News

Chris Brady, a practicing psychotherapist from Raleigh, NC, will be hosting the Carolina Black Clergy webinar, Recover. Restore. Retreat., on Tuesday, July 28 at 10 AM. He will be speaking on "Coping with COVID in Community: Mind, Body and Soul."

The Conference Board of Pensions and Health Benefits waiver for church payments of benefits ended June 30. With July, invoicing for Benefit premiums resumed. The only exception is for those churches with Payroll Protection loans that specifically requested delays of the waiver.

Are you a church leader who is interested in how you can invest in the next generation? Are you a high schooler wondering “How is God calling me to be in the world?” Adventures In Ministry (AIM) is a structured mentoring program resourced by the Western North Carolina Conference which can help you connect your passions to God’s call. Learn more at https://adventuresinministry.org/

Please take a moment to update or confirm your information through the Clergy Dashboard by Tuesday, July 28th! We appreciate your time and attention to this!

Due to the pandemic, many churches are shifting worship outside. In this episode, Luke Edwards talks with Caitlin McAlhany, Pastor of Randall UMC and Porter UMC, about what she has learned about outdoor worship after three years of launching and leading Randall By the River. Listen to Means of Grace at https://www.wnccumc.org/meansofgrace or wherever you get your podcasts.

Due to the pandemic, many churches are shifting worship outside. In this episode, Luke Edwards talks with Caitlin McAlhany, Pastor of Randall UMC and Porter UMC, about what she has learned about outdoor worship after three years of launching and leading Randall By the River.

The Resource Center is reopening on 8/1/20 for shipping only. Visitors are not permitted at this time.

As ballots arrive from members of AC2020, the move to a virtual conference is being confirmed. For those with reservations at Lake Junaluska Retreat Center, a few choices have been offered.

There are so many things that you could do with IG Live. Here are some ways you could use it.

One of the best things about serving God is when our ideas are turned into something that otherwise would have seemed impossible.

Rev. Jim Parsons of Milford Hills United Methodist Church reflects on the Confederate 'Fame' statue in Salisbury. "Now, where a Confederate statue stood for 111 years, there is bare ground. Ground which can possibly grow something new. Something that unifies instead of divides. Something that brings people of all skin colors together, writes the Rev. Jim Parsons." Read more...

Carolinas Black clergy are invited to join Juanita Rasmus for a webinar on the topic of self-care Tuesday, July 21, at 10 AM EST. The free webinar will address breathing techniques, establishing support systems, and learning to “be” in the midst of a health pandemic. You won't want to miss this!

“Yes the church doors are closed, BUT God's Church is ACTIVE and on the move. Thank you, Fernando Little and Atrium Heath COVID-19 Mobile Testing Center, for making it possible for COVID testing to occur in “COVID hotspot” zip codes throughout Mecklenburg County. Thanks to all the United Methodist churches, throughout the nation, who are saying yes to partnering with medical organizations and opening up their parking lots and facilities so that COVID-19 mobile testing can occur in all communities - especially blighted communities. Lord, we are in need of a world wide cure; let it be." - Rev. Dr. Stephanie Moore Hand, Metro District Vitality Strategist

The Metro District Dinner Church has left the buildings and is now in neighborhoods! If you want to learn more about the Metro District Dinner Church or connect with the Metro District Dinner Church Network, please contact Rev. Dr. Stephanie Moore Hand, Metro District Vitality Strategist -shand@wnccumc.org

Disciple Bible Outreach Ministries (DBOM) Offering will take place on Sunday August 23rd or anytime this summer of fall. For 21 years DBOM has offered volunteer led Disciple Bible Study ministry in our state and federal prisons and juvenile training schools. Thousands of inmates have received ministry from DBOM. Now, in light of changing times, DBOM is revisioning to provide even greater work among our churches!

These unsettling times have prompted the men of the Southeastern Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church to organize a National Day of Prayer to invoke change and to give thanks. The Prayer Day will be from 1 pm to 4 pm ET on July 25.

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.

The 60-minute webinar will highlight the importance of "eating to live" and not "living to eat" during a pandemic. This information will identify the direct correlation between what we eat and our current health/how we feel. We will also learn that although exercise is only 20% of the equation, it is still a vital part of living a BOD4GOD lifestyle.

