The Annual Audit Report is now ready for uploading your data for the calendar year 2023, which is due from all churches no later than August 1, 2024. You will find this report on the Conference’s Online Data Collection System.
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Race Equity & Justice Invites All
Premiered at the Smithsonian’s 2023 Folklife Festival, “Faith in Blackness” explores the spirituality of Afro-Latines across different religions and faith practices. The film seeks to explore the relationship between the racial identity of Black Latines and their spirituality.
Co-sponsored by the Race Equity & Justice Ministries office, this screening and panel discussion is open to the public with no cost to attend. This event will begin at 5:00 pm on February 27.
Bishop’s Forum Announcement
Peace on the Land: The Campesinx Struggle for Reclamation and Healing in Colombia
Witness for Peace Southeast and The NC Conference of The United Methodist Church are sponsoring a discussion between Bishop Connie Mitchell Shelton and Briceida Lemos, an Environmental Activist from Colombia, on November 15th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at the NCCUMC building.
We hope that you will come, learn, and join in the conversation about the land and people of Colombia.
We ask that you share the following flyers with your congregation and community.
Event Registration
Change the Conversation 2023
This workshop on immigration is the first in a series focusing on issues of justice, equity, and inclusion presented by Neighborhood Seminary and Hope4Humanity. September 30, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at Morehead UMC in Greensboro, NC.
In Change the Conversation, attendees will learn from organizations and speakers whose work is centered around immigration and discover how individuals and churches can assist immigrants.
Two 1-hour breakout sessions will be offered during this event. In-person attendees can choose which two sessions to attend at time of registration. Virtual attendees will be included in the two breakout sessions offered in the main meeting space.
Registration for virtual and in-person attendance is $25 per person.
(In-person attendance includes a meal.)
The NCC UMC Refugee and Immigration team offers scholarships for the upcoming Change the Conversation About Immigration event on Sep 30, 2023. NCC UMC congregations may receive scholarships for the cost of the event for all participants by filling out this form:
Please indicate on the form that the request is for Change the Conversation About Immigration. Each congregation will receive scholarships covering the cost of the event for all participants if the participants agree to develop a plan of action following the event (such as exploring sponsorship of refugees or asylum seekers, committing to a Bible study about welcoming the immigrant, etc.). Please include your congregation’s commitment to a plan of action under the question, “What are the Goals and Objectives, including the time frame for this project?” This does not have to be a specific plan but simply a commitment to an action plan in the near future. Please indicate the number of participants.
This event is designed to help civic and faith groups learn about migration and immigration and to develop a plan of action to educate and inform groups about the current policies and realities of migration and immigration. The last hour of the event will be dedicated to designing a plan of action for groups and individuals. Groups may choose a virtual or in-person option.
H.E.A.R.T. Experience – Training 4 Trainers
You Are Invited!
We extend a heartfelt invitation to you for a transformative journey through the H.E.A.R.T. (Holistic Equity Anti-Racism Training) Experience.
Learn more about the H.E.A.R.T. Curriculum→
This experience will underscore the significance of discipleship and resonate deeply with our shared Christian responsibility to actively engage in the process of personal and societal transformation. With this divine calling in mind, we are pleased to introduce the “Training 4 Trainers” program. Designed for those who have a call for Holistic Equity and Anti-Racism transformation and who are, or will be, entrusted with the sacred duty of training fellow members within their districts and local congregations, this program reflects the essence of our Christian responsibility in promoting racial equity.
We will:
- Build a Biblical and Theological foundation for the H.E.A.R.T. (Holistic Equity Anti-Racism Training) work.
- Encourage regular critical self-reflection in the light of the Word of God and foster a diverse community with accountability systems for racial healing.
- Be a catalyst for recognizing and changing power imbalances.
- Promote personal and institutional accountability.
- Give the NCC and Church a common language to change the Church’s culture.
