A Message from the Conference Disaster Response Team

We found out today that the City of Clay has stated they have stopped taking volunteers until Feb 11, 2012.

Please help us spread the word. We apologize that the unexpected word from the city has put a kink in many churches plans.

A Message from United Counseling

United Counseling, formerly United Methodist Pastoral Care and Counseling, Inc., has provided care for the United Methodist clergy, their families and congregations of North Alabama for more than 40 years. We are and always have been open to anyone who needs our services. We are committed to providing the highest quality of care with respect to diversity of religion and beliefs to adults, children, teenagers, couples, groups and families who are in need of therapy and/or psychiatric services.

Since the severe tornadoes in April, 2011, and the more recent storms, our office has made efforts to address the emotional and spiritual health needs of people affected by the storms. Thanks to the support of North Alabama Conference and United Methodist Committee on Relief, we are providing counseling at no charge to anyone directly affected by the tornadoes,

Because we serve North Alabama, we feel it is important that those who need our services do not have to travel so far to access them. Therefore, we have satellite offices throughout North Alabama. Our current satellite locations are Birmingham, McCalla/Bessemer, Gadsden, Huntsville and Tuscaloosa/Northport. United Counseling's Central Office is located at 1313 Alford Avenue in Birmingham. Our phone number is (205) 824-8320. You can also reach us by email at umpcc1313@gmail.com. Visit us on the web at www.unitedcounseling.org.
 

The following information is from the Birmingham Bar. THis information is important for tornado victims—particularly renters. Please note this is time sensitive information. Renters who can no longer live in their homes have 2 weeks from the date of the tornado to notify landlords if they want to terminate their leases.  That date is Feb. 6, 2012.  If the renters don’t cancel they may be obligated to pay rent even if they can’t live in the apartment or house.  This attachment includes all the relevant information and form which may be used.

North Alabama United Methodists are active in response to the storms that struck the Jefferson County area Monday morning, Jan. 23, 2012.

Clay United Methodist Church is serving as the relief center and hub for the Clay community's disaster response efforts. Volunteers in the United Methodist Disaster Warehouse in Decatur have been locating and shipping needed supplies to the affected areas. Beginning Tuesday morning, Early Response Team (ERT) volunteers from churches throughout the North Alabama Conference have been working in the Clay area. Click here to see pictures of some of the volunteers in action.  (If you have pictures of a team from your church working please send them to Danette Clifton at dclifton@northalabamaumc.org.)

Conference Director of Mission and Advocacy Rev. Matt Lacey reminds people, "that as the disaster progresses, we are learning and adapting. Volunteers should keep this in mind when working with ERT teams."

He also noted that on Thursday, January 26, the Clay area will NOT be taking teams because of potential bad weather. The work will resume on Friday, January 27!

Message from the Dakotas Conference: ERT Teams needed.

Greetings in the name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

As you know Minot and Bismarck/Mandan, North Dakota have both endured major flooding. The flooding on the Missiour River in Bismarck/Mandan and several other communities along its flow to the Mississippi have affected property and lives. In Minot the Souris (also known as the Mouse) River is in the process of going back into it's banks however not before displacing thousands of residents and destroying property. Right now in Minot alone there are 806 homes that are uninhabitable and will need to be destroyed. The last estimate I have heard is there may be an additional 2000 homes added to this number.

We are just now being able to to early response and cleaning in the Minot area. We are in desperate need of trained ERT's who are self contained, badged and ready to go. We need your help!

If you have a team that would be willing to make the trip to Minot please contact the Dakotas Conference Office at 605-996-6552 or contact me at this email or my cell phone. Your consideration is greatly appreciated. I look forward to hearing from you.

Grace and Peace
Rev. Lee Gale
Northern Valley Parish
Dakotas Conference Agenda Coordinator
Dakotas Conference Disaster Response Coordinator for North Dakota
 

Click here for a Photo Gallery of Saturday.

The 2011 North Alabama Conference came to order on Saturday morning with the Service of Commissioning Provisional Members and Recognition of Licensed Local Pastors.

