A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference |
|
Church Statistics due Friday, March 25
Statistics for each local church are to be completed by this Friday, March 25, 2022. The Conference Statistician, Brett Watson, has been available to help answer questions if needed. Thank you for your cooperation!
|
|
Calling all Lay Leaders!
The Association of Annual Conference Lay Leaders is holding a learning session via zoom on April, 23, 2022 and all lay leadership is invited to attend.
The learning session will be based upon II Timothy 1:8-12 and the theme is "Rise Up! and Reveal God's Grace." Anyone interested can attend from 7 am - 9:15 am Alaska time.
|
|
Birchwood Camp needs volunteers
Birchwood Camp has a full schedule this summer, but not enough paid staff at this point. Do you love camping ministries and Birchwood, or love service to children and youth? Please prayerfully consider volunteering for one week beginning May 1. The biggest need is food services and housekeeping.
|
|
Scholarship includes Alaska
Seniors and college students! A Pacific Northwest Conference scholarship is offered to students who are members of a United Methodist ministry setting (church or campus ministry) in the Pacific Northwest or Alaska Conference. A limited number of $1,500 scholarships will be granted. Applicants must be active, full members of a United Methodist Church for at least one year to apply.
|
|
Who I am Called to Be
On Saturday, April 2, at 9:00am AKDT, the Office of Deaconess and Home Missioner will be holding a virtual discernment event for laity in the United Methodist Church who feel called by God to a full-time vocation in service for those who are marginalized and in need.
|
|
Annual Conference information
Bishop Elaine JW Stankovsky has asked clergy and lay members of the Alaska, Oregon-Idaho and Pacific Northwest Conferences to hold dates in June for online Annual Conference sessions. You can find more information on the Alaska Conference website.
Reports from Conference Board and Agency Chairs are due to the Conference Office by Friday, April 15, 2022. If you have any questions, please email the conference office.
Petitions for the 2022 Alaska Annual Conference Session must be submitted by Sunday, May 8, 2022.
|
|
Exploring disaffiliations, jurisdictional meetings
United Methodist bishops in an online meeting March 15 discerned pathways for churches choosing to disaffiliate from the denomination. By an overwhelming majority, the bishops affirmed that Paragraph 2553 in the Book of Discipline would be the primary paragraph used for disaffiliation and separation. That paragraph, approved by the 2019 special General Conference, allows congregations to exit with property for “reasons of conscience” related to homosexuality if they meet certain requirements. The bishops also asked the Judicial Council to rule on whether regular jurisdictional conferences can be held before the next General Conference.
|
|
Jurisdictional conference questions on docket
The Judicial Council has added to its docket the request from the Council of Bishops to rule on whether regular U.S. jurisdictional conferences can be held before the next General Conference meets. Briefs are due April 19 and reply briefs are due April 29.
|
|
Caucus raises questions about bishop's suspension
The United Methodist Church's Hispanic/Latino caucus has written an open letter to the denomination's Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops and episcopacy committee raising concerns and questions about the suspension of Bishop Minerva Carcaño while two complaints against her are investigated. In the letter, MARCHA asks eight clarifying questions about the suspension.
|
|
Conference, Mt. Bethel enter mediation
The North Georgia Conference and Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church plan to enter mediation in the dispute over church property. Since last year, the conference and church have been engaged in a suit and countersuit over control of assets. After a hearing March 15, Cobb County Superior Court Judge Mary Staley Clark ordered that pending the mediation, the issue of Mt. Bethel's closure will not be raised at the coming North Georgia Annual Conference.
|
|
Prepare for UMCOR Sunday
For more than 80 years, United Methodist Committee of Relief has been a key resource in times of crisis. UMCOR ensures that 100% of its gifts to specific projects help those who need it most. Core resources are available in multiple languages. March 27 is UMCOR Sunday.
|
|
Bishop Yambasu receives posthumous peace award
The late Bishop John K. Yambasu received the World Methodist Council’s top peace award for his work as a bridge builder in his home country and across the United Methodist connection. His wife, Millicent, accepted the award on his behalf during the 142nd session of the Sierra Leone Annual Conference.
|
|
Willingness to visit a UMC grows amidst continued awareness efforts
A new survey reveals that 51% of "spiritual seekers" would be willing to visit a United Methodist church online, and 44% would be willing to visit in person. In addition, the overall willingness to visit a UMC increased from 42% in 2019 to 47% in 2021.
United Methodist Communications’ marketing efforts on behalf of The United Methodist Church are aimed at paving the way for these seekers to connect with the denomination's local churches.
|
|
Online church adopts Safe Sanctuary policy
Checkpoint Church, a fully online United Methodist congregation, recently unveiled its new policy for providing safety for all individuals within the church’s digital faith community. Western North Carolina Conference staff report.
|
|
Webinar examines 'To Stay or Not to Stay'
Numerous congregations and church leaders are weighing whether they want to stay United Methodist or leave for a new theologically conservative denomination. The United Methodist Association of Retired Clergy and Friends, which plans to stay United Methodist, has scheduled a free webinar to explore issues surrounding whether “to stay or not to stay.” The webinar is set for 6 p.m. U.S. Mountain time April 5.
|
|
Multifaith coalition helps repair storm damage
A unique partnership formed between the United Methodist, Mennonite and Amish communities is helping with recovery and rebuilding efforts in storm-ridden southwestern Louisiana.
|
|
23-25: GNW Cabinet meeting - Carlo and Lisa attending
25: Local Church Statistics reports due
31: Mission District Task Force meeting (6 pm)
|
|
15: Annual Conference reports due
17: Easter Sunday
18: Tax Day
19-21: GNW Cabinet meeting - Carlo and Lisa attending
21: Mission District Task Force meeting (6 pm)
|
|
Upcoming Clergy Birthdays
March 23 - Bob Jones Jr.
April 18 - Bertha Koweluk
April 21 - Lucas Boomsma
April 23 - Karen Martin Tichenor
April 30 - April Hall
|
|
|
Conference Office
907-333-5050
Superintendent - Carlo Rapanut
Director of Connectional Ministries - Lisa Talbott
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
