Clergy Executive Session to be in May
The 2010 Clergy Session of the North Carolina Annual Conference will be held on Friday, May 14 at First UMC, 100 S. Church Street in Rocky Mount. The session is scheduled to last from 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. The decision to separate the clergy session from the opening day of annual conference was made by the annual conference planning team after surveying the clergy members. The discussion for this began while trying to decide how to adjust this year’s schedule given that annual conference will be one day shorter. The only order of the day on May 14 will be the clergy session. While lunch will not be provided, the hope is that colleagues will take advantage of this time to visit with one another, pray for one another and share lunch together without having to hurry in order to get to the opening session of annual conference.
Annual Conference materials to be posted online
In an effort to conserve funds, be good stewards of resources, and to utilize the most up-to-date avenues available, the Annual Conference Planning Committee has asked members to go online to the conference website, and click on the link https://nccumc.org/secretary/. Materials which will be helpful for members attending Annual Conference will be available for printing out as needed and will be updated regularly. Pastors are asked to make sure that the lay members from their churches are aware of the website link and assist them in securing the information.
Save the date for fellowship, food, and fun!
All are invited to join the NC Conference Women in Ministry 1st Conference Day Luncheon for a celebration of women in ministry at the Greenville Hilton, Thursday, June 10. The time will include recognition of women being ordained and commissioned Deacons and Elders, passing the Convener’s office to the Rev. Tracy Clayton (EC: Gates Charge), recognition of women beginning their first appointment, opportunities to connect with women-colleagues in ministry, and opportunities for Brothers in ministry, lay members, and guests to support women in ministry. The menu and cost will be announced in upcoming News Briefs. Send your plans to attend to the Rev. Elaine Lilliston at: elilliston@nccumc.org. If you are able to assist with the display table, please contact the Rev. Jan Thornton-Irvine at: jthornton-irvine@nccumc.org
Deadline for nominations extended to March 26
Nominations to the boards, commissions and committees of the NC Conference will be approved at the Annual Conference session in June. The process of self-nomination allows lay and clergy members of the United Methodist Church in the bounds of the NC Conference to select an area of interest for service. The vacancies in the boards, commissions and committees are posted on the Conference website, at Nominations as well as, the Nomination form. It is always the hope of the Nominating Committee that lay members of our churches will offer themselves for service in the Conference, and we desire inclusivity among the Conference committees. Some travel is required, as most of the groups meet about four times a year, although some meetings may occur by conference call or web-based communication. The deadline for Nominations will be extended to Friday, March 26, to allow time for clergy and lay members to complete the online application.
Workshop on helping persons returning from war
The North Carolina Council of Churches is pleased to be co-sponsoring “Transforming the Wounds of War: How Can Communities Respond to the Impact of Trauma on Returning Veterans and Their Families?” There will include a free public forum on Friday evening, April 16, and a clergy training event on Saturday, April 17. This event will be at First Baptist Church on Wilmington Street in Raleigh. For more information or to register for the clergy training, go to http://woundsofwarnc.org/.
Change the World, April 24-25 – United Methodist Service Weekend
United Methodists are encouraged to begin planning now to join in “Change the World,” a denomination-wide event on April 24-25 that prompts members to join with others in their communities to make a difference locally and globally. During that weekend, United Methodist churches are encouraged to participate in a service or fund-raising event that effects positive, long-lasting change. The service could be revitalizing a food-pantry program, creating a new ministry to help the homeless, or increasing awareness of global health issues like malaria. Congregations can utilize existing ministries or initiate a new outreach event. For more information, please see: Change the World.
The United Methodist Church and Health Care Reform
Many persons have asked questions about the United Methodist position on the health-care coverage plan passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on March 22. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi mentioned in a speech that The United Methodist Church had advocated for health care reform (see UMNS release at Health Care reform news release) General Conference, the only body that speaks officially for The United Methodist Church, has taken no stand on current legislation, but has been a strong advocate for universal health care. Resolution 3201 in The UM Book of Resolutions 2008 states the position on health-care coverage passed by the 2008 General Conference of The United Methodist Church. (purchase the Book of Resolutions at www.cokesbury.com.) The General Board of Church and Society is the social advocacy agency of The United Methodist Church. Its responsibilities are outlined in ¶¶1002-1004 of the Book of Discipline 2008. Part of those responsibilities includes educating legislators about the positions of The United Methodist Church. Under Internal Revenue Service definition, the work of the General Board of Church and Society is advocacy, not lobbying, because this agency is not asking Congress for anything that benefits the church, but for measures that benefit others. The agency definitely does not offer gifts or perks to influence voting.
NC Historical Society and Commission on Archives & History to meet
The spring meeting of the NC Historical Society and the Commission on Archives and History has been changed to Saturday, April 17, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Pleasant Green UMC in Durham. Church historians and interested persons are invited to attend. Lunch will be served. Please call Robin Harry, 800-849-4433/919-832-9560, ext. 252; or email at: rharry@nccumc.org to reserve a lunch.