The Divinity School’s Clergy Health Initiative has launched a blog, The Connection, to provide a variety of health resources tailored to the needs of pastors. Topics range from mental and physical health to communication and commitment. Visit the blog at http://chi.divinity.duke.edu.
Tag: 2009
ABC television affiliates nationwide will broadcast a United Methodist-produced Christmas Eve candlelight service on Dec. 24 and 25. The hour-long broadcast was taped at First United Methodist Church of Dallas, TX. The traditional service includes carols and scriptures, and features a 100-voice choir, a brass and drum ensemble, and the church’s pipe organ. Dr. John Fiedler, senior minister, delivers the message “I Am Bringing You Good News.” Regularly updated television listings for the Christmas Eve service are available at interfaithbroadcasting.com.
The Judicial Council, the highest judicial body of the United Methodist Church, met November 2, 2009 in Durham, NC. The Judicial Council is composed of nine members elected by the General Conference, and determines the constitutionality of acts or proposed acts of the General, Jurisdictional, Central, and Annual Conferences. Twenty one docket items were addressed by the Jurisdictional Council at the fall meeting. Those items included participation of retired clergy in local churches, pension and health insurance plans, and Choice Empowerment.
For more information on the Judicial Council decisions and related articles visit:
http://archives.umc.org/interior_judicial.asp?mid=263
*Photo courtesy of UMNS by Taylor Mills
Judicial Council members Belton Joyner (left) and Susan Henry-Crowe participate in an oral hearing.
Generous support of the UM Student Day offering provides United Methodist scholarships and the U.M. Student Loans administered by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM). Annual conferences participating in the Rebate Program may award one or more merit scholarships to United Methodist students. Participating conferences may award scholarships to U.M. students who reside in the conference and who attend or will attend a U.M.-related college or university. Promotional materials may be ordered from umcgiving.org.
UPDATE: Also, you can find more information and ideas for celebrating UM Student Day on the Young Adults page of the Conference website.
All clergy and lay members of the North Carolina Conference are invited to a time of prayer for the ministry that will take place in the new conference facility under construction in Garner. All outer walls are now up. Come to the building site (700 Waterfield Ridge Place, Garner, NC) on Monday, Oct. 12, from 12 noon – 1 p.m. to participate in bathing the building and building site with prayer.
Everyone attending can record their prayers and scripture on the walls so that they become a permanent part of the building. The walls will be covered as construction continues but the hope that the core of the building will be covered with the prayers and scripture passages that are guiding our vision of how we serve to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Anyone who cannot be present on Oct. 12 can send a prayer or scripture passage to be recorded on the walls. Requests should be sent to nccbuilds@nccumc.org.
**Please note that this is a construction site so please wear appropriate footwear – no sandals, etc. There is mud all around so wear shoes that are suitable for walking through mud.**
**Please note that this is a construction site so please wear appropriate footwear – no sandals, etc. There is mud all around so wear shoes that are suitable for walking through mud.**
The next gathering of the North Carolina Episcopal-United Methodist Dialogue will bring together both North Carolina United Methodist bishops and three Episcopal bishops to Mt. Pleasant UMC near Greensboro at 3 p.m., on Oct. 19. At 7 p.m., the bishops will lead a service of reaffirmation of the baptismal covenant. The afternoon session will include comments by a United Methodist bishop and by an Episcopal bishop on “The State of the Church in Our Tradition.” Dialogue participants will follow with discussion of the issues raised in these presentations. After a brief update on the National Dialogue, the bishops will form a question and answer panel, exploring matters that seem to be “sticking points” in the effort to move toward full Communion. Read the rest of this entry »
“Feasting with God: A Peace with Justice Retreat” will be held at Chestnut Ridge Camp and Retreat Center in Efland, Sept. 26- 27. Participants will explore what it might mean to eat in a manner pleasing to God. Weekend activities include shopping for, cooking, and preserving fresh, local foods with the help of local chefs; a celebration and thanksgiving for the season’s harvest; film, discussion groups, worship; and eating healthy, delicious food. Read the rest of this entry »
SEJANAM, the Southeastern Jurisdictional Agency for Native American Ministries, and Lake Junaluska will be hosting the first Native Women’s Gathering and Conference Oct. 16-18. The theme of the event is “Re-Defining Our Place: Native Women Speak!” Helping to lead worship will be Louisa Locklear and April Oxendine of the North Carolina Annual Conference. Read the rest of this entry »
The African-American Methodist Heritage Center, an initiative of Black Methodists for Church Renewal, is sponsoring a workshop Oct. 2-4 at Gammon Theological Seminary. “The Journey: History as a Bridge to the Future” is designed to increase awareness about African-American contributions to the church and to encourage effective discipleship, evangelism and mission. The United Methodist Board of Church and Society and Commission on Archives and History also are sponsors. Further information is available at aamhc-umc.org.
Academy of Christian Witness for Laity will be held October 15-17, 2009 at Camp Rockfish. Participants may check-in after 1:00 pm on Thursday and the last session will dismiss on Saturday around noon.
Registration Form
