Bishop Announces additional Appointment Changes

North Alabama Conference Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett and the Cabinet announce the following appointment changes to take effect in June 2013. These appointments, along with appointments previously announced, will be fixed during the 2013 North Alabama Annual Conference. Clergy will move to their new appointments on Wednesday, June 12, 2013. Pastors’ first Sunday in their new appointment will be June 16. District Church Pastor CE ...

Conference Disaster Response Coordinator offers disaster preparedness tips

We are officially in the storm season.  Do you have a plan if a natural disaster happens in your community?  Disaster preparedness for our Conference begins when our churches are prepared, and our churches are prepared when our members are prepared. Make sure that you have an "emergency" plan ready and in place for your home.  You should have an emergency kit (or bag) ready at a moment's notice.  Some of the things that should be in your emergency kit...

United Counseling to offer Prepare/Enrich training event on June 27

United Counseling clergy and others working with couples to take this opportunity to enhance your pre-marital and marital skills by training to use the Prepare-Enrich inventories in your sessions. There is no question these inventories offer extremely valuable insight into the couples strength and growth areas. The couple workbook yields many strategies for the two to embrace their differences while cementing their relationship. This workshop is designed to help facilitators learn how to...

Bishop and Cabinet announce interim pastor for Hazel Green UMC

Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett and the North Alabama Cabinet are pleased to announce the appointment of the Reverend Billy York to serve as Interim Senior Pastor at Hazel Green UMC beginning June 1, 2013, and to remain there until the appointment of a Senior Pastor in June 2014.  Rev. York is a Retired Elder of the North Alabama Conference who is participating in the denominational training for Interim Pastors through the Intentional Growth Center at Lake Junaluska. Since September...

Sumatanga announces interim executive director

With love and deep appreciation we write you today to announce that Matt Johnson has elected to pursue other professional opportunities outside of Sumatanga. With this transition, Matt will be concluding over 14 years of continual and fruitful service to camp. Matt started working at camp when he was in high school and has been a bedrock for the faith development of many visitors and staff ever since he started. Matt became the Executive Director in 2011 offering leadership to address many...

Rainbow City Pastor gives invocation for Alabama House of Representatives Session

Rev. Sherri Reynolds, pastor of Christ Central UMC in Rainbow City, has become the 14th woman – since 2008 -- to deliver an invocation before the Alabama House of Representatives. On Tuesday, April 9, 2013, Rev. Reynolds had the distinction of praying God’s blessings on the 105 elected members of the House, their staffs and the hundreds of capitol employees. Reynolds said that it was an honor for her to be invited to offer prayer for the Alabama House of Representatives....

Thursday, April 25 is World Malaria Day

Thursday, April 25 is World Malaria Day.  It is a day set aside to focus on the global effort to control malaria. The United Methodist Church is working with others as a part of this effort around the world. Imagine No Malaria is The United Methodist Church’s comprehensive effort to end death and suffering from malaria. It provides a holistic approach in the fight against malaria that includes prevention, education, and better access to treatment. For more information visit...

Annual Conference 2013 to include an evening 5K Run / 1 Mile Fun Walk for Human Need

On Sunday evening, June 2, 2013, after United Methodists from across North Alabama gather for the opening of Annual Conference and worship together, they are invited to lace up their sneakers and participate in the 5K Run / 1 Mile Fun Walk for Human Need sponsored by Mission 2 Gather. The course for the 5k will be on the campus of Birmingham-Southern College. Participants will gather and will finish in front of the Striplin Fitness Center. Prizes will be awarded for top finishers and top...

Tuscaloosa area churches help college students navigate finals week

Trinity UMC in Tuscaloosa is partnering with two other Tuscaloosa area churches, First Christian (Disciples of Christ) and University Presbyterian Church to reach out to college students during a normally stressful time – final exams. On Wednesday evening, April 24, 2013, students and community members are invited to gather on the front lawn of Trinity UMC to experience a labyrinth prayer path. The event will be led by Reverend Dr. Kay Mutert, a Tuscaloosa resident and United...

Birmingham-Southern College to hold Marti Turnipseed march and celebration on April 24

On April 24, 1963, Birmingham-Southern College sophomore Martha "Marti" Turnipseed chose to join seven African-American students at a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth’s food counter in downtown Birmingham. The other students were arrested, and BSC officials told Marti—a third-generation BSC student—that she had to leave campus. She was allowed to return a year later and complete her degree. She died in 1972 in a tragic car accident. Now the college is...

