Birchwood Camp Board of Directors positions open

Birchwood Camp is owned by the Alaska United Methodist Conference and operated by an independent Board of Directors. The Board is a mix of pastors, lay people and community supporters. Board members are the visionaries, setting the direction for Birchwood today, tomorrow and into the future.

We are looking for persons with experience/interest in construction/project management, accounting/book keeping/finance and personnel/human resources. The most important experience/interest is a love of camping and outdoor ministries.

Board terms are 3 years in length. If you have served in the past and have been off the board for at least one (1) year, you are eligible to be on the Board again. You do not need to live in Anchorage to be a Board member. Terms begin in January 2024.

The Board meets 4 times a year and has been meeting by Zoom to include Board members from across the state.

To learn more or express your interest, contact Sandra Woods (Board President) surywoods@yahoo.com.

Emergency Response Team Training (ERT)

When disasters strike, United Methodists respond in many different ways. Our earliest responders are ERTs, who go in to help clean, sort, and prep homes for long term repairs or replacements. If you think you might be interested in knowing more, or receiving this training, please speak with Dan Wilcox, Conference Disaster Response Coordinator, at 907.414.7078, or AlaskaCDRC@pnwumc.org. 

The training will be Nov. 4^th from 9:00am-3:00pm, at Anchor Park UMC (2300 Oak Drive) in Anchorage. ERTs are required to be 18 years old and physically able to do the work. 

Register now for 2024 WJ UWF gathering in Alaska

Registration is now open for the quadrennial gathering of the Western Jurisdiction United Women in Faith gathering in Anchorage, Alaska. The gathering will be May 9-11, 2024 at the Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage. Joining the gathering will be keynote speaker, Amy Valdez Barker as well as UWF President 'Ainise 'Isama'u and new General Secretary and CEO Sally Vonner. Also joining will be Makeda McCreary as music director.

Registration is available on the WJ United Women in Faith website.

Presbyterian Apology and Reparations events

This past weekend Kunéix Hídi Northern Light United Church hosted three healing events to acknowledge the racist closure of the Memorial Presbyterian Church in the 1960s and the hurt brought upon the Juneau Indigenous community.

They held a Commemoration on Saturday, a Service of Acknowledgement and Apology on Sunday, and offered Reparations on Monday. Kunéix Hídi Northern Light United Church has videos posted on their Facebook page of the first two events. See them here.

You can learn more about the history on their website.

M.I.L.E. + Eliminating Racism resources

As churches and ministry settings prepare for charge conferences, two new pages on the Greater Northwest Area website have been created to assist individuals seeking more information about Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth's vision for going the M.I.L.E. (including a video) and specific resources to begin the work of eliminating racism, cultivated by Kristina Gonzalez, GNW executive director for innovation and vitality. 

• Going the M.I.L.E.
• Eliminating Racism

Charge Conference assistance

Don't forget that Crystal in the Conference Office is available during work hours to help individuals get logged into their People Portal to work on the Charge Conference paperwork. Don't wait until the last minute!

Speakers and agenda announed for 'Housing God's Beloved' event Nov. 4

The GNW Area housing event scheduled for Nov. 4, “Housing God’s Beloved” will feature several presenters and workshops addressing many aspects of ways ministry settings can be involved in affordable housing within their communities. From thoughts to action, there's a pathway for everyone to get involved.

Learn more about the speakers + register on the GNW News site.

Advanced Preaching class for Certified Lay Ministers and Lay Speakers

An Advanced Preaching Class is being offered for Certified Lay Ministers and Lay Speakers on Oct 21 & 28 via Zoom to provide students with advanced skills in preaching. Participants will receive feedback from experienced preachers on a sermon they prepare and deliver. This free course requires an Introductory Course in Preaching as a prerequisite. Do not delay in registering; space is limited to 9 students.

Learn more and register on the PNW Conference website.

Holy Land church leaders seek end to violence

Methodist and other Christian leaders in the Holy Land are urging prayer and an end to the violence that harms both Palestinian and Israeli civilians. The violence began Oct. 7 when the militant group Hamas attacked southern Israel, taking hostages and killing hundreds of people. Israel has now declared war on Hamas. The Methodist Liaison Office in Jerusalem calls “on Methodist people all over the globe to continue to pray for peace and for an end to the violence.”



Read the Methodist Liaison Office statement

Read the World Council of Churches story

Reuters: Timeline of Israeli-Palestinian conflict

United Methodists still at work for Ukraine

United Methodists in various European countries continue to minister to Ukrainian refugees as the war in Ukraine goes on. Bishop Christian Alsted notes that United Methodists within Ukraine are doing “amazing” work on behalf of internally displaced persons.

Read the story

Forum planned for African delegates

The United Methodist Africa Forum, a new advocacy group promoting church unity, plans to host a forum Jan. 4-7 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for African delegates to next year’s General Conference. This forum is exclusively dedicated to delegates committed to preserving the unity of The United Methodist Church.

Read the press release

Agency releases third-quarter giving report

The General Council on Finance and Administration released a short video showing apportionment collection rates are only slightly different compared to the same time last year. Apportionments are shares of church giving that support denomination-wide ministries. U.S. collection rates are slightly up, while overall collection rates from Africa, Europe and the Philippines are slightly down.

Watch the video

Learn more

Hymn histories

For generations, United Methodists have sung beloved hymns. United Methodist Communications has collected the stories behind some of the songs we sing during Advent, Lent and for all the occasions when we gather together, open our United Methodist Hymnals and lift our voices.



View the resource

Behr Paint named ministry partner

The General Council on Finance and Administration has added Behr Paint Company as its newest ministry partner. Behr now provides special discounts to churches and other United Methodist organizations. The company is committed to serving ministry projects in the denomination.

Read the press release

Record low number of young elders

The Lewis Center for Church Leadership has published its latest study of United Methodist clergy age trends, and the number of elders under age 35 is at a record low. Young deacons and licensed local pastors also are declining in number. The Rev. Lovett H. Weems Jr., a senior consultant for the center, analyzes the results.



Read Weems’ article

Read the report

Apply to be Global Mission Fellow

Applications are being accepted for Global Missions fellows in the U.S. and overseas. The Global Ministries program places fellows in social justice ministries for two years. Applicants should be between ages 20 and 30. The program is open to non-Methodists. The deadline to apply for the international track is Jan. 17 and the U.S. track on April 9.

Read the press release