A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference
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Alaska Conference Special Session affirms request to become a district, seeks inclusion within PNW Conference
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During a Special Called Session of the Alaska Conference of The United Methodist Church this weekend, members voted to dissolve their missionary conference status and become a ‘mission district’ within the boundaries of the Pacific Northwest Conference.
The decision, which still needs approval at the General Conference 2020 as well as the Western Jurisdiction Conference in July, was made after two days of holy conferencing, dreaming and worship for clergy and laity leadership.
The recommendation to do this came from the Alaska Conference Future Visions Task Force and Leadership Team.
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Winter Rendezvous highlights Alaska's unique ministries
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Before Conference attendees got to that vote, there was much time spent dreaming and visioning the future of ministry in the Conference.
Led by the worship team of Lisa Talbott, Erin Day, Karen Dammann, Murray Crookes, and David Hall, members of the Conference followed the story of Ruth from the Bible as they shared about the movement from “Famine to Fullness.” They shared their history and celebrated it. They confessed those things which they need to let go in order to move forward. They shared about their communities and who it is that God is calling them to embrace right outside their local church doors.
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You asked: What to do with an undesignated bequest?
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Dear Foundation,
Our church just received an undesignated bequest. We’re thrilled, but we don’t have a policy in place about what to do with it! It will probably take us a while to decide, and we don’t want to miss out on interest that we could have earned during our discernment process. But if we put it in our endowment, does that prevent us from spending the principal in the future once a decision has been reached?
Congratulations on receiving a bequest-- your ministry obviously had a big influence in the donor’s life. Undesignated funds can be a huge blessing. As you described, they also force your church leadership to do some discernment together. You’re wise to want to understand all your options at the beginning of this process.
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Leap Day Pancake Feast Fundraiser
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Christ First United Methodist Women are hosting a benefit pancake supper for Rev. Daniel Wilcox and his family as they are living in Seattle while Dan undergoes medical treatments. Join the ladies of Christ First for delicious food and a great cause!
Silent Auction, Door Prizes and More!
Saturday, February 29, 2020
5 PM - 8 PM
Christ First United Methodist Church
2635 S. Old Knik Road, Wasilla
Suggested donation of $5 per person/$20 per family.
Silent Auction donations welcome. All proceeds benefit Pastor Daniel Wilcox and family. Thank you!
We ask for continued prayers for Dan and his family.
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Proposed new General Book of Discipline review documents available
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The United Methodist Church’s Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters has launched
Generalbod.org
—an online resource that makes it easy to review tracked changes to the proposed new General Book of Discipline as a means of offering transparency, and informing and stimulating conversation within the church. Members can now choose to view the content as the proposed final document version or a version with edit notations. The latter highlights revised text and the reasoning behind it to reduce potential questions.
United Methodists are invited to give feedback by emailing
StandingCommittee@umcmission.org
. Comments will be reviewed by the committee prior to the recommended new General Book being finalized and presented to the 2024 General Conference for approval.
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United Methodists will celebrate UMCOR Sunday on March 22, 2020. Eighty years ago, World War II was raging. Millions of people, displaced from their homes, sought refuge and hope. The church responded by creating the Methodist Committee on Overseas Relief (MCOR) and supporting MCOR through an annual offering called “One Great Hour of Sharing.”
The 2016 United Methodist General Conference changed the name to UMCOR Sunday to reflect the important work accomplished by the United Methodist Committee on Relief.
UMCOR Sunday calls the church to share the goodness of life with those who hurt. UMCOR Sunday reaches children, families and communities who have experienced devastation in the wake of disaster.
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Looking at financial impact of GC2020 plans
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No matter what happens at General Conference, United Methodist financial leaders expect changes in funding. The finance agency board met to discuss some of the possibilities.
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Pioneering mathematician dead at 101
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Katherine Johnson, an African American mathematician who broke barriers at NASA and its predecessor, is dead at 101. The death of Johnson, who was raised Methodist, was announced by NASA on Feb. 24. She was one of a group of black women mathematicians celebrated in the 2016 movie “Hidden Figures.”
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Police and firefighters offered lunches by church
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As part of their plan to serve first responders in their city, members of Main Street United Methodist Church are hosting quarterly luncheons for police officers, paramedics and firefighters. The events have led to the church pastor, the Rev. Jenny Whitmore, becoming a chaplain for the police department.
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Liberians want changes in separation plan
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Liberian United Methodists approved a resolution saying they won't support a separation plan for The United Methodist Church without major amendments. They also expressed unhappiness at not having had input into the plan, known as the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation.
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Think tank to look at GC2020 possibilities
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General Conference organizers have established a think tank to explore different ways for processing legislation at this year's gathering of The United Methodist Church's top lawmaking body.
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Addressing Boy Scouts' bankruptcy filing
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United Methodist Men announced continued support for Boy Scouts of America amid its bankruptcy filing to address hundreds of lawsuits related to abuse accusations. The bankruptcy will not affect local Scout meetings or programs for youth. United Methodist Men also stressed that children's safety is paramount.
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What does Mardi Gras have to do with Jesus? Why ashes? How do I "do" Lent? How can it help me grow closer to God? The Upper Room unpacks answers to these questions and more in Lent 101, a resource crafted to help congregations experience a meaningful season.
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2020 Census Sabbath Weekend
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Save the date and download resources for Census Sabbath Weekend: March 27-29. Church and Society is encouraging local churches to support census data gathering to ensure fair democratic representation and distribution of resources.
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6-13: Carlo on vacation
7: Leadership Team meeting
8: Daylight Savings Time begins
15-17: GNW Cabinet - Carlo attending
17: St. Patrick's Day
19-21: GBGM Board Meeting - Carlo attending
26-27: WJ Mission Cabinet - Carlo attending
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12: Easter
15: Tax Day
15-17: GNW Cabinet - Carlo attending
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Upcoming Clergy Birthdays
March 23 -
Bob Jones
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Conference Office
907-333-5050
Superintendent Carlo
907-854-8340
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The NEW Conference Office hours are:
Monday - Friday: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
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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 Tuesday at 9:00 am for consideration.
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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 in God's preferred future.
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