Fannin Campus Ministries Center dedicated at Florida Southern College

With hymns, Scripture, and prayers, an important place in the spiritual life of Florida Southern College was given new life on Feb. 15, 2013, as the renovated Bishop Robert E. and Faye Fannin Campus Ministries Center was dedicated. The dedication ceremony formally opened the Center, which has been refurbished and expanded, providing a warm and inviting place for the nine student-led campus ministries at FSC. The building was named in honor of FSC’s Bishop-in-Residence, Bob...

Jan. 10 deadline to apply for Peace with Justice grant and Human Relations Day grant

Peace with Justice grant Funding targets ministries that witness 'to God’s demands for a faithful, just, disarmed and secure world.’ Jan. 10 is the deadline to apply for a Peace with Justice grant from the United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS). Funding for this program is generated through the Peace with Justice Special Sunday offering of The United Methodist Church. One of six Special Sundays in the denomination, Peace with Justice...

Online 10-Fold event celebrating United Methodist Church in mission expanded for entire month of October

During the month of October, United Methodists are invited to participate in an interactive global gathering that features projects around the world supported by the General Board of Global Ministries and United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Each week will feature a different United Methodist ministry. Through technology such as streaming video, Tweetups, online chats and other media, participants will learn about amazing ministries that are changing people’s...

North Alabama United Methodists elected for leadership at the General Church and Jurisdictional level

This year, 2012, is a quadrennial year in the United Methodist Church and therefore the quadrennial Christian Conferencing gatherings – General Conference and Jurisdictional Conference - have met to do business and make decisions to determine programs and the direction of ministry of the church. During these meetings, the bodies also elected leaders to serve on various boards and agencies over the next four years.  There are several North Alabama Conference United Methodists...

New wrinkle in appointment security

Supporters of guaranteed appointments for United Methodist clergy have a new reason for hope. The Rev. L. Fitzgerald "Gere" Reist II, secretary of the General Conference, informed the Council of Bishops late June 11 that the language in the 2012 Book of Discipline “does not eliminate the security of appointment for elders.” But, other denominational leaders question Reist’s interpretation of what the 2012 General Conference, the denomination’s top...

Africa Theological Education Initiative money used for scholarships, Course of Study development

Funds from the $2 million Africa Theological Education Initiative are being used for scholarships, training programs, and development of training materials for pastors in the Central Conferences. About $1.1 million has been distributed to date. Bishop John Innis, episcopal leader of the Liberia Annual Conference, said the funding came at a critical time for The United Methodist Church in Africa. “The money is relevant. It comes at a time when the church is growing, and we need to be...

Young Adult Missionary applications due Feb. 5, 2012

For 60 years, Global Ministries has been sending young people into service. Through the US-2 and mission intern programs, we have enriched the lives of thousands of young men and women, and through their witness touched uncountable youth, adults, and communities. The US-2 and mission intern programs develop church leaders, as young people work in communities that face issues such as poverty, racism, or environmental justice. US-2s serve two years living out faith through social justice in...

Summer internships for racial/ethnic minority, Central Conference young adults deadline is Feb. 1, 2012

Persons, ages 18-22, interested in exploring public policy and social justice advocacy will work in U.S. capital. Deadline to apply for a 2012 Ethnic Young Adult (EYA) Summer Internship in Washington, D.C., is Feb. 1. The EYA program is for persons, ages 18-22, who have an interest in exploring issues of public policy, social justice advocacy and social change. Sponsored by the General Board of Church & Society (GBCS), the summer internship is for young adults representing the five...

Forest Lake UMC to premiere anthem inspired by April 27 tornado

Six months before the April 27 tornado, composer K. Lee Scott was commissioned to write an anthem for Forest Lake United Methodist Church. However, his inspiration failed to ignite the right composition until the April storms wreaked havoc on the community surrounding the church. Almost immediately, Scott began penning “God Is Our Refuge and Strength,” a piece based on Psalm 46.  Forest Lake UMC will premiere the commissioned piece to commemorate the six-month anniversary...

Who speaks for the United Methodist Church?

There has been much discussion on the North Alabama Conference website regarding Alabama’s new immigration law (HB 56). One question that was raised repeatedly in the discussion is “Who speaks for the United Methodist Church?” Rev. Mark Parris, pastor of Northport First UMC and a clergy delegate to the 2012 General Conference and Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference of the United Methodist Church serving as head of the North Alabama delegation, has offered a brief answer to...

