June 28, 2018/Volume 17, No. 10

Conference News

A Statement from Bishop David Graves: June 28, 2018

At this time, the Alabama-West Florida Conference has received numerous complaints related to Attorney General Jeff Sessions. The United Methodist Book of Discipline outlines how these complaints against a lay church member will be handled at the local church and district level in the 2700 paragraphs. While the complaint process has been time consuming for the local church, district and conference, I am diligently praying for all involved over this significant issue. I am grateful for the executive order keeping families together. May God make us all instruments of peace.

Bishop David W. Graves
Resident Bishop
Alabama-West Florida Conference

QuadW Missional Outreach receives $100,000 Young Clergy Initiative Grant for Skunkworks Project

(QuadW) - QuadW Missional Outreach is pleased to announce receipt of a $100,000 grant from the United Methodist Church’s General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. This grant will support the launch of the “QuadW Missional Residencies – A United Methodist Skunkworks” project. "Skunkworks" exist for the development of breakthrough innovations. Young adults chosen for this one-year United Methodist Skunkworks project will live and work together, receive extensive training and support, and will develop and lead new disciple-making movements. Full release here.

Around the Conference

Discouraged? All of us have faced it but we don't need to stay that way

(Bishop Graves for the Montgomery Advertiser) - All of us go through times of discouragement and disappointment. At times, things don’t turn out the way we thought or planned. Moreover, situations arise that turn our life upside down, and sometimes, life just stinks. There are many descriptive words I could think of to describe how life treats us at times. Recently, I have experienced times of discouragement, which if I am not careful, can become distracting to what God is calling and leading me to do in my life. Full commentary here.

More Than Conquerors: Elderly outreach thrives at New Hope UMC

(Kari Barlow for the AWFC) - Facing old age can be frightening, but at New Hope UMC in Theodore, the congregation’s most senior members—and the people who serve them—have become More Than Conquerors. That’s the name of the outreach ministry that formed in 2015 after Pastor Vann Bush enlisted the help of church member Sharron Larimer to better serve the church’s shut-ins. “She just took the ball and ran with it, and it’s been such a blessing!” Bush said. Full feature here.

Rhodes Honored as Citizen of the Year

On Tuesday, June 19, 2018, Chickasaw Chamber of Commerce held a luncheon to honor the 2018 Chickasaw Citizen of the Year, along with other distinguished citizens who helped make Chickasaw the notable community that it is. David Rhodes (Dave), pastor of Chickasaw United Methodist Church, was named Citizen of the Year, after which he gave a short "Thank You" speech. Congratulations Dave and thank you for representing your church and the denomination so well!

Sharing Our Message: Regional Banquets introduce the Stegall Foundation to new supporters

(SSSEF) - Webster’s Dictionary defines the word “movement” as “a series of organized activities working toward an objective.” In this spirit, the movement known as the Stegall Seminary Scholarship Foundation is sharing its message across the Alabama – West Florida Conference by inviting others to join our efforts to support seminary students. The foundation’s board of directors recently began holding regional banquets in addition to the annual Dinner of Celebration, held each August in Montgomery. Three banquets have been held in 2018: Opelika, Ala. (March 1); Panama City, Fla. (April 26); and Pensacola, Fla. (May 14). Each banquet is organized by a group of clergy and lay supporters, and has a distinctive regional feel. Full feature here.

Post-conference Survey Seeks Your Annual Conference Feedback

The planning for Annual Conference 2019 has already begun. Details and the agenda for next year's session are greatly influenced from the feedback given to the planning team from the survey. Please take a few minutes to tell us your thoughts on conference through this survey link. Thank you for your participation and time. We appreciate it!

Connectional News

United Methodist Bishops ask Philippines government to release UMC missionaries

(COB) - The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church joins our colleague bishops in the Philippines in appealing to the government of the Republic of the Philippines for assistance and cooperation in the immediate release of three of our missionaries from the country. The three young adults face differing situations with the Philippines’ Bureau of Immigration, and our prayer is that all three be granted permission to leave the country immediately. More here.

Instructions for Petitions to the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference The United Methodist Church

Details on how to submit a petition to the special called session of General Conference have been released. Petitions are being accepted through Sunday, July 8, 2018. The document also includes a FAQ section. Click here to access the instructions.

Commission Offers Video Resources for UMC, Delegates to 2019 Conference

(COB) - The Commission on a Way Forward is offering several videos that document the experiences, hopes, dreams, concerns, approach, and learnings of the 32-member Commission, which recently completed its report that will be presented to the 2019 Special Session of General Conference of The United Methodist Church. The purpose of the videos is to give viewers “a sense of how the Commission built relationship and community, how it developed and worked to maintain hearts of peace as we accomplished our work, and how the Commission developed the plans that the church will see in its report,” said the Commission moderators Bishops Ken Carter, Sandra Steiner Ball and David Yemba. More here.

Resources

Annual Conferences Urged to Combat Domestic Violence

(UMM) - Local churches are be invited to participate in an eight-week program designed to change a culture, which permits violence against women. The General Commission on United Methodist Men worked with the YWCA of Middle Tennessee to create Amending through Faith, a book guiding participants through eight training sessions. The 90-minute sessions are designed to help men understand how common statements and actions result in one in four women in the US becoming victims of domestic violence and 5 million children in the US, or one in fifteen witnessing abuse in their homes each year. Each session is biblically based. More here.

Book Helps Pastors Reinvigorate Ministries

(GBHEM) - Attend to Stories: How to Flourish in Ministry” invites readers to refresh, renew and rekindle a passion for ministry by helping others revisit their stories. Written by Karen D. Scheib, professor of Pastoral Care and Pastoral Theology at United Methodist Candler School of Theology, the book is published by The United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry’s Foundery Books. Read press release.

5 Reasons Churches Suffer Management Chaos

(Lewis Center) - Churches correctly give priority to ministry to their members and their communities. However, if they don’t also give priority to how they are managed and to the systems needed in any organization to function efficiently and effectively, they will not be able to meet their ministry goals and they will be consumed by confusion, chaos, and conflict. Here are five of the top management problems churches ignore at their peril. More here.