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Equip & Connect: A Conference for Laity in Local Church Leadership
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Save the dates for the Equip & Connect Conference 2024 (formerly known as Winter Leadership Training). This event will take place on January 21-25, 2024.
More information will be coming out in the next few months!
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An Introduction to Lay Servant Ministry: The Basic Course
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This course is a foundational, prerequisite course for all courses in Lay Servant Ministries. Participants are encouraged to discover and employ personal spiritual gifts as God intended and to consider the importance of exercising servant leadership, developing future leaders, remaining rooted in consistent spiritual practices, and being part of a group that holds members accountable in their discipleship.
Course will be taught over four consecutive Mondays (Sept. 11, Sept. 18, Sept. 25, Oct. 2); students must attend all four sessions to get credit for completing the course.
Registration Deadline: Wednesday, September 6, 2023. Once you register, you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom meeting information.
LEARN MORE & REGISTER
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United Methodist Night at the Hickory Crawdads Game
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Mark your calendar for Friday, August 25th because it's United Methodist Night at the Hickory Crawdads Baseball Game! Get discounted tickets, free giveaways, fireworks, a UM choir singing the National Anthem, Bishop Carter throwing the first pitch, and more!
WATCH PROMO VIDEO
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Good News, Nomination Team Members! Nomination season is almost here for UMC congregations in the Western North Carolina Conference, and we are gearing up to offer you guidance and support as you invite leaders into the ministry of your local congregation for 2024!
Mark your calendars (and RSVP, please) for
More than the Methodist Shuffle:
A Guide for Nominating Your Best Local Church Leaders
Sunday, August 27 | 4-5:30pm | Zoom
During this training, we will:
- Offer you a practical process for casting a wide net to assemble the largest possible pool of leaders
- Help you move from doing the Methodist Shuffle* each year, to discerning the healthiest and most effective leaders to nominate
- Create space for you to hear from the experience of others, and to share your questions with a group of other serving in the nominations process
Rev. Dr. Mary John Dye, former District Superintendent and now Retired Elder in the Western North Carolina Conference, will offer words of wisdom as we take on this meaningful challenge together. Please RSVP (the form simply asks for name, email, and if you will attend) to help us prepare.
*A term we affectionately use to describe moving the same people around to different leadership roles from year to year.
RSVP TO RECEIVE ZOOM LINK & PARTICIPANT INFO
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Announcement from the Project AGAPE Board
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It is with deep regret that the Project Board must announce that there will be no 2023 Fall collection of donations for Project AGAPE.
The reasons for this decision are as follows:
1. Project AGAPE lost its warehouse in Yerevan in July because the owners , the Armenian military, needed to use it for other purposes. Nara Melkonyan, Project AGAPE in Country Director, is currently looking for a replacement warehouse.
2. The shipping industry is still experiencing delays that started during the Pandemic. The Board has only been able to send one shipment from the Mission Response Center to Armenia in 2023.
3. Because of the wonderful donations in 2021 and 2022, the WNCC warehouse in Terrell is full to the brim. It currently has 3.5 to 4 sea container loads of donations ready to send.
READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT
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Is The UMC Really...? Series Part 2
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With some congregations considering leaving The United Methodist Church or just wondering about its future, Ask The UMC offers a series of questions and answers to help clear up some common misperceptions or misinformation around disaffiliation.
This is part 2: Addressing Misinformation About Policies of The UMC Regarding Human Sexuality
Ask The UMC responds to misinformation being spread about the policies of The United Methodist Church regarding human sexuality and whether they have changed or will soon be changed.
Questions answered in this article:
Is The UMC Really....?
1. Immediately dropping all prohibitions related to human sexuality, now that the Global Methodist Church has been officially started?
2. Going to drop all prohibitions related to human sexuality at its next General Conference in 2024?
3. Going to require its clergy and clergy candidates to agree to offer same-sex weddings as a condition of candidacy, status, or appointment?
4. Ordaining drag queens and supporting worship of a "Queer God"?
5. Ignoring or refusing to implement the Discipline's statements, restrictions, and requirements regarding practicing homosexuals and same sex weddings?
PART 2
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Did you miss the last edition of E-News?
