Leadership Summit online on April 6
The Council of Bishops and the General Church Connectional Table announce a Leadership Summit to bring together United Methodists from around the world for holy conferencing. The Summit will be held on April 6, beginning at 12 noon, as a webcast so anyone may listen and watch the live presentation.
Go to http://www.umcleadershipsummit.org/ to see the overview of the Summit. Of particular interest are the documents in “Resources” which include the Call to Action report and the studies requested at the 2008 General Conference. At the same site, click on “Facilitators” and watch the 3½ minute video. The reason for the Summit, the context and the opportunity for involvement are provided on the leadership site.
The program consists of approximately three one-hour parts. The webcast begins at 12 noon. This is followed by a discussion, without webcast, among a gathered body of NC Conference leaders in Greenville – members of the Board of Laity, Board of Ordained Ministry, Conference Connectional Table, Conference Council on Finance and Administration, the Cabinet, and conference delegates to the 2008 General and Jurisdictional Conferences. The webcast will return around 3 p.m. with responses to questions from the discussion group and other participants online.
Anyone is welcome to view the presentation of the Summit on April 6, beginning at 12 noon. To view the presentation, go to Leadership Summit and click on “Live Stream.” Only the first and final hour will be webcast.
Conference Connectional Ministries launches new webpage
Connectional Ministries has launched an updated site. Visit the new page to see new information about partnerships and resources that are helping pastors and laity discover and embrace the future that God is giving them. See how it is helping congregations in the conference on the Celebrate page.
Also, Conference boards, agencies, commissions, and committees are providing tangible leadership opportunities for those who are interested in reflecting and sharing the mission of the North Carolina Conference. Here is a list of current openings from the Nominations page.
Please visit the updated site to see more of the latest news and information.
Conference seeking to identify Acts 2 churches
Churches are invited to consider the criteria for being named an Acts 2 church in response to Bishop Al Gwinn’s challenge to have 200 such churches recognized at Annual Conference. Criteria for determining Acts 2 churches and an application form have been completed to identify congregational initiatives and witness in four areas: Radical Hospitality, Passionate Worship, Intention Spiritual Formation, and Risk-Taking Mission and Ministry to the World. The deadline for having a completed form in the district office is May 1. Complete information and an application form are available at Acts 2.
Love for Liberia focus is the Ganta Hospital
The Love for Liberia focus for January – June 2011 is the Ganta United Methodist Mission Hospital/community health ministry and the mission station schools. Churches and/or are invited to participate in supporting these critical ministries through the collection of critical items needed by Ganta medical providers and patients, and school teachers and students. read more
Unity Dialogue to meet April 27
The Unity Dialogue will meet April 27 at Methodist University in Fayetteville. Discussion will focus on an article first printed in 1996 in Christian Century magazine, by Walter Wink, titled “Homosexuality and the Bible.” Now available online, the article can be found at Wink article. Permission to print the article is give at the end of the site. The Unity Dialogue is committed to civil conversation about the challenging topic of homosexuality. The dialogue is open to all. The gathering at Methodist University is at 3 p.m. in the Heritage Room, and following worship with communion, Bishop Al Gwinn will facilitate the discussion.
Local churches invited to submit photos to project
The Duke Divinity School Clergy Health Initiative is preparing a curriculum for Pastor-Parish Relations Committees in the North Carolina and the Western North Carolina Conferences. Dr. H. Edgar Moore, Director of Theological Education and Conference Relations, invites congregations to send digital pictures, especially of baptisms, eucharist and confirmation. Contact Moore at hmoore@div.duke.edu or 919-613-5354, for more information.