A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference |
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Greater Northwest Area Cabinet encourages vaccination as an act of love
In a letter to United Methodists in the area, Greater Northwest Area cabinet leaders implore those who are not vaccinated yet to do so if there is no medical reason they cannot, writing, "vaccination is not only practical and wise, but also an act of love." The GNW Cabinet is fully vaccinated, as are the majority of staff serving in conference and district offices across the region and many local church leaders and pastors.
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October is National Pastor Appreciation Month!
October is National Pastor Appreciation Month in the U.S., and Wespath Benefits and Investments offers ideas in an email for local churches to say thank you to their pastors. Wespath also shared survey results revealing a downward trend in clergy well-being, reflecting the challenges of the pandemic, social/racial injustice and the ongoing uncertainty within The United Methodist Church.
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Birchwood Camp auction scheduled
Birchwood Camp's 2021 Online Auction is coming up! Bidding will start November 8 and will end November 14 at 6 pm.
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The Bear has been found, history with Alaska
An interesting historical tidbit to be shared, the Anchorage Daily News on Friday, October 15, 2021, ran a story of the finding of sunken remains of the frigate U.S.S. Bear off the Atlantic coast between Boston and Nova Scotia. There is a picture of the Bear in the book Have Gospel Tent Will Travel, page 35, with the notation that indicated that the Bear, and other vessels, were a vital link in getting missionaries to and from rural Alaskan communities in the late 1890s and later. It also transported children to and from the Jesse Lee Home in Unalaska.
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Greater Northwest Area News |
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Q: Can we safely celebrate the winter holidays in person this year?
As much of the US begins to see new coronavirus cases decline, people are starting to look ahead toward the holidays and the uncertainties of winter. Writing for the GNW COVID-19 Response Team's weekly update, Patrick Scriven provides a survey of what experts are suggesting at this stage of the pandemic.
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A progress report on Western Jurisdiction visioning and an invitation as we expand the table
"Even without General Conference, the Western Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church has been hard at work living into the future we believe God has called us to." The WJ First Elected Delegates released an update this week sharing progress on conversations and an invitation to "save the dates" of November 13, 2021, and January 8, 2022, when they expect to host open forums on future planning.
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'Nerd' church builds community without a building
As churches in the pandemic era have gotten creative with online worship, Checkpoint Church was designed to be exclusively virtual. The congregation doesn't even have a building.
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Guidance for sexual harassment survivors
A new website offered by the Commission on the Status and Role of Women offers step-by-step guidance on the complaint process for people who are considering pursuing sexual misconduct charges against a church official. The Do No More Harm site strives to make the system put forth in the United Methodist Book of Discipline clearer.
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Kenneth Rowe, church historian, dies at 84
Colleagues agree that the Rev. Kenneth Rowe's contribution to Methodist history was monumental. He was an author, professor, librarian, archivist, bibliographer — and he insisted the church's marginalized groups have their story told, too. Rowe, who had a key role in bringing the United Methodist Archives and History Center to Drew University, died Oct. 8 at age 84.
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William Abraham, traditionalist scholar, dies at 73
The Rev. William J. “Billy” Abraham, a longtime professor at Perkins School of Theology, helped shaped the traditionalist renewal movement within United Methodism and was regarded with respect and affection by many who disagreed with him. The Northern Ireland native died Oct. 7 at age 73.
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Take time for you in 2022 with a class at Wesley
With another year just around the corner, are you feeling the need for some time away and spiritual and intellectual refreshment? If so, Wesley Theological Seminary invites you to join them for J-Term 2022, a series of intense, 1- or 2-week courses that enable a time of focused class learning (online or in person) with the remainder of the coursework completed individually. Many clergy and ministry leaders take these courses for both CEUs and as a time of retreat following a busy Advent/Christmas season. Registration for J-Term and Spring Term period: October 18, 2021 - December 13, 200. For more information, go to https://www.wesleyseminary.edu/admissions/try-a-class-2/
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Supporting investigation of abuses in the Philippines
The United Methodist Board of Church and Society joined other denominational groups in a renewed call for an independent investigation by the United Nations and the international community of human rights violations in the Philippines. The National Association of Filipino American United Methodists has expressed concern for church leaders being targeted for advocating for poor and Indigenous communities.
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MTSO lectures will commemorate 1921 Tulsa massacre
The Williams Institute at Methodist Theological School in Ohio will present two lectures by Juan M. Floyd-Thomas, associate professor of African American religious history at Vanderbilt Divinity School and Graduate Department of Religion. He will speak at 7 p.m. Nov. 2 and 1 p.m. Nov. 3 on the theme “America at the Cross(roads): A Century of Struggle from 1921 Tulsa Massacre to #BlackLivesMatter.”
