A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference |
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BSA & UMC Informational Webinar offered to answer local church questions
The Greater Northwest Area treasurers will be hosting an informational webinar on August 10th at 6:30 p.m. PT. Any church that has or is considering hosting a Boy Scout Troop or unit should plan to have at least one church leader attend the webinar. Brant Henshaw (PNW and Alaska Conference Treasurer) and Candace Clarke (OR-ID Conference Treasurer) will be available to answer questions.
During the webinar, the treasurers will be covering updates on the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) settlement, the new Affiliation Agreement and the new Facility Use Agreement, and will attempt to answer questions you may have on moving forward with this area of ministry in your community.
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Certified Lay Servant classes offered
Rev. Andy Bartel will be offering the Certified Lay Ministry BASIC and PREACHING courses again this fall on Wednesday evenings from 6-8 p.m., both in-person in Anchorage and via Zoom.
The Basic class will run Sept 14, 21, 28, Oct 5, and 12. The Preaching class will run Oct 19, 26, Nov 2, 9, 16. Space is limited, and is open to all Alaska United Methodists.
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Centennial Campground Help
As many of you may know, the city of Anchorage has opened a temporary camp for those experiencing homelessness in the Centennial Campground near Muldoon Exit. While it was initially for a limited number of individuals, the numbers have continued to swell. Salvation Army is leading the effort to help those who come, both in addressing immediate needs and in helping find more permanent housing options. If you or your church is able or interested in helping, please contact Daniel Wilcox (danielpwilcox@gmail.com, 907.414.7078) for more information.
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Job openings at St. John UMC
Wednesday Night Supper Kitchen Coordinator! Are you an energetic person who likes to shop, cook and work with a team? This part-time position might be for YOU. Send a cover letter and resume to office@stjohnanchorage.org.
Children's Ministry Coordinator! Do you enjoy working with a team? Care about the faith formation of our youngest disciples? This part-time position might be for you! Send a cover letter and resume to office@stjohnanchorage.org.
Contact St. John for specific job descriptions.
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UMC portion of Boy Scouts' bankruptcy ruling approved
A 281-page ruling last Friday in the Boy Scouts of America's (BSA) bankruptcy proceedings indicates that most of the reorganization plan meets the criteria of bankruptcy law and is constitutional. The ruling approves the United Methodist portion of the settlement, but there are several more matters the BSA must address for the plan to be confirmed.
"The United Methodist settlement sought to put the survivors first and the continuation of safe Scouting for present Scouts as high priorities," said Bishop John Schol, who chairs the United Methodist leadership team created to support United Methodist chartering associations in the matter.
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2nd teen charged in death of district superintendent
A second 15-year-old boy has been charged with murder in the carjacking and shooting of a United Methodist leader, police said. The teenager was charged with first-degree murder, carjacking and other offenses in the killing of the Rev. Autura Eason-Williams, a district superintendent in the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference.
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Letter addresses boarding-school investigation
The United Methodist Church's Native American International Caucus has released an open letter to general agency leaders who have taken on the work of truth and healing after Methodist involvement in Native American boarding schools. The caucus expresses its interest and expectation that its members will be engaged as consulting partners in the work.
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Blistering summer challenges churches
Across much of the U.S., as well as Europe, it’s been a summer of record-setting heat, presenting challenges and opportunities for United Methodist ministry. Churches have opened as cooling centers and carried on with mission work, albeit with adjustments.
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Church and Soceity announces 2022 grant funding cycle
Grants support local UMC churches, annual conferences, caucuses and community partners to further ministries of Justice and Peace.
The time frame to submit grant applications to The General Board of Church and Society started yesterday, August 1, and runs through September 16, 2022 via their new online application system opening on their website (Grants page) August 1, 2022.
Funding is provided through three grant programs: Ethnic Local Church Grants, Human Relations Day Grants, and Peace with Justice Grants.
