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
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Prayers for Thom Fassett
We heard news last week from former pastor and superintendent, Rev. Billy Still that former Alaskan Supertintendent, Thom Fassett had suffered a stroke. Rev. Still shared a Facebook message from Fasset's wife Nancy. She says, "The grace of God helps us get through many things and I am blessed. Thom had a stroke on March 24th and will come home from the Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca where he is currently in rehab on April 26th. We are thankful for his progress each day."
Please keep the Fassett family in your prayers.
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Meaningful Movies - The Earth's Climate Crisis
Bill Sherertz, a member of the Climate Justice team of the First United Methodist Church of Seattle, invites you to consider joining a Meaningful Movies event virtual discussion about possible solutions to Earth's climate crisis. This event will take place on Sunday, May 1, 2022, from noon - to 1:00 p.m. PDT (11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. AKT) and is entitled The Climate Crisis: What can we do?
The event will feature two speakers and a discussion of Climate Solutions 101, a free online video series from Project Drawdown. You can watch the videos at your convenience before May 1. And whether or not you watch the videos, you are welcome to join the event via ZOOM to hear from Rev. Jenny Phillips, Senior Technical Advisor on Environmental Sustainability with the United Methodist Church, and a speaker from 350Seattle, an affiliate of 350.org - Building a global climate movement.
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Church court faces resolutions on LGBTQ inclusion
The Judicial Council, The United Methodist Church's top court, released four rulings. Two stem from annual conference resolutions about LGBTQ inclusion. The other two dealt with procedural matters.
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Bishops gather to chart future of denomination
In the wake of disruptions and postponements due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the more than 100 bishops of The United Methodist Church will meet virtually April 25-29 to discuss the future course of the denomination. The spring meeting of the Council of Bishops will also welcome a new slate of leaders, including the new council president, Bishop Thomas Bickerton of the New York Area. The April 25 and 29 meetings will be livestreamed to the public on the bishops' Facebook page beginning at 9 a.m. U.S. Eastern time. Since the April 25th live stream has passed, you can always go back and watch the replay.
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Understanding the Easter season
For Christians, Easter is not just one day; it's a season of 50 days. Its length is derived from the 50 days between Passover and Pentecost in Judaism. The Easter season is more than an extended celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. It's a time for focusing on the core doctrines and mysteries of the faith and preparing for the ministries the Spirit has empowered Christians to undertake in Jesus' name, writes Ask The UMC.
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'Fish fry concept' helps rural church grow
The Rev. John Purviance credits "the fish fry concept" for the growth of Cuthand United Methodist Church, which has about 300 members. Purviance has cultivated a family-friendly, bluegrass-gospel music culture infused with the Holy Spirit. The church celebrated 11 baptisms and that same number of new professions of faith in 2021.
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Church debt and what to do about it
Many of our churches would not be in the buildings we are without some debt. We do know that money that is spent to retire debt is money that could be used to expand mission and ministry.
Join Discipleship Ministries on Tuesday, May 24, 6:30 P.M. CDT as Ken Sloane and his guest Joe Park of Horizons Stewardship discuss church debt and what to do about it.
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Racial Justice Prayer & Action Challenge
Our Christian principles charge us to be a community of prayer and action. We are to live in the tension of piety and work. Worldwide, we continue to experience racial, ethnic, and tribal injustices that dehumanize God’s people. We are called to work towards liberation — as a spiritual and actionable practice. For this reason, the General Commission on Religion and Race invites you to participate in the Racial Justice Prayer & Action Challenge. Beginning on Juneteenth (Sunday June 19, 2022) we will post daily prayers on social media for six weeks. We’ll also include weekly challenges to help you put your prayers into action.
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Are you ready for Native American Ministries Sunday?
It’s not too late to prepare for Native American Ministries Sunday and inspire your community to recognize Native American achievements in the UMC and in society. Find offertory talks, children’s messages, age-level resources, social graphics and more in the pastor and leader's kit for this upcoming Special Sunday. Core resources are available in multiple languages. Native American Ministries Sunday is this Sunday, May 1.
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Ad hoc group urges bishop's reinstatement
Fifteen former Women’s Division and Global Ministries employees have joined the United Methodist Hispanic caucus in calling for the reinstatement of Bishop Minerva Carcaño. Western Jurisdiction leaders suspended the bishop while investigating two complaints against her. Carcaño previously served on the board of the Women’s Division, then a part of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. The division is a predecessor of United Women in Faith. In an earlier letter, Western Jurisdiction leaders explained why the complaint process is confidential.
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Clergy, Employees may qualify for student loan forgiveness
Clergy and employees of not-for-profit organizations engaged in faith-based work may benefit from recent changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.
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She 'dared to stand up for women of color'
DeLaris Johnson Risher doesn’t look, act or talk like a trailblazing, fearless woman — but she is. In 1952, she and Leila Robinson Dabbs, both Black women, quietly integrated Scarritt College for Christian Workers in Nashville, two years before segregation in education was ruled unconstitutional. Risher looks back on those days and her long career, which includes being the first Black Methodist deaconess.
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Freedom of the press helps inform and inspire
World Press Freedom Day is Tuesday, May 3, 2022, a day of support for and awareness of the importance of freedom of the press.
For The United Methodist Church, World Press Freedom Day provides an opportunity to celebrate United Methodist News, the official news gathering agency of the church. Staffed by experienced, professional journalists with insights and knowledge of the denomination, UM News is committed to representing the diverse faces and voices of the 13-million-member global church.
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#StillInMission Episode 42
You are invited to join us for #StillInMission Episode 42! It will be on May 5, 3 p.m. AKT. In addition to the meetings with missionaries, there will be a joint devotion/centering experience led by the missionary presenters in the episode.
United Methodist Missionaries are #stillinmission and we hope that you will join us to learn more!
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5: Leadership Team meeting (6 pm)
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 30 - April Hall
May 12 - Faith McClellan
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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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