The Latest Edition of E-News - Welcome Bishop Carter, WNCC Disaster Relief: How You Can Help, New Release Books Written by WNCC Clergy, and more

September 1, 2021

E-News - September 1, 2021

E-News is an email newsletter sent out by the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church. It contains important news, stories, and events from around our conference. Submit articles for the next e-news. Submit events.


NEWS 

Welcome, Bishop Ken Carter!
As of September 1, 2021, Bishop Kenneth H. Carter, Jr. begins his episcopal ministry with the Western North Carolina Conference.

Along with the Cabinet, he gives pastoral and administrative leadership to over 1000 congregations, fresh expressions of church, campus ministries, and outreach initiatives in an episcopal area that stretches across the 44 western counties of the state.

Bishop Carter’s great hope for the church is that she will rediscover an orthodox Christian faith that offers the radically inclusive grace of God to all people, and at the same time calls every follower of Jesus to inner holiness, missional compassion, justice rooted in the gospel and a hopeful story of transformation.

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WNCC Clergy will have two opportunities to greet Bishop Carter and enter into dialogue around the question: What is our focus as an annual conference? Or said differently, what is the one thing that is necessary? (Luke 10:41). Learn more and register for one of these virtual conversations with Bishop Carter here.

Disaster Response Efforts
The  Committee on Relief is accepting donations to be designated specifically towards Tropical Storm Fred relief efforts in Western NC and relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Ida. Learn more about ongoing response and how you can contribute.
Northern Haiti Ministry Partners respond to 7.2 magnitude earthquake
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck the South of Haiti on August 14, 2021. Our Northern Haiti ministry partners, along with Dr. Eugene of New Hope Hospital, were not impacted and are operating as usual; however, at the request of the Haitian Ministry of Health, he has committed to take a team of staff to an earthquake medical site and will provide mobile clinics. Please pray for the safety, protection, and health, of the medical team, as well as the patients and individuals they will care for. If you are able, please consider giving generously to these relief efforts.

A Letter of Gratitude to the WNCC from Bishop Leeland
As Bishop Leeland moves into retirement, he offers these words of gratitude to the members of the Western North Carolina Conference for the past five years of shared ministry. We thank Bishop Leeland for his pastoral leadership and wish him and Janet all the best in this new chapter of their lives. 

Congregations for Children Back to School Letter
As a new school year begins this month across our conference, we hope you and your congregants will celebrate and encourage educators and students throughout the year beginning with a suitable Back to School recognition in line with the most recent Western NC Cabinet guidelines. 

Congregations for Children (C4C), strives to support mission with Church School partnerships.  Given the many challenges students and teachers have faced and will continue to overcome, churches can play a crucial role in filling in some needed gaps.

Explore Summer Ministry Intern Highlight: Savannah Smith, Intern at Dilworth UMC in Charlotte
Meet another of our 2021 WNCC Explore: Summer Ministry Interns! Savannah Smith is a sophomore at Appalachian State University. This summer she had the opportunity to intern at Dilworth United Methodist Church in Charlotte, NC with the Rev. Cade Barefoot, Associate Pastor, and Rev. Michelle Chappel, Lead Pastor, as her clergy mentors for the summer.

The Explore Ministry Internship is for young adults, ages 18-25, interested in exploring ordained ministry through 10-week summer internships in United Methodist settings within the Conference. If you would like to learn more about the WNCC Explore: Summer Ministry Internship and how you might support the ministry please contact Rev. Annalee Allen, Associate Director of Ministerial Service.

Disposable Face Masks & Hand Sanitizer Available
The Committee On Relief has received a large quantity of disposable face masks and hand sanitizers through the local non-profit Restore Global. 

If you have any questions or special requests, please reach out to Ben Rogers at brogers@wnccumc.org.

2021 Project Agape Christmas Boxes
Fall 2021 collections for Project AGAPE will be held from Monday, September 27th through Friday, October 1st. Learn more about items needed, packing instructions, and drop-off locations. You can bring Christmas joy to a child in Armenia this year!
Check out these new releases by WNCC clergy!
Rev. Chris Hughes, retired WNCC clergy, and Rev. Luke Edwards, WNCC Associate Director of Church Development, have each recently released new books! Learn more about these publications and how you can get your copy.
 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

Antiracism Ethics Training Has Gone Virtual
Due to rising COVID delta variant cases, Antiracism Ethics Training will be virtual this fall. The objectives and the content of the virtual workshop will be the same as the in-person model. However, the structure, delivery, and length of the virtual workshop are tailored to meet the needs of a variety of learners while utilizing the opportunities and diminishing the restrictions associated with an online learning environment.

 

2022 Clergy Health Insurance Memo
The Conference Board of Pension and Health Benefits upon recommendation from the Health Benefits Subcommittee of the Board has approved the 2022 rate schedule for our Conference Active and Retiree Health Plans.
Means of Grace: Guided Prayers for Back-to-School with Dr. Melanie Dobson
In this episode of Means of Grace, Dr. Melanie Dobson joins us again to share a series of visualization prayers for adults and children during another stressful back-to-school season for families. 

UPCOMING WEBINARS & EVENTS: 

Join the Fresh Expressions Clubhouse
Most Wednesdays, 2 p.m.
Most Wednesdays at 2pm a group of fresh expressions practitioners join up for a conversation on the clubhouse app. We cover a variety of topics around leading fresh expressions. Email Luke Edwards for an invite.
Learn more about WNCC Creation Care and Justice in the WNCC
Tuesdays in September, 12-1 p.m.
All clergy members in the WNCC are invited to join in a conversation with Rev. Jonathan Brake, an ordained elder serving Mount Pleasant UMC (Sherrills Ford), and Kim Richmond, a lay member and organizer of Creation Care Ministry at Maple Springs UMC (Winston Salem), as they discuss The Mission of Creation Care and Creation Justice in the WNCC. These conversations will take place via Zoom on three consecutive Tuesdays during the Season of Creation – September 14th, 21st, and 28th – from noon to 1pm, so bring your lunch and eat, relax and listen, then share comments and questions after each presentation.

 

Relational Ministry: Finding God In Your Neighbor Webinar
Thursday, September 16, 10 a.m. 
Join the NC Rural Center as we explore the idea of viewing our communities as co-creators of ministry rather than solely consumers of ministry.
Professional Administrators Fall Retreat
Friday-Saturday, October 29-30, 2021
Are you ready to learn more about Leaving Your Professional Legacy? The WNCC Chapter of PAUMCS invites you to learn more at this year's Fall Retreat in beautiful Laurel Ridge!
Director of Communications: Melissa McGill

Associate Director of Communications: Aimee Yeager

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