A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference |
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Annual Conference Registration is OPEN!
The registration for clergy and lay members to Annual Conference is now OPEN. If you are a voting member of the Alaska United Methodist Conference, please register to attend the virtual sessions. Guests do not need to register as they will just watch the live stream.
The Alaska United Methodist Conference will meet online at the following times:
- AK Clergy Gathering – June 3, 9:00 -11:00 am AKT
- GNW Laity session – June 9, 5:30 pm AKT
- GNW Opening Session – June 20, 5:30-7:00 pm AKT
- AK individual sessions – June 22, 9:00-11:00 am & 1:00-3:00 pm AKT
- PNW/AK shared session – June 23, 1:00-2:30 pm AKT
- GNW Closing Session – June 23, 5:30-7:00 pm AKT
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Annual Conference related deadlines
Please mark your calendars with the following deadlines. It takes your participation to have a great Annual Conference! Get those award nominations in!
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Appointment Announcement
Bishop Elaine JW Stanovsky intends to appoint the Rev. David Owsley as pastor of First United Methodist Church, in Ketchikan, Alaska, beginning July 1, 2021.
Rev. Owsley is a licensed local pastor from the North Texas Conference. Notes to welcome Pastor Owsley may be sent to: dsowsley@gmail.com.
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Phishing email, report
Friends, we got word today that email messages have been received from someone pretending to be our Bishop and using this email address: bishopoffice.greaternw@gmail.com. Please IGNORE THE EMAIL and DO NOT RESPOND. The bishop will only use bishop@greaternw.org to send emails. Please share this message with others in our Alaska network and if you are able, please report it to Google as a phishing email. Thanks!
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Webinar: BOTH/AND – Maximizing Hybrid Worship Experiences for Online and In-Person Audiences
Join us for Both/And: Maximizing Hybrid Worship Experiences For Online and In-Person Audiences on Saturday, April 17, 2021 (5-7:30 p.m. MDT • 4-6:30 p.m. PDT • 3-5:30 p.m. AKDT). Worship media consultant and coach Jason Moore will be the trainer for this event.
A generous gift to the Regional Media Center is making this opportunity available at no cost to United Methodists across the Greater Northwest Area.
This 2-hour workshop will delve into strategies for how to create powerful transformative worship where no one feels like they’re an afterthought.
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Native American Ministries Sunday is April 18
Find resources to teach your congregation about why we recognize and celebrate Native American Ministries Sunday, both locally and globally. Invite them to give generously, knowing that half of every gift remains in your annual conference to support CONAM ministries, create programs, provide resources and education, and fund seminary scholarships for United Methodist Native Americans.
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Restructuring legislation gets a hearing
Nearly 300 Filipino United Methodists joined a virtual conversation to talk about the Christmas Covenant and other plans for the future of The United Methodist Church. The drafters of the legislation are leading the webinars in the Philippines, Africa and Europe about their proposal for changing the denomination's global structure.
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Help to celebrate Earth Day
Churches looking to plan a service around Earth Day, which is April 22, can download free resources from the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. Many churches pick a Sunday in April to mark the occasion and create awareness around environmental sustainability. The resources include an Earth Day sermon, litany and Scripture reading via video or text.
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Following God's direction
When faced with resistance, we sometimes back down, even when we believe we are doing what God has created us to do. In the latest episode of the "Get Your Spirit in Shape" podcast, the Rev. Donna Fowler-Marchant introduces some of the amazing women of the early Methodist movement who chose to follow God, even when the tradition of the day — and many of the men — said what they were doing was wrong.
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Racial diversity linked to church growth
A new Baylor University-led study of more than 20,000 United Methodist churches in the U.S. found that multiracial churches had higher worship attendance over time. Churches such as Garfield Memorial in Ohio and CityWell in North Carolina show those findings in action.
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Clergyman takes on QAnon through podcast
The Rev. Derek Kubilus says QAnon and other conspiracy theories amount to a "mind virus" affecting individuals, families and congregations. Kubilus, pastor of Uniontown United Methodist Church, launched his own podcast to address QAnon. That led to an appearance on "60 Minutes."
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Exploring the meaning of resurrection
What do United Methodists believe about resurrection? It is important to begin with what resurrection is not, writes Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications. "Resurrection is not like zombies pushing their way out of graves and tombs and roaming the streets in hordes. Resurrection does not make people or bodies 'undead.' Resurrection makes people truly, fully and completely alive."
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Agency urges support for voting rights
The United Methodist Board of Church and Society is urging U.S. United Methodists to call their senators to support federal voting-rights legislation. The call to action cites church teachings approved by General Conference.
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UMDF Board announces name change to Wesleyan Investive
Since 1969, United Methodist Development Fund has been supporting the work of the United Methodist Church to help bring God-sized dreams to reality. Yesterday, UMDF officially transitioned to the Wesleyan Investive. “Investive” means “serving or tending to invest or endow.” Investive reflects their core values and their purpose to empower the church in the achievement of its God-appointed mission. Wesleyan Investive is a name that encompasses who they are striving to be - with Wesleyan principles at the core of all their investments. John Wesley viewed the world as his parish, sharing the Good News from the fields to the mines. Wesleyan Investive embodies that heritage of innovative ministry and commitment to investing in God’s work.
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Japanese culture explored in workshops
Online workshops in onigiri and origami offered in the West District aim to bridge the cultures of African American and Japanese people. The workshop on onigiri, which is considered the "soul food" of Japan, was held on March 27. The origami workshop on Japanese paper craft will be scheduled in April. The initiative grew out of conversations between the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles and local pastors.
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Conversation with Rick Steves now online
The United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry recently hosted a conversation with PBS travel host Rick Steves on "Travel as a Spiritual Act." The agency has posted a recording of that conversation.
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Pauley Perrette urges COVID-19 vaccinations
Actress Pauley Perrette lost her father to COVID-19 before vaccines became available. She and other members of Hollywood United Methodist used a Facebook video post to support the effort to get people vaccinated for COVID-19 as soon as possible.
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New executive officers elected for United Methodist Women
The next four years will be exciting ones under the national leadership of President ‘Ainise 'Isama’u, Vice President Cynthia Rives, Secretary Bethany Amey Sutton, Finance Chair Heidi Careaga and Governance Chair Daryl Junes-Joe. Learn more about the executive officers of the 2020-2024 United Methodist Women Board of Directors, from the March/April issue of response magazine. You can also get a full photo directory of your new United Methodist Women Program Advisory Group in the January/February issue!
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Justice Talks: Our Global Connection
Join Rev. Dr. Susan Henry-Crowe, General Secretary of the General Board of Church and Society, for a special conversation about our United Methodist witness at the United Nations and around the world.
Church and Society leaders will discuss how we are advocating for peace and justice on a global scale.
The discussion will happen on April 28, 2021 at 4 pm (ET) via Zoom.
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13-15: GNW Cabinet meeting - Carlo attending virtually
15: Pre-Conference Reports DUE
15: Tax Day
17: Both/And Webinar
23: Leadership Team meeting
27: Award Nominations DUE
30-May 1: WJ Stakeholders Event - Carlo attending virtually
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5: Cinco de Mayo
9: Petitions DUE
9: Mother's Day
18-20: GNW Cabinet meeting - Carlo attending virtually
28: AC Registration CLOSES
31: Memorial Day - Office Closed
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Upcoming Clergy Birthdays
April 18 -
Bertha Koweluk
April 23 -
Karen Martin Tichenor
April 30 -
April Hall
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Conference Office
907-333-5050
Superintendent Carlo
907-854-8340
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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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