January 9, 2024

Conference News

Southeastern Jurisdictional Episcopacy Committee Releases Letter Regarding Episcopal Areas

(SEJ) - The Southeastern Jurisdictional (SEJ) Committee on Episcopacy released a letter on Monday, January 8, 2024, outlining their recent work with a recommendation on episcopal areas. This plan will be considered and voted upon in July at the quadrennial SEJ by the delegates. Also at the July meeting, bishops will receive their assignments for the next quadrennium. Click here to see letter.

General Conference Meetings with Bishop Graves Announced

Bishop David Graves, along with the Alabama-West Florida Conference Cabinet and Conference Leadership, has announced dates for pre- and post-General Conference clergy lunch gatherings as well as a post-General Conference informational webinar for laity. The pre-General Conference clergy lunch gatherings will be a time for Bishop Graves to visit with clergy, offer pastoral support, discuss the timeline for 2024 and provide General Conference and Jurisdictional updates. Registration is now open for these pre-conference gatherings. Post-conference gathering dates may be found here. More here. Click here to register.

Restore, Renew, Rejoice Registration Now Open

Our annual conference announced four priorities to guide our ministry as we live our mission together. With political, societal, and denominational turmoil on top of a pandemic, these last several years of ministry have required our clergy to lead through new levels of stress and strain. It has taken a toll on the bodies, minds, and spirits of our clergy. All clergy of the Alabama-West Florida Conference are invited to Dothan First UMC for a day of soul restoration and revival led by Bishops Lawson Bryan and Mike Watson on Monday, February 12, 2024. Click here for more. Click here to register.

Around the Conference

AWF BOOM Announces Trip to Exploration 2024

The AWF Board or Ordained Ministry is excited to announce that Exploration is back for 2024 and we are taking a group of students! It will be held in Orlando, FL, from February 16th-18th. We we be receiving a special registration code from GBHEM for our group to register with. In the meantime, please share with any students who are interested and have them complete this registration so that we can start preparing. More here.

EQUIP Conference Prepares Age-level Leaders

The purpose of EQUIP is to offer training and equip leaders for age level and specialized ministry as the church devotes itself to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. EQUIP is for all people serving in children’s, youth, and adult ministries - employed staff, ministers, and volunteers alike. Register here!

Guest Commentary, Bishop Lawson Bryan: Former Dexter Avenue UMC Home to Valiant Cross Academy and winner of Yass Award

(Bishop Lawson Bryan) - The Valiant Cross Academy has been chosen to receive the $1,000,000 Yass Award for excellence in education innovation. This is good news to be celebrated throughout the Montgomery area. But it is of special significance to those of us in the Alabama-West Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church. Valiant Cross Academy is located in the former Dexter Avenue United Methodist Church, and, more recently, River City Church. The property is located is at 301 Dexter, just three blocks from the Alabama state capitol. It has a powerful, positive history dating back to the 1880’s. In fact, around 1886 the church was launched in the Dotzheim Grocery and Saloon, further up toward the capitol on Dexter Avenue. While we often hear today of a church that meets in a bar, this church was started nearly 150 years ago in an actual saloon. More here.

Brian Miller Joins Huntingdon Administration

(HC) - Huntingdon President J. Cameron West announced Wednesday the appointment of The Rev. Dr. Brian Miller to serve as Huntingdon’s Vice President for External and Church Relations. Miller has previously served as a member of the Huntingdon College Board of Trustees and as an adjunct instructor of religion. “I am excited to welcome Dr. Brian Miller to this new role at Huntingdon,” stated President West. “He is a tremendous advocate for Huntingdon, and he has served faithfully as a trustee and in the classroom. He is well-equipped to tell the Huntingdon story to external constituencies and to maintain Huntingdon’s deep-rooted connection to Methodist churches across Alabama and Florida.” More here.

Resources

Seven Ways to Listen Well

(Lewis Center) - Leaders need to know how to listen well. It seems so obvious. Why bring it up? Because the truth is that many leaders are more focused on telling people what to do than they are on listening to them. Admittedly, this is understandable. Much of a leader’s work does turn on knowing what to do and being able to communicate that effectively. But the skill of listening is as crucial as anything else. Indeed, being able to listen well is often the prerequisite for knowing what to do. Yet cultivating the ability to listen is not something leaders tend to think about. More here.

What is God’s Vision for Your Congregation?

(Lewis Center) - Discovering God’s Future for Your Church is a turnkey tool kit to help your congregation discern and implement God’s vision for its future. This comprehensive resource guides your church in discovering clues to your vision in your history and culture, your current congregational strengths and weaknesses, and the needs of your surrounding community. Discovering God’s Future for Your Church includes engaging videos, leader’s guides, discussion exercises, planning tools, handouts, diagrams, worksheets, and more. Learn more and watch an introductory video now.