A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference |
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Annual Conference information
Registration for the 2022 Annual Conference Session is now open. If you are a Lay Member voted by your church to attend, are clergy, or hold another roll that allows you voice and or vote, then please register by May 31.
Petitions for the 2022 Alaska Annual Conference Session must be submitted by Sunday, May 8, 2022.
Additional dates to save on your calendar:
- Alaska Clergy Sessions – June 2, 10:00-12:00 p.m. AKT
- Alaska Pre-Conference Informational Meeting - to be determined
- GNW Laity session – June 14, 5:30 p.m. AKT
- GNW Opening Session – June 19, evening
- Alaska Conference Plenary Session – June 20, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. AKT
- PNW Service of Commissioning & Ordination, June 22, daytime
- Oregon-Idaho Service of Commissioning & Ordination, June 24, daytime
- GNW Closing Session – June 25, daytime
Logo information: A dove, rainbow, mountains, rivers, stained glass window and more: this year's GNW Annual Conference logo was designed by graphic designer/artist Kylie Nelson, a member of Wesley UMC in Eugene, Oregon. Kylie incorporated the AC theme "Called to Be: Alert, Faithful, Brave, Love" into her design in both subtle and bold ways that reflect the work we're being called to do. Read more of her description and inspiration for this design on the GNW News site.
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Bishops work for unity as one resigns
United Methodist bishops completed their spring meeting April 29 in a spirit of collegiality and love for one another and the worldwide United Methodist Church. Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey passed the gavel to Bishop Thomas Bickerton, who succeeds her as Council of Bishops president. At the same meeting, the bishops also learned that retired Bishop J. Mike Lowry announced that he plans to resign his role as a United Methodist bishop effective May 1. Lowry stated he will join the Global Methodist Church on May 1 and continue his service on the new denomination’s Transitional Leadership Council.
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European bishops write open letter to WCA
Three bishops in Europe have written an open letter to the Wesleyan Covenant Association questioning the group’s reaction to the Bulgaria-Romania Provisional Annual Conference’s vote to leave The United Methodist Church and join the Global Methodist Church. The letter, signed by Bishops Christian Alsted, Harald Rückert and Patrick Streiff, said that the decision was a clear violation of the process laid out in the Book of Discipline. “The reaction to the Bulgarian vote raises the question: What standards do leaders of the Wesleyan Covenant Association and of the Global Methodist Church want to uphold?”
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What happens when a new denomination launches?
The Global Methodist Church, a theologically conservative breakaway denomination, set May 1 as its official start date. However, it will take time for any potential separations from The United Methodist Church to take place.
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Malaria efforts paying off in Angola
The United Methodist Church's Imagine No Malaria campaign is making a difference in the African nation of Angola. Community awareness and preventive treatment have improved, boosting the health of mothers and babies.
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Celebrating a Native American trailblazer
William Apess, born among the Pequot of Massachusetts, was the first Native American Methodist exhorter in New England and the first Native American licensed to preach by American Methodists. He also is credited as the first Native American to write and publish an autobiography. Ask The UMC has more on Apess as part of its Pioneers in Methodism series.
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Celebrate Heritage Sunday May 22
Every May, United Methodists are encouraged to devote one Sunday to celebrating their Wesleyan heritage. This year’s theme for Heritage Sunday is “Splits, Separations and Reconciliations.” Congregations are invited to use this month as a time to explore how splits, schisms and mergers have framed our history and identity us as United Methodists.
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5: Leadership Team meeting (6 pm)
8: Mother's Day
8: Petitions Due
8: Award Nominations due
13-23: Lisa taking Professional Development Leave
19: Mission District Task Force meeting (6 pm)
26: Leadership Team meeting (6 pm)
30: Memorial Day - Office Closed
31: Memorial information due for Annual Conference
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2: Alaska Clergy Session
14: GNW Laity Session
19: Father's Day
19: Juneteenth
19-25: Annual Conference (virtual)
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Upcoming Clergy Birthdays
May 12 - Faith McClellan
June 8 - Jim Doepken
June 10 - Carlo Rapanut
June 15 - Matt Reinders
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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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