A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference
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Winter Learning Event: Register by Thursday!
Our Alaska Conference values can be summarized like this:
Love of God, neighbor, and self through intentional dismantling of inequities.
Healing, grace filled mission with equitable relationships.
Living into connectionalism with belonging and trust.
In other words: LOVE | HEAL | LIVE!
How do we put our Alaska Conference values into action? That's the topic of our February learning event. In the past only clergy and lay leaders attended, but the gift of Zoom is that we can now invite everyone in the Alaska Conference to join in!
Friday evening and all day Saturday we will be worshipping, building community, and learning how to live out our values.
The registration for LOVE | HEAL | LIVE is now OPEN. Please follow the link below to register for the February 18-19 Winter Learning Event. The event will be held virtually.
For those that have registered, look for the participation link in your email later this week.
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First UMC Foundation grant opening
The First United Methodist Church Foundation is accepting applications for grants to be used as educational benefits, scholarships, out-reach to the community and the world, and capital projects of First United Methodist Church, Anchorage. Applications should be a concise request using the form provided by First United Methodist Church, Anchorage and can be found on the FUMC website at http://firstumcanchorage.org/ or at the church office. Submissions must be received by February 26, 2022 at the street address given below. Award recipients will be notified in March 2022.
First United Methodist Church Foundation
725 W. 9th Street
Anchorage, AK 99501
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Register for the 2022 Local Church Leadership Training for Laity in the GNW
Laypersons serving on local church committees, especially those who chair administrative committees, are encouraged to register now for a GNW Area-wide training on Sat., Feb. 26, 2022. Interpretation will be offered in Spanish and Korean.
The 2-hour training starts at 9 a.m. AKT (10 a.m. PT, 11 a.m. MT) with leadership provided by district superintendents, staff and laity with expertise across the Alaska, OR-ID, and PNW Conferences. Those new to their roles or to the leadership of committees are strongly encouraged to attend.
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Become a Lay Servant
Perhaps you have felt God calling you to become more involved in your local church and community. Or perhaps you have discerned the need to develop your leadership skills. Become a lay servant! Lay servants focus on:
· Caring ministries
· Leadership
· Communicating
Our Alaska Conference will be offering a basic course on Sunday afternoons (4:00 – 6:00 pm) starting March 13 and running through to April 10. It will be led by the Rev. Andy Bartel, pastor of St. John UMC in Anchorage. This will be an online course (or perhaps a hybrid for those wishing to join him in person).
To register for the basic course, register online at
People will need to get a copy of:
Lay Servant Ministries – Basic Course
Sandy Zeigler Jackson and Brian Jackson
Participant’s Book • DR626 • 978-0-88177-626-3
See the Upper Room, Cokesbury, or Amazon
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Church disaffiliations, court cases mount
As General Conference continues to be delayed, an increasing number of congregations are parting ways with The United Methodist Church. Most are using the denomination's disaffiliation procedures, but some are heading to civil court instead.
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Church court clarifies disaffiliation rules
The United Methodist Church’s top court released six decisions dealing with a new church law that allows congregations to leave with property if they meet certain conditions. Because of the pandemic, the Judicial Council has been meeting online and releasing decisions as they are completed.
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Hispanic/Latino ministry plan names executive director
The Rev. Lydia Muñoz, an experienced advocate for multicultural ministries and social justice, will be the new executive director of the National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry, effective July 1, the plan’s executive committee announced. “I am excited that Rev. Dr. Lydia Muñoz will bring her love of God and her deep commitment to creating a more inclusive church to the leadership of the plan,” said Bishop LaTrelle Easterling, committee chair. Muñoz is an ordained elder in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference.
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United Methodists extend BSA charters through June 2022
United Methodist leaders have reached an agreement with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to extend existing UMC-sponsored Scouting charters through June 30, 2022 to provide for uninterrupted ministry with young people through Scouting. The charters were previously extended to March 31, 2022 as legal proceedings continue in the BSA's bankruptcy case, particularly as the trial for confirmation has now been postponed until March 9, 2022. Churches do not need to take any action to extend their current organizational relationship with the BSA until June 30, 2022.
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Haiti recovery efforts continue
Haitians continue to be aided by The United Methodist Church as they recover from an earthquake in August and Tropical Storm Grace, which hit just two days after the first tragedy. The United Methodist Committee on Relief has released a series of grants to help, with the latest providing emergency food rations to more than 5,000 people.
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Celebrating Black church music
A four-part video series keyed to Black History Month offers a survey of Africana contributions to the music life of the church. Retired Bishop Ernest Lyght and the Rev. Cynthia Wilson host “Lift Every Voice: A Celebration of Song from the Black Church Experience!” and also do some singing.
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Online class focuses on Lenten hymns
The Upper Room is offering a Lenten eCourse, "Listening Through Lent With James C. Howell," based on his book "Unrevealed Until Its Season." The online class includes the book and a weekly live session at noon U.S. Central time each Wednesday, March 9-April 13. A free webinar about the course will be held at 6 p.m. U.S. Central time Feb. 15. The course costs $34.
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New ministry partner aims to use parking lots
The General Council on Finance and Administration has added Reef Technology as the newest United Methodist ministry partner. Reef, the largest provider of re-purposing parking real estate in North America, can work with local United Methodist churches to make good use of vacant parking spaces by working with local organizations needing space.
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#StillInMission Episode 40
You are invited to join us for #StillInMission Episode 40! In addition to the meetings with missionaries, there will be a joint devotion/centering experience led by the missionary presenters in the episode.
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New music history center honors Dotson
United Methodist Discipleship Ministries is partnering with Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary to create the Junius B. Dotson Institute for Music and Worship in the Black Church and Beyond. The center will provide ongoing training to music and worship leaders and create an archive that will preserve and promote the rich history of Black church music. Dotson, the top executive of Discipleship Ministries, died Feb. 25, 2021. The agency donated $500,000 to start the center, which will be led by the Rev. Cynthia A. Wilson.
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What does the church say about fasting?
While fasting is often associated with Lent, Methodists have never limited the practice to that season. John Wesley fasted weekly, from Thursday at sundown until receiving communion on Sunday. Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, has more on fasting and its history in the church.
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Justice Talks: The Social Principles
Church and Society's next installment of Justice Talks is coming up next Tuesday, February 22 3-4 PM ET! Participants will hear from Church and Society staff about the Social Principles and how they shape their work of living faith, seeking justice, and pursuing peace.
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18: Winter Learning Event - 6 - 8:30 PM
19: Winter Learning Event - 9 AM - 2PM
21: Presidents' Day
22-24: GNW Cabinet meeting - Carlo and Lisa attending
26: Area wide Leadership Training for Laity
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14: Mission District Task Force meeting
17: St. Patrick's Day
23-25: GNW Cabinet meeting - Carlo and Lisa attending
31: Mission District Task Force meeting
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Upcoming Clergy Birthdays
February 19 -
Steve Fisher
March 21 -
Nico Reijns
March 23 -
Bob Jones Jr.
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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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