January 17, 2017/Volume 16, No. 1

Conference News

Demopolis District Welcomes Next Step Ministry to Ignite Vitality Movement

The Demopolis District in the Alabama-West Florida Conference, under the leadership of District Superintendent Rev. Allen Newton, welcomed Dr. Victor Dingus and several conference leaders on Sunday, January 8, 2017. The district conducted its annual obligations at Demopolis FUMC, such as voting on nominations and the budget but this year had a unique spirit. Dr. Dingus, founder of Next Step Ministry, was the invited guest. He challenged the pastors and lay leadership to think about these key questions:
-Who are we as Methodist leaders in these times - NOW?
-What must we think about - NOW?
-What must we do - NOW?
-What relationships must be connected and reconnected – NOW?
Full feature here. Photo courtesy of Susan Hunt.

Bishop's Day Apart to Welcome Rev. Jerry Herships

The 2017 Bishop's Day Apart will be held Tuesday, February 21, 2017, at Dothan FUMC. Bishop David Graves will welcome Rev. Jerry Herships out of the Denver, CO, area. This day apart will look different from past years and will have a more interactive component. Click here to register.

Standing Rules Information and Deadline Announced

The Committee on Standing Rules has begun its work in preparation for the 2017 Annual Conference session, June 4-7, 2017, at Frazer Memorial UMC in Montgomery, AL. The committee will be reviewing proposed changes to the Conference Standing Rules. The current rules can be found on pp.16-29 of the 2016 Conference Journal; if you do not have a print copy of the Journal, you may view it on the conference website here. Please be aware of upcoming deadlines specified in our Standing Rules. Complete information here.

Around the Conference

SPR/PPR Training Video Available Online

Bishop Graves has prepared a SPR/PPR Training Video that is now online. All pastors, lay leaders and committee chairs should have received an email with a link. If you did not receive it, you may view it here. The corresponding handouts can be found here.

Disabilities Sunday Designated in the AWF Conference

Sunday, February 26, 2016, has been designated as Disability Awareness Sunday in the Alabama-West Florida Conference. As United Methodists, "We recognize that God made all creation and saw that it was good. As a diverse people of God who bring special gifts and evidences of God's grace to the unity of the Church and to society, we are called to be faithful to the example of Jesus' ministry to [and with] all persons." (¶140, The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church 2012). More here.

Registration open for 2017 Huntingdon Leadership Academy

Huntingdon College is accepting registrations for the 2017 Huntingdon Leadership Academy, established in 2015 to assist high school juniors and seniors in discerning God's call on their lives. Supported by a gift from the Lilly Endowment, Inc., the 2017 Academy has been expanded to six days and five nights, June 25–30. United Methodist churches in the Alabama-West Florida and North Alabama Conferences of The United Methodist Church are invited to sponsor high school youth to participate in the program. More here.

Disaster Response Opportunities in the Southeast

The year 2016 brought many disasters to the United States, including throughout the Southeast. There is still a need for volunteers, and there will be future needs for volunteers. When cameras and media attention leave a disaster area, so do many of the volunteers. Recovery from disasters can take months and even years. If you would like to volunteer in these efforts, please see the list of opportunities below. Most of these opportunities do not require ERT badges. Click here for comprehensive list.

QuadW Missional Internship Releases Video

The QuadW Mission Internship program, under the direction of Rev. Don Woolley, has recently released a video explaining more about the impact their presence is making in low income communities around the country. Click here to see video.

Connectional News

Upcoming Clergy Benefits Academy Announced

Wespath Benefits & Investments has announced their upcoming Clergy Benefits Academy for all active clergy members of the United Methodist Church. The event is scheduled for February 6-8, 2017, in Pensacola, Florida. The Alabama-West Florida Conference Board of Pension & Health Benefits will not host the 2017 February Pre-retirement seminar so that the conference clergy members will be able to attend this event. Additional information on the event can be found on the Wespath website here. The Conference Board is encouraging all active members to attend.

Praying Our Way Forward Phase 2 Commences January 1

(UMCOM) - The second phase of the "Praying Our Way Forward" initiative will be launched New Year’s Day with 75 weeks of focused prayer for The United Methodist Church. The effort will begin January 1 in the North Carolina Conference, and wrap up in the West Angola Episcopal area in June 2018. "The aim of 'Praying Our Way Forward' is to ask and listen for God’s leadership at this critical time in the life of our church,” said Bishop Al Gwinn, who co-chairs the initiative. Full story here.

What Are Your Prayers as 2017 Begins?

(UMNS) - United Methodists said they are praying for elected officials, peace, an end to bigotry and much more as 2017 begins. Interpreter magazine asked readers about their prayers at the start of a new year. Here are some of their answers. Read story.

Resources

United Methodist Connectional FCU 2017 Annual College Scholarships

The United Methodist Connectional Federal Credit Union is once again offering scholarships to 17-35 year old college-bound students in our connection. Four winning applicants, one from each of our four conferences–Florida, North Georgia, South Georgia and Alabama-West Florida–will each receive a $1,000 scholarship. Complete rules and an application can be found on the credit union website here. Applicants must be a credit union member in good standing. Eligible credit union members are 1) members of the United Methodist Church in this conference, 2) Employees of a United Methodist church or agency, or 3) an immediate family member of a UMC FCU member. For additional questions, contact the Marietta branch at 800-282-9368.

7 Great Ways to Share God's Love this Valentine's Day

(UMCOM) - Valentine's Day is most often considered a day to celebrate love. That's great if you have a significant other. However, it is a reminder to some people of what they feel is missing in their lives. How can you show the love of Christ this Valentine's Day? More here. Photo by Kathleen Barry, UMNS.

6 Tips on Crowdfunding for Churches

(UMNS) - The Kickstarter-launched rock album. The Indiegogo-funded science lab. The GoFundMe-aided charity. In this increasingly connected online world, is crowdfunding that one weird trick churches need to bolster giving? Crowdfunding is the commonly used term for raising small amounts of money from a large number of people for a project or venture — typically via certain websites and related social media. The General Council on Finance and Administration, The United Methodist Church’s finance agency, has published a guide for U.S. churches considering crowdfunding sites. More here.