News

Disaster Response Update - Greensboro Tornado On April 15th, 2018 an EF2 Tornado struck the Greensboro area, killing one and causing widespread damage. Disaster Response teams from various organizations, including some from the WNCC UMC, are currently helping with disaster relief efforts in the area. Habitat for Humanity is coordinating the disaster response effort in the area. Guilford County has indicated there are still many areas with down trees and power lines.  There are many homes and ...

BLACK MOUNTAIN, North Carolina -- The Southern Province of the Moravian Church in North America on Friday, April 20, voted at its synod meeting in Black Mountain to enter into a full communion relationship with The United Methodist Church. This key step in the process toward full communion will be followed up by a vote of the Northern Province at its synod meeting in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on June 21-25, 2018.  An affirmative vote at the Northern Provincial Synod would finalize the ...

The Anson-East Union Missional Network received an award from Second Harvest for their work with the Mobile Food Pantry.   “Each year Second Harvest hosts an awards luncheon for our partners in the community who have gone above and beyond to help us in our mission of ending hunger. ...We would like to honor Anson-East Union Mission Network with a Faith Based Partner Award."   We celebrate missional engagement that is making a difference in the lives of the people in their community. If you are ...

Interested in spending 11 months growing closer to Jesus in community? The Blackburn House is a unique opportunity for folks who desire discipleship and service! Located in Todd, NC, Blackburn House is an intentional Christian community that seeks to help people in their 20’s grow as disciples as they serve in a rural context. The house is a program of Blackburn Community Outreach, a non-profit that works towards revitalization and rural community development. Days are framed by prayer, work at...

"Come and see what God is up to in our Wesleyan tradition! Class meetings, Band meetings Emmaus Reunion groups, Covenant Discipleship groups... all are a part of God's Back Porch."   Register Now →  

The Western North Carolina Conference Council on Campus Ministries met Friday April 6 and Saturday, April 7, 2018 at First UMC Gastonia. The purpose of the meeting was to create a Ministry Action Plan (MAP) to help guide the councils work.   The weekend began with a time of communion led by Chairperson, Rev. John Howard, and Rev Jill Alventosa-Brown. The meeting was facilitated by Jack Ewing, senior consultant at Gonser Gerber and former executive director of Lake Junaluska.   During the meeting...

Bishop Leeland and the cabinet announce a new appointment that will be effective July 1, 2018.  Linda Kelly, currently serving at First United Methodist Church Lenoir, in the Appalachian District will be appointed to the Smoky Mountain District.   She is a graduate of Wake Forest University (B.S., 1977), Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div.,1981) and Duke University (Th.M.,1985)   She served Centenary UMC in New Bern (NCC) associate (1983-1984,1986-1989); Central UMC in Shelby, ...

Congratulations: 2017 PHW Collaborative Congregations Congratulations to the following congregations from the WNCC UMC and the NCC UMC who were a part of the PHW Collaborative in 2017 and are/were eligible for grants to expand or implement health and wellness ministries in 2017/2018. We are delighted to walk alongside these churches who are exploring what it means to engage with the health needs of their communities through a lens of faith. Goldston UMC                                          ...

“Who do you know that should be considered for this year’s Harry Denman Evangelism Award?”   Each year The Denman Evangelism Award is presented at Annual Conference to the youth, clergy, and/or lay person that best personifies what it means to live our call to make disciples of Jesus Christ. The recipients are those who have followed in the footsteps of noted lay evangelist Harry Denman by showing Christ to others through their actions, ministries, and heart for living and sharing the Gospel. ...

Prayer and Resources for the Struggle In light of the long, painful and ongoing struggle for women to have the same rights and privileges as men – not only in society as a whole but even within the church – your WNCC COSROW (Commission on the Status and Role of Women) would like to offer the following prayer:   We give you thanks, O God, that at Pentecost your Spirit was poured out on all people – on women no less than men. Anoint your church again, we pray, so that every barrier to faithful ...

