January 16, 2015/Volume 14, No. 1

Conference News

The Alabama-West Florida Conference Office, as well as the district offices, will be closed Monday in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. We give thanks for those who have bravely led efforts to bring justice to this world. Join us in prayer that God will continue to move our conference, nation and world closer to Him.

A Word from the Bishop

With the conclusion of the Southeastern Jurisdiction College of Bishops this past week, I returned to our Alabama-West Florida Conference with an awareness of two issues that have impacted our Church. 1) This past Tuesday, the state of Florida recognized same gender marriage as a result of Federal Court order. The polity of our United Methodist Church did not change. Our Book of Discipline, in paragraph 341.7, states ceremonies that celebrate same sex unions “shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches.” As a denomination, we have agreed the only body authorized to change the Book of Discipline is the General Conference, which will meet in 2016. Click here for complete message.

Pastor and SPR Consultation Forms Now Available

All clergy serving a church and SPR/PPR Chairs should have received a direct link in their e-mail inbox to complete this year’s consultation forms. You no longer need a login and password. If you did not receive this e-mail from your district office, they most likely do not have your current e-mail address on file. Please contact your district office if you did not receive the link or have any questions about this year’s form. These forms are due by January 31, 2015.

Clergy Delegation Interest Form Now Online

The 2016 Clergy General and Jurisdictional Delegation Interest Form is now live on the conference Website under Quick Links. All clergy eligible to be elected in the Alabama-West Florida Conference may complete this form if you are interested in serving as a delegate. The Clergy Delegation Interest List, also under Quick Links, will automatically populate onto the conference Website in alphabetical order of last name. Clergy can be elected without completing the form. The information you share will be public and people from outside our conference may contact you.

Huntingdon Cross and Flame Award Available to United Methodist Students

Montgomery, Ala.—Huntingdon College President J. Cameron West announced today that the College's Cross and Flame Award, having increased by $500 to $11,000 for full-time day students entering in the fall of 2014, has contributed to the more than $20 million in College-funded financial assistance provided to United Methodist students enrolled in the College's full-time day program since the grant began in 2004. "This year alone, our 210 Methodist students in the full-time day program have received approximately $2.2 million in College-funded grants and scholarships, with an average award of $10,500. The Cross and Flame Award is given to each student who is a member of a United Methodist congregation, who has been admitted on regular or honors status to the College's full-time day program, and who receives the recommendation of his or her pastor. Click here for full release.

AWF Imagine No Malaria Progress

Congratulations to the Demopolis District! They were the first of our eight districts to reach their Imagine No Malaria goal, which was saving 5,000 lives. As of January 8, 2015, they have saved 5,079 lives. While this was a smaller goal than the other districts had, they have by far the smallest membership and average worship attendance of all the districts, and the fewest number of large membership churches. They worked hard to reach their goal and save this many lives. A few additional districts are close to meeting their goals, too. You can find all the details at www.awfumc.org/inmprogress. The Conference goal is to save 100,000 lives. As of January 8, we have saved 72,268 lives, which means we are 72.3% toward meeting our goal. Your church can still participate in this worthwhile effort. Visit www.awfumc.org/malaria for resources and more information, or contact Susan Hunt at susan@awfumc.org or 334-356-8014. Click here to find Lenten resources.

Save the Date: Bishop's Day Apart

Mark your calendars for Monday, March 2 for Bishop's Day Apart. Our guest will be Bishop Scott Jones of the Great Plains Conference. Bishop Jones is widely known for his most recent study, The Wesleyan Way. The event will start at 9:00am at St. James UMC in Montgomery, AL. Details and registration are forthcoming.

Around the Conference

BOM Holds Annual Candidacy Retreat

The AWF Board of Ordained Ministry held its January 2015 Candidacy Retreat
at Camp Beckwith in Fairhope January 9-10, 2015. There were 26 exploring candidates in attendance. Ten elders are serving as their mentors: Ashley Davis, David Saliba, Ray Lane, Jeff Wilson, Jerry May, Jason Thrower, Charles Cummings, Brian Miller, Brandon Dasinger, and Laura Weant. Directors for the retreat were BOM members Kathy Knight and Alan Cassady.

Upcoming Annual Conference Deadlines

There are several upcoming deadlines related to standing rules, including proposed changes to Standing Rules; resolutions and petitions; and submissions for the 2015 Journal. Click here for more information. Also, please consider nominating someone for our annual awards presented at annual conference. Click here for more information about the awards.