During the morning service 13 newly licensed Local Pastors were recognized including the following:

• Howard T. Cain
• Kyle G. Bryan
• Andrew J. Gregg
• William Mark “Ben” McCurdy
• T. Keith Monk
• Jeanet Berruecos
• Jeffrey Scott Hagood
• Benjamin P. James
• Antonio R. Datuin
• Michel R. Holland
• Rabecca Lowery
• Leslie S. Hand
• Alicia N. Rhodes
• Sallie Sales

There were also 8 people Commissioned as Provisional Deacons or Elders. These included

Provisional Deacon:

• John Faison Oates Bailey

Provisional Elders:

• Dedric Amad Cowser
• Patrick N. Gunn
• Tammy Hicks Jackson
• Eric James Kohler
• Christopher Anthony Montgomery
• Melissa Self Patrick
• Daniel Drew Pope

As the business session began Conference members heard the report of Conference Statistician Rev. Lori Carden. They then approved the Committee of Nominations report.

The Conference then moved to the New and Renewing Communities of Faith report. Rev. Michael Freeman had requested the report removed from the consent agenda. He spoke of his concern that the North Alabama Conference had not started any primarily African American churches in the Huntsville / Madison area when census reports show there is a growing African-American community here. He also asked for specific actions regarding New and Renewing Communities of Faith including having the General Commission on Race and Religion audit the history of the Conference’s efforts at new church plants.

Through the conversation on the floor, it was noted that under the leadership of Congregational Development Director Tommy Gray, the process of planting churches has shifted and has focused on developing leadership and finding new models of successful plants – especial plants that reach more diverse demographics. Rev. Tommy Gray and New and Renewing Communities of Faith Team Chair Rev. Bill Gandy both agreed that North Alabama has much to learn. Rev. Gray said the plan was to announce an African American church plant – with a prepared leader – at the 2012 Annual Conference.

The Conference then heard from featured speaker Brian McLaren. Through his challenging talks he compared the United Methodist Church to the US Postal Service. He noted “a lot of us are prepared to answer the questions of the 1970s. We don't know what the questions of today are.”

He encouraged the church to focus on a new kind of evangelism and be aware that “people need a human being they can have a conversation with about religion.” He encouraged listening and building relationships with those early in a faith journey.

Following lunch, the Conference was treated to music by the children who have been participating in the Annual Conference Kids’ Camp. Then members had a time of question and answer with Brian McLaren.

The Conference then moved to an order of the day as Bishop Will Willimon introduced the new President of Birmingham-Southern College Gen. Charles “Chuck” C. Krulak. After sharing some of his faith story as to how he was led to seek the presidency at Birmingham-Southern Collge, Gen. Krulak then extended an invitation to the North Alabama Conference to hold its 2012 meeting on the campus of BSC. The invitation was enthusiastically accepted by Conference members.

Bishop Willimon and Gen Krulak also recognized the new Chaplain of Birmingham-Southern College Rev. Jack Hinnen.

As clergy continued taking ballots to elect their 2012 Southeastern Jurisdictional Delegates, Bishop Willimon invited several groups to share.

It was announced that Rev. Joe Elmore and Debbie Wade won the 2011 Branscomb Barrier Breaker Awards given each year by the North Alabama COSROW, Committee on the Status and Role of Women.

Nell Berry of the Conference Archives and History also announced a new annual award that group will give each year recognizing outstanding work in local church archives. This year’s winner was Caroline Thompson of Trussville First UMC.

The Conference also heard from:

• Rev. Robin Scott who announced the Annual Pastors Prayer Summit the last week of January each year.
• Rev. Teddy and Sylvia Crum who will begin serving as United Methodist missionaries in Malawi this summer.
• Rev. Clay Farrington who is now serving as the Conference Youth Coordinator and announced two upcoming events – Bread and Butter a training for youth workers and the Conference wide Encounter youth retreat.
• Rev. Alan Weather who announced Asbury UMC’s annual Prayer and Mission Conference.

Business concludes and the North Alabama Conference delegation to the 2012 General Conference and Southeastern Conference was finalized. That delegation includes the following:

Laity

General Conference Delegates
Gloria Holt
Scott Selman
Pat Meadows
Steve Lyles
Neal R. Berte
Ellen Harris

SEJ Delegates
Carol Toney
Zac Riddle
Reid Turner
Eric Owens
Charlie Carlton
Terry Walker

Alt. Delegates to SEJ
Judy Poole
Paulette West
Scott Stone

Clergy

General Conference Delegates
Mark Parris
Bill Morgan
Kelly Clem
Robert Sparkman
Paul Hillard
Robin Scott

SEJ Delegates
Julie Holly
Tommy Gray
Glenn Conner
Dale Cohen
Alan Head
Wade Griffith

Alt Delegates to SEJ
Steve West
Rudy Guess
Dave Barnhart

Click here to complete an online Evaluation of Annual Conference 2011.