Nashville, Tennessee – Congregations across the connection are invited to celebrate the 50th anniversary commemorating the event on April 23, 1968, when leaders of the Evangelical United Brethren Church and The Methodist Church declared the creation of a new denomination, The United Methodist Church. With the words “Lord of the Church, we are united in Thee, in Thy Church and now in The United Methodist Church,” the new denomination was birthed at the constituting General Conference being held ...

The Conference Council on Campus Ministries recently hosted a training for local campus ministry boards on March 23 and 24th at the Catholic Conference Center in Hickory. Twenty-five people were in attendance representing six of the seven campus ministries in Western North Carolina Conference. Rev. John Weaver, Executive Director/Campus Minister at Middle Tennessee State University Wesley Foundation lead the board training. A variety of topics including how to recruit and develop a local ...

by Charlotte Brendel Our Book of Discipline is clear about why the church exists: ¶ 202.  The Function of the Local Church — The church of Jesus Christ exists in and for the world. It is primarily at the level of the charge consisting of one or more local churches that the church encounters the world. The local church is a strategic base from which Christians move out to the structures of society. The function of the local church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, is to help people to ...

LOS ANGELES – Members of the Commission on a Way Forward expressed gratitude at the opportunity to be part of the Commission and they signaled hope for The United Methodist Church as they completed their meeting in Los Angeles on Thursday, March 22. The 32-member Commission has been meeting since January 2017 in various places throughout the global denomination to assist the bishops in their charge from the 2016 General Conference to lead the church forward amid the present impasse related to ...

We here at Brooks-Howell Home have some incredible news that we can’t wait to share with other members of the community. But what is Brooks-Howell Home? We are a not-for-profit charitable continuing care retirement community. Originally it was established as a retirement destination for United Methodist deaconesses and missionaries, but has evolved into a community that includes local residents from Western North Carolina, clergy and spouses, and service personnel from other denominations. Our ...

LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C.—Lake Junaluska has recently received more than $400,000 in charitable donations to renovate youth and young adult facilities. Upgrades will begin in late spring.   Rev. Mitzi Johnson, director of programming at Lake Junaluska, said she is excited to see the transformation of the buildings and the effect it will have on the thousands of youth who stay at Lake Junaluska each year.   “I'm thrilled by this resounding affirmation that Lake Junaluska cares deeply about youth and ...

DALLAS - Several leaders of United Methodist Church-related institutions voiced optimism and are preparing for possible changes in the global denomination that could occur as a result of the Special Session of the General Conference called for February next year. As part of its commitment of offering a proposal that would move The United Methodist Church forward with as much unity as possible, the Council of Bishops invited leaders of United Methodist-related anchor institutions for ...

WNC Emory Club 2018 5K at Lake Junaluska Register at: runsignup.com/EmoryClub5K $25 before 5/31/18 $35 after Friday, June 22, 2018 8 AM Stuart Auditorium Benefitting: UMCOR/Puerto Rico Recovery

  Packing Instructions and Project AGAPE/UMCOR Drop-Off Locations Please pack all items in the smallest box that is appropriate.  Recommended box size is 16” X 12” X 12” since boxes of that size can be reused as part of a shipment. List the contents on the outside of the box. Also, pack the boxes as full and tight as possible.  That prevents boxes from being crushed as they are stacked in the warehouse awaiting the sorting process. If at all possible, avoid using plastic bags, ...

LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. — Lake Junaluska has a full schedule set for Easter weekend, including a 5K run, children’s Easter egg hunt, sunrise service overlooking the lake and buffet lunch. Everyone is invited to attend the events.   Friends of the Lake 5K   Easter weekend at Lake Junaluska begins with the Friends of the Lake 5K Road Race, Walk and Fun Run on Saturday, March 31. The event, which is in its 11th year, is a way for the community to support the Lake Junaluska Walking Trail, one of the ...

WASHINGTON D.C. – The 32-member Commission on a Way Forward will meet in Los Angeles on March 19-22 to prepare a final report to be submitted to the Council of the Bishops for consideration by the bishops at their April/May meeting. “The Commission is focused on suggesting a way forward that pays attention to our public mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, especially with those who are not yet a part of our churches,” said Bishop Ken Carter, resident ...

