Western Jurisdiction Conference | Nov. 2-5, 2022

Tomorrow the Western Jurisdiction Conference will begin in Salt Lake City, Utah. Three new bishops will be elected. Eight Alaskan delegates will be there. Former Conference Superintendent, Carlo Rapanut, is among the candidates for election as a bishop. You can find out more information here. Please keep everyone involved in your prayers.

Resources for Native American Hertigate Month (American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month)

November is Native American (American Indian and Alaska Native) Heritage Month. ResourceUMC has compiled some resources for personal learning and local church engagement. Also, the GNW Circle of Indigenous Ministries has provided a resource page for creating Land Acknowledgments on the GNW Area website.

Church and Clergy Profile forms due Dec.1

With the transition to retirement for our Bishop and the upcoming election of our new one, all Clergy and Churches are being asked to update their profiles. Several weeks ago, a follow up email went out to clergy with instructions on how to access the People Portal. Once you have successfully logged into your personal People Portal, you will find your Clergy Profile form to the left. If you have problems, please contact the conference office and I can assist you. In addition to the Clergy Profile, this Biographical Information form needs to be filled out and returned. | PDF | Word

Each Church Profile also needs to be updated and that will be done through the Church Dashboard. Once you are on your church dashboard, you will find the Church Profile link to the left. 

Both of these profiles need to be completed online through these means. They are to be completed by December 1, 2022. Both the Church Dashboard and the People Portal can be accessed from the Conference website at the bottom of the page.

If you need assistance, please reach out to Crystal. She can help you with login information if needed.

Lots happening at Birchwood Camp

Silent Auction

The Birchwood Camp Annual Auction is almost here! Bidding starts on November 14th and will end on November 20th at 6pm AKST.

Bid on handcrafted items, collectibles, vacation rentals, fun family packages, and more! Your donation will help complete the flooring project in the Lodge. You may also choose to send kids to future camps by donating to the Scholarship Fund. Click this link to view and explore the auction site.

Winter Youth Break-Away Camp

Registration for Winter Youth Break-Away is now open. January 4th-7th. For 6th through 12th graders. Register here.

New Maintenance Project

The kitchen and lodge floor and walls are going to be upgraded to better align with food health and sanitation standards. Birchwood Camp stayed in operation with uncertain income over the last two years, and now we need our community and generous donors to help us complete this project. Will you join us in ensuring another generation of use for the most frequently-used building on camp? Make a Donation

Apportionment Report

The October apportionment report has been posted to the conference website. You can view it here.

Multiple ways to follow bishop elections

The five United Methodist jurisdictions in the U.S. will hold bishop elections Nov. 2-5. That will be followed by a bishop election in the Central Conference of Central and Southern Europe on Nov. 16-20, and the election of three bishops in the Philippines Central Conference on Nov. 24-26. UM News, collaborating with conference communicators, will provide full coverage of the elections, including voting updates, features on newly elected bishops and a wrap-up on episcopal assignments. You can sign up to receive updates via Facebook Messenger by typing “follow” at https://www.messenger.com/t/umnews. You also can check out coverage at umnews.org and follow United Methodist News on Twitter @UMNS (hashtag #UMCElections) and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/umnews.

Churches urged to speak out against mass incarceration

Attendees of the Oct. 19-22 National Summit on Mass Incarceration were urged to go back into their churches and communities and open conversations about ways they can work toward criminal justice reform.

Read the story

Africa University celebrates 30 years

During Africa University’s 30th anniversary celebration, guests lauded the United Methodist institution’s accomplishments over the past three decades and shared their hopes for the future. The Oct. 22 festivities drew more than 3,000 people, including bishops, clergy, laity and guests from around the world.

Read the story

UM News: New vice chancellor fulfills calling at Africa University

Church court declines to take up bishop's case

United Methodist Bishop Minerva Carcaño has been suspended under complaint since March. While not naming the bishop, The United Methodist Church’s top court released a memorandum on Oct. 26 that declined to take up the bishop’s case at this stage of the judicial complaint process. Four Judicial Council members joined in a dissent.

Read the story

What's next in complaint process against bishop

Thanksgiving celebrations for the home

As we approach the Thanksgiving season, it is a great time to sit back and take on an “attitude of gratitude.” We can’t ignore all of the hard things the past few years have thrown at us, but we can make time to acknowledge the ways that God has blessed us. Whether you’re with family and friends or having a much smaller gathering, consider using these practices to re-center yourself with gratefulness.

Find your “attitude of gratitude” 

Calling for prayer following tragedy in Korea

Bishop Hee-Soo Jung of the Wisconsin Conference has issued a call to prayer following the tragic crowd surge during Halloween festivities in Seoul, South Korea, that killed more than 150 people. In his prayer, Jung cites Isaiah 40:1: “Comfort, O Comfort my people, says your God.” The Rev. Ioan Sauca, acting top executive of the World Council of Churches, also expressed great sadness and extended condolences on behalf of the global ecumenical fellowship.



Read the bishop's statement

Read World Council of Churches statement

New coloring pages from Interfaith FCU

A new batch of Interfaith FCU Cultivating Hope coloring sheets gives nod to Alaska with its' Wonder design. Devotion and Blessings also included. These three join the many already in existence. Free downloads at https://interfaithfcu.org/coloring-pages

Mission celebrates its first gathering in Laos

For the first time in the group's 16-year history, members of the Methodist mission in Laos celebrated their annual gathering in the country they are serving. The event brought together nearly 200 members for the ordination of new leaders, lectures, worship and other celebrations.

Read the story

United Methodist Student Day resources

On Nov. 27, we have the opportunity to support scholarships and low-interest loans that help young leaders achieve their dreams. The United Methodist Church has long been committed to making education affordable and attainable for young people across the world. Your gift will build up the next generation of leaders who can change the world for Christ.

Get resources 

Religion and Race "What Is" series

The words and phrases we use have power. There is no place this is more evident than in our conversation around race, racism and anti-racism. The General Commission on Religion and Race is offering this resource to help United Methodists create common vocabulary in our anti-racism work.



Deepen your understanding

2 - 5: Western Jurisdiction Conference

3: Outdoor Ministries meeting 6:30 pm

6: Daylight Saving Time ends

6: Charge Conferences: Moose Pass UMC & Seward Memorial UMC

6-14: Lisa on vacation

8: Election Day

10: Charge Conference: UMC of Sitka

11: Veteran's Day

12: Charge Conferences - Kenai & North Star UMC's

12: Charge Conference - Soldotna UMC

13: Charge Conference - Girdwood Chapel UMC

15-17: GNW Cabinet meeting

20: Charge Conference - Christ First UMC

20: Charge Conference - Turnagain UMC

21: Charge Conference - Ola Toe Fuataina Samoan Fellowship

22: Charge Conference - Every Nation UMC

24: Thanksgiving - Office Closed

25: Office Closed

27: Charge Conference - Anchor Park UMC

28: Charge Conference - Anchorage Korean UMC

29: Charge Conference - UMC of Sitka

1: Charge Conference - Homer UMC

4: Charge Conference - First UMC Fairbanks

5-8: Cabinet Meeting

13: Charge Conference - St. John UMC & First UMC Anchorage

15: Charge Conference - First UMC Ketchikan

34: Office Closed

24: Christmas Eve

25: Christmas Day

36: Office Closed

31: New Year's Eve

Upcoming Clergy Birthdays

November 5 - Kim Poole

November 6 - Fa'atafa Fulumu'a

November 9 - Murray Crookes

November 27 - Laura Krauss

December 23 - Christina DowlingSoka