See Photo Gallery of Friday

The 142nd Session of the North Alabama Conference was called to order at 9 a.m. on Friday morning, June 3. The Conference is meeting at Asbury UMC in Madison. Although it was once the custom for the Annual Conference meeting to move to a different church in different parts of the Conference year to year, the last time the North Alabama Annual Conference met in the Huntsville area was 1953. In 1954 the Conference met at Birmingham-Southern College and the Conference meeting has remained in the Birmingham area until this year.

Bishop Will Willimon called the Conference to order and Conference Secretary Rev. Sherill Clontz led in organizing the Conference and establishing the consent agenda.
The first report was a celebration of growing more disciples. The Evangelism Team announced the winners of the annual Harry Denman Evangelism Awards. When each winner was announced a short video was shown about that person’s disciple-making ministry. The 2011 Denman Evangelism Award winners are: Robert Riggs (lay), Wannell Scott (lay), and J. David Sherrell (clergy).

The opening session drew to a close with an extended time of prayer. Bishop Willimon and Asbury Senior Pastor Rev. Alan Weatherly led the prayer time. Rev. Weatherly explained that prayer is one of the major aspects of the ministry of Asbury UMC and invited Conference members and visitors to participate in this act of prayer. There were two main focuses for the prayer time – 1.) those directly affected by the devastating storms of April 27 and 2.) clergy of the North Alabama Conference who daily are called to be in ministry. As the Asbury praise team led a time of worship storm survivors and clergy were invited to the altar rails, where lay members of Asbury UMC’s prayer ministry were there to pray with each individual.

At 10 a.m. Annual Conference members divided into the Lay Orientation Session and Clergy Executive Session. During these sessions each group began taking ballots for General Conference Delegates.

During the 2011 Annual Conference, members will elect 6 lay and 6 clergy delegates to the 2012 General Conference of the United Methodist Church and 6 lay and 6 clergy delegates to the 2012 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference. (They will also elect 3 alternates decided with a rule change vote following lunch on Friday.)
Ballots were taken throughout the day on Friday and by the close of the business session the following delegates had been elected.

Laity:

• Gloria Holt
• Scott Selman
• Pat Meadows
• Steve Lyles
• Neal R. Berte
• Ellen Harris

Clergy:

• Mark Parris
• Bill Morgan
• Kelly Clem
• Robert Sparkman

Following the lunch break members gathered backed together and began to conduct Conference business. They adopted the consent agenda. They also elected Sherill Clontz to serve as the Conference Secretary ; Terry McElheny to serve as the Conference Chancellor and Amy DeWitte to serve as the Conference Statistician for terms to expire in 2015.

Members then recognized the youth and young adult members of Annual Conference and then heard the Conference Youth report from Amanda Anonio. One highlight of the report was announcing Rev. Clay Farrington is working with the Conference youth ministry team.

The Conference then heard from Conference Lay Leader Ellen Harris. She introduced District Lay Leaders and gave the Laity Address. During her address she noted, “We are gifted and have been anointed to be God's people. We have chosen to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.”

The Conference then elected Steve Lyles, current Southeast District Lay Leader, to be the new Conference Lay Leader.

Adam Neal of the General Board of Global Ministries then thanked North Alabama for the nearly one million dollars churches gave to UMCOR and The Advance last year.

The Conference then heard a report from Sumatanga. New Sumatanga Director Matt Johnson reported “God is at work at Sumatanga!” Rev. Paul Messer who has been appointed Camp Pastor at Sumatanga also addressed the Conference.

Rev. Rick Owen then presented the Board of Ordained Ministry report. He began by recognizing the clergy who are retiring this year. This includes the following clergy:

• K. Reagin Brown
• George Thomas Duley
• S. Joseph Elmore, Jr.
• Tex Lee Ergle
• Bobby Ray Green
• Samuel Uriah Hardie, III
• Beverly Ann Hynes-Grace
• R. Franklin Johnson
• William Keith Murner
• Benjamin Franklin Padgett
• Richard Brian Patsios
• Edward Almerin Soule
• Kennard Craig Smith
• Melody Florence Traylor
• David Sherman Wallace
• Warren Dexter Wilder
• Ronald D. Gilbreath
• John E. Briscoe, Jr.
• Roger Dale McCrary
• Margaret Anne Whitsett
• James R. Woods

The Bishop also asked for the Conference to observe a Moment of Silence to honor those clergy and clergy spouses who died in the last year and were remembered during the memorial service.

