Save the Date! Housing summit Nov. 4 in PDX area

Churches and ministry settings in the Greater Northwest Area are invited to participate in a one-day housing symposium on Nov. 4, hosted in the Portland area or online. Details are still in the works, but there will be large group presentations, workshops and more during this gathering for churches to explore how they can be involved in solutions to the housing crisis. More details and registration will be released in mid-September. This event is one response to Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth's call to travel the M.I.L.E. through "Ministry that Matters" when it comes to housing and health.

Elder Address by Charles Brower

Many of you were able to be at the Annual Conference Session in Fairbanks this June. If you were not able to be there or listen online to the Elder Address by Charles Brower, you have the opportunity to read it here.

Read it here

Advanced Preaching class for Certified Lay Ministers and Lay Speakers

An Advanced Preaching Class is being offered for Certified Lay Ministers and Lay Speakers on Oct 21 & 28 via Zoom to provide students with advanced skills in preaching. Participants will receive feedback from experienced preachers on a sermon they prepare and deliver. This free course requires an Introductory Course in Preaching as a prerequisite. Do not delay in registering; space is limited to 9 students.

Learn more and register on the PNW Conference website.

Lay Servant Ministries basic course in September

The “Introduction to Lay Servant Ministry: The BASIC Course” is the foundational course for Lay Servant Ministries. This is the gateway course for those who are called to be Certified Lay Servants, Lay Speakers, and Lay Ministers. It can also be part of a person’s discipleship plan to acquaint you with their gifts, calling, and responsibilities as followers of Christ. This course will be offered over five two-hour sessions on Sept 7, 12, 14, 19, and 21, from 7-9 p.m. PT.

Learn more and register on the PNW Conference website.

Alaska UMCs learn, serve at Youth 2023 in Florida

Jeremy Narus and Rev. Autumn Kreuger describe their recent journey from Alaska to Florida to serve as UMVIM volunteers and attend Youth 2023. From food pantries to community gardens and communion on the beach, there was a lot to see, learn about and enjoy.

Read more of this story on the GNW News site.

Draw the Circle Wide

Alaska United Women in Faith will be holding their Annual Gathering at Anchor Park UMC September 29 - October 1, 2023. All are welcome!

Host Family needed!

United Women in Faith National President, ‘Ainise ‘Isama’u, is presenting at our UWIF Annual Gathering September 29-October 1, 2023. We are looking for a host family to put her up. She will be traveling with her teenage daughter. If you are able to open your home to her, please contact Susan Williams smwilliams@gci.net or 907-317-0406. Thank you for your consideration.

Learning opportunities

United Women in Faith are excited to announce the learning opportunities scheduled at their Annual Gathering. View the learning opportunities here.

Register to attend the 2023 Annual Gathering here

Multiple save the dates

Fall Pastoral Leader Retreat

We want to share that the Fall Pastoral Leader Retreat will be held September 21-24, 2023 at Alaska Pacific University. Details and registration have been emailed out. This is a required event for those under appointment/ assignment.

Winter Learning Event

The Winter Learning Event will be open to anyone interested, clergy and lay. Pastors are required to attend. The dates will be February 2-6 at a location yet to be determined.

Annual Conference 2024

Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth did announce during the summer's Annual Conference Session that the 2024 AC will be June 27-30 in Anchorage.

Charge Conference forms are available now

We will mostly be using an online reporting system for church charge conference paperwork this year. Most of the forms will have the identical questions as in past years but you will not be filling out a PDF or Word document anymore, you will be answering the questions online.

You will have access to these forms through your People Portal. Clergy should have accessed their People Portal at lease once already and some church leadership may have as well. Here is a link with a step by step process on how to login.

I am here to help! If you have a question or are having trouble logging in, please contact Crystal in the conference office so I can assist you. This is what I am here for!

United Methodist connection at work for Maui

Two newly chartered United Methodist churches are among many taking up special offerings for relief work in Maui, Hawaii. This comes after Aug. 8 wildfires there devastated the town of Lahaina, including Lahaina United Methodist Church.

Read the story

Korean American faith leaders discuss church future

The status and future of the Korean American United Methodist Church and the upcoming special gathering of the Association of Korean American Methodists were the main topics at an Aug. 15 Zoom meeting of Korean American faith leaders.

Read the story

Surprise kidney transplant answers prayers

On the final day of the South Carolina Annual Conference, as United Methodists were gearing up for a new year in the life of the church, Stephanie Ponds Henry was waking up in a hospital bed, thanking God for a new lease on life.

Read the story

Finance board votes on bishop, agency pay

The board of The United Methodist Church’s finance agency approved a cost-of-living adjustment for bishops and increased the agency employees’ pay scale. The General Council on Finance and Administration board also received an update on giving so far this year.

Read the story

Read the press release

Fire ravages two camps for displaced people

The United Methodist Church in Eastern Congo is appealing for aid as 45,000 people are left homeless by fires at two camps for internally displaced people in South Kivu. Bishop Gabriel Yemba Unda expressed his compassion for those affected and said the church and other partners can play a role in easing the suffering of survivors.

Read the story

Draw visitors with Find-a-Church updates

United Methodist congregations have an opportunity to share information about their church with those who are searching for the right church home. With the new, expanded search options on UMC.org’s Find-a-Church online directory, visitors can filter results to identify a church that is a good fit. But first, churches need to update their profiles to make that information available.

Read the press release

To update church profiles

Oklahoma church named historic site

McFarlin United Methodist Church, built in 1923-24 by oil tycoon Robert McFarlin as a memorial to his infant son, has been named a United Methodist Historic Site (#574). The United Methodist Commission on Archives and History shared the news with the church in July. The church’s neo-gothic sanctuary is considered one of Oklahoma’s jewels of church architecture.

Read the announcement

See list of United Methodist Historic Sites

Retreat helps clergy thrive

Pastors report that a weeklong retreat through the new Higher Ground Initiative was “a tremendous gift for renewal and re-creation.” The program is financed through a $925,000 grant from the Lilly Endowment’s Thriving in Ministry program. The nine participants enjoyed time to read, rest and journal. They also met with a spiritual director, mental health counselor, physical wellness coach and financial planner.

Read the story