A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference |
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AK Child & Family seeking donations for fundraiser
AK Child and Family will be hosting a fund-raising concert on May 13th with Amplify Alaska. Pastor Murray Crookes, who holds a seat on their board, is asking if anyone would like to donate items for the fundraiser. The event will have door prizes, giveaways and a silent auction. If you have an item or service you wish to donate, please contact Pastor Crookes directly. Thank you!
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Apportionment report
The March Apportionment Report has been posted to the conference website.
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Multi-Faith Prayer Vigil
Interfaith Council of Alaska invites you to the World Peace Project on Tuesday, April 19th from 6:30-7:15 pm.
A time of prayer and reflection during so much war and pain around the world. Immediately followed by an outdoor candle light vigil.
All are welcome at this event at E. R. Brown Theatre in Grant Hall on the campus of Alaska Pacific University.
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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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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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Long-haul relief needed for Ukraine
United Methodists in countries near Ukraine continue to provide food, shelter, transportation, language classes and worship opportunities to Ukrainian refugees. The Rev. Ivana Procházková, a superintendent of The United Methodist Church in Czechia, encouraged United Methodist relief workers to pace themselves and prepare for a long-haul effort.
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Church court evaluates bishops' decisions
The United Methodist Church’s top court released five rulings March 30. Most stem from bishops’ decisions of law related to annual conference standing rules, General Conference deadlines and equitable compensation.
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Stress, burnout afflicting pastors
This is a difficult time to be a pastor. COVID-19, racial unrest, natural disasters and denominational uncertainty are all taking a toll, said church leaders interviewed by United Methodist News.
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Special central conference called for Ukraine-Moldova
The Northern Europe and Eurasia Central Conference is calling a special session to vote on a request from the Ukraine Moldova Provisional Annual Conference to change episcopal areas. United Methodists in Ukraine and Moldova are seeking to move from the Eurasia episcopal area, which also includes Russia, to the Nordic and Baltic episcopal area. The special session is scheduled to be held online April 30.
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What should congregations know about disaffiliation?
With the 2020 General Conference postponed to 2024 and the announcement by the Wesleyan Covenant Association that it will launch the Global Methodist Church on May 1, there are many questions about disaffiliation. The Ask The UMC team has created a FAQ in an effort to provide clarity about the process and dispel confusion.
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Reports highlights communications ministry
United Methodist Communications has released its 2021 Annual Report spotlighting the agency's communications initiatives and activities on behalf of The United Methodist Church around the world. Highlights include the launch of the "Pastoring in the Digital Parish" podcast, the #BeUMC campaign, new training opportunities and strengthening communication infrastructure. Dan Krause, chief executive, said, "In 2021, we continued to move forward to stay relevant in an ever-changing world."
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'We Pray for Peace' Hymn for Ukraine
"We Pray for Peace" is a new hymn by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette that was written at the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This hymn is a prayer for our leaders — that they may be wise as they try to stop this war. It is a prayer for all of us, that we may be loving and merciful — reaching out to world neighbors in need.
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Church communicators celebrated
Hundreds of United Methodist communicators were honored March 31 with an awards celebration livestreamed to communicators, bishops and others across the denomination. The celebration was a highlight of the United Methodist Association of Communicators' annual gathering, held via Zoom March 30-31. The group honored its 2022 Hall of Fame inductee, the Rev. Donald R. Wood, and its communicator of the year, the Rev. Maidstone Mulenga.
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Making amends for KKK donation
Algiers United Methodist Church is acknowledging its past to help eradicate racism. To reconcile a $100 donation from the Ku Klux Klan in 1922, the church announced that a donation of $1,675 has been committed for the next 12 months, with the money going to organizations that strengthen people of color and work to end racism. The higher amount is what $100 from 1922 would be worth today. The church also is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the consecration of its sanctuary.
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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))
28: Leadership Team meeting (6 pm)
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5: Cinco de Mayo
8: Mother's Day
8: Petitions Due
8:Award Nominations due
19: Mission District Task Force meeting (6 pm)
31: Memorial information due for Annual Conference
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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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