We’re starting a new regular feature today. We want to keep everyone up-to-date about the happenings across the NC Conference offices and committees, so we’ll be posting a roundup of all the major news at the end of every month.

Here’s an overview of NC Conference events and updates from January. 

Conference

• The #BeUMC focus theme for January was Resilient. Visit our #BeUMC page to view videos, resources, and learn how to join.
• A new episode of Grace for the Future with Bishop Fairley, Pastor Won Namkoong, and Rev. Robert Amundsen was released. Listen and subscribe on your favorite streaming platform.
• Bishop Fairley shared a message, The Beloved Community, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. 
• The NC Conference celebrated Dr. Christine Harman as she retired at the end of 2021. Learn more about Conference staff changes. 
• The AC Planning Committee continues to monitor the current COVID-19 trends in North Carolina. In our efforts to “do no harm,” a decision will be made in early March about whether this year’s AC will be in-person or will be virtual.
• To better communicate with Conference staff, the NC Conference transitioned to the Google Voice phone system. Extension numbers are no longer valid. View the staff page for updated contact information.
• The 2021 Statistical Tables I, II, and III were completed.

Center for Leadership Excellence

• Over 1,100 people registered for the Conference-wide Leadership training held on January 9 for local church Lay Leaders, Finance, Trustees, and S/PPRC committee members. 
• Over 300 people registered for the virtual workshop, Relational Covenants with Molly Shivers, to discuss what relational covenants are, why we need them, and how we create them.

District Office

• A new S/PPRC quarterly prompt tool was created by the Cabinet in response to suggestions heard, received, and honored regarding the Ministry Assessment.
• We received District nominees for the Lay Equalization Plan, and are now moving into reviewing the nominations.

Outreach Ministry

• NC Conference UMVIM held a leadership training class. 
• NC Conference UMVIM confirmed plans to travel to El Salvador in May 2022. 
• The Mission Team met with members of The Duke Endowment to learn more about opportunities to collaborate.
• Creation Care Committee is planning to promote and educate people about The Green Church Initiative. The Committee is also making plans to hold another Redeeming Creation Care Conference in April. 
• The Health Ministry shared COVID updates and is promoting the NC Council of Churches Opioid Settlement webinars. See the latest updates on our Coronavirus Response page. 
• Disaster Ministries shared ways to help support disaster response efforts in the Kentucky, Louisiana, and Western NC Conferences.

Media Center

• The Media Center published a list of the top 12 most borrowed resources in 2021.
• View resources for Lent and Easter, Resilient People of God, and Black History Month.

Race, Equity, and Justice Ministries

• The Race, Equity, and Justice Ministries office hosted a Cross-Racial/Cross-Cultural meeting with Bishop Fairley to review the Comprehensive Plan of Inclusiveness: what is still valid, what needs to be updated, and how to support our ethnic congregations.
• To further the conversation, Bishop Fairley began listening sessions with ethnic groups as a part of our Anti-Racism strategy.
• Several leaders from around the Conference completed the Healing Haunted Histories journey, a series of communal workshops looking at issues of Indigenous justice and settler response-ability as the work of discipleship and Christian witness.

Treasurer’s Office

• Registration for the Clergy Benefits Seminar opened.
• For those on Conference Insurance, your free telehealth vendor service changed to Teledoc effective January 1, 2022.
• 2024 Committee budgets were submitted and reviewed by Conference Connectional Table and Council on Finance & Administration.

Youth Ministries

• Youth Ministries announced 2022 NCCUMC Youth Week.