A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference |
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2021 Local Church Leadership Trainings
Sunday, March 14, 2021 | Online via Zoom | Free
Sunday, April 18, 2021 | Online via Zoom | Free
1-3 p.m. Alaska Time, 2-4 p.m. Pacific Time, 3-5 p.m. Mountain Time
Join district superintendents and staff of the Alaska and PNW Conferences in the first of two online trainings for local church leaders. Each training will start with a session for everyone on good leadership practices for an inclusive church, followed by break-out groups for specific work areas of church leadership. Held via Zoom on Sunday afternoons from 2-4 p.m., there may be some preparatory work before the trainings for some breakout groups.
The first training date on Sunday, March 14, will include classes for Staff Parish Relations, Finance and Trustees. A second training will follow on Sunday, April 18, with classes on the basics of single-board governance, successful cross-cultural/cross-racial appointments, and disaster response readiness. More details on both trainings available on the registration page.
Registration is required to receive the Zoom invite, but there is no fee. Please forward to the leadership in your church you wish to have attend.
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First apportionment report of 2021
You can now view the first apportionment report for the beginning of 2021.
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Lay Servant Ministries evolves into area-wide collaboration
Conference directors and district coordinators of Lay Servant Ministries (LSM) have joined together to make classes available to laity across both The Greater Northwest and Mountain Sky Episcopal areas. Online Zoom classes are rapidly opening up more LSM education opportunities.
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Information on COVID vaccines and the church
A new resource is available from Reimagining Life Together on what the coronavirus vaccines mean for you and your ministry settings at this time. The resource sheet was created by the GNW COVID-19 Response Team to provide more information and some clarity as we see vaccines roll out across the country and our communities in Alaska, Washington, Idaho and Oregon.
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Renewal leave encouraged for pastors, staffs and worship teams
Out of deep appreciation and care for our leaders, Bishop Elaine and the Greater Northwest Area cabinet members encourage pastors, staff and worship teams to be given multiple back-to-back days of renewal leave for rest, sabbath and renewal.
If you are a member of the Staff Parish Relations Committee please encourage your pastor, staff and other leaders to take this renewal time. Support these leaders in being able to take this time within a month after Easter.
Offices in the Alaska, Oregon-Idaho and Pacific Northwest conferences will be closed March 29-April 2, 2021. All conference staff and cabinet members will be taking this time for their own renewal. Leadership will still be available for urgent needs and support.
The Greater NW Area is putting together a worship service for Sunday, April 11. The worship elements will be posted and available at www.greaternw.org by March 26.
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Reading program aims to turn page on racism
In its efforts to dismantle racism, Collister United Methodist Church has joined with nonprofits and businesses across Boise to establish Turning Pages, a project for 12 elementary schools. The project features local leaders who are people of color reading aloud stories that spotlight people of color.
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Race, racism and the church
Two of the authors of "I'm Black. I'm Christian. I'm Methodist." talk with the Rev. Joe Iovino about the importance of confronting racism both within the church and throughout society. The Rev. Rudy Rasmus of St. John's United Methodist Church in Houston and the Rev. Jevon Caldwell-Gross of St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Indianapolis share their experiences and discuss the state of the church in the latest installment of the "Get Your Spirit in Shape" podcast.
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2021 Our Year of Hope - UMW Day of Giving, March 23
On March 23, United Methodist Women celebrates its 152nd anniversary with its annual Day of Giving! This year’s theme is “Our Year of Hope,” and, for the first time, we will have a very special six-hour live Day of Giving Facebook Live event! Tune into the United Methodist Women Facebook page on March 23 beginning at 9:30 a.m. (EST) to hear from your general secretary and national president, regional missionaries, national mission institutions, deaconesses and home missioners, panels on racial and climate justice and more!
Be a part of looking toward the future with hope by contributing to the Legacy Endowment Fund. Any amount is welcome before, during and after Day of Giving March 23, 2021, Our Year of Hope! Visit unitedmethodistwomen.org/legacyfund for ways to give.
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UMCOR Sunday is this week
March 14 is UMCOR Sunday. This special offering underwrites the administrative costs of the United Methodist Committee on Relief so that all designated gifts will go to the project givers specify. Resources, including worship ideas, are available to help churches celebrate the day.
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Dealing with a backlog of grief
The Rev. David Howlett and his wife, Elaine, are experts in grief ministry, operating The Mourning Center at Christ United Methodist Church. They predict a lot of grief will surface once the pandemic lifts and congregations regather, with notable absences of those lost to COVID-19. They've created a guide for how churches can meet the need.
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Conference settlement with Glide approved
Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño announced that the settlement between the California-Nevada Conference and the Glide Foundation has received the approval of legal authorities. Under the settlement agreed to in November, the California-Nevada Conference retains control of a $4.5 million trust and receives an extra $1.5 million from the Glide Foundation while Glide Memorial departs the denomination but retains its building.
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Black women pastors speak out in book
A new book by the Rev. Josephine Whitely-Fields, a retired elder, offers the experiences of African American women clergy in their own words. "Pioneer Black Clergywomen: Stories of Black Clergywomen of The United Methodist Church" compiles interviews with nine subjects about their experiences of bias in the denomination.
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Conference UMM presidents hold virtual meeting
In a Feb. 25 virtual meeting of 40 United Methodist Men conference presidents, top executive Gil Hanke said the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in a decline in the number of chartered organizations, a loss of $100,000 and a 40% reduction in funds provided by the denomination's World Service Fund. However, the commission has used Zoom to effectively resume Wesley Class Meetings, a practice that expanded the denomination's outreach after the Revolutionary War.
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Online seminary fair planned March 25
All 13 U.S. United Methodist seminaries and theological schools plan to hold a spring seminary fair at 3 p.m. U.S. Eastern time March 25. The online event is an opportunity to hear what each school has to offer. The United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry also plans to offer information on scholarships and financing a degree.
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14: Daylight Savings Time starts
15-18: GNW Cabinet meeting - Carlo attending virtually
17: St. Patrick's Day
28: Palm Sunday
29-April 2: Holy Week - Office Closed
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2: Good Friday
4: Easter Sunday
13-15: GNW Cabinet meeting - Carlo attending virtually
15: Tax Day
23: Leadership Team meeting
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Upcoming Clergy Birthdays
March 21 -
Nico Reijns
March 23 -
Bob Jones Jr.
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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