersgate UMC, Juneau 1:30 - 5:30 pm
- May 12: First UMC, Fairbanks 9 am - 1 pm
For planning and logistics, we ask that you register if you intend to attend one of the Table Talks above. REGISTER HERE TO ATTEND ONE OF THESE EVENTS Learn more here
|
|
 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)!
|
 The pre-conference handbook with all the reports, budget, statistics, etc. is complete. For those that wanted them mailed to them, they were mailed on Friday. An additional addendum will be mailed today with an update.
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.
|
Guest Speakers at Annual Conference
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
 If you would like to nominate someone for either the Outstanding Lay Person of the Year Award or the Harry Denman Evangelism Award, you have until TODAY, May 1st to complete a submission.
There are a lot of deserving people out there so take time to nominate them!
|
 If your ministry wants a display space during Annual Conference, you need to fill out the Ministry Display Table Request form by TODAY, May 1st.
If your church has any deaths since last annual conference, then please fill out the Memorial Roll Submission form by TODAY, May 1st.
|
Visit to Spring Creek Correctional Center
|
 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.
|
 Anchor Park UMC is having a yard sale on Saturday, May 12th from 8 am - 4 pm. They are accepting donations if you are cleaning out your house. Feel free to drop by to shop too!
|
Bishops begin high-stakes deliberations
|
Bishop Bruce R. Ough, Council of Bishops president, said the church is watching as bishops finalize recommendations aimed at fending off church splits over homosexuality.
Read the story
Read the press release
|
Christians find hope in Korean summit
|
Christians worldwide have been advocating for the reunification of the Korean peninsula. The news of the April 27 summit between Kim Jong Un of North Korea and Moon Jae-in of South Korea brought hope to many, before and after the event. Wisconsin Area Bishop Hee-Soo Jung called the meeting "an answer to millions of prayers across decades."
Read the story
|
Native American Course of Study empowers pastors
|
With Navajo as a first language and a limited understanding of English, Norman Mark found traditional ministerial education difficult. However, the Native American Course of Study, which combines theology course work with Native traditions, was a perfect fit. Mark is now leading a new Native American fellowship in the Rocky Mountain Conference.
Read the story
|
Moving closer to full communion with Moravians
|
Filipino denied entry for U.S. ecumenical meeting
|
A United Methodist official expressed dismay that a civil rights advocate from the Philippines was denied entry to the U.S. for church meetings, despite a valid visa and an invitation from the denomination's mission agency. "That a human rights defender like Jerome Aba would be harshly mistreated and denied entry into the U.S. with a valid visa underscores our concern about human rights everywhere," said Thomas Kemper, top executive of the Board of Global Ministries, in a statement.
Read the statement
|
Peace with Justice Sunday | May 27
|
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!
|
5: Table Talks - Aldersgate UMC
5: Table Talks - First UMC Anchorage
8-10: GNW Cabinet Meeting - Carlo attending
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
|
The Conference Office hours are:
Monday - Thursday: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Friday: 9:00 am - 11:00 am
|
 |
|
Upcoming
June 8 -
Jim Doepken
June 10 -
Carlo Rapanut
June 15 -
Matt Reinders
June 27 -
Teri Erbele
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
 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.
|
|
| |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
