July 20, 2015/Volume 14, No. 13

Conference News

Local Camp Sees Big Numbers This Summer

(Andalusia Star News) - With the summer already halfway over, Blue Lake Methodist Camp has already seen between 600-700 kids, and those numbers are expected to rise for the month of July, according to camp officials. Nestled in the heart of the Conecuh National Forest, Blue Lake plays host camps for kids all ages. During a typical week, the camp can hold up to three camps, depending on what facilities are being used. Blue Lake Program Director Eric Hindmon said camp has gone well. “We’ve had good growth from churches who have never used camp or haven’t used camp in a long time, which is really good,” Hindmon said. “That part’s been really good.” Full feature here.

Clickable District Map Updated on Conference Site

When visiting www.awfumc.org/districts you will notice a refreshed version of the district map. The updated map is now easier to identify district lines and features clickable sections linking to more information about each district.

Around the Conference

Florida Recovery Team Honored at Local Banquet

The Florida Recovery Team of the Alabama-West Conference was awarded a certificate at the annual meeting of BRACE (Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies) in Pensacola, FL. They were one of five groups acknowledged for their excellence in working with flood recovery. Pictured above: Lynn Dobry, John Frew, Eric Schade, and KJ Chafen with the Florida Recovery team. Also shown are Greg Strader, Director of BRACE and Deanna Poland-Stemock, Director of Operations and Readiness.

Sacred Spaces: Take a Look Inside the Spanish Colonial Church They Call 'The Bee Hive'

(Carol McPhail/al.com) - If you're a fan of hidden pictures and "I Spy" books, then the doorway of Government Street United Methodist Church will capture your attention. The elaborate front entrance of the downtown Mobile church has 16 Christian symbols nestled in its white baroque detailing. In fact, you could spend the better part of a lunch hour pinpointing the symbols ranging from a dove and a harp to a scallop shell and an urn. It's hard to imagine that the elaborate Spanish Colonial building at the southwest corner of Government and Broad streets was once a Gothic Revival structure – at least until the turn of the 20th Century, when it was extensively remodeled by internationally known architect George B. Rogers. Full article here.

Connectional News

A Methodist Reading of "Go Set a Watchman"

(UMNS) — Retired United Methodist Bishop Will Willimon offers a review of Harper Lee's "Go Set a Watchman," with attention to its Methodist references. Willimon, himself a novelist, finds that "Go Set a Watchman" confirms the "artistic genius" Lee showed with "To Kill a Mockingbird" and offers an accurate, unflinching portrayal of small-town Southern racism in the 1950s. Read review here.

Slideshow: 2015 Annual Conferences

(UMNS) — Each year, clergy and lay members attend their conference's session for worship, fellowship and to conduct business. Kathleen Barry, with help from conference volunteers, assembled a slideshow with highlights from many of the 2015 meetings around the global United Methodist Church. This is the first of two slideshows. Watch slideshow.

Commentary: Sacrificing Our Buildings for God's Kingdom

(UMNS) — "What if we encouraged more churches to give their space away? Yes, you read that correctly. What if God is leading us into a season of downsizing our physical space?" The Rev. Ben Gosden, pastor of Aldersgate United Methodist Church, ponders how doing so might shift the church's priorities. Read commentary here.

Coyner: Reclaiming our Methodist Heritage

(UMNS) — In the midst of talk about a potential split of The United Methodist Church over issues such as human sexuality, Indiana Bishop Michael Coyner explains that his picture of the denomination "is not either/or, but both/and." Full commentary here.

United Methodist Communications Celebrates 75 Years of Storytelling

(UMNS) - Nashville-based United Methodist Communications is kicking off a 75-day countdown to its 75th anniversary on October 1. This year marks three-quarters of a century since the first national church communications office opened in New York on October 1, 1940 – an office that was to become United Methodist Communications, the global communications agency of The United Methodist Church. More here.

UMCMarket.org Gets Upgrade

(UMNS) — The General Council on Finance and Administration, the denomination's finance agency, has relaunched the online shopping portal UMCMarket, using more advanced technology and faster delivery of donations. The site allows online shoppers to donate a percentage of what they spend back to their church or to the United Methodist ministry of their choice. Click here for press release or visit UMCMarket.org.

Resources

5 Tips for Effective School Ministry

(UMCOM) - Is your church preparing for “back-to-school?” This time of year offers incredible ministry opportunities — if you do it right. Here are five important tips for excelling at school outreach.

“Leading Ideas to Reach Young Adults” ebook Now Available

The future of every denomination and virtually every congregation in the United States depends on their ability to reach more people, younger people, and more diverse people. Leading Ideas to Reach Young Adults addresses one of these challenges — reaching younger people. This ebook is a curated collection of 20 insightful and practical articles from Leading Ideas e-newsletter. It includes discussion questions and is an ideal conversation starter for congregations that care deeply about reaching younger generations. More here.

Become a Test Church for Disciple Fast Track!

Disciple Fast Track is looking for 10 churches from each annual conference to join them in their second round of beta testing to make sure the new Fast Track study is of the highest quality. For nearly thirty years, the original Disciple Bible Study has helped millions of people read through the Bible and grow their faith through a 34-week class. The new Fast Track study leads groups through the Bible in a shortened, 24-week format while maintaining the integrity and principles of the original study. New, easy-to-use print and video materials and an online community give participants the tools to absorb and retain what they learn in this shortened format. Churches that participate in this beta 2 testing phase will receive the final, official-release materials at no cost. Click here for more.