January 16, 2018/Volume 17, No. 1

Conference News

Three AWF Local Church Council Training Videos Now Available

Three 2018 local church council training videos are now online and available. These videos were written and produced so that committee members in the conference may be properly trained in the new year. Whether you are a veteran member of a committee or this is your first year serving, these videos will outline the duties, responsibilities and expectations of committee members. Videos for local church SPR/PPR committees, finance committees and trustee committees can be found in the link below. We invite each local church committee related to these topics in the Alabama-West Florida Conference to view these as a ministry team. Click here to access videos.

Interim Treasurer Named at Alabama-West Florida Conference

The Alabama-West Florida Conference is pleased to announce that Mr. Mickey Wilson has been named Interim Treasurer in the conference office. Wilson began his service on January 3, 2018. Prior to coming to the Alabama-West Florida Conference, he served as Treasurer of the Florida Annual Conference for ten years. He also worked at the General Commission on Finance and Administration as their CFO and was president of a leasing company that partnered with Nashville area’s largest bank. Wilson is a current general conference delegate in the Florida Annual Conference and has been one since 2008. Full release here.

AWF "At the Table" Ministry Receives GCORR Grant

A vision that became a reality has been awarded a $15,000 grant from the General Commission on Religion and Race. "At the Table" is an event that was held in the spring and fall of 2017 and brought together those in the conference who are focused on ethnic ministries. The grant outlines that this event-turned-ministry will:
-Bring about change by training church leaders to effectively minister to all people;
-Train these leaders in cultural competency and effective community engagement;
-Provide them with resources to help begin the work of racial reconciliation;
-Continue with follow-up “At The Table” gatherings with Bishops, District Superintendents, and ethnic churches. More here.

Around the Conference

Saint Paul UMC Adds Soccer Field to Benefit Community

(Kari Barlow for AWFUMC) - Saint Paul United Methodist Church in Gulf Breeze wasn’t looking to add a soccer field to its property on U.S. Highway 98, but God apparently had other ideas. “How it started was I just answered the phone one day—you know how it goes,” says Rev. Christina Shaver. “It was the coach, Victor Ayala, … of the Gulf Breeze Breakers, which is a club soccer team.” Ayala explained that his club for 9 year olds to 14 year olds had recently lost access to its practice field and asked if Saint Paul’s would allow his organization to use one of church’s vacant fields. He told Shaver the Breakers would make all the necessary improvements in return for the use. She immediately liked the idea and agreed to put it before the church council. Full feature here.

Disabilities Sunday Designated in the AWF Conference

Sunday, February 25, 2018, 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.

Upcoming Annual Conference Deadlines Announced

The Committee on Standing Rules has begun its work in preparation for the 2018 Annual Conference session, June 3-6, 2018, at Frazer Memorial UMC in Montgomery, AL. The committee will be reviewing the Conference Standing Rules and recommending revisions. Please be aware of upcoming deadlines specified in our Standing Rules. Full details here.

Connectional News

United Methodist Bishops Condemn President Trump’s “Offensive” Remarks Against Immigrants

(COB) - Bishop Bruce R. Ough, president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops, issued a statement on behalf of the Council concerning remarks reported to have been made by President Donald Trump regarding immigrants. The statement follows:
We are appalled by the offensive, disgusting words attributed to President Donald Trump who is said to have referred to immigrants from African countries and Haiti, and the countries themselves, in an insulting and derogative manner. According to various media accounts, President Trump made the remarks during a White House discussion with lawmakers on immigration. Full statement here.

Booklet Offers Resources Way Forward Has Used

(COB) - The United Methodist Council of Bishops offers an 88-page booklet that contains some of the resources the Commission on a Way Forward has used so far in its work. The booklet contains information on three proposals the bishops will discuss in their respective areas. The bishop-appointed commission has the task of trying to move the denomination past its impasse around homosexuality. See booklet. Read UMNS story on three models under consideration.

GCFA Legal Services Department Offers Update on Housing Allowance

(GCFA) - As we mentioned previously, on October 6, 2017, U.S. District Judge Barbara B. Crabb of the Western District of Wisconsin found that 26 U.S.C. § 107(2) violates the establishment clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. At that time there were still two issues to be decided, the remedy and whether or not the decision would be stayed pending any potential appeals. Judge Crabb issued an order on December 13, 2017, addressing these two issues. She enjoined the IRS from enforcing section 107(2), which is the section permitting a housing allowance for ministers of the gospel, but she stayed the injunction until 180 days after either the conclusion of any pending appeals or the failure to file an appeal by a party. This means that the clergy housing allowance is still available while any appeals are pending. We will keep you updated on the appeals process. Click here to read the analysis of the earlier ruling from the Legal Services Department of GCFA and view the most recent update. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Legal Services Department of GCFA at legal@gcfa.org.

Local Church Resources

18 Ways to be More United Methodist

(UMC.org) — From riding a horse to studying the Bible, here are some ways to connect with your United Methodist heritage in 2018. Joe Iovino has the list of 18 United Methodist activities. Read story.

GBHEM Publishing Releases a Book Offering Help for New Pastors

(GBHEM) - The Publishing Office of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM), leadership development agency for the denomination, announced the release of a new book, “The United Methodist Clergy Book of Firsts” by F. Belton Joyner, Jr. Written especially for licensing school and Course of Study students, this book helps pastors navigate the early days of their ministry. Featuring topics from first appointments and first sermons to leadership development and community involvement, Joyner dives into opportunities and challenges pastors face as they grow and mature as clergy. More here.

7 Steps for Making Disciples Through Relational Mentoring

(Lewis Center) - Kenneth H. Carter and Audrey Warren describe a simple, step-by-step process for making disciples and mentoring friends to be closer to Jesus — a process of faith formation that is increasingly important as more and more nontraditional expressions of church emerge. Read more here.

Prepared for Emergency: Resources for Churches

After the terrible tragedy in Texas a few months ago, many of our churches are considering how they can best prepare for an emergency in their community or congregation and how United Methodists can take a stand against gun violence. This link provides some of the resources available to clergy, trustees committees, church leaders, and others on this topic. Click here for more.