A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference |
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Annual Conference Recap
Our Conference Secretary (Nico Reijns) and Conference Communicator (Jim Doepken) have collaborated and put together the 2022 Alaska Annual Conference Report. It is a recap of the key actions that took place.
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Request for Anchorage Area churches
First UMC Anchorage is asking for new/unused reusable water bottles and used suitcases/backpacks.
First UMC is working with Anchorage Alliance to End Homelessness to help find resources for our neighbors in need. One simple way that you could be a part is to provide backpacks and suitcases which are easier to carry. We are also looking for new/unused water bottles, especially with the hot weather and smoke in the air, being hydrated is really important.
Please contact Jenn Miller at First UMC for details fumc@gci.net
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Certified Lay Servant classes offered
Rev. Andy Bartel will be offering the Certified Lay Ministry BASIC and PREACHING courses again this fall on Wednesday evenings from 6-8 p.m., both in-person in Anchorage and via Zoom.
The Basic class will run Sept 14, 21, 28, Oct 5, and 12. The Preaching class will run Oct 19, 26, Nov 2, 9, 16. Space is limited, and is open to all Alaska United Methodists.
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The UMC releases 2021 State of the Church Report
The United Methodist Church has released the 2021 State of the Church Report, which centers around the theme of claiming our identity. Beginning with Jesus' question to Peter in Matthew 16, "Who do you say that I am?" the question is posed to the UMC, "Who do we say that we are?" as the church seeks to affirm the basis of their identity in faith and service to Christ.
“This State of the Church Report is about how The United Methodist Church over the past year has sought to better define its missional and theological identity,” said Bishop Christian Alsted, chair of the Connectional Table. “We have done this at a very sensitive time in the life of our church and in the context of a global pandemic, multiple postponements of General Conference and our decades-long struggle over our understanding of human sexuality and how to be in ministry to all people.”
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Jurisdiction announces plans to elect 3 bishops
The South Central Jurisdiction Committee on Episcopacy has decided, in consultation with its bishops, to recommend that the jurisdictional conference elect three new bishops in November 2022. With three elections, the South Central Jurisdiction would have a total of nine bishops available to be assigned to nine of the 10 current episcopal areas. Citing missional reasons, the committee decided the 10th episcopal area will be left open with episcopal coverage to be determined after jurisdictional conference.
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Church responds after mass death of migrants
United Methodists are responding after the deaths of at least 50 migrants found in an abandoned tractor-trailer in Texas. Bishop Robert Schnase is among the church leaders grieving the loss and urging United Methodists to continue to work for justice for migrants. The United Methodist Church has long had a commitment to immigration reform.
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Extra pay approved for bishops with extra workloads
The board of The United Methodist Church's finance agency has approved a monthly stipend for active bishops who have led more than one episcopal area in this time of disruption.
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Amid division, group commits to be United Methodist
Even as some depart the denomination, the National Association of Filipino American United Methodists released a statement announcing the group’s commitment to the mission and unity of The United Methodist Church. “As we move forward, we are committed to keep the main thing the main thing — the centrality of our faith in Jesus Christ,” said the statement.
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Youth 2023: Mission and Service Opportunities
Next years’ youth event will be here before you know it!
Youth 2023 is going to be an amazing three-day event filled with worship and fellowship, but a huge part of what makes this event so memorable are the mission and services opportunities available to the students.
Click below for more information about Youth 2023 and to register for this awesome event!
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7: AUMC Professional Church Workers Check-in
19: Crystal out of the office
24-28: Christina at DS/DCM Training out of state
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4: AUMC Professional Church Workers Check-in
4-5: Crystal out of the office
16-19: GNW Cabinet Retreat - Christina & Lisa attending
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Upcoming Clergy Birthdays
July 11 - Bob Smith
Joseph DowlingSoka
July 21 - Lisa Talbott
August 13 - Bennie Grace Nabua
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Conference Office
907-333-5050
Superintendent - Christina DowlingSoka
Director of Connectional Ministries - Lisa Talbott
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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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We acknowledge that the Methodist Church is complicit with and rooted in the colonization of Alaska and recognize that we live in that ongoing legacy. We lament the harm and trauma that our faith community causes. John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Movement, summarized God’s directives with three Rules: do no harm, do good, and attend to the ordinances of God. We also celebrate the grace, the love, and the good that our church does that calls us to re-imagine mission through intentional discipleship with one another.
We will live into the transition to a Mission District committed to:
Alaska Conference Values
- The love of God, neighbor, and self, demonstrated by the deliberate embracing and valuing of differences, the leveling of imbalances between people and systems, and the intentional dismantling of inequities in whatever forms they present themselves.
- Healing, grace-filled mission with communities and churches that prioritizes local experiences and shares resources across time and distance through equitable relationships.
- Living into connectionalism by belonging to and trusting in one another to nurture relationships that celebrate the gifts each of our communities bring, allowing us to move forward in a decolonized way.
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