Fifteen Early Response Team members, all students at UNC Charlotte and active in Niner United, the United Methodist campus ministry, responded to the multiple blizzards affecting northwest Montana’s Blackfeet Native American Reservation. Since the first of January, the Blackfeet Reservation has seen an astonishing 240 inches of snow. Nearly 7,500 people live on the reservation, and many have been snowed in for over a month. The Early Response Team from UNC Charlotte received and distributed ...

Bishop Paul L. Leeland and the Western North Carolina appointive cabinet announce the retirements of two current District Superintendents.  Rev. Dr. Nancy Rankin and Rev. Mark Andrews will officially retire at the upcoming Annual Conference at Lake Junaluska, June 22-24, 2018. Nancy Rankin is currently serving the Northern Piedmont District, where she has been since 2012.  Her previous appointments include: Mt. Tabor, Winston-Salem, associate (1984-1987); Oak Grove, Charlotte (1991-1996); ...

We learned on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 of the death of Bishop Bevel Jones.  We express our prayers and condolences to the Jones family, and to all of their friends and associates. He was elected to the episcopacy at the 1984 Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference, he was assigned to the Charlotte area and served the Western North Carolina Conference until his retirement in 1996. Bev Jones was born in a Methodist parsonage in Gracewood, Georgia. He earned the A.B. degree from Emory University and...

LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. — The Lake Junaluska Board of Trustees has unanimously elected Ken Howle as the new executive director of Lake Junaluska. He will assume the role immediately.   Howle has worked at Lake Junaluska for the last 14 years as director of advancement and as director of sales and marketing. He is a life-long United Methodist. He serves as a member of the church council at Long’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Waynesville, N.C.   “We are fortunate to be able to build on Ken’s ...

Website Development Grants are for local United Methodist churches and church entities who do not currently have a website.  Through this new grant, United Methodist Communications will offer the following: One year of webhosting One year of domain name registration Free WordPress online training through UMCOM Free online support throughout your training and during your year of web hosting Free pre-designed templates for easy development of your new website United Methodist Churches and church...

DALLAS - What is the Christ’s way forward for doing mission and ministry in the worldwide United Methodist Church? That is the question bishops pondered during their February meeting in Dallas this week as they received an updated report from the Commission on a Way Forward. In the report given to the Council this week, the Commission shared with the bishops two sketches that carry forward many of the values and principles of the three sketches that were presented to the bishops at their ...

The deadline for submitting petitions for consideration by the 2018 Western North Carolina Annual Conference has been extended to Tuesday, April 3.  Please send petitions to Rev. Kim Ingram, Conference Secretary at kingram@wnccumc.org and they will be reviewed by the Petitions Committee.  For help with formatting, please refer to previous petitions.

Cycle to Lake Junaluska June 18-20, 2018 You are invited to join in the 5th Annual Cycle to Lake Junaluska which will take place Monday, June 18 to Wednesday, June 20, 2018. Join us as we pedal to Lake Junaluska in a 3-day fully supported charity bicycle ride that benefits the campus ministries of our conference. The C2LJ Team has been hard at work to set up a 145 mile route with amazing host sites. Day 1 will start in Hickory, NC at Christ UMC on Monday, June 18 and cycle to Rutherfordton, ...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - With attention on the missional and theological foundations of The United Methodist Church, the Council of Bishops (COB) is preparing to receive an updated report from the Commission on a Way Forward on possible models regarding the inclusion of LGBTQ persons in the global denomination. The 32-member Commission met last month to rework sketches of possible models of the future of the denomination and will present that updated report to the bishops at a special meeting set for ...