Bishop Willimon then declared the clergy appointments fixed. Click here for a list of the 2011 Clergy Appointments.

He then welcomed Rev. Alfred T. Day III, pastor of Historic St. George’s UMC in Old City, Philadelphia, who announced that two pieces of American Methodist History will be used in Ordination Service tonight - Frances Asbury Bible & Wesley’s Chalice.

After hearing a report from Rod Moss on the ministry of Promise Homes, members were invited to an ice cream break - a gift of Promise Homes of North Alabama.

As the Conference reconvened members heard from the new Wesley Foundation Director at the University of Alabama Creighton Alexander and then heard a report from the United Methodist Children’s Home.

Rev. Sara Cameron then explained changes Rev. Richard Stryker had made to a resolution he had submitted that he intends to send to the 2012 General Conference.

Bishop Willimon then introduced Linda Holland to give the Connectional Ministries report. She discussed the major efforts the Conference and its churches has made in Disaster Response since the April 27 tornadoes. She then introduced Rev. Matt Lacey and Rev. Nancy Cole who discussed the disaster response and the Conference’s commitment to long term recovery from the storms.

Rev. Cole also gave the Natural Church Development report noting how many churches had found their ministry responding to needs in their communities following the storms. She then invited Rev. Sheri Ferguson to discuss upcoming workshops focusing on Long Term Spiritual & Emotional Care Following

Bishop Willimon then invited Bishop Robert Fannin to preside over the financial reports. The Conference passed all reports presented by the Council on Finance including the 2012 budget of $9.1 million. This is a 14.97% reduction from 2011. There was an amendment from the floor to add $150,000 to that budget to go to Birmingham-Southern College and Huntingdon College, but the amendment failed.

Next the Board of Pension and Health Benefits presented their reports. The most notable report was that Healthflex premiums would see no increase in 2011. Sandy Reynolds explained, the board anticipated a change in the insurance plan in 2013 and has decided to use reserve money to fund differences in 2012.

As the afternoon session drew to a close Conference secretary Rev. sherill Clontz presented the resolutions from the Cabinet regarding eight church closings. These include the following:

• SW- Haygood (8044)
• SW - Wesley Chapel (8103)
• NW - Oakland (5082)
• NW - Mt. Tabor (5074)
• NW - Mt. Pleasant (5073)
• NW - Landersville (5057)
• SE - Camp Hill
• NE - Chase Valley (4015)

The evening ended with the Service of Ordination at 7:30 p.m. During the service the Conference ordained 17 new elders and 1 deacon in full connection. Bishop Willimon preached a sermon titled “Don’t be afraid” which were words of encouragement to the 18 ordinands.

See Photo Gallery of the Service of Ordination

During the service the Conference recognized 3 associate members:

• Phillip Don Battles
• James Michael Glasgow
• Mark D. Mayo

Ordained 1 Deacon:

• Monica Lloyd Harbarger

And Ordained 17 Elders:

• Alex Beaube
• Lori A. Carden
• Christopher Landrum Cone
• Amy Christine DeWitte
• Ronald David Howard
• Kelsey Grissom Johnson
• Michael Alan Katschke
• Suzanne Evelyn Katschke
• Carrie Jane Kramer
• Matthew Scott Lacey
• Tony Wade Langer, Jr.
• Angela Grice Martin
• Deborah Moon
• Joy Jeannette Morgan
• Zachary David Seitz
• Billy J. Timmons
• Malinda Jowers Weaver

The Conference will continue on Saturday.

Click here for Memorial Service Photo Gallery

The 2011 North Alabama Conference began on Thursday evening, June 2, at Asbury UMC in Madison with the annual Memorial Service to remember clergy and clergy spouses who have died in the last year.

Rev. Reagin Brown preached a sermon titled "Nothing" based on Romans 8:28-39. He reminded those gathered that nothing can separate us from the love of God. He reflected on the thought that even in times of pain we can feel separated from God, yet our relentless God comes in painful moments to do whatever it takes to knock away the separation we feel. He gave thanks for the lives of those being remembered as witnesses to this truth of God’s love throughout their ministries.

