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A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference
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CrossOver! A Year-Long Quest
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This is your HEADS UP!
In a couple of weeks I'll invite United Methodists and friends in the Greater Northwest Episcopal Area to join a year-long devotional study beginning with Advent 2018. I hope many of you will form small groups to engage in this study together, but individuals can do it on their own. I hope that together we can renew our faith for the challenges we face in our lives, the Church, the nation and the world.
In We Make the Road by Walking, Brian McLaren introduces us afresh to the principles of Christian faith and bible teachings. Each week, in 3-4 pages, he invites us to revisit biblical principles and our lives of faith. We'll create a blog to go alongside the study, with reflections and prayers by leaders of our Conferences, and a place for comments and conversation.
Some of you may already have your plans for Advent and beyond. If you can, I hope this Christian practice will fit into your plans -- especially since it will carry through this entire CrossOver Year. The CrossOver Year begins December 2, 2018 and ends November 24, 2019, with the special General Conference in February. I hope this notice is coming early enough that you can start encouraging participation now.
Watch for more information in the rollout of the CrossOver Year -- coming soon!
Bishop Elaine JW Stanovsky | Greater NW Area |
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 Now is the time to save the date for the upcoming Fall Rendezvous meetings which will take place at the Conference Center (1660 Patterson Street, Anchorage, 99504) on October 4-6, 2018. The New Clergy Orientation and Clergy Retreat will be Oct 4-5 and the Committee Meetings will take place Oct 5-6. More information will follow soon! |
Bartel elected Interim President of AUMC LT
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  Rev. Andy Bartel was elected Interim President of the Alaska Conference Leadership Team during their meeting last Saturday, August 25. Andy succeeds Deaconess Fran Lynch who was the first President of the LT under the new structure. Fran will continue to serve on the LT as an ex-officio member without vote.
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 CROP Hunger Walk will take place on Sunday, September 30 at First Congregational Church. Registration will begin at 12:30 pm, walk starts at 1:30 pm.
Team packets are available or you can walk as an individual (bring your pledge). The walk is mostly on the campus of UAA. This is a family friendly walk.
Walkers will be sent off by the Pipe and Drum Corp.
The Alaska Jumping Flea Society will provide lively music. Treats and drinks will be available. Call Jan Wachsmuth at 862-0194 for more information.
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UMW Newsletter & Annual Gathering Registration
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Here is the August issue of Alaska Women's Response newsletter. You will find inside important information regarding "Commune", our Annual Gathering 2018, coming up on the last weekend of September, including the registration form with an early bird discount!
You'll also find the items delegates will vote on: Standing Rules, Budget and the Slate of Nominations.
We hope you'll enjoy reading the articles written by your Leadership Team, local unit women who traveled in May to Columbus, Ohio for Quadrennial Assembly, information about the school to Prison Pipeline, and a registration form for the Mission u Event to be held in your area.
Newsletter & Annual Gathering Information
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Survey or Map reader needed
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 Dave Wachsmuth has copies of the original plan for Birchwood Camp. There is a little bit more than he can decipher from the surveyors notes. He is looking for some help from someone with knowledge on how to read them. Please contact him at 907-862-1194. Dave is currently serving on the board of directors for Birchwood Camp and is on the property committee. |
 If you are in the Ninilchik area on September 22, make sure you stop by their pulled pork dinner fundraiser between 5-7 pm to help feed the students in Ninilchik. Linda Hawkins, member of St. Peter the Fisherman UMC is coordinating the effort. A silent auction will also be going on. If you would like to know more, please contact Linda at 907-240-5212.
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St. John UMC has 3 job openings
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 St. John currently has three job openings. They are looking for a Finance/Membership Administrator, Building Maintenance Technician, and Wednesday Night Supper Kitchen Coordinator. Applicants should send a cover letter, resume, and three references to Rev. Andy Bartel at [email protected]. You can read about the three positions here.
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Local Church Leadership Connection
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In an effort to address isolation which some local church leaders feel, letters of invitation are being sent to local church leaders to participate in an initial conversation with others within the Alaska Conference serving in the same local church leadership role.
The effort is triggered from the work of a small task force created by the conference Leadership Team.
The goal of our first phase of connection is to create a network of support, collaboration, information sharing, and leadership development among our lay people in local church leadership roles.
Invitations have been sent out to the following groups for these conversations scheduled to happen as noted below:
Local church
Lay Leader - Monday, September 10th at 5:30 pm
Council Chair - Monday, September 10th at 7 pm
Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committee (SPPRC) Chair -
Monday, September 17th at 5:30 pm
Lay Member to Annual Conference - Monday, September 17th at 7 pm
Finance Chair - Monday, September 24th at 5:30 pm
Trustee Chair - Monday, October 1st at 6:30 pm
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Anchor Park United Methodist Women is sponsoring a quilt retreat. Are you behind on your projects because you have been camping, fishing or hiking? It is time to start catching up. Come out and join us for a fun filled weekend while raising money for mission!
Quilt Retreat XXXXIV
September 13-16, 2018
Theme: Quilters Rock
At Laverne Griffin Youth Camp (Wasilla)
Cost: Thursday -Sunday $225 Friday -Sunday $170
For further information and registration contact Susan Williams 907-317-0406
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Mission u registration open!