The Office of Church Development is excited to announce that we have negotiated a great deal to offer corporate licenses to all WNC Conference churches through Zoom. These licenses have several great features, such as: Hosting up to 300 participants per meeting, unlimited number and length of meetings, cloud recording, polling, chat, dial in numbers for audio by phone, streaming to online services (like Facebook Live), and transcription. The discounted price is a year of Zoom for $120, which is half off the regular price. The Office of Church Development is also offering a $60 matching grant to the first 500 churches that request it (limit one per church). Churches can register for as many licenses as you need, but there is a limit of one matching grant per church.

On Monday, June 22, 2020, Dr. Nancy K. Andersen, Archivist Emerita of the WNC Conference, entered the more immediate presence of the Lord. During her years of service as Archivist of the WNC Conference, Nancy brought a wealth of knowledge to the position.  She made answering questions of and assisting patrons with their research requests her top priorities.  Nancy has been recognized for her dedication to record keeping, her flexibility, and her persistence. Praise God for the life and service of Dr. Nancy Keever Andersen!

In the latest episode of the Means of Grace podcast, Director of Missional Engagement and Connectional Ministries Caroline Wood, and guests Rev. Eddie Ingram and Dr. Lori Dickson, explore how stress affects mental, physical, and spiritual health. Rev. Ingram explains the Enneagram types and helps us understand each type’s unique response to stress. Dr. Dickson shares the challenges and joys of serving as a general practitioner in a rural community lacking in mental health resources. Listen at www.wnccumc.org/meansofgrace or wherever you get your podcasts.

Thank you for loving your neighbor as you do and for building a tremendous legacy through Africa University. Africa University’s transformative ministry is thriving because United Methodists continue to pray for and invest in it. Best of all, the steadfast generosity of Western North Carolina United Methodist congregations inspires and sustains our students as they grow in faith, claim and work towards God’s promise of abundant life.

In our efforts to care for the safety and well being of all of our members, we are planning virtual Conference and District Annual Celebrations for 2020. We all look forward to the day when we can again gather safely in person, and experience the joy of that wonderful supportive community of United Methodist Women that is a part of every Annual Celebration!

Director of Missional Engagement and Connectional Ministries Caroline Wood, and guests Rev. Eddie Ingram and Dr. Lori Dickson, explore how stress affects mental, physical, and spiritual health. Rev. Ingram explains the Enneagram types and helps us understand each type’s unique response to stress. Dr. Dickson shares the challenges and joys of serving as a general practitioner in a rural community lacking in mental health resources.

Check out the latest Mission Engagement Blog.

The Committee on Relief has secured a additional donation of cloth face masks through FEMA. Masks are available to anyone who requests them while supplies last. Requests will be processed on a weekly basis and mailed out each Tuesday. For additional information contact Ben Rogers (brogers@wnccumc.org). Click here to complete a request form. 

GCAH is offering a FREE, 12-week course on capturing and preserving the history and stories of the local church. For church historians—or anyone interested in the story of their church! Register now for the school starting mid-September.

As leaders of the United Methodist Church in Western North Carolina, we call on the Mt. Zion Monumental Association to remove its Confederate monument in Cornelius, North Carolina. This monument sits adjacent to Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, and the leadership of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church has asked that it be moved.

Did you move to a new appointment on July 1? If so, we request that you fill out a new Clergy Compensation Report in your church or people/clergy dashboard. New for 2020 1. We made some design changes. The layout, buttons, colors, etc may have changed in various places for better user experience. 2. You now have the option to DELETE compensations. You can do this in the church or people/clergy compensation area. Please note, you can only delete a compensation if it has not been submitted by ...

Given the current challenges of meeting in-person and keeping our constituencies safe in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we realize it is no longer feasible to gather 3,000 people in the same location. Therefore, Bishop Leeland, the Cabinet, and Conference Secretary, Rev. Kim Ingram, propose a virtual meeting on August 8, 2020. Lay and clergy delegates to the 2020 Annual Conference will receive a paper ballot in the mail to approve moving Annual Conference to a virtual platform this year. Please return this ballot by July 15.

With grateful hearts for all you have done for our churches and congregations members, we celebrate this special moment with you!

