March 14, 2023

Conference News

Alice Lee inducted into Women's Hall of Fame

(UWA) - Dawn Wiggins Hare, top executive of the United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women, helped induct longtime United Methodist leader Alice Lee into the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame on March 2 at the University of West Alabama. The late Lee, older sister of famed author Harper Lee, was a female legal pioneer in south Alabama who practiced law in Monroeville from 1944 until she was nearly 100. She was inducted into the hall alongside fellow attorney Mahala Dickerson. More here.

Annual AWF Confirmation Retreat Prepares Students for Spiritual Journey

Students from several Alabama-West Florida Conference churches gathered at Blue Lake Camp over the weekend for the annual Bishop’s Confirmation Retreat. The theme for the retreat was, “Come to the Water.” Bishop David Graves and Rev. Michael Precht, pastor at Dauphin Way UMC in Mobile, AL, spoke to the potential confirmands about grace and the structure of the United Methodist Church. Rev. Pam Barnhardt served as the dean for the event and planned sessions on Prayers, Presence, Gifts, Service, and Witness, including a creative stole making session led by LeeAnn Boykin. Some students even made the bishop a handmade crozier! Students also enjoyed a campfire and relay races. A communion service provided a meaningful “sending forth” on Sunday. Our sincere gratitude is extended to Blue Lake Camp for the warm hospitality and delicious meals.

A second chance at life: With support of Auburn community, an Afghan interpreter and his family escaped the Taliban

(OANews) - After one year, five months and 18 days of fear and uncertainty, an Afghan interpreter for U.S. and NATO forces, his wife and three young kids escaped the threat of the Taliban in Afghanistan and landed in America and came to Auburn to start a new life. With the help of Auburn United Methodist Church and Pastor Cory Smith, Sramek was able to get in contact with Task Force Argo, a volunteer organization made up of current and former personnel across the military, defense, law enforcement and intelligence communities that help the people left behind get out of Afghanistan. More here.

AWF Seeks Director of New Ministry Strategies

The Alabama-West Florida Conference is seeking a lay or clergy person to lead the effort on starting new ministries in areas where there will be no UM presence post-disaffiliation. This position is a part-time position with the potential to become a full-time position. The Director of New Ministry Strategies works under the supervision of the Director of Connectional Ministries with the Presiding Bishop, working closely with the Conference staff, conference program boards and agencies (namely the Board of Congregational Development), and with the laity and clergy of the Alabama-West Florida Conference. The primary goal of the Director of New Ministry Strategies is to assign and manage the work of the conference Regional Developers. The Director would then relate and connect that work collaboratively to the Cabinet and Conference. This person would be responsible to help the Annual Conference know how to utilize its resources to establish new churches and strengthen existing churches to make more disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The Director would supervise the Regional Developers and help the Regional Developers strategize for their regions. More here.

Around the Conference

Blue Lake Camp Launches Campaign

(BLC) - We are excited to announce the launch of the Be the Spark Campaign. Blue Lake’s financial health continues to improve, but we have one large hurdle to overcome on our path to sustainability. Our goal for the Be the Spark Campaign is to raise at least $450,000 to address two specific needs that we currently have. First, the first goal is to pay off our remaining mortgage which sat at $380,000 in January from its original amount of $1.8 million. The second is to use the additional $70,000 to begin facility updates throughout our site. Here is the great news! The Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church is supporting our efforts with an incredible gift. The Conference will match every dollar we raise in 2023 up to the first $223,000. Every gift we receive will be doubled! More here.

Lenten Prayer Calendar Now Available

The Alabama-West Florida Conference is centering its work around prayer this year. Daily conference work, meetings and conferences will all have prayer as the focus. Click here for full press release. The next series of prayers is centered around Lent. Below you will find the date, scripture passage, prayer prompt and the verse or verses. Musical selections, written by Rev. Darrin Isaac of Pt. Washington UMC, are available below in a video format and sheet music. Click here for pdf of the below graphic.

Initial 2023 Annual Conference Details Announced

The Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church will hold its 2023 Annual Conference session Sunday, June 11-Wednesday, June 14 at the Mitchell Center on the campus of the University of South Alabama in Mobile, AL. The Service of Commissioning and Ordination will be held at Dauphin Way United Methodist Church. This year’s theme is, “When They Prayed” from Acts 4:31 with each day having a specific focus of how Biblical characters prayed.
Sunday, June 11: like Naomi… When we pray blessings on others, God redeems, based on Ruth 1:8.
Monday, June 12: like Nehemiah… When we acknowledge our shortcomings, God rebuilds, based on Nehemiah 1:5.
Tuesday, June 13: like Mary… When we rejoice and give thanks, God reveals, based on Luke 1:46-56.
Wednesday, June 14: like Peter… When we pray boldly, God revives, based on Acts 9:40.
The clergy and laity session will be in person on Sunday, June 11 at 8pm. More here.

Disaffiliation Numbers for May Special Session Available

As a notice to all churches, the standard disaffiliation figures for the May 7th Special Called Annual Session are now available on the church dashboard.

Connectional News

The United Methodist Church called to a revival of beloved community

(UMNS) - In a “Mid-term State of The United Methodist Church Address,” Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton, president of the Council of Bishops, called members to “be the architects of a renewed, revived and reclaimed United Methodist Church.” A video of the entire address is available on the official United Methodist denominational website at UMC.org/Renew, along with a companion downloadable discussion guide. More here.

Church court addresses disaffiliation questions

(UMNS) - The United Methodist Church’s top court released nine rulings March 1 related to a church law that governs how congregations can leave the denomination with property. The eight decisions and memorandum from the United Methodist Judicial Council all stem from questions raised about the Book of Discipline’s new Paragraph 2553 — approved by the 2019 Special General Conference in St. Louis. More here.

Resources

Improving Worship Attendance in a Post-Pandemic World

(Lewis Center) - For most congregations, attracting new people was a challenge even before the pandemic. Now, churches must focus not only on the continuing need to reach new people but also on reconnecting with the sizable percentage of those who attended regularly before COVID-19 but have not yet returned to the pews. See video here.