Volunteer Marshals and Pages Needed for General Conference

Nashville, Tenn.: Volunteers can now apply online to serve as marshals or pages during The United Methodist Church’s 2012 General Conference. The denomination’s top legislative assembly will meet in Tampa, Fla. April 24-May 4, 2012. Approximately 150 volunteers are needed during General Conference. Marshals and pages are responsible for their own travel and expenses. Marshals serve in the visitor and reserved seating galleries, assist visitors and special guests and check...

General Conference petition submissions begin April 1

Petitions for consideration by the 2012 General Conference may be submitted to the Petitions Secretary beginning April 1 and continuing through September 27, 2011.  According to church law, “Any organization, clergy member, or lay member of The United Methodist Church may petition the General Conference … ”. Detailed instructions for submitting a petition are available on the General Conference website at gc2012.umc.org. Petitions must be typed and may be submitted via...

Church court clarifies voting eligibility

When United Methodists start electing clergy delegates this spring to the denomination’s top legislative meeting, several new groups will be eligible to vote for those representatives. The new categories of electors for the 2012 General Conference were clarified by the denomination’s Judicial Council in a special called session Feb. 12. The nine-member council serves as the church’s “supreme court.” The new categories — related to elections conducted by the...

Clergy and lay delegates to General and Jurisdictional Conference 2012 to be elected at Annual Conference 2011

The 2012 General Conference, the top policy-making body of the United Methodist Church and the only official “voice” for the denomination, will meet in Tampa on April 24-May 2, 2012. The 2012 General Conference will consist of nearly 1000 delegates from all over the world who will vote on petitions and resolutions and revise the Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church. Each annual conference is allotted an equal number of lay and clergy delegates to General Conference...

GBHEM Board Approves MEF Distribution Change, Plan for Africa Theological Education

By Vicki Brown* A plan for distributing $2 million to support theological education in Africa and a new formula for allocating church dollars to the 13 United Methodist theological schools were approved by board members of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry during their fall meeting. The Board, meeting in Nashville Oct. 7-9, also approved a $40.4 million budget for 2011, and heard of the retirement of General Secretary Jerome King Del Pino, effective Oct. 15, 2010. John...

Holy Land pilgrimage, Feb. 23-March 5, designed for young clergy

home page phote from http://www.sbsedu.org General Board of Church & Society trip will offer biblical history and perspective on current situation.  WASHINGTON, D.C. — The General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) is organizing a pilgrimage to the Holy Land just before the beginning of the Lenten season. The trip, Feb. 23-March 5, is designed for young clergy, although not limited to them. “A high-quality Holy Land pilgrimage is bound to significantly impact...

No Change in Number of Delegates for 2012 General Conference

Panama City, Panama: The secretary of the General Conference, Rev. L. Fitzgerald Reist, announced today that the number of delegates for the 2012 General Conference will be near the 1,000-delegate limit. "Although a variety of opinions have been expressed, I've heard strong pleas to retain similar numbers as before, and I believe any significant reduction in the number of delegates should occur in concert with a more comprehensive look at the whole process,” said Rev. Reist....

GBHEM Announces Online Consortium with 13 UM Theological Schools

The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of The United Methodist Church is pleased to introduce an Online Continuing Education Consortium in collaboration with the 13 United Methodist Theological Schools. United Methodist theological schools are offering 11 online continuing education classes for clergy and laity beginning fall semester of 2010. The vision of the consortium is to provide theologically sound, financially affordable, and easily accessible continuing education programs...

Live Internet Events to Launch International "10-Fold" Effort

The United Methodist Church plans a 10-day series of live internet events from Sunday, October 10 through Tuesday, October 19, to report on the denomination's work to combat poverty, disease, and social injustice throughout the world. Known as 10-Fold, the events will provide immediate access to missionaries, volunteers, and churches in Haiti, Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the United States. Webcasts, streaming video, online chats, and discussions have been developed by the General Board of...

Foundation of Evangelism series on vibrant churches notes key factors in growth and cites Gardendale- Mt. Vernon UMC

Front page photo from the www.gmvumc.org. The following News was posted on the Foundation of Evangelism website Sept. 9, 2010.   Focus of Call to Action Recently The Foundation for Evangelism began a popular new web series celebrating vibrant churches that have experienced a 20% or more attendance growth over 5 years. This information was gathered utilizing General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) data and interviews by Dr. Kenneth Lambert, the Church Initiative Director...