August 6, 2018/Volume 17, No. 12

Conference News

Join Bishop Graves at a Town Hall Meeting Near You

(Bishop Graves) - I hope you are enjoying your summer with friends and family. This conference is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world! If you were in attendance at the 2018 session of the AWF Annual Conference, you know that I presented a video outlining the three proposed plans from The Commission on A Way Forward. In that video I also referenced a series of upcoming town hall meetings in each district. Those dates and times have been set and I hope you will make plans to join me at one of the events near you. Anyone in the district is welcome to attend. Full details here.

Land Donation to Help with Casa de Dios Expansion

(Kari C. Barlow for the AWF Conference) - One year after Casa de Dios Gateway of Heaven Church found a permanent home in Pensacola, it’s celebrating another major milestone. The growing congregation was recently presented with the property and buildings that sit adjacent to its current sanctuary at 1302 N. Pace Boulevard. The roughly half-acre lot was donated by the Pensacola District Board of Methodist Missions/Church Development—a nonprofit dedicated to purchasing land for the purpose of creating churches. More here.

New Director Named for Communities of Transformation

The Alabama-West Florida Conference and Communities of Transformation (COT) are excited to announce the hiring of a new Conference Director of COT, Ms. Katy Wrona. A leadership team from the conference and COT interviewed several talented and experienced applicants. Katy emerged as the leading candidate with the skills, passion, and spiritual maturity to expand this ministry and continue the excellence that Fred and Laurel Blackwell brought to COT from its inception. The Alabama-West Florida Conference is very thankful for the Blackwells’ service and leadership in the conference and especially grateful to Fred for his continued leadership of COT after Laurel’s death in November 2017. Full release here.

Alabama Bishop Met Race Challenge

(UMNS) - No state tops Alabama for civil rights history. The Montgomery bus boycott, three separate attacks on Freedom Riders, Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail, the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing, Selma’s “Bloody Sunday” — all this and more occurred in the Heart of Dixie state, a crucible of protest and resistance. Meanwhile, Alabama Methodists faced their own integration struggle, one that paralleled and occasionally intersected with the epic events swirling around. William E. Nicholas, professor emeritus at United Methodist-affiliated Birmingham-Southern College, provides an in-depth account in his new book “Go and Be Reconciled: Alabama Methodists Confront Racial Injustice: 1954-1974,” published by NewSouth Books. Full feature here.

Sexual Ethics Training Registration Now Live

All clergy in the Alabama-West Florida Conference should mark their calendars for one of the below dates and locations for the Quadrennial Sexual Ethics Requirement, sponsored by the AWF Board of Ordained Ministry. Dates and locations are as follows (choose one event to attend):
Saturday, August 25 at The Vision Center, Mobile
Monday, August 27 at St. James UMC, Montgomery
Tuesday, August 28 at FUMC Dothan
Click here for details and to register.

Around the Conference

The Montgomery Advertiser Column: Revive Us Again

(Bishop Graves) - In the middle of the Civil War between the North and South, William Parton (W.P.) Mackay wrote a song entitled, “Revive Us Again.” His song appeared in many church hymnals over the next two centuries and is still used today in many places all over the world. Following the Civil War, revival of the Gospel of Jesus Christ begin again all over the United States. Churches of all denominations began in towns and communities across our land. The Methodist Church was averaging one new church a day. Revival was taking place, lives were being changed, healing was taking place, and people were focused on the common mission of sharing Jesus Christ. More here.

Course of Study Graduates Honored

Rev. Dunford Cole, Chair of the Fellowship of Local Pastors and Associate Members, and Rev. June Jernigan, Assistant to the Bishop and Director of Ministerial Services, recently visited our full time local pastors taking Course of Study classes this summer at Candler School of Theology. Pictured in the left photo: Rev. Tony Rosetta, Rev. Lydia Temonia, Rev. Richard Lucas, Rev. Jernigan, Rev. Cole, Rev. Chip Oakley, Rev. Paul McVay and Rev. Bobbi Lassiter. At the end of the summer session, Chip Oakley and Bobbi Lassiter graduated from Basic Course of Study. Photo in the right photo: Chip Oakley, Dunford Cole, and Bobbi Lassiter. In addition, part time local pastor Ted Johnson recently graduated from Alabama Course of Study School.