Schedule
We are ready to begin our second cohort. The training consists of 5 one-day sessions spread out over ten months. Dates for Cohort #2 – 2024:
- March 7
- April 4
- June 6
- September 5
- December 5
Each training session will start at 9:00 AM, and the length will vary between 5 and 6 hours with a lunch break, depending on the topic. In order to successfully complete the H.E.A.R.T. experience, participants must commit to attending all 5 (virtual) sessions as well as additional homework assignments and to participate in a small group meeting between sessions.
Zoom Use
Please note that you will need to be able to access the Zoom platform in order to fully participate in the H.E.A.R.T. experience. Due to the sensitive and sacred nature of our content, we will require on-screen participation. We are unable to accommodate dial-in-only participation at this time.
Access Needs
If you are registering for this event and have any access needs, please get in touch with ycorrea@nccumc.org to see if we can provide any needed assistance.
More Information & Questions
Where’s my access link?
If you don’t have access to your Zoom link or encounter problems with registration, we ask that you first check your spam folder. If you cannot find your Zoom link, please email the H.E.A.R.T team at ycorrea@nccumc.org. We try to respond to urgent requests within 24 hours of receipt. For all other requests, please allow up to 2 business days to respond.
Scholarships
As an initiative designed and curated by the NCCUMC, we invite you to participate in biblically informed Christian training to equip the Church to inspire a spiritual transformation toward racial healing. This training is open to all. Some participants will choose to become facilitators equipped to guide others through this journey of growth and understanding. Our goal is to train a pool of potential facilitators who will carry this experience across the state and reach the thousands of UMC laity and clergy.
The cost to participate in a cohort is $2,500 per participant; however, the NCCUMC is offering a full scholarship to those dedicated laity and clergy who are committed to engaging in this process. Cohorts are limited; apply now.
Becoming a Trainer: Your Pathway to Impact
The role of a H.E.A.R.T. facilitator is pivotal in driving our mission of promoting racial equity and transformation. Your journey towards becoming a trainer will be based on your experience, ability to lead groups effectively, and your dedication to the cause as assessed by the Race Equity & Justice Ministries Office in collaboration with the District Superintendents.
Criteria for Facilitators
There is an application to be considered to be a facilitator. We will evaluate your exposure through previous training, particularly those focused on racial equity. Your familiarity with the content, your commitment to the spiritual discipline of anti-racism, your ability to facilitate discussions, and your commitment to fostering an inclusive and enlightening environment will be taken into account. We value your experience in navigating these important discussions and creating spaces for growth and understanding anti-racism as a spiritual discipline. Our hope is to have an exponential impact on the culture of the church of the North Carolina Conference.
Ready to Lead
Readiness to become a H.E.A.R.T. facilitator is a combination of your experience, exposure, and passion. Those who demonstrate a deep understanding of race equity principles and an ability to manage group dynamics will be extended an invitation to facilitate the H.E.A.R.T. experience.
We appreciate your dedication to promoting racial equity and invite you to continue your journey with us.
What about other training?
While we encourage broad exposure to learning and training materials, we consider the H.E.A.R.T. experience to be the primary vein of equipping those in The NCCUMC. It is essential to recognize that while our in-house training holds inherent advantages, there are instances where external training programs can prove valuable, particularly when addressing specialized subjects or welcoming new viewpoints and community insights. By harmonizing in-house and external training, we create a holistic learning trajectory that will enrich our collective understanding within our congregations.
Our Dates for Cohort #1 / 2023-2024:
- September 25
- December 4
- February 12
- April 8
- June 3
Space
Due to the nature of this training experience, participants will require individual and small-group support. Thus, our virtual cohorts will only be able to accommodate a limited number of participants.
I have additional questions.
Please get in touch with ycorrea@nccumc.org with any additional questions.
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Charge Conference Forms are NOW Open
in our Conference Online Data Collection System!
Charge Conference dates are currently being discussed in each district…. but DON’T wait to get started!
Begin to schedule your Committee Meetings NOW!