Prayer will be an integral part of Annual Conference

Very early in the planning process for the 2013 Annual Conference in North Alabama, Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett expressed a desire for a Prayer Team to begin intentional prayer for the meeting. The Adult Discipleship Committee quickly volunteered to oversee the prayer plans for Annual Conference, and invited the Alabama Young Adult Chrysalis Community to step into a leadership role. Plans are in place to offer several avenues for participation by United Methodists in North...

Bishop announces full-time appointment changes

North Alabama Conference Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett and the Cabinet announce the following full-time appointment changes to take effect in June 2013.   District Church Pastor CE Kimberly / ATEM Disaster Response Coordinator Randall Burbank CE ATEM Nan Hastings Ministries ...

Bishop announces new District Superintendent and other appointments

North Alabama Conference Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett and the Cabinet have announced the full-time appointment changes to take effect in June 2013. Among these newly-announced appointments are a new District Superintendent and other appointments serving the North Alabama Conference.   Rev. Lewis Archer will join the Cabinet as the District Superintendent for the Southeast District. Archer currently serves as senior pastor of Sylacauga First UMC. During his ministry Archer...

United Methodist Disaster Warehouse in Decatur offers resources for congregations' disaster response ministry

The arrival of spring in Alabama also brings the threat of severe weather. However, North Alabama United Methodists know severe weather can happen any time of the year and can cause great damage in their communities. Therefore, many North Alabama congregations and volunteers are committed to being ready to offer disaster response ministry when such weather happens.  The United Methodist Disaster Warehouse in Decatur is a great resource to aid congregations in this ministry....

Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett offers an update on the appointment-making process

Dear Friends, Yesterday evening the Appointive Cabinet finalized full-time appointments for the 2013-2014 Conference year. Of course, there is always the possibility of an unexpected appointment matter that requires our attention. But for now, we have finished the assignment portion of our appointment-making process. At the end of this long, but good process, I am feeling very thankful for the high quality of the District Superintendents in North Alabama. They are both candid and...

United Methodist Children’s Home announces new staff and new partnership

  The United Methodist Children’s Home, a 122 year old child care agency based in Montgomery, Alabama, announces the addition of Rebecca Morris and Lara Wheeler to its newly organized Birmingham Office of Marketing and Development located in the UMC North Alabama Conference Center on the campus of Birmingham-Southern College.  Dr. Blake Horne, President and CEO of the United Methodist Children’s Home, is pleased to welcome the new staff, “We are thrilled...

Golf Tournament benefiting Camp Sumatanga to be May 20

On Monday, May 20, 2013, the Seventh Annual Sumatanga Golf Tournament will be at Grayson Valley Country Club. The annual event was started by members of Trussville First UMC, but has grown each year.  Organizers now are actively seeking to partner with United Methodists across North Alabama to continue the event’s growth and vital support for Sumatanga. Over the years, proceeds from the tournament have gone to support specific repairs and improvements to the camp facilities,...

BSC and Magic City Smooth Jazz to hold community concert and festival April 7

Birmingham-Southern College and Magic City Smooth Jazz will present a “Jazz on the Hilltop” community concert and festival on Sunday, April 7, featuring Overfloe, Chad Fisher, and the BSC Jazz Band. “Jazz on the Hilltop” will be held from 4-6 p.m. at the Lake Park on campus. The concert is being held in conjunction with the college’s “Forward, Ever Birmingham” program observing the 50th anniversary of the 1963 civil rights movement. Everyone...

Bishop announces new efforts to grow healthy new faith communities and vital existing churches

Over the years, the North Alabama Conference has worked to renew and equip existing congregations as well as plant new congregations.  While the goals are often the same, the process and strategy to achieve those goals are often different. To that end, Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett has announced the creation of two distinct ministry areas: Church Revitalization and Transformation to be led by Rev. Nancy Cole and New Church Development to be led by Matt Jones. Bishop Wallace-Padgett...

Sumatanga recovering from storm damage

*front page photo from www.facebook.com/sumatanga On Monday night, March 18, 2013,  the storms that affected parts of the southeast caused damage at Camp Sumatanga. Below is the message from Sumatanga staff regarding the storm damage: We are thankful that everyone at camp is safe and sound. Sumatanga facilities sustained significant damage to two structures, the Nina Reeves Chapel and Bessemer Hall at Pool Camp. There are multiple trees and power lines down as well as...