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 Yearly Mission u events take place in every United Methodist Conference. This year, the studies are Embracing Wholeness: An Earth Perspective for Covenantal Living which will be led by Linda Haynes and What About Our Money? A Faith Response led by Susan Williams. The first event will be held in Anchorage at Jewel Lake Parish (October 19-20). The second event will be held in Nikiski at North Star UMC (November 2-3). The third and last event will be held in Sitka at UMC of Sitka (January 11-12). EVERYONE is invited to attend. These events are not just for women. If you would like to attend, please fill out the registration below. If you have questions about any of the events, please contact the Dean, Jennifer Miller, at [email protected].
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Health Ministry opportunity
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 Tara Orley, Faith Community Nurse Coordinator at Providence hospital, would like to invite members of your congregations to attend an upcoming introduction to health ministry in faith communities. This course will help members of our faith communities look at ways we can work together to use our gifts and skills to truly make our congregations a place of healing for minds, bodies and spirits. It is geared to those without a medical background. In communities with a faith community nurse, they will be great team members. In communities where there is not an existing health ministry, we will look at ways to join forces and recognize some common ground and identify some concrete beginning actions. Participants are encouraged to attend all sessions. The sessions are Sept 11 (6-9 pm), Sept 15 (10 am-3 pm), Sept 25 (6-9 pm), and Sept 29 (10 am-3 pm). The cost is $50 which includes meals, snacks and materials. Register at www.alaska.providence.org/education (click on the calendar and search/select topic "Faith Community Nursing"). Tara is eager to answer any questions or provide any further information about this ministry if you have questions.
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Commission on a Way Forward Videos
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Commission on the General Conference determines petition process
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The Commission on the General Conference has outlined a process for determining if petitions submitted to the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference are in harmony with the Council of Bishops' amended call to the session, which states that the purpose of the special session "shall be limited to receiving and acting upon a report from the Commission on a Way Forward based upon the recommendations of the Council of Bishops."
The Judicial Council ruled that petitions may be filed by an organization or lay/clergy member as long as the business proposed to be transacted is in harmony with the purpose stated in the call. According to Decision 1360, "It is the obligation of the General Conference to determine, in the first instance, through its committees, officers and presiders, acting in accordance with The Discipline and the rules and procedures of the General Conference, whether any such petition is 'in harmony.'"
The Commission on a Way Forward has submitted 48 petitions. Seventy-nine additional petitions were submitted, of which 18 have been found to be invalid due to errors in formatting or failure to meet other requirements. The 61 remaining petitions are still being reviewed to determine validity in formatting. These determinations will all be reviewed by the Committee on Reference, in accordance with the Plan of Organization and Rules of Order of the General Conference.
Read the rest of the press release
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UMC Bishops call for prayers in aftermath of 232nd mass shooting in US in 2018
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 The Council of Bishops President Bishop Ken Carter, who is also the resident bishop of the Florida Area, has issued the following statement in the aftermath of the mass shooting Sunday in Jacksonville, Florida, USA:
"We are saddened again to learn of another mass shooting in Florida. We are praying for the people of the city of Jacksonville. We are grateful for the leadership of District Superintendent Jay Therrell and our churches across this community. They are already strong and vital influences for Christ in this area, and in the coming days they will become important communities of healing and intercession.
"As this is our third public mass shooting in as many years in Florida, and the 232nd mass shooting in the United States in 2018, we continue to unite our prayers with a call to our government officials at every level for a public response to the gun violence in our culture."
Ken Carter
Bishop, Florida Conference and President, Council of Bishops,
The United Methodist Church
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Does everyone attending your church know they have a credit union resource?
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Serving the United Methodist community since 1948, United Methodist Federal Credit Union is a full-service financial institution. Your savings federally insured to at least $250,000, backed by the United States Government through the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). Participation in the nationwide CO-OP network provides thousands of walk-in Shared Branch locations and surcharge-free ATMs. Online and mobile banking offers 24/7 access to your account with remote deposit and bill pay.
How to share your credit union resource with your church community:
· Request informational brochures by contacting Sandra Moore [email protected]
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September
3: Labor Day - office closed
5-7: WJ Leadership meetings in Sacramento - Carlo attending
10: AUMC Lay Leaders connection
10: AUMC Council Chairs connection
17: AUMC S/PPRC Chairs connection
17: AUMC Lay Members to Annual Conference connection
24: AUMC General Conference delegation meeting
24: AUMC Finance Chairs connection
26-28: GNW Cabinet meeting in Portland - Carlo attending
28-29: GNW IV Summit in Portland - Carlo attending
October
1: AUMC Trustee Chairs connection
4-6: Fall Rendezvous (New Clergy Orientation, Clergy Retreat, Committee Meetings)
11-13: GBGM Board meeting in Atlanta - Carlo attending
22: AUMC General Conference delegation meeting
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The Conference Office hours are:
Monday - Thursday: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Friday: 9:00 am - 11:30 am
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Upcoming
September 5 -
Charles Brower
September 11 -
Emily Carroll
September 17 -
Autumn Krueger
September 22 -
Won Jea Keum
September 24 -
Selusi Tuiolemotu
September 28 -
Darla Bradley
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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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