UMCOR Relief Kits Will be Collected at Annual Conference 2015

Churches are encouraged to bring UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) relief kits again to Annual Conference 2015. It’s not too early to start collecting supplies. Health kits and school kits are needed the most right now, but all kits will be accepted. Visit www.awfumc.org/reliefkits for assembly instructions and updates. These relief kits will be sent to the Sager-Brown Depot in Baldwin, Louisiana, to be given to the most vulnerable people around the world during times of crisis. Click here for a bulletin insert. Contact Susan Hunt at 334-356-8014 or susan@awfumc.org for more information.

QuadW Missional Internships Now Available

QuadW Missional Internship positions are open for Summer 2015 for college-aged young people. It includes a $2000 stipend plus room and board. You will relationally serve in inner city neighborhoods, live in Christian community with other interns, and receive mentoring from experienced practitioners. Opportunities are available in Mobile; Montgomery; Kansas City (KS and MO); Pine Bluff and Little Rock, Arkansas; Reading, PA (outside Philadelphia); and tentatively Columbus, OH, and Portland, OR. Contact the Director, Don Woolley at don@quadwmi.org or see www.quadwmi.org for more information and an online application process. Click here for a brochure.

Spring and Summer Break Opportunities with Alabama Rural Ministry

Make your Spring Break count! Spend a week, half-week, or weekend with ARM in Tuskegee, AL, where you'll extend the love of Christ through home repair ministry. Many dates in March and April are still available! You can register online today at www.arm-al.org/springbreak. Also, spots are filling up for ARM's Summer Mission Camp! Dates are still available throughout June and July. Book your group online today at www.arm-al.org/summercamp. Contact Joe at (334) 501-4276 or joe@arm-al.org for more information.

Connectional News

Haiti: Five Years Later

(UMNS) - The Jan. 12, 2010, 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti left more than 200,000 dead; displaced 1.5 million and damaged or destroyed some 300,000 buildings. The United Methodist Church was among those who rushed to respond. Over the years — both collectively and individually — United Methodists have participated in relief efforts and long-term recovery plans focused on sustainable development. Some $45 million in donations to the United Methodist Committee on Relief has supported that response, in partnership with the Methodist Church in Haiti, the Haitian government and community organizations, as well as USAID and various aid groups. Click here for full coverage.

News Service Poll: Ebola Voted Top Story of 2014

(UMNS) - The worst Ebola outbreak in history — along with The United Methodist Church’s mobilization to ease suffering and fight the spread of the deadly virus — was the biggest story of 2014, according to a United Methodist News Service poll of communicators. The tragedy of Ebola in Sierra Leone and Liberia received 11 first place votes out of 25 ballots cast by conference communicators in the United States and Africa, and news service staff. Click here for more.

Preaching That's as Cool as the Other Side of the Pillow

(Tom Fuerst//MM) - Stuart Scott, the great ESPN anchor, died a few days ago after fighting cancer for seven years. When I decided that I wanted to become a preacher, I knew so little about public speaking or how to convey information to an audience. Of course, there were always other pastors to model myself after, but as I grew in the craft I found imitating other preachers to be less and less desirable. Everyone wanted to be John Piper or Rob Bell. But I wanted to be the Stuart Scott of homiletics. Read more.

The Secret Why Good Churches Die

(Rebekah Simon-Peter/MM) - Why do good churches die? I’m not talking about churches that have an apparent fatal flaw like mean or nasty people, terrible location, clergy sexual misconduct, uninspiring worship or the like. Churches can and do recover from all of those things. No, I’m talking about good churches that care about people, hold decently inspiring and cohesive services, are doing their best to reach out and respond to a changing world, are led by a committed leader and backed up by laity who truly care. Good churches. Why do they die? More here.

Resources

Free Imagine No Malaria Resources Available for Lent

(UMNS) — The Imagine No Malaria effort offers free resources for the time of year when Christians strive to give up indifference and often take on something new. The resources include graphics, worship materials and videos suitable for use in a church, small group or Sunday school setting. Click here for more.

We Are Next

From Jeremy Steele, the author of YPM’s Sex: A Christian Perspective on our Bodies, Decisions, and Relationships, comes a great new study for young adults. Next: Making Earth Look More Like Heaven is a six week study for young adults created by Jeremy in cooperation with UMC Mission and the UM Student Movement. By using this curriculum, young adults will be invited to learn more about their communities, discover God’s intense care for our world, and hear the stories of young adults who have committed their lives to making the world the better place. Participants are invited to engage bible passages to learn how they can live for the world. The resource can be downloaded for free here.