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The Latest Edition of E-News - Honor the Retiring Clergy You Love By Investing in the Future UMC Leaders in Western NC

May 4, 2022

E-News - May 4, 2022
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
Pass-the-Mantle
The WNC Board of Ordained Ministry is inviting you to help celebrate the years of faithful service of WNCC Retiring Clergy by making a gift to a new initiative called Pass-the-Mantle, which will provide scholarships for WNCC seminary students.
Laity Forum
Registration is open for the next Laity Forum Monday, May 23, 6:30-8:00p via Zoom. The topic will be Dismantling Racism through Celebration: the significance of commemorating Juneteenth in our churches and communities. 
 
ImagineHub Summit Registration Open
ImagineHub provides a learning network, training programs and support solutions for churches that desire to reimagine and deploy their space and resources as a means for improving economic empowerment in their community. The theme is "Let Your Ideas Shine" and we invite ImagineHub site teams, prospective site teams, partners, clergy, creatives and other faith-driven innovators and entrepreneurs to join us. Register by May 8 to receive a free signed copy of keynote speaker David Kresta’s book “Jesus on Main Street”.

Annual Conference News
WNC clergy who are in full connection, provisional members, associate members, and local pastors are required to attend the Western North Carolina Annual Conference meeting, June 16-19, 2022. Annual Conference will be live-streamed for at-home viewing, but registration and full participation (including voting) is only possible in person.

If you are not able to attend in person, please request an excused absence.
You can make that request at this link. Clergy who are retired or are on leave of absence are automatically excused if they are not able to attend.


The AC2022 Advanced Meals Purchase request form is now available! Submit your request by May 26th to receive discounts on your meals.


Save the Date for the Smoky Mountain District & Lake Junaluska 2nd Annual Juneteenth Celebration at Lake Junaluska immediately following Sunday's closing worship. Watch this video to learn more about this holiday and celebration.

Keep up with the latest news and resources for Annual Conference 2022 at https://www.wnccumc.org/ac2022.
 

OTHER NEWS

  • From the Bishop's Desk

    • "Grace. Holiness. Mission. Discipleship. Inclusion. Doctrinal Standards. Theological Task. Cross and Flame. Better Together." Bishop Carter shares seven reasons why he loves The United Methodist Church.

    • In this episode of the Means of Grace podcast, Bishop Ken Carter has a conversation with Kate Bowler about her book No Cure For Being Human (And Other Truths I Needed to Hear). This conversation was originally shared as a clergy leadership webinar jointly offered by the Florida and Western North Carolina Annual Conferences.

    • Bishop Carter and the Western North Carolina Cabinet have made the following local church appointments for the 2022-2023 year.
       

  • Opportunities for Learning Together

    • Now more than ever, the Church needs forward-thinking leadership. That's why we're excited to offer the next class of the Reynolds Program in Church Leadership, offered to 24 United Methodist pastors from the Southeast Jurisdiction. Past participants describe it as a transformative experience unlike any they have attended. If you or someone you know aspire to grow in your capacity to serve the Church, please prayerfully consider whether God is calling you to this opportunity.

    • With generous support from the Reynolds Ministry Fund of the United Methodist Foundation of Western North Carolina, the Racial Healing and Reconciliation Learning Cohort will be offered again in Fall 2022. Interested churches are invited to complete an Interest Form providing basic information and describing their local church’s efforts in racial equity and justice. 
Did last week's newsletter get buried in your inbox? Check out what you might have missed!

 

UPCOMING WEBINARS & EVENTS: 
Have Student Loans? Learn Whether They Can Be Forgiven at an Upcoming Webinar
Monday, May 9, 3 p.m. EST or Wednesday, May 11, 1:30 p.m. EST
Clergy and employees of not-for-profit organizations engaged in faith-based work may now qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. However, time is of the essence. Join Wespath for an informational webinar on the PSLF Program.
Experiencing Fresh Expressions in A Rural Context
Is your church looking to connect with new people in your community? On May 14th and 15th we have two opportunities to learn about and experience fresh expressions with a focus on the rural context. Saturday’s event will be in Albermarle and Sunday’s event will be in Boone. Clergy and laity from across the conference are invited to join
Discerning My Call Workshop
Workshop for those discerning a call to lay ministry, licensed local pastor or ordination. For more information contact Annalee Allen at aallen@wnccumc.org.
 

2022 Carolina's Black Clergy Leadership Retreat
May 23-27, 2022
Clergy, you are invited to come away to a quiet place where you can worship, reflect, and refuel.
View Calendar

 
 All WNCC News

Director of Communications: Melissa McGill

Associate Director of Communications: Aimee Yeager