News from the Alaska United Methodist Conference

e~Aurora

A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference

Conference News

Apportionment Report

The latest apportionment report has been posted to the conference website. If you would like to see where your church is in it's goal, you can view it here.

2020 Conference Journals mailed

The 2020 Conference Journal is complete and was mailed out last week to churches and members of the conference. If you don't receive yours please let us know. We will be putting the journal as a PDF on the conference website once we have that PDF link.

Annual Conference Session

Annual Conference Registration is OPEN!

The registration for clergy and lay members to Annual Conference is 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

Zoom Webinar Training Sessions

GNTV will again be our tech hosts for this year’s virtual Annual Conference session. There are new and improved processes for voting and participation. To help us get familiar with the technology, training sessions have been scheduled. You need only to attend at least one session but may attend more if you need the extra practice.

- Tuesday, June 1, 6:30 pm AKST

- Saturday, June 5, 3:00 pm AKST

- Wednesday, June 16, 11:00 am AKST

- Monday, June 21, morning (TBA)

This is only a save the date announcement. More information about how to register for these sessions will be provided soon.

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!

Harry Denman Evangelism Award for Youth, Laity and Clergy - EXTENDED DEADLINE May 18
Outstanding Lay Person of the Year Award - EXTENDED DEADLINE May 18
Petitions - THIS SUNDAY, May 9
Memorial names - June 1

Regional News

Oregon-Idaho Conference secures $100K UMCOR grant for flood recovery

The Oregon-Idaho Conference has secured a $100,000 grant from UMCOR to assist with recovery from flooding in the Blue Mountain area of northeastern Oregon (and southeast Washington) in February 2020. OR-ID disaster response leaders share the difference these resources will make with Kristen Caldwell.

Inspiring Generosity: A Thank You that Broke (Some of) the Rules

On her blog, Cesie Delve Scheuermann often writes on best practices for honoring gifts to express gratitude and nurture future generosity. In this week's post she shares an example that colors outside the lines in ways that proved to be an exception to those rules.

Read her blog on the Oregon-Idaho Conference site

National News

2020 State of the Church Report: Blessed is the Church

The United Methodist Church has continued to carry out its mission despite the unique challenges and uncertainties of 2020. That’s according to the new 2020 State of the Church Report produced by the Connectional Table and United Methodist Communications, themed “Blessed is the Church.”

The report uses the framework of the Beatitudes to share a compilation of stories that provide an inspiring look at the ways the church responded in an unprecedented year – which included a global pandemic, renewed calls to end racism, a delayed General Conference and the possibility of a denominational split.

Native caucus calls out 'damaging' comments

The Native American International Caucus has issued a statement in response to former Sen. Rick Santorum's comments about Native American culture, calling his remarks "yet another inaccurate and divisive comment that reinforces how Native people are made invisible and blatantly attempts to erase our history."

Read the statement

Read the USA Today story

Bishops: No episcopal elections until 2022

United Methodist bishops held fast to their plans to delay episcopal elections until after the postponed General Conference, despite calls from some delegates to do otherwise. However, the bishops also rescinded their recommendation that no U.S. bishops be elected until 2024, opening the door for new leaders to be elected in November 2022.

Read the story

Read the press release

UM News: Bishops, delegates called to mission focus

WCA plans for new denomination

The Wesleyan Covenant Association held a large in-person and online meeting April 30-May 1, continuing to plan for a new, traditionalist Methodist denomination and passing a resolution criticizing three United Methodist bishops for recent appointment-making decisions.

Read the story

Mother knows best: Parenting tips from Susanna Wesley

In honor of Mother’s Day, let’s step back in time and take a look inside the home where John Wesley’s mother homeschooled her 10 kids. Check out the Wesley matriarch’s parenting tips.

Historic Dallas-area church closes

The oldest United Methodist church in Dallas County, Texas, held its final worship service on April 24. Webb Chapel United Methodist decided to close after 177 years because of dwindling resources and the challenges of the pandemic.

Read the story

Conference Calendar

5: Cinco de Mayo

7: Office CLOSED

9: Petitions DUE

9: Mother's Day

17: Tax Day (extended date)

18-20: GNW Cabinet meeting - Carlo attending virtually

28: AC Registration CLOSES

31: Memorial Day - Office Closed

1: Memorial roll names DUE

14: GNW Cabinet

19: Juneteenth

20: Father's Day

20-24: Greater Northwest Annual Conference Sessions

28-29: GNW Cabinet Retreat

Upcoming Clergy Birthdays

June 8 -

Jim Doepken

June 10 -

Carlo Rapanut

June 15 -

Matt Reinders

The United Methodist Church

Bishop's Blog

Superintendent's Blog

Conference Office

907-333-5050

Superintendent Carlo

carlorapanut@gmail.com

907-854-8340

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.

Mission Statement

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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