Announcements

Last Month in the NC Conference: December 2024

Announcements Published on
January 14, 2025

We’d like to keep everyone up-to-date about the happenings all 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 the month of December.

NC Conference

The December Monthly Resource Flyer focused on Advent and Christmas.
Bishop Shelton encouraged local churches to participate in the District Christmas Offering supporting their local communities.
Bishop Tracy S. Malone, president of The Council of Bishops, named the Design Team that will plan the COB Leadership Gathering in 2026. Bishop Shelton will serve on the design team. Read the full announcement.
Bishop Shelton offered a Christmas reflection on Mary’s Magnificat and its significance today.
Bishop Shelton and the NC Cabinet encouraged local churches to read a letter from the Council of Bishops on Epiphany Sunday or another Sunday in the Season of Epiphany. View the full announcement.
The NC Conference has learned that the plaintiff’s appeal was granted and the ruling of the trial court dismissing the lawsuit filed by the former members of Fifth Avenue United Methodist Church has been reversed by the North Carolina Court of Appeals. Read the full announcement.

Center of Leadership Excellence

Registration opened for a new webinar in the Leadership and Church Administration series on Strengthening Ministry Through Assessment.
Registration opened for a day of learning focused on the spiritual practice of social transformation.
Registration opened for “Gathering with the Spirit,” a webinar with Daniel Castelo exploring different characteristics and aspects surrounding the Holy Spirit in Scripture.
Registration opened for “The Art of Neighboring” workshop with author Dave Runyon.

Office of Clergy Life

Rev. Beth Hood and Rev. Chris Brady expressed their gratitude for our clergy and offered resources to support their mental health and well-being.

Outreach Ministry

View resources to help prepare your church for the winter season.
Disaster Ministries hosted Early Response Team Training in the Capital District. View upcoming ERT classes and advanced trainings.

Treasurer’s Office

In order to receive credit for 2024, apportionment and advance special payments must be received in the Conference Treasurer’s Office by January 15.
View information on the 2025 IRS Standard Mileage Rates.

Youth Ministries

The dates for 2025 Youth Events were released. Registration for Kaleidoscope and Global Vision opens on January 1, and Breakaway and Youth in Unity will open later in January.

There Is Hope For Creation

Announcements Published on
January 13, 2025

About four years ago, I attended my first creation care training event sponsored by the NC Conference of The United Methodist Church. That training ignited a fire in me to be more intentional about caring for God’s creation as a sacred mission in response to God’s call in Genesis 1:26-28.

Then God said, ‘Let us make humans in our image, according to our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over the cattle and over all the wild animals of the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’
Genesis 1:26-28

Since then, I have immersed myself in learning more and more about how we as individuals and communities might adopt sustainable practices in the fight against climate change through advocacy and action related to environmental issues and ecological justice. One of the most transformative training events I attended, which was also sponsored by the NC Conference, was “Eco Grief,” where I learned that approximately two-thirds of ALL animal life had already ceased to exist and many species are on the verge of extinction primarily due to climate change and exploitation.

One of our main goals on the Sound District Creation Care Team is to encourage individuals and church communities to form creation care teams in their churches. In order to have an even greater impact on caring for God’s creation, I decided to become a Global Ministries Commissioned EarthKeeper.

An EarthKeeper is one who is passionate about caring for God’s creation as part of our discipleship. Part of the application process to participate in the EarthKeeper training includes already having a planned project that focuses on creation care and addresses specific sustainable issues such as: “eco-theology, antiracism, community organizing, and project planning.”

The EarthKeeper training provides practical tools and challenges participants to think and act more in relation to sustainable practices. It provides an opportunity to meet and establish relationships with other ecologically and environmentally conscious individuals and share information about one another’s projects. EarthKeepers also receive the benefit of posting their projects on the Global Ministries Website.

EarthKeeper projects should be formed to address specific problems related to environmental issues that arise as a result of the climate crisis, and should be in partnership with the community. In addition to my project, “Hope For Creation,” which focuses on wildlife, the environment, and humanity, several EarthKeeper projects were initiated during the Baltimore Cohort I attended in October 2024. These projects include addressing urban food insecurities, tackling the issue of excess plastics, creating native gardens, planting trees, promoting energy efficiency, organizing community trash clean-ups, and more.

There is Hope For Creation! The possibilities for the fight against climate change through EarthKeeper Creation Care training and projects are inexhaustible. To learn more about how to become a Global Ministries EarthKeeper and upcoming EarthKeeper training, visit the Global Ministries website at umcmission.org/earthkeepers.

