March 28, 2023

Conference News

Bishop Announces Task Force on the Structure of the Alabama-West Florida Conference

Bishop David Graves, resident bishop of the Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church, announced a task force to address structuring matters of the conference. At the conclusion of their work, the committee will have made a proposal with recommendations related to the number of districts, district lines, district offices, the Episcopal residence, the conference office, and conference lines; to name a few. Some matters will be properly before the cabinet, still other items are the responsibility of the Conference Board of Trustees (subject to annual conference approval), some will be before the annual conference, while additional matters would be addressed by the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference or our delegates to the conference. More here.

2023 Annual Conference Registration Information

Registration is now open for BOTH the May 7, 2023, Special Called Session of Annual Conference to be held by Zoom Webinar AND the main session of Annual Conference to be held in-person June 11-14, 2023, in Mobile, AL. Complete registration information for both sessions may be found here.

United Methodist Pastor Simultaneously Serves Local Church and Country

For one local pastor and local church, not even 4500 miles could keep them apart! For the past few months, Rev. Craig Bailey has been preaching and teaching at Tabernacle United Methodist Church every Sunday and Wednesday even though he is outside of the lower 48 states. Pastor Bailey, who also serves as a United States Army Reserve Chaplain, has been serving on active duty assignment at Fort Wainwright, Alaska for the past few months. Pastor Bailey has been serving on a team to help mitigate soldier suicides. Tabernacle United Methodist Church is located in Taylor, Alabama just outside of Dothan. The church has been very supportive of their pastor's military assignment and has even sent care packages and prayer cloths for their pastor to hand out to troops. It has been a wonderful partnership. The church not only wanted to support their pastor's efforts but they also wanted to support the troops. They view the situation as a significant mission and outreach opportunity…a chance to make a real impact. 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

Bishop calls for prayer following school shooting

(UMNS) - Bishop Bill McAlilly of the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference has called for prayer in the wake of the March 27 shooting at a Nashville school that left three students, three adults and the shooter dead. “I continue to join my voice with others in the Church as we together seek to see a new day in our country where pain and sorrow and death will no longer be visited on innocent children,” he wrote in his blog. More here.

Disaster Update: Mississippi/Alabama Tornados

(UMVIM) - UMCOR and UMVIM have been in touch with leaders in Mississippi and Alabama about the tornados that left a devastating mark on communities there. For those outside the affected communities: please do not self deploy until emergency officials are able to do their jobs. Leaders in the area, along with UMCOR and UMVIM, will pass along as volunteer opportunities become apparent. There will be no shortage of volunteer opportunities in the coming years for the areas hit. Right now, you can help by going to UMCOR.org and giving to US Disaster Response. 100% of your donation will go to help disaster victims. Click here to give. In the coming days, more updates will follow.

Bank failures reinforce long-term investment plan

(Wespath) - The diversified investments of Wespath Benefits and Investments are shielding its clients from being impacted much by the two recent bank closures, say two Wespath executives. Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank were shut down after being hit with substantial withdrawals. While there are no absolute guarantees, Joe Halwax and Dave Zellner say this crisis is different than the 2008 events that caused massive losses. The current situation is a liquidity crisis, while 2008 was the result of poor lending practices. 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.

Events

ERT Training, Christ UMC Mobile, April 15

The Art of Holy Listening: Discovering Belovedness, April 27-30

AWF Special Session, May 7