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Mission Journey Preview Weekend
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Prospective Mission Trip Leaders...You're invited to the upcoming Mission Journey Preview Weekend taking place on September 22-24 at Lake Junaluska!
The event starts at 5:30pm on Friday, September 22nd, with a driving tour of local areas negatively impacted by extreme flooding from Tropical Storm Fred in August, 2021, and culminates with an outdoor “Church in the Wild” worship service on Sunday, September 24th at 9:00 am, which will be led by the Rev. Jonathan Brake, Program Manager of Environmental Sustainability with the General Board of Global Ministries, commissioned UM EarthKeeper, and founder of the WNCCUMC Creation Care Ministry Team.
LEARN MORE & REGISTER
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Save the Date for the Project AGAPE 30 Year Anniversary Celebration
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Join Director Nara Melkonyan, Bishop Carter, and Bishop Shelton for a luncheon to celebrate Project AGAPE's 30 years in ministry. We are excited to reflect on the work of Project AGAPE as we look forward to what is to come.
October 21, 2023 | 11:00 am - 2:00 pm | Mount Pleasant UMC, Greensboro
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CROSS & KEY PRISON MINISTRIES
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Cross and Key Prison Ministries Sunday, August 27
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Did you know that almost 2 million persons are incarcerated in America? Did you know that 29,000 men and women are incarcerated in NC’s state prisons alone? Jesus said, “I was in prison and you visited me. When you have done it to the least of these, you have done it to me.” Without a doubt our prisons are one of the greatest mission fields in the world!
Cross and Key Prison Ministries has been helping churches from Murphy to Manteo become involved in prison ministry since 1999. This June Cross and Key Prison Ministries celebrated 24 years of ministry! On Sunday, August 27, 2023 the Western North Carolina and North Carolina Conferences will celebrate Cross and Key Prison Ministries Sunday with a special offering. Cross and Key Prison Ministries helps local congregations begin new prison ministry programs, supports exiting prison ministries and advocates for prison reform in keeping with our Social Principles.
To learn more about this important ministry and ways your church can become involved, please go to their website: www.crossandkeyprisonministries.com. You may also contact Executive Director Mark Hicks directly at 336-689-1443 / mhicksdbom@gmail.com.
READ BISHOP CARTER'S LETTER ABOUT CROSS & KEY PRISON MINISTRIES
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Pre-Retirement In-Person Webinar: Retiring Well
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For Clergy 3-5+ years from retirement. October 16-17, 2023 at the Conference Office in Huntersville.
Hear engaging presentations with representatives from Wespath and Treasury Services. Register before September 26th and a personalized, confidential Benefit Projection will be mailed to you. PLUS sign up for a 20-minute individual consultation with a member of the Wespath team during our time together. Spouses are welcomed to join the event and consultation!
LEARN MORE
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The Latest News From Hood Theological Seminary
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Rev. Dr. Clifford Barnett, Sr. To Speak at Hood Seminary’s Virtual Opening Convocation
The Fall 2023 Virtual Opening Convocation will be on Friday, September 15, 2023, 6:00 - 7:15 pm. The Speaker will be Rev. Dr. Clifford Barnett, Sr., ’80, Pastor, Warner Temple A.M.E. Zion Church, Member, Wilmington, N.C. City Council. More information will be forthcoming.
Attend the Critical Race Theory Didactic at Hood Theological Seminary
The title of the didactic is "Critical Race Theory and the Church: Unpacking Race and Racism in Religious Spaces." This didactic will take place September 11, 2023 - November 13, 2023, via Zoom - each session will be one hour. In this six-week online course, we will delve into the fundamentals of Critical Race Theory (CRT) and explore its relevance and application within the context of religious institutions, with a specific focus on the church. By examining historical perspectives, contemporary issues, and theological implications, we seek to foster a deeper understanding of how race and racism intersect with faith and spirituality. Through open and respectful dialogue, we aim to create a space for meaningful discussions that promote empathy, critical thinking, and transformative change within our religious communities.
VISIT THEIR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO
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Copyright © 2022 Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, All rights reserved.
Where to find us:
Western North Carolina Conference
13924 Professional Center Dr, Ste 200
Huntersville, NC 28078
Mailing Address:
PO Box 2757
Huntersville, NC 28070
Phone: 704.535.2260
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