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Means of Grace: UMC Reflections
In the latest episode of the Means of Grace podcast, a few members of our hosting panel share how the United Methodist Church has shaped their faith and their calling as well as their hopes for its future. As part of United Methodist Communications #BeUMC initiative, we also invite you to join the conversation and share your own stories of what being United Methodist means to you, using the hashtags #BeUMC and #WNCCUMC. Learn more about the #BeUMC initiative here. |
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United Methodists Stand with Ukraine
United Methodists across the globe are condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As Christians “we believe war is incompatible with the teachings and example of Christ. We therefore reject war as an instrument of national foreign policy.” (2016 Book of Discipline, Social Principles ¶165.C). We also know our God stands with the oppressed and calls on us to support them. See some of the ways United Methodist leaders, organizations and individuals are responding to the invasion of Ukraine through their prayer, aid and witness.
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Celebrating Women's History Month in the WNCC: Jettie Morrison
Did you know Mrs. Jettie Morrison served as President of the Woman’s Society of Christian Service of the North Carolina Conference (and later the North Carolina-Virginia Conference) in the Central Jurisdiction from 1960-68 and was a significant figure in the integration and merger of 1968? In this short bio, Jim Pyatt, Conference Archivist & Historian, tells the story of 'Miss Jettie,' as she was affectionately called, and the impact she had on the Western North Carolina Conference and greater United Methodist Church. |
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Church Development Text In Church Matching Grant
Church Development is pleased to partner with Text In Church to offer a matching grant to offset the cost of a yearly subscription for Text In Church. Text In Church believes it should be easy to reach more people with technology. That’s why they built an easy-to-use tool that lets you engage people in a way that’s familiar to them. Learn more and apply for the matching grant today!
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Fully Online Church Develops Safe Sanctuary Policy for the Digital Faith Community
Checkpoint Church, a fully-online church in the Western NC Conference, recently unveiled their new policy for providing safety for all individuals within their digital faith community. Built upon traditional Safe Sanctuaries policies, which seek to ensure safety of children, youth, and vulnerable adults in a physical church environment, Safepoint takes these foundational principals and applies them to the unique context of digital ministry. Checkpoint is offering this novel policy as a resource for other churches as they begin to have conversations around safety measures within their own context and online ministries. |
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Harry Denman Evangelism Award
The Harry Denman Evangelism Award program honors United Methodists in each annual conference whose exceptional ministry of evangelism – expressed in Word (what), Sign (why), and Deed (how) – brings people into a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ. |
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Annual Conference Updates
The registration form for housing at Lake Junaluska is now available but will close THIS FRIDAY, March 18. Please be sure to get your requests in before this deadline.
Registration for displays at Annual Conference is also now open. The deadline to register is Friday, April 15.
If your congregation is celebrating its 100th, 150th, or 200th anniversary this year, please contact Jim Pyatt, Archivist, at jpyatt@wnccumc.org by April 1, so that your church will be included in this year’s recognition.
Petitions for consideration by the 2022 Western North Carolina Annual Conference lay and clergy members should be submitted by April 1, 2022 to Rev. Kim Ingram, Conference Secretary, at kingram@wnccumc.org. Petitions should be formatted similar to petitions found here: 2019journal.vol1.ix.pdf (wnccumc.org).
Please remember, 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. 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. Thank you for your faithful ministry and leadership in the conference and the kingdom.
Keep up with the latest news and resources for Annual Conference 2022 at https://www.wnccumc.org/ac2022.
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UPCOMING WEBINARS & EVENTS:
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Weekend Grief Retreat hosted by Faith & Grief
March 18-20, 2022
Join us at Montreat Conference Center in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina. We are offering this weekend retreat for those who are grieving the death of a loved one. Led by the Faith & Grief team of grief support educators, who have experienced their own grief journey, this weekend retreat provides you with a safe venue to explore the dynamics of your grief.
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Earth, Our Original Monastery
Saturday, March 19, 2022
Join Starrette Farms as we will explore how living contemplatively in rhythm with our natural world makes us more receptive and aware of the presence of our Creator in every aspect of our life. Sign up now for the next retreat day, |
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IgniteUS: Youth Retreat
April 1-3, 2022
IgniteUS is a youth retreat for 6th-12th graders planned by our Conference Council on Youth Ministry. We will have worship led by the Praise Team of First UMC Newton, and our speaker is the amazing Jennifer Bingham Hampton (Camp Director of Tekoa Foothills). Cost is $140. Register by March 15th! |
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