Grace Break ​Are you seeking ways to thrive in ministry for the long-haul?  Maybe you​ are tired, feeling the pressures of a 24/7 on-call ministry, or stressed at leading your church to make disciples for Jesus Christ in today's world?   Led by Big Sigh Ministries Inc. co-founders Jacqueline and Jack Tookey, this workshop will help you focus on self-care, rest and renewal.   Based on Mark 6, The Jesus’ Way for rest and renewal (Get Away, Get with People who Love You, Serve Where You’re not in ...

“Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary use words.”  We cross paths with people that personify this quote almost daily in our ministry.  Like Susie Heidt, who coordinated a successful VBS in a town that has no schools.  Or Ethan Oltreman, a high school senior who organized a revival designed to encourage racial reconciliation.  Or Rev. Andrew Singh who is passionate  about moving his church parishioners to pray and grow in their prayer lives equipping them to share the Good News of ...

As has been the practice for some years, the WNC Conference Commission on Archives and History will recognize all churches celebrating their 100th, 150th, and 200th anniversaries in 2018 with their display at Annual Conference this year.  If your congregation is celebrating one of these anniversaries this year, please contact Jim Pyatt, Assistant Archivist, at jpyatt@wnccumc.org  by March 15, so that your church will be included in this year’s recognitions.  

Robert H. McMichael III was the worship leader at the Western North Carolina Annual Conference in June 2017.  He was scheduled to return for the 2018 Conference at Lake Junaluska. We were saddened to learn of his death on Monday, February 19, 2018.  He was a celebrated musician and worship leader across the United Methodist connection and lead worship in a number of conference gatherings over the years.    He served in numerous capacities in churches throughout the Atlanta area. As organist, ...

LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. – A new meditation pier that will extend over 40 feet into the water and seat up to eight people is under construction at Lake Junaluska. The pier, located along the Lake Junaluska Walking Trail on the south end of the Memorial Chapel parking lot, will provide a place for meditation and reflection with incredible lake views. It will be open to the public to use by Easter. Funding for this new pier was given in memory of Erle and Mary Peacock, former summer residents of Lake...

Our Prayer of Lament February 15, 2018 "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more." (Jer. 31:15) Unbelievable. Unspeakable. Shock. Our nation prays with the families of Parkland, Florida, in response to the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The unanswerable questions of "why", "how", and "could it have been prevented", do nothing to alleviate the sudden horror unleashed upon ...

The Housing Letter has been mailed to all clergy and lay members of the conference and is arriving by postal mail across the state.  The link above contains all of the information contained in the mailing.  The Housing Request Form will go live on the morning of February 28th. For those interested in requesting display space, Annual Conference Display Information is now online.  The online application form is also available, and can be submitted until April 13, 2018.  

The Third Annual All Hood Alumni & Friends Center for Chaplaincy Symposium   Chaplaincy: The Many Roads of Spiritual Service and Compassionate Caring Thursday, March 15, 2018 5:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. Networking Reception: Symposium attendees,  Chaplain Residents, HTS Students, Faculty and Staff Friday, March 16, 2018 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Continental Breakfast Morning Reflections: Rev. Katherine Higgins Association of Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) Director of Community, Practice, & ...

2018 Lenten message calls for more spiritual disciplines WASHINGTON, D.C. -  The Bishops of The United Methodist Church are calling on members of the denomination to deny themselves during the 2018 Lenten Season for the sake of the kingdom of Jesus Christ and to set aside self-interest so that others may have a more abundant life. In a message sent on behalf of UMC bishops to United Methodists throughout the world, Council of Bishops President Bishop Bruce R. Ough challenged fellow Christians to...

  Clergy Taxes: Don't Live in Fear Monday, Feb. 12, 2018, 10am, CST      You've heard a lot about changes to the tax laws that are beginning to take effect in 2018. More than ever, you'll want to be smart about filing for 2017 and strategic about how you plan for 2018! Clergy face some unique challenges when it comes to things like social security payments, estimated tax payments, housing allowances or exclusions, and reimbursed expenses. Your corner tax preparer ...

