A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference
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New President for Alaska Pacific University
Alaska Pacific University has a new President starting June 1, 2022. Dr. Janelle Vanasse. She has been an educator and administrator for the Lower Kuskokwim School District and Mt. Edgecumbe High School. She was founding director of Yuut Elitnaurviat - the People's Learning Center. We extend a warm welcome to her. APU is a United Methodist School.
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Cultivation Event - Saturday, April 2
The SeaTac District is extending an invitation to Alaskan local church leaders, and anyone interested to join them for their cultivation event: Visions for a New Church.
It will be held Saturday, April 2 from 8-10 am AKDT on Zoom: https://greaternw.zoom.us/j/95244969775
The morning will begin with a devotional and bible study. Then people will break out into workshops. The three workshops are "The Heart of Ministry at Valley and Mountain," "The Work of Anti-Racism at Ronald UMC," and "Sundays in a New Way." Then it will close with a reflection of "Inclusion, Innovation, Multiplication - A Change Theory for our GNW Area."
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Walking with our Immigrant Neighbors - a panel discussion
On April 3, at 1:00pm AKT (2:00pm PT), the Hispanic/Latinx Ministries program and Central Washington Justice for our Neighbors (CWJFON), a ministry of the United Methodist Church, will host a round table about immigration. The panelists include Abigail Scholar (CWJFON Executive Director), Todd Mildon (CWJFON Board President), & Rev. Jennifer Stuart (Founding Board Member).
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Calling all Lay Leaders!
The Association of Annual Conference Lay Leaders is holding a learning session via zoom on April, 23, 2022 and all lay leadership is invited to attend.
The learning session will be based upon II Timothy 1:8-12 and the theme is "Rise Up! and Reveal God's Grace." Anyone interested can attend from 7 am - 9:15 am Alaska time.
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Birchwood Camp needs volunteers
Birchwood Camp has a full schedule this summer, but not enough paid staff at this point. Do you love camping ministries and Birchwood, or love service to children and youth? Please prayerfully consider volunteering for one week beginning May 1. The biggest need is food services and housekeeping.
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Scholarship includes Alaska
Seniors and college students! A Pacific Northwest Conference scholarship is offered to students who are members of a United Methodist ministry setting (church or campus ministry) in the Pacific Northwest or Alaska Conference. A limited number of $1,500 scholarships will be granted. Applicants must be active, full members of a United Methodist Church for at least one year to apply.
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Who I am Called to Be
On Saturday, April 2, at 9:00am AKDT, the Office of Deaconess and Home Missioner will be holding a virtual discernment event for laity in the United Methodist Church who feel called by God to a full-time vocation in service for those who are marginalized and in need.
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Annual Conference information
Bishop Elaine JW Stankovsky has asked clergy and lay members of the Alaska, Oregon-Idaho and Pacific Northwest Conferences to hold dates in June for online Annual Conference sessions. You can find more information on the Alaska Conference website.
Reports from Conference Board and Agency Chairs are due to the Conference Office by Friday, April 15, 2022. If you have any questions, please email the conference office.
Petitions for the 2022 Alaska Annual Conference Session must be submitted by Sunday, May 8, 2022.
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Commission continues planning for postponed 2020 General Conference
Meeting on March 28, the Commission on the General Conference continued the work of preparing for the postponed 2020 General Conference.
At their previous meeting, the Commission discussed the need to proactively look for possible solutions that could help avoid delays in 2024 should unforeseen circumstances occur or persist.
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United Methodists step up for Ukrainian refugees
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, United Methodists in Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary and Slovakia are helping Ukrainian refugees with housing, meals, clothing, transportation and more.
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Church in Nigeria welcomes first Deaf congregation
The Nigeria Episcopal Area recently welcomed its first church for the Deaf community. First Wesleyan United Methodist Church of the Deaf has 30 members and will be led by Deacon Albert A. Pena, the denomination's first ordained Deaf pastor in the region.
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Pastoral letter about complaint process
Interim Bishop Sally Dyck and the California-Nevada Conference leadership have issued a pastoral letter to address questions following the suspension of Bishop Minerva Carcaño. "One of the most frequent questions and biggest frustrations for many is that the complaint process against Bishop Carcaño is confidential," the letter said. "One reason for confidentiality is to protect and care for the one who is under complaint as well as those who filed the complaints."
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United Methodist spring advertising campaign encourages togetherness
The latest advertising campaign from The United Methodist Church invites people to join them in celebrating a new season for togetherness. It encourages people to discover new friends, a new community with meaningful connections and a new peaceful, joy-filled outlook on life.
The messaging will reach people through digital display and video, including social media, websites, search engines, advanced television and billboards. Advertisements will run starting this week through mid-April. Each ad directs people to one of two limited-time landing pages at UMC.org/Together and UMC.org/Juntos to begin their first steps with The United Methodist Church.
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Communications Learning Week helps participants develop their skills
United Methodist Communication (UMCom) has announced a week-long ecumenical training opportunity launching this spring for anyone in ministry seeking to enhance their communications skills. Communications Learning Week: Taking the Next Step will be held May 9-13, 2022 and is designed with busy schedules in mind. All of the learning week content will be recorded and stored in a learning portal that participants will have access to for six months following the event. Registration opens on April 12th.
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29-April 1: Western Jurisdiction Leadership Meetings
31: Mission District Task Force meeting (6 pm)
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15: Annual Conference reports due
17: Easter Sunday
18: Tax Day
19-21: GNW Cabinet meeting - Carlo and Lisa attending
21: Mission District Task Force meeting (6 pm)
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Upcoming Clergy Birthdays
April 18 - Bertha Koweluk
April 21 - Lucas Boomsma
April 23 - Karen Martin Tichenor
April 30 - April Hall
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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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