November 18, 2019/Volume 18, No. 14

Conference News

AWF Clergy Visit Bahamas to Offer Support

Several Gulf Coast pastors from the Alabama-West Florida Conference visited the Bahamas this week to show solidarity after experiencing a category five storm. Rev. Chris Ackerman, Dr. Nathan Attwood and Dr. Geoffrey Lentz visited the devastated area under the leadership of Amie Readdy. Readdy, who is the founder of Capacity Path and was a response leader in the days after Hurricane Michael, coordinated the trip. The team also visited with Stephanie Gottschalk, the Director of Bahamas Methodist Habitat. While on the island the clergy exchanged best practices of disaster response, prayed for one another and engaged with leaders who continue to face the daily challenges of life after a catastrophic storm. More here.

Young People Discern Call Into Ministry

Eight students and two campus ministers from Alabama- West Florida attended the Explore Calling Conference in Orlando, FL, sponsored by GBHEM, Nov. 1-3. Students came from the Auburn Wesley Foundation and University of South Alabama Wesley Foundation. Rev. Tony Jeck stated, "We're so grateful for the support of the annual conference to make possible this opportunity for our students to gather together with other United Methodist college students to take seriously God's work and call in their lives. I know that through the times of worship, break out sessions, and small groups that each of our students came back with a next step in how they can faithfully say 'yes' to God's call as it continues to open up before them." We are giving thanks to God for these young people discerning a call into ministry.

AWF Preaching Excellence Presents: Led by the Spirit into the Wilderness

Retreat for a day and leave with sermon plans for the season of Lent!
Who is invited? Anyone who proclaims from the pulpit and is interested in a day apart to retreat with colleagues and plan sermons and series based on the liturgical calendar for Lent in Year A of the Revised Common Lectionary.
What to expect? The retreat is intended to provide a transformational day of collaborative, creative exploration for planning sermons and sermon series. These sessions included time to read and reflect on lectionary scriptures, generate ideas in small groups, and report back on the best ideas generated during collaborative planning.
What is the goal? The intended outcome is the generation of two or three complete worship series with series titles, clear theme statements for each series and each Sunday in the series. You will walk away with a variety of resources for use with each theme, including professionally prepared graphics that you will receive digitally after the seminar. Registration and more information here.

Around the Conference

Giving Tuesday is December 3

Giving Tuesday harnesses the generosity of millions of people around the world to support the causes they believe in and the communities in which they live. We believe the movement will become the first global day of giving and a year-round platform for strengthening civil society. We invite you to select an organized affiliated with the Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. This year, Giving Tuesday is on December 3. Click here for more.

Missional Giving Year-end Deadline Information

The last day apportionment payments can be applied for the 2019 year is Wednesday, January 8, 2020. Payments must be received in the conference office by 3pm so they can be deposited before the close of business. Payments can also be deposited directly into the conference bank account at Regions Bank no later than 4pm on January 8, 2020. If a church wishes to do so, they need to call 334-356-6732 or e-mail the fiscal office so that they can provide you with the account information.

Open Enrollment for Conference Insurance for 2020

Are you eligible for the conference health/dental insurance? Interested? Have questions? Contact BeLinda Carnegie at Office (888-873-3127) for answers about eligibility. Open enrollment begins November 11th and ends December 16th. The effective date of coverage is January 1, 2020. More here.

Connectional News

Church ratifies women's equality amendment

(UMNS) - After a revote, United Methodists around the globe have amended the denomination’s constitution to proclaim “men and women are of equal value in the eyes of God.” The newly adopted measure also commits United Methodists to work toward ending discrimination against women and girls. “While we still have much progress to make, this is an indication that we as a church do acknowledge and embrace women at every level of the church,” said Bishop Tracy Smith Malone, president of the United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women. She also leads the East Ohio Conference. More here.

Volunteers needed for General Conference

Volunteers are needed for a variety of roles during the 2020 General Conference, The United Methodist Church’s top legislative assembly, which will meet in Minneapolis, Minnesota from May 5-15, 2020. At this time, volunteers are needed for the following positions: recorders, channel “B” identifiers and verbatim transcribers/copy editors. More here.

COB announces bishops' assignments to agencies, boards

(COB) - The Council of Bishops has announced the assignment of bishops to the boards and agencies of The United Methodist Church for 2020-2024 quadrennium. Bishop David Graves of the Alabama-West Florida Conference has been assigned to Finance and Administration. More here.

Resources

Give Comfort, Give Joy: UMCH White Christmas Offering Materials Available

Each year during the Christmas season, we are reminded there is no greater joy for us than giving to others. Since 1930, the White Christmas Offering has enabled Methodists to share their blessings with those whose circumstances in life just haven't been fair. These children and young adults certainly didn't sign up to be in the situation they're in and with your support, they have the hope of a much brighter tomorrow. Click here for resources.

Study guide can enrich Mister Rogers movie experience

(Discipleship Ministries) - A faith-based study guide is available for “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” a new movie starring Tom Hanks as Mister Rogers. United Methodist Discipleship Ministries was invited to produce the guide in collaboration with Sony Entertainment. It is designed to help groups learn to process feelings, understand forgiveness, talk about hard things, seek reconciliation and practice positive spiritual discipline. More here.