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54 missionaries commissioned
With pandemic restrictions easing a bit, Global Ministries has coordinated gatherings overseas to commission 54 missionaries. The new missionaries also got a few days for fellowship, worship and training together in the regions they serve.
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Conference responding to deadly floods
The Kentucky Conference is mobilizing in response to devastating flooding from torrential rain overnight July 27-28 that has submerged hundreds of houses and businesses and claimed at least 16 lives in Eastern Kentucky.
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57 walls in two days
Members of The United Methodist Church of Berea spent two days in the church parking lot constructing 57 walls for a free home for a needy family. The three-bedroom home will be placed in the city of Wooster. One special thing about the project was that people of all ages could help, said the Rev. Carrie Antczak of The United Methodist Church of Berea.
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Step outside, engage, explore
Time spent outdoors can strengthen our faith. Learn how to use the five senses of sight, touch, smell, taste and hearing to connect with God in nature.
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Church holds forum on abortion ahead of big vote
Ahead of a vote on a state constitutional amendment in Kansas, the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection took on one of the most divisive issues in the state and the U.S. at large in a town hall event on faith and abortion.
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4 United Methodist churches certified 'cool'
Four United Methodist congregations across the United States are proving it's cool to be green. The nonprofit Interfaith Power & Light has certified each church as a "Cool Congregation" for reducing its carbon footprint by at least 20%. This year's cool congregations include La Mesa First United Methodist Church in La Mesa, California; Mountain View United Methodist Church in Boulder, Colorado; Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Laurel, Maryland; and Aldersgate United Methodist in Lincoln, Nebraska.
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Valuing Life series explores mental health
Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, explores the ways United Methodists value life and help others experience the abundance of life Jesus promises. In the fifth installment of a seven-part series, Ask The UMC looks at mental health and ways local churches can support those who are suffering.
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Hygiene kits initiative begins
Menstrual hygiene kits will be assembled and distributed to vulnerable women in the U.S. through a partnership between the United Methodist Committee on Relief and Church World Service. The joint initiative comes as the U.S. is facing a tampon shortage and record high inflation, making it difficult for many to afford basic necessities. The kits will be purchased and assembled by volunteers and distributed by UMCOR and CWS.
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Memorial marks Indian school victims
Canyon Lake United Methodist Church received the Streams of Justice Award at the Dakotas Annual Conference. Canyon Lake Pastor DeAnn Eidem helped lead an effort to honor children who died at the Rapid City Indian School, which was located on land the church now occupies. A memorial to the children was placed on flat land and a hillside just west of the church.
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4: AUMC Professional Church Workers Check-in
4-5: Crystal out of the office
16: Primary & Special General Election Day
16-19: GNW Cabinet Retreat - Christina & Lisa attending
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5: Labor Day - Office Closed |
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Upcoming Clergy Birthdays
August 13 - Bennie Grace Nabua
September 4 - Ken Hagler
September 11 - Emily Carroll
September 17 - Autumn Krueger
September 28 - Darla Bradley
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Conference Office
907-333-5050
Superintendent - Christina DowlingSoka
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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We acknowledge that the Methodist Church is complicit with and rooted in the colonization of Alaska and recognize that we live in that ongoing legacy. We lament the harm and trauma that our faith community causes. John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Movement, summarized God’s directives with three Rules: do no harm, do good, and attend to the ordinances of God. We also celebrate the grace, the love, and the good that our church does that calls us to re-imagine mission through intentional discipleship with one another.
We will live into the transition to a Mission District committed to:
Alaska Conference Values
- The love of God, neighbor, and self, demonstrated by the deliberate embracing and valuing of differences, the leveling of imbalances between people and systems, and the intentional dismantling of inequities in whatever forms they present themselves.
- Healing, grace-filled mission with communities and churches that prioritizes local experiences and shares resources across time and distance through equitable relationships.
- Living into connectionalism by belonging to and trusting in one another to nurture relationships that celebrate the gifts each of our communities bring, allowing us to move forward in a decolonized way.
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