Those being memorialized included the following:

• Rev. Dr. Barry Hollis Anderson
• Rev. James Elton Beasley
• Mrs. Martha Patricia Burnham
• Mrs. Betty Lou Smith Clark
• Mrs. Minnie Doss
• Rev. Oscar David Eddleman
• Rev. Marvin Edmondson
• Rev. Henry Ford, Jr.
• Rev. Charles Gilbert
• Rev. Ernest Ray Goodwin
• Rev. Thurston Edison Hamby, II
• Mrs. Margaret Van Cleave Handley
• Mrs. Robbie L. Holcomb
• Rev. Charles Philip Howell
• Mrs. Yvonnia Johnson
• Mr. Calvin Lambert
• Mrs. Georgia Hollis McCain
• Mrs. Peggy Diane McCrary
• Rev. Dr. Rex Alan Manasco
• Rev. William E. Milstead
• Mrs. Winnie Murphree
• Mrs. Shelvey Jean Parker
• Rev. Samuel David Pickard
• Mrs. Minnie Frances Railey
• Mrs. Willene H. Ray
• Rev. Al Reaves
• Rev. Clarence Rice
• Rev. Osborn Justice Ridgeway
• Mrs. Louise Haywood Scott
• Rev. Ernest H. Smotherman
• Mrs. Altrue Virginia Stewart
• Rev. Kenneth Ray Street
• Mrs. Jessmer Glenn Terry
• Mrs. Eula Inez Wallace
• Mrs. Marilyn Joy Formby Warlick
• Rev. William Douglas Wells, Sr.
• Mrs. Jacquelyn G. Williams

During the service Bishop William H. Willimon read the name of each person being remembered as a candle was lit in her or his memory.

The Wesley Ringers, Piano, Organ and Choir of the host church Asbury UMC provided music during the service.

Annual Conference will continue on Friday as the 142nd Session of the North Alabama Conference will be called to order at 9 a.m.
 

There are 300 copies of Rev. Dale Clem's book on the 1994 Tornado called Winds of Fury; Circles of Grace available. This is a great resource for those suffering due to the recent storms. The discounted price is $15.25. Contact your District Office if you are interested in purchasing a copy.

Pastoral Care and Counseling has been in conversaton with Rev. Matt Lacey, and whenever staging areas are set up we plan to have counselors available to talk with people. In the meantime, please call our office if we can be helpful in any way to provide pastoral care or consultation during this time. Our office number is 205-824-8320, or you can email at
sfergusonumpcc@gmail.com. 

North Alabama Conference Bishop Will Willimon has asked every church in North Alabama to consider receiving a special offering for the churches and the victims of the storms of April 27.

"I have been moved by the outpouring of grief, prayers, and offers for help from Methodists all over the connection. Our churches had a remarkable outpouring of help for the victims of Katrina. Now we have the opportunity to help closer to home," Willimon says. "Please join me in prayers for, and in gifts directed to the victims of these storms. I give thanks that our church has in place an organized, well prepared response. Thank you for your gifts this Sunday."

Churches should make checks out to the North Alabama Conference and write “Tornado Disaster Response” in the memo line. Send the check to the North Alabama Conference Treasurer.

The North Alabama Conference has received a grant from UMCOR to begin the disaster response process.

The Conference Disaster Response Team is working diligently to assess all the information of damage through the North Alabama Conference. As needs are assessed, and areas become safe for volunteers to enter, the team will issue requests for volunteers and for donation of needed supplies.

Conference Director of Mission and Advocacy Rev. Matt Lacey says, “I would like to remind everyone that though we want to help as much as we can, we need our police, firefighters, and search and rescue teams to do their jobs first, as well as organizations like the Red Cross. Please do not travel to heavily affected areas without an invitation. We will be mobilizing volunteers, but need to assess first.”

Please keep all the people affected by the storms in your prayers.

During a morning Conference call of the Disaster Response Team the list of damaged United Methodist properties and areas in the Conference greatly affected by yesterday’s storms was further developed.

One of the biggest hurdles of learning the total scope of the damage is that many of the hardest hit areas are being blocked by police as emergency personnel continue search and rescue efforts. Those areas and many others are also without phone and electricity and have limited communication options at this time.