As churches strive to do more in their communities, it is common for them to forget that the best way to be a presence in the community is by working with the community.

Please help us celebrate with you by reporting renovations, remodels, and changes to churches and parsonages 07/2019 - 06/2020!

An invitation to attend a virtual event to get to know a missionary.

As faithful disciples of Jesus Christ in the midst of our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we remain committed to our Biblical mandate to "love our neighbors as ourselves" and our Wesleyan call to “do no harm.” In doing so, we seek ways to engage faithfully in worship, study, and ministry while ensuring the health and safety of our members and communities. We do not recommend returning to indoor worship at this time. Continue hosting online, drive-in, or outdoor worship services while following CDC, state and local guidelines, including handwashing, wearing masks, and observing physical distancing rules.

"When Abram and Sarai heard God’s voice telling them to go to Canaan, they knew the command came from God and they trusted that God would go with them.  But when they packed up the tents and the sheep to leave Ur, they did not also have to pack up the kids, at least not yet." Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Coppedge-Henley, senior pastor of Harrison United Methodist Church in Pineville, offers practical and compassionate advice for clergy parents, parsonage & staff-parish committees, and congregations during clergy moving season.

In this episode of the Means of Grace podcast, Kim Ingram and Jesse Enniss talk with three Western North Carolina clergy: Duncan Martin, Drew McIntyre, and Mark Barden, who share their stories of moving day and getting ready to leave one parsonage and move into another one.

On July 8th at 10 am EST, Shelby Systems will host a webinar over to help equip your church on how to launch successful online and text-to-give campaigns during uncertain times.

The Phase 2 Worship Guidelines remain in effect until at least June 30th. Bishop Leeland and the Cabinet will renew or update the guidelines following the release of Governor Cooper's updated statewide guidelines this week. Any extension of Phase 2 or updates to Phase 3 will be communicated as soon as possible through email, at wnccumc.org, and on all WNCC social media platforms. Please continue to be mindful of our scriptural and Wesleyan call to "love others" and “do no harm.”

Clergy and Lay Members of the 2020 annual conference are invited to review the 2020 Program & Reports Book @ https://www.wnccumc.org/ac2020-publications

The Mission Response Center will re-open to volunteer groups on July 14. 2020.

The United Methodist Credit Union can still help local churches with the Paycheck Protection Program.

Keeping an Annual Conference Tradition Alive! You can still run a 5K with the Emory Club this annual conference season, or you can take on a whole new challenge and virtually move from the Conference center in Huntersville to the the Cross at Lake J.

Along with leaders across the church, the general secretaries of the boards and agencies of The United Methodist Church mark this moment as a time to recommit to urgent action to dismantle racism in the United States and in the church. The recent and callous killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery while the nation is already reeling from the disproportionate death rates of African American and Native Americans from COVID-19 have rightly sparked anger, lament, protest and calls for action and reflection. We write to express our own anger, pain and determination to make change in our own spheres of influence and to support the church in the urgent and ongoing work to eliminate racism.

With the full support of the Reynolds, the Foundation opened a special grant cycle specifically for churches adapting to COVID-19. $100,000 went directly to the Western North Carolina Conference to support various Conference-level ministries. An additional $102,000 in grants were awarded to 178 churches and related ministries to purchase recording and lighting equipment, online meeting software subscriptions, and expand local internet access and capacity.

On Thursday evening, at 7 p.m. the North Carolina Conference will host an online discussion, "I Still Can't Breathe: A Faith Response to Racism". Find more information at https://nccumc.org/events/i-still-cant-breathe/.

The Payroll Protection Program has helped many of our churches in the Western North Carolina Conference.  We want to continue helping and providing guidance from our various and reputable sources.  There is much information floating around so please ensure the sources of where and what your church may obtain.

Carolinas Black Clergy Retreat 2020 scheduled for August 24-28. Register at https://www.umcsc.org/2020cbcleadershipretreat/.

Confronting and dismantling systemic racism and white supremacy and cooperating with God to build a more holy, just, equitable, and Beloved community is the work of the whole Church.

Read this week's e-newsletter to learn how United Methodists are responding to racism, details for the 2020 Virtual Clergy Session, and a conversation on rethinking summer missions in the wake of COVID-19.