GET ON THE BOAT! "When Jesus got into the boat, his disciples followed him."  Matthew 8:23 Jesus tells his disciples, “Get on the boat!” Once on board, he teaches them, calms their fears, and launches them into mission. It’s no surprise the Church is symbolized by a boat and sail. Miracles happen when we get on board with Jesus. Come to Lake Junaluska this summer, and find your spot on His crew!   Summer Youth Event Dates Join some of your favorite speakers and bands during the Summer Youth ...

UMCOR Sunday is right around the corner. This churchwide special Sunday with offering provides United Methodists the opportunity to help our brothers and sisters around the world in their time of need. Our generous gifts through the UMCOR Sunday offering support the work of the United Methodist Committee on Relief. UMCOR provides immediate assistance in the wake of disasters and participates in ongoing ministries of food, shelter, health and peace. On March 11, our congregations will receive ...

What happens when your speaker for a leadership event falls ill?  Call on your bishop. The Metro District Leadership Training Event has been on the calendar for months.  Rev. Stephanie Hand, the Metro District Vitality Strategist, was scheduled to teach: How to be a Disciple Making Church at the leadership event on Saturday, February 3rd. Hand, reportedly came down with the flu, and Bishop Paul Leeland pitched in at the last minute.  He called his session, "Growing the Church." It should be ...

We have received word from the family of Bishop Bevel Jones that he is now in hospice care at Wesley Woods Senior Living in Atlanta, GA.  Jones has been at the center for 3 years now. Bishop Jones served the Western North Carolina Conference from 1984 until 1996. David, his son, writes, “Despite his dementia and general decline - he's almost 92, you know – ‘the old Bev’ still comes through at times.” “The 3 of us have always been amazed by how many people in so many places love Dad. We ...

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that whatever we do for "the least of these" we do for God. For 70 years, since 1948, The Advance has given United Methodists and their predecessors the opportunity to serve those who are "the least" in the world's eyes — the marginalized, the poor and the disadvantaged. The Mission for Migrant Workers (Advance #14241A) is one of many Advance projects devoted to justice for those who find themselves oppressed by power structures in which they have no ...

By The Reverend Marji Hill, Deacon In our churches, January is a crucial time for new leaders. Equipping the laity for mission and ministry is often a primary focus in the first few months of the year. This is the time when new leaders who have answered the call and said “YES” are now beginning to ask “HOW?” Here in far western North Carolina the HOW question is even more difficult to answer, because we have so few resources. But things are changing. While theoretically we know there are plenty...

The moderators of the Commission on a Way Forward are urging United Methodists to engage in reflections on where they see mission at the heart of the denomination as well as seeing mission as significant for resolving conflict.  Below is the statement from Bishops David Yemba, Sandra Steiner Ball, and Ken Carter   Mission and the Way Forward in the Season after the Epiphany   At the conclusion of the recent meeting of the Commission on a Way Forward, the members were asked to share three words ...

Nashville, Tenn.: In December 2017, the Secretary of the General Conference publicly released information about the number of delegates assigned to the annual conferences within each jurisdiction and central conference for the 2020 General Conference. As directed by The Book of Discipline 2016, delegate counts for individual annual conferences were sent to the bishop and annual conference secretary of each. The full list was not made available at that time pending the completion of notifications...

The Western North Carolina Conference Connectional Table met Saturday, January 20 at the United Methodist Foundation in Huntersville. Rev. Amy Coles, assistant to Bishop Leeland, led us in a devotion sparked by research she has been doing on Bitcoin.  She concluded from her research (using phrases from Seth Godin) that “money isn’t real, but mostly a sign and a signal.” She continued with the idea that “Money tells stories” and referred to several stories from the New Testament- Zacchaeus, the ...

ATLANTA  — Faith communities and United Methodist congregations looking to learn more about what their church can do to improve health and wholeness in their local communities are being invited to gather in Atlanta for the 2018 United Methodist Church Day of Health.    Sponsored by the General Board of Global Ministries, UMC Day of Health will be held on Saturday, March 17, 2018, at Dunwoody United Methodist Church located at 1548 Mt. Vernon Road, Dunwoody, GA. 30338. The event is free but ...