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Celebrating Black History Month in the WNCC: Bishop L. Scott Allen
Did you know Bishop L. Scott Allen was the first (and to date, the only) African-American to serve as Bishop of the Western North Carolina Conference, serving as our Bishop from 1976-84? Jim Pyatt, Conference Historian and Archivist, share more of Bishop Allen's story and the impact he had on the Western NC Conference and the greater United Methodist Church. |
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| 2022 Annual Conference Housing
Mark your calendars for our much-anticipated return to Lake Junaluska for the
2022 Western NC Annual Conference! Information about housing for the 2022 Western North Carolina Annual Conference has been mailed to laity and clergy. The housing request form will open on March 4, 2022. All Annual Conference information and updates can be found at www.ac2022.org.
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Means of Grace: An Update from Hispanic/Latino Congregations in the Western NC Conference - Una Actualización de las Congregaciones Hispanas/Latinas de la Conferencia Oeste de Carolina del Norte
(English translation below.) En el episodio de hoy, Luke habla con cuatro miembros de nuestra conferencia, Rev. Sonia Baca-Zuniga, Rev. David Ortigoza, Jaidymar Smith, y Rev. Chris Smith sobre las congregaciones Hispanas / Latinas de la Conferencia Oeste de Carolina del Norte. Juntos, exploramos cómo Dios se está moviendo en las congregaciones hispanas /lastinas en nuestra conferencia, los retos que enfrentan, y cómo las comunidades, iglesias, y la conferencia pueden buscar y/o perseguir la igualdad para nuestras hermanas y hermanos hispano /latino. El episodio de hoy es en Ingles y en Español.
In this week’s episode Luke talks with four members of our conference, Rev. Sonia Baca-Zuniga, Rev. David Ortigoza, Jaidymar Smith, and Rev. Chris Smith about Hispanic/Latino congregations in the Western North Carolina Conference. We explore how God is moving in Hispanic/Latino congregations in WNC, challenges they are facing, and how our communities, churches, and conference can pursue equity for our Hispanic/Latino siblings. This episode is in English and Spanish. |
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Brotherhood/Sisterhood Sunday
February 20, 2022 has been approved by the Annual Conference as Brotherhood/Sisterhood Sunday in the local churches. This Affiliate Ministry was organized by clergy and laity in 1893 to provide immediate financial assistance to help parsonage families with the challenges they face when death comes to our clergy members. We have already assisted 13 families since July 2021.
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To Heal the Wounded Soul: A Cohort to Support & Encourage African American, Asian American, Latinx, and Native American Wesleyan clergy
Imagine 48 hours away from the pressures of life and ministry at a retreat designed for your rest and restoration! We’re preparing just such a place at To Heal the Wounded Soul, a program brought to you by the Duke Clergy Health Initiative and Duke Divinity School. The program is designed to support and encourage African American, Asian American, Latinx, and Native American Wesleyan clergy who have been serving in the cross-currents of a pandemic and heightened racial tension.
Cohort 1 and Cohort 2 are available for African-American clergy. Please express interest by February 18 as space is limited and the first retreat for Cohort 1 is March 4-6. Cohorts will be opening soon for Asian American, Latinx, and Native American pastors. |
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TheoEd Talks Charlotte
A new slate of TheoEd Talks is coming to Charlotte, North Carolina, featuring speakers Liz Clasen-Kelly, Otis Moss III, Yolanda Pierce, and Miroslav Volf. Sponsored by the public theological education initiative of Emory University's Candler School of Theology, The Candler Foundry, and First Presbyterian Church Charlotte, this in-person event will take place on Sunday, February 27 at 4:00 p.m. EST at Queens University of Charlotte’s Sarah Belk Gambrell Center for the Arts and Civic Engagement.
Other upcoming events from Candler include the Anna Julia Cooper Lecture: "'Sketches from a Teacher's Notebook': Black Religion, Education, and Radical Social Change" and The Unfinished Search for Common Ground: A Conference on the Life and Work of Howard Thurman. |
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OTHER NEWS
- WNCC Mission Engagement has opened registration for the 2022 Missional Collective Journey and welcomes applications. The MC Journey is an immersive learning, five-retreat series designed for a diverse gathering of clergy, laity, and community lovers. Experiential neighboring happens through shared meals, interactive discussions, historical and theological field trips, discernment and planning activities, personal spiritual direction, and corporate spiritual disciplines.
- Here's a little invitation for you: Can you join us for a little while on February 28, 2022, via Zoom? A Buzz Session is a gathering where Christian innovators (typically from WNCC churches, though not always!) talk about the projects they're working on, and then have give-and-take of ideas and suggestions for next steps of development from the folks on the call.
- Are You Interested in Becoming a UMC Commissioned EarthKeeper?
Presently, there are seven commissioned EarthKeepers in the WNCC, working towards engaging their churches, their communities, and other churches in the WNCC in acts of renewal of, and care for, God’s creation. There is room for many, many more! And an online training opportunity begins on March 18th through the General Board of Global Ministries.
- C. DeWitt Foard and Associates, PA, CPAs, a nationally renowned accounting firm and also the Western NC Conference’s auditors, is offering WNC clergy $50 off usual tax preparation fees for 2021 returns. Simply mention you are a WNC clergyperson or spouse to receive the discount. Returns can be submitted from all regions of the conference.
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UPCOMING WEBINARS & EVENTS:
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