Beginning Pastor's Workshop Held at Huntingdon College

The 2018 Beginning Pastors Workshop was held at Huntingdon College (Montgomery) recently for those pastors who are receiving their first appointment in the Alabama-West Florida Conference this year. The Board of Ordained Ministry holds this training annually. The team members who made the event happen are Michael Precht (team leader), Paula Roane, Olivia Poole, Clint McBroom, Allen Newton and Scott Hohn.

UMCOR Kit Supplies to be Collected at AC 2019

(Susan Hunt) - The 2018 kit collection at annual conference was a great success! More churches than ever participated in the collection this year. Thank you! We’ll do the same type of collection in 2019 and each district will collect the same items. You can take advantage of the back-to-school sales and start collecting now to be ready for June 2019. Click here to find the list of supplies your district is to bring.

USA Wesley Welcomes New Director

(USA Wesley) - We are very pleased to announce that Clay Smith has joined the USA Wesley Foundation team as the new campus director. Clay was born in Dothan, Alabama. He attended the University of Mobile, and graduated with degrees in History and Theology. Clay is also a certified teacher and has taught at two different secondary schools. After spending time as a youth minister Clay began to believe his real calling was to blend his two passions for the word of God and education. This passion led him to apply for the Campus Minister position at South Alabama. Clay is engaged to Lauren Ellison, whom he plans to marry in October of this year. Drop by USA Wesley and introduce yourself or send Clay a note of welcome to usawesley@gmail.com.

Charge Conference Forms Now Available

2018 Charge Conference Forms are now available online. You may access them through this link or go to our home page and click on the link under Quick Links. Should you have questions, please contact your district office. Click here to access forms.

Connectional News

Way Forward report released in all four official languages of General Conference

(COB) - The final report of the Commission on a Way Forward has been released in all four official languages of the General Conference: English, French, Portuguese and Swahili. The report will be presented to the 2019 Special Session of General Conference. Subject to final copy editing, the report will be printed in the Advance Daily Christian Advocate (ADCA) in November. More here.

United Methodist Bishops call for prayers of peace in Zimbabwe

(COB) - The bishops of The United Methodist Church are calling for prayers of peace for Zimbabwe, which is witnessing violence in the aftermath of presidential and parliamentary elections. Here is the statement from the Council of Bishops:
The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church is joining our colleague, Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa, the resident bishop of Zimbabwe, in a call for prayers for peace in that country. We join with international observers in their commendation of the great majority of people of Zimbabwe in their maturity amidst this historic election. We appeal also for calmness in the midst of great anxiety, and we condemn all forms of violence as the country awaits the full results of the election. We grieve the deaths of those who have participated in this democratic process. We extend our sympathy, acknowledge their pain and stand with all peace-loving Zimbabweans. Full statement here.

New dean coming to Duke Divinity

(UMNS) - The Rev. Elaine Heath, who has served as dean of United Methodist Duke Divinity School since 2016, stepped down from that position on Aug. 2, but will remain on faculty as professor. The Rev. L. Gregory Jones will serve again as dean. He previously held that position from 1997-2010. Read press release.

Personal Spiritual Retreats Now Offered at Lake Junaluska

(Lake Junaluska) - Self-directed and guided personal spiritual retreats are opportunities for an individual, couple or small group to experience a private retreat to refocus on growing your relationship with God in the beauty and peaceful quiet of Lake Junaluska. Spend time walking our trails, meditating in our gardens, in private devotions, journaling, reflecting and more. Learn more here.

Resources

A United Methodist Prayer for the Classroom

(UMDM) - A new school year can be exciting or scary–or both. We can try to make that transition easier by praying to God and giving thanks for the people in our schools. Share this back-to-school prayer from United Methodist Discipleship Ministries with your friends, family, church, and classmates to help prepare your hearts and minds for the upcoming year. Click here for more.

Planning for a Strong Finish to Your Stewardship Campaign

(Lewis Center) - Ann Michel of the Lewis Center staff says the success of a pledge drive depends in large part on reaching givers who require a bit more encouragement. So, even after Commitment Sunday has come and gone, you need a plan for critical but often overlooked steps such as following up with those who don’t initially respond and thanking those who do. More here.