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...

Council of Bishops issues statement regarding September 11 Anniversary

(September 09, 2010) September 11: A Day for Prayer and Peace As we approach yet another September 11, we are reminded that the world we live in continues to be fragile place where emotions and tensions run high. There are not many of us who will ever forget where we were on that September morning nine years ago. We should never forget those whose lives were taken away in the horror of just a few hours. September 11 should be, for all of us, a day of prayer for peace in this world. It...

Rethink Church campaign offers free New Testament to spiritual seekers

Nashville, Tenn.: For less than the cost of a matinee movie ticket or a couple of gallons of gas, you can place the New Testament in the hands of a spiritual seeker who has responded to The United Methodist Church’s advertisements. This is United Methodist Communications’ message to the church, as the agency begins offering the Rethink Church Edition Common English Bible (New Testament) at no cost to seekers who request it when they visit the Rethink Church campaign website,...

First class of Pastors Ordained by United Methodist Church in Cameroon

The United Methodist Church in Cameroon has ordained its first nine pastors (elders), including one woman. This historic occasion took place on July 31 at the civic auditorium in Yaounde, the capital of the West African country. Bishop Benjamin Boni from Côte d'Ivoire, who also supervised the United Methodist missions in Cameroon and Senegal, officiated at the service attended by family and friends of the ordinands, as well as United Methodist leaders and representatives of other...

United Methodist aid worker killed in Afghanistan

from a UMNS Report by Linda Bloom* Homepage photo: A UMNS photo courtesy of International Assistance Mission. Daniel Terry spent 40 years of his life working as a volunteer with those most in need in Afghanistan. Fluent in several regional languages, the 64-year-old United Methodist layperson had a deep understanding of the Afghan culture — an understanding that he used to guide the staff of international nonprofit organizations. So it came as a shock when leaders of the...

‘Day 1’ radio program to air in Birmingham

Popular weekly mainline Protestant program starts Aug. 8 on WXJC AM-FM “Day 1,” the renowned weekly radio broadcast that features speakers from mainline Protestant churches, debuts in Birmingham, Ala. on Sunday, Aug. 8. The program will air Sundays at 12:00 noon on WXJC 850 AM/92.1 FM. Hosted by Peter Wallace, “Day 1” presents outstanding preachers from across America. Bishop William H. Willimon of the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church, based in...

New Guidebook filled with details about UM-related Schools, Colleges, Universities, and Theological Schools

A new guidebook that provides a wealth of information about the 121 United Methodist-related schools, colleges, universities, and theological schools should help high school students easily compare tuition, degrees awarded, and possible financial aid. The Guidebook of United Methodist-Related Schools, Colleges, Universities, and Theological Schools will be useful for students, pastors, youth leaders, and parents who want to learn more about United Methodist-related educational...