Because of potentially hazardous conditions following disasters it is important for any volunteers to remember that you can only enter areas if you have been invited. The Conference Disaster Response Team is expecting to begin deploying trained ERT volunteers early next week. Until that time all United Methodists can support the recovery efforts by praying for those affected by the storms and giving to a special Tornado Disaster Response special offering at your church this Sunday.

Below are further reports of damage throughout the Conference. These are in addition to those first reported yesterday.

Central District–

• Mountain Chapel UMC has a hole in the roof.
• Long Memorial UMC suffered severe structural damage.
• The city of Fultondale has extensive damage.
• Earnest UMC church building has some minor roof and window damage. The parsonage has holes in the roof. At least 40 homes are gone near the church and there were deaths in the community.
• The Fairview UMC parsonage has been damaged.

Cheaha District –

• Pell City First UMC has some minor roof damage.
• The area of Ohatchee was hard hit.

Mountain Lakes District –

• Red Hill UMC was destroyed.
• The Upper Sand Mountain Parrish area was hard hit – especially Rainsville, Fyffe and Pisgha. Upper Sand Mountain Parrish Director Tayna Rains is working to coordinate efforts in this area that include opening up the Ministry Center as a station to meet needs of people affected. Currently they are trucking in bottled water and need generators.

Northeast District –

• Ford’s Chapel UMC received damage. The old chapel building was destroyed. The steeple collapsed through the roof of the new chapel building.
• Concord UMC received damage.

Northwest District –

• Phil Campbell UMC was destroyed.
• Hackleburg UMC was destroyed. The area of Hackleburg was extremely hard hit.
• Lakeview UMC in the Athens area was destroyed. The Athens area also was hard hit.

Southeast District -

• Homes of some members of Dadeville UMC were damaged and some people were injured.

Southwest District –

• Forrest Lake UMC has structural damage to the church roof. The parsonage roof was blown off.
• Shelton Chapel UMC was destroyed.
• Coaling UMC has damage to its building and to members’ homes.
• Jasper First UMC has a hole in the roof of the youth center.
• Reform UMC’s large stained glass window was broken out.
• Southside UMC in the area of Rosedale was damaged.
• Wesley Chapel UMC has completely lost the family life center and the steeple was blown off the sanctuary.
• St. Mark UMC served as an overflow triage area for people after parts of DCH Regional Medical Center were damaged.
   

The United Methodist Children’s Home has also provided the following report of damage its properties have suffered.

• The Florence Group Home is without power or phone service. There was minor flooding in the neighborhood. There is no structural damage. They have plenty of usable food and their needs are being met.
• The Scottsboro Group Home is without power and they are low on edible food. They are on their way to Tennessee (20 miles) to purchase food, where there is power and their credit card can be electronically swiped. We have transferred funds to their checking account so they can make additional purchases by check locally.
• The Birmingham Babies First Home was without power and phone service, but both were restored early this morning. There was no structural damage. However, access in and out of the area is somewhat restricted due to debris.
• The Jasper Foster Care Office was severely damaged. Initially, there was a gas leak but this has been repaired. Debris prohibits entry into the building. This location is leased and the owner is in the process of making repairs.
• The status of the Tuscaloosa Group Home was of great concern. The building sustained no structural damage, even though a large shopping center nearby was destroyed. Initially, there was no power, phone service, or running water (or sewer service). The facility was at maximum capacity with eleven children. As of this email, the water/sewer has been repaired. Prior to this repair, plans had been made for portable-potties to be taken to Tuscaloosa, along with usable food, and coolers with ice.
• Foster Homes: All foster homes have been accounted for except one. This is a family that lives just west of Tuscaloosa and there has been no contact with this family (caring for four children) in the last 24 hours. We have two staff that are now on their way to try to make personal contact with the family.

Conference Director of Mission and Advocacy Rev. Matt Lacey has been working with District Superintendents and the Conference Disaster Response Team to compile an initial report of damages and to begin planning the Conference’s response to the storms which traveled through North Alabama on Wednesday, April 27, 2011.

Bishop Will Willimon has already made an appeal to UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) for emergency response funds. The Conference Disaster Response Team has already had a conference call and has planned another call for tomorrow to further compile the list of areas affected by the storms. The team will begin to access needs in those areas and, as the needs are assessed, the team will begin issuing calls for volunteers.

As of 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday night, here are the known storm damages.

