A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference |
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Annual Conference Session |
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Laity Session reminder
Calling all Lay Members and Lay Leaders from across the GNW,
The 2021 Greater Northwest Area Laity Session is getting near. While time, distance, and a virus have kept us separated for too long, we will at least gather through technology as a Greater Northwest Area on the evening of Wednesday June 9, 2021 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. AK time, 6:30 to 8 p.m. PT, 7:30 to 9 p.m. MT.
The Laity Session is traditionally a gathering for the lay members of each annual conference. This year, we are also encouraging all laity serving in a leadership position in local churches and district lay leaders or leadership of boards or committees to attend the Laity Session. We will use the following Zoom link for this meeting: https://greaternw.zoom.us/s/94738442476
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Laity Orientation by Lay Leader Jo Anne Hayden
Due to the fact that this year's Laity Session is a shared session, an additional orientation Zoom meeting for the Alaska Conference has been scheduled for Tuesday, June 15th at 7 pm, especially for first time Lay Members though all laity are welcome. In addition to sharing some basic information relative to your role as a Lay Member, we'll briefly highlight our virtual meeting givens, the Pre-Conference materials, and try to assist in responding to questions attendees may have. Once again, should you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Jo Anne at hayden@alaskan.net or 907-903-5025.
The link needed for the orientation Zoom meeting on Tuesday, June 15th at 7 pm is:
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Annual Conference Schedule
The Alaska United Methodist Conference will meet online at the following times:
- 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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Zoom Webinar Training Sessions
Practice sessions will be held prior to the AC Sessions to familiarize members with Zoom and the voting platform we’ll be using.
GNTV will again be our tech hosts for this year’s virtual annual conference session and they are offering new and improved processes for voting and participation.
The following training dates are offered for members to familiarize themselves with the online platform and voting. Learn more here.
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Pre-Conference Handbook available to download
All the reports for the pre-conference handbook have been compiled and are ready for download. You will find reports from committee chairs, conference related entities, proposed budget and apportionments, statistics, rules changes and petitions. This is an important document for voting members of the Annual Conference. Please make sure you read through it ahead of the Annual Conference Session.
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Ordination service for Autumn Krueger
Pastor Autumn Krueger, currently serving at St. John UMC, will be ordained on June 11 in Sioux Falls, SD during the Dakotas' Celebration of Life in Ministry service at 4pm AK (7pm Central). The service will be live-streamed at https://www.dakotasumc.org/annualconference. Congratulations Autumn!
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Apportionment Report
The May apportionment report has been posted to the conference website. You can view it here.
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Gigantic Church/Youth Yard Sale
Gigantic Church/ Youth Yard Sale June 12th Anchor Park UMC parking lot. Help support the Youth Mission Trip to Kodiak and our Church Mission. We have a ton of "stuff" including clothes & shoes of all sizes, kitchen items, baskets, a sewing machine, material, office supplies, 100's of cook & other books. Lots of framed art work & even a manual Royal typewriter. SO much more, too much to list. Donations accepted for most everything!
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Bishop, cabinet speak to appointments controversy
Bishop Grant Hagiya and the California-Pacific Conference cabinet have issued a statement addressing controversy over appointment decisions affecting three Korean American pastors. While they dispute accusations that the pastors were targeted for their traditionalist theological beliefs, they also say: "Our hearts are grieved that our covenant community is broken, and we are seeking to address the conflict in a way that represents the call of Christ on all of our lives."
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Join Church and Society for a special three-part webinar series
June 10, 2021, Remembering:
To better understand reparations, this webinar will focus on the intergenerational racism and discrimination of descendants of slavery, and how it contributed and continues to contribute to the widening racial wealth gap we see today.
June 17, 2021, Repairing:
Panel discussion on examples of reparations in the United States (Japanese Americans, Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Evanston, Illinois). What can we learn from these examples of reparations?
June 24, 2021, Re-imagining:
As people of faith, what is the case for reparations from a theological/biblical perspective? And how can we prophetically live into that calling now and guarantee it for the future?
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COB approves episcopal supervision recommendations for SCJ
The Council of Bishops (COB) of The United Methodist Church has approved episcopal supervision recommendations for the South Central Jurisdiction (SCJ), due to the retirement of two bishops.
The recommendations were made by the SCJ College of Bishops following consultation with the Jurisdictional and respective Annual Conference Committees on Episcopacy.
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College scholarships up to $3,000 available
A limited number of United Methodist Dollars for Scholars awards are still available for the 2021-22 academic year from the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation. The scholarships are for United Methodist students attending United Methodist higher education.
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Life together: The UM Social Principles
The United Methodist Social Principles call us to faithful engagement with the world around us. On the latest episode of the “Get Your Spirit in Shape” podcast, the Rev. Sharon Austin, who was part of the team that worked on the revision of the Social Principles, talks about their importance and why they have been revised — although still waiting for General Conference approval.
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Lake Junaluska to host Juneteenth festivities
The Western North Carolina Conference plans to have a Juneteenth Freedom Celebration starting at 2 p.m. U.S. Eastern time June 19 at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center. The event will include worship, a look at African American history, food trucks and family activities.
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How sweet it is: United Methodists and bees
"I never feel more connected to the earth and to God than when I'm surrounded by a million venomous insects," says United Methodist Jay Williams about his beekeeping avocation. While Williams' statement may surprise some people, he and other United Methodist apiarists say delving into the complex world of bees has deepened their faith.
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UMW Assembly 2022
Assembly 2022 takes place May 20-22, 2022, at the Orlando Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. You do not want to miss this inspiring event that happens only once every four years. Be sure to invite others to Assembly and help spread the word! In 2022 we’ll Turn It Up for spiritual healing and renewal, for rebirth in a new time, for women leaders, and for justice for women, children and youth. Visit Assembly2022.org to get updates, get excited, and find ways to help let women in your life know about this amazing gathering. Early bird registration starts Sept. 1!
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UMCOR assists displaced people in Congo
In northeastern Congo, many farmers are afraid to work in their fields, due to threats by Allied Democratic Forces rebels. Hunger and starvation are daily realities. In response, the United Methodist Committee on Relief recently provided almost $100,000 USD, buying a one-month supply of food and other necessities for more than 850 vulnerable households.
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After shooting, children's home shuts down
The Florida United Methodist Children's Home announced it was suspending its emergency shelter program. The announcement came less than 24 hours after two foster children ran away from the shelter and ended up in a shootout with sheriff's deputies. The officers are uninjured, but one of the juveniles — a 14-year-old girl — was hospitalized.
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8-10: Crystal on vacation
9: GNW Laity session 5:30 PM
14: GNW Cabinet
19: Juneteenth
20: Father's Day
20: GNW Opening Session 5:30-7 PM
22: AK individual sessions 9-11 AM & 1-3 PM
23: AK/PNW shared session 1-2:30 PM
23: GNW Closing Session 5:30-7 PM
28-29: GNW Cabinet Retreat
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4: Independence Day
17: Western Jurisdiction Special Called Session
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Upcoming Clergy Birthdays
June 8 -
Jim Doepken
June 10 -
Carlo Rapanut
June 15 -
Matt Reinders
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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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