The Williams Institute lectures are open to all and will be presented online at no charge to participants. Advance Zoom registration is required for each lecture.
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Interfaith FCU merger with Holston Methodist FCU
Interfaith Federal Credit Union has completed its merger with $16 million Holston Methodist
Federal Credit Union (HMFCU) in Knoxville, Tennessee.
“We are delighted to welcome the members of Holston Methodist FCU to our Interfaith credit union family”, stated Ramon Noperi, President and CEO of Interfaith FCU. “This merger provides greatly expanded services and access to the
members of Holston Methodist FCU including the CO-OP network of ATMs and shared branching, extensive on-line services including mobile banking apps, 24/7 member service and so much more”. “We look forward to providing faithbased products and services to our new members for many years to come” continued Noperi.
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SBC21 Celebrates 25 years of Equipping and Encouraging Pastors and Leaders
Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century is still standing true to its mission to strengthen congregations to transform communities through leadership development, discipleship-making systems, revitalization and real-time social justice ministry.
You are invited to join the celebration at their National Conference, SHIFT HAPPENS: Doing Ministry from the Right Side, December 1-2 at St. Johns Downtown, Houston, Texas. This theme is the backdrop of an experience you don't want to miss!
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The Bible Year: How Studying the Bible Every Day Transforms You
Tuesday, October 26th – 1:00pm CT
As we approach the new year, many Christians will make a similar resolution – they want to read the Bible more. And every year, people struggle with keeping that resolution.
If you, your small group, or your church’s goal is to read the whole Bible in a year, but it feels overwhelming, The Bible Year will help!
The Bible Year has divided the Scripture into 365 smaller, daily goals. It also includes a concise devotional every day. Additionally, there are weekly summaries of key themes to help you better digest and understand the readings. Multiple resources have been created specifically for small group and church leaders to help them integrate the daily Bible goals into the life of the church.
Join others as they commit together to study the Bible more and develop a deeper faith.
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Walk remembers lost Native children
Members of Canyon Lake United Methodist Church honored Rapid City Indian School students who perished decades ago with a ceremonial walk on Native Americans' Day. The school was one of many created to teach children to reject their culture. Some of the students who died at the schools were buried in unmarked graves that are now being identified.
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Photo essay: "I was a stranger..."
In September 2021, a UM News team accompanied leaders from The United Methodist Church and the Methodist Church of Mexico on visits to growing migrant communities in multiple towns on the U.S.-Mexico border. While policymakers in Washington struggle to find solutions, the response from faith leaders has been simple: Welcome the strangers, as Jesus instructed. UM News photographer Mike DuBose documented the ministry in a photo essay.
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Stump has meaning for congregation
The loss of a majestic tree on the property of Hill City United Methodist Church has been eased by making meaning from the stump that is left behind. The top of the stump has been painted, and steps and a railing have been added so speakers can use it as a platform. Congregants see the stump as a metaphor for their church, which has declined in membership but still has work to do.
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Commission selects Greg Arnold as top executive
The Commission on United Methodist Men has named Greg Arnold, a deployed staff member of the commission, to serve as general secretary. He succeeds Gil Hanke, who retired from the post in October. Arnold, a 12-year Mississippi-based staff member, will begin work Nov. 1.
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19: CCFA meeting day 2
19-21: GNW Cabinet meetings - Carlo and Lisa attending
21: Mission District Task Force meeting
25: Charge Conference - Palmer UM Fellowship
26: Charge Conference - Kenai UMC
31: Halloween
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1: First day of American Indian Heritage Month
1: Charge Conference - Christ First UMC
2: Election Day
2: Charge Conference - Homer UMC
3: Charge Conference - North Star UMC
4: Mission District Task Force
7: Daylight Savings Time ends
8: Charge Conference - Soldotna UMC
9: Charge Conference - Seward & Moose Pass UMC
10: Charge Conference - First Ketchikan UMC
11: Veterans Day
11: Charge Conference - Turnagain UMC
12: Charge Conference - St. Peter the Fisherman UMC
15: Charge Conference - St. John UMC
16-18: GNW Cabinet meetings - Carlo and Lisa attending
16: Charge Conference - Nome Community UMC
18: Charge Conference - Girdwood Chapel UMC
19: Charge Conference - Anchorage Korean UMC
22: Charge Conference - Aldersgate UMC
23: Charge Conference - Douglas Community UMC
25: Thanksgiving - Office Closed
26: Office Closed
29: Charge Conference - UMC of Sitka
30: Charge Conference - First Anchorage UMC
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Upcoming Clergy Birthdays
November 6 -
Tafa Fulumua
November 9 -
Murray Crookes
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Conference Office
907-333-5050
Superintendent - Carlo Rapanut
Director of Connectional Ministries - Lisa Talbott
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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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