Central District

• Cullman First UMC has severe structural and roof damage.
• St. Andrew UMC has windows blown out.
• The downtown Cullman area is one of the hardest hit areas in the Conference

Cheaha District

• Moody First UMC has roof damage and windows blown out

Mountain Lakes District

• Albertville and Guntersville appear to be the worst hit areas. Storms are currently moving through the District at this time.

Northeast District

• Good Shepherd UMC is hosting 700-800 people whose home have been damaged or destroyed. The disaster response team is working with the church to acquire needed supplies for this shelter.
• The Harvest area has received a lot of damage and is experiencing severe flooding.

Northwest District

• Canaan UMC has structural damage (including roof and blown-out windows) to the church and the parsonage.
• Antioch UMC (Danville) has reported some damage.

South Central

• Cahaba Heights UMC has roof damage.
• The Cahaba Heights and Vestavia Hills area has many reports of damage.

Southeast District

• There are reports of trees down.

Southwest District

• The city of Tuscaloosa is one of the hardest hit areas in the Conference. It has very heavy damage. The full extent of this damage is still being assessed.

The Alabama-West Florida Conference has formally requested cleanup teams for Geiger AL, in Sumter County. This rural area has been hard-hit with tornado damage. They request teams willing to help families clean up debris and salvage belongings.

Contact Ameila Fletcher, Alabama West-Florida Conference Disaster Response Coordinator, at (251)968.2549.

Dear UMCOR Trained Early Responders:

Entity Requesting Help: North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church

Details: Tornado damage in North Carolina. Teams that can tarp a roofs are needed. Chainsaw crews are also needed.

Team Leaders: It will be important for you to mobilize your team quickly and respond. The window of opportunity is narrow for this event. If you put together a team please let the North Carolina Conference know.

Who To Contact In North Carolina: Volunteer Emergency Response Teams are needed in several areas in North Carolina. If you have a trained  Early Response Team and would like to help, please contact tornadoresponse@nccumc.org or call 888-440-9167.

Attn: UMCOR Trained Early Response Team Members

There was significant damage done in southwest Alabama on Saturday.

On the Alabama VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) conference call today assessment teams were still assessing damage and the need for volunteer teams to help in the cleanup.

I expect that we will be asked to support.

Please let me know if you could be available later this week or this weekend to lead a team from the North Alabama Conference or If you would be available to be a team member later this week or weekend.

I will keep you informed of requirements and team being formed,

Fred Heddens
Northeast District, Disaster Response Coordinator
256-830-9395 – Home
256-508-3336 – Cell
Fred@gslife.org

Click here to read an update from UMCOR top executive, Cynthia Fierro Harvey, about the United Methodist Response to the crisis in Japan.

The 28 laity who have self-nominated themselves to be elected as delegates for the 2012 General Conference and Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference of the United Methodist Church, will have an opportunity to record a 90 second introductory video which will be shown at the Lay Orientation Session of the North Alabama Annual Conference 2011 and possibly several District PreConference meetings prior to Annual Conference 2011.

This post is to allow those 28 laity to sign up for a time to be videotaped.

Font selection is becoming more and more important in email these days, because people now have so many gadgets (with smaller and smaller screens) on which to check their email.

This Disaster Warehouse in Decatur used to store North Alabama Conference disaster response supplies is moving to a new location in the same Industrial Park. It’s a short distance, but a big task. Volunteers are needed to help complete the move next week.

Specifically volunteers are needed

• Monday, Dec. 6 at 9 a.m.
• Tuesday, Dec. 7 at 9 a.m.

If you can give of your time to help with this important task please contact Rev. Ray Crump at the Disaster Warehouse at (256) 341-9961.

Also, if anyone from the Birmingham area is headed to Decatur to volunteer (and you have a truck or large vehicle) you can further help by transporting the donated disaster response supplies currently at the United Methodist Center in Birmingham to the Disaster Warehouse. The United Methodist Center will open Monday and Tuesday morning at 7:30 a.m.

The warehouse space in Decatur used to store disaster response supplies is being rented to a new tenant. So the Disaster Warehouse is moving to a new location in the same Industrial Park.

It’s a short distance, but a big task!

Volunteers are looking for

• Flat bed trucks
• Palette Racks
• Fork Lifts

If you have any of these that can be used for the move this week please contact Rev. Ray Crump at the Disaster Warehouse at (256) 341-9961.