Article contributed by Rev. Dr. Donna Thompson, Global Ministries EarthKeeper

Statistical Reporting Season 2025 is Here!

Announcements Published on
January 10, 2025

Dear Pastors, Colleagues, and Friends,

Statistical reporting season is open!

Our Statistical Tables tell the story of membership, finances, and stewardship in our churches. The numbers you share represent the quantified data of people who connect with our ministries through their time, presence, and generosity. These statistics highlight the financial gifts received and utilized for ministry and demonstrate how people express their generosity. Together, your work paints a collective picture of the United Methodist Church’s impact within the North Carolina Conference.

What You Need to Know:

Statistical Tables 1, 2, and 3 are now unlocked and ready for completion using your 2024 end-of-year data. You can access your church’s Tables through the Church Record on the Online Data Collection System: https://forms.nccumc.org.

– Table 1: Membership – Records the people connected to your church and their participation through in-person and online worship, Sunday school, small groups, United Women in Faith, United Methodist Men, youth programs, and other ministries.

– Table 2: Financial Expenses – Details the operational and capital expenses of the church.

– Table 3: Stewardship & Giving – Accounts for the gifts received from individuals, households, and other sources.

Deadline: Please enter all data and submit the completed forms by the end of the day on January 31, 2025.

Support Available:

I am here to assist you with completing your church’s Tables. I’ve set aside time for 30-minute consultations via phone or Zoom to address specific questions regarding your church’s reporting. You can view my availability and schedule a time using the Calendly link provided.

Words of Wisdom:

Start gathering your information early.
Print the Tables and complete them on paper before entering data online.
Aim to finish your Tables well before the deadline.
Don’t hesitate to ask for help – we’re in this together!

Serving with you in ministry,

Dennis Peay
statistician@nccumc.org
984.201.0097 (voice or text)

Claim a Call time via Calendly: https://calendly.com/dennispeay

Upcoming Grant, Scholarship & Loan Opportunities

Announcements Published on
January 10, 2025

The NC Conference recommends the following grants, scholarships, and loans available to United Methodist churches and ministry leaders in the North Carolina Conference. These programs are funded by the Conference or our partner organizations.

The funding opportunities listed here have application deadlines in the near future. Additional funding opportunities will be available later in the year. View the complete list at Grants, Scholarships & Loans.

Upcoming Deadlines

Peace with Justice
NC CONFERENCE BOARD OF CHURCH AND SOCIETY
Is your church ready to step beyond charity and into solidarity and justice ministries? Funded by Peace with Justice Sunday offerings, these grants are possible because Methodists share their gifts generously and share the vision of justice ministries.
Applications Due 1/8/25 or 3/31/25.

Learn More & Apply→

Equipping the Local Church Grant
THE FOUNDATION FOR EVANGELISM
The grant focus is to launch an experiment or initiative to share the Gospel, tell faith stories, and invite others into a relationship with Jesus.
Applications Due 2/28/25.

Learn More & Apply→

Youth Service Fund
NC CONFERENCE YOUTH MINISTRIES
YSF is money raised by youth and spent by youth to benefit youth. Our YSF Task Force is made up of the Conference Youth Treasurer and one youth representative from each district who determine how YSF monies from the NC Conference are spent.
Applications Due 1/24/25.

Email youth@nccumc.org→

Intentional Growth Center (IGC)
SOUTHEASTERN JURISDICTION OF THE UMC
The IGC seeks to fund educational events or programs that increase pastoral and congregational effectiveness in order to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Applications Due 1/31/25.

Learn More & Apply→

Reynolds Ministry Fund
UNITED METHODIST FOUNDATION OF WESTERN NC
Grants from the Reynolds Ministry Fund make an impact in Western North Carolina and beyond – fueling missional social enterprise, outreach to unhoused neighbors, youth outreach, and more.
Applications Due 2/1/25.

Learn More & Apply→

Josephine Forman Scholarship
GENERAL COMMISSION ON ARCHIVES AND HISTORY
GCAH funds the Josephine Forman scholarship each year to provide financial support to minority students pursuing graduate education in archival science, to encourage students to pursue a career as an archivist, and to promote the diversification of the American archives profession.
Applications Due 2/1/25.

Learn More & Apply→

Racial-Ethnic Local Church Grants
GENERAL BOARD OF GLOBAL MINISTRIES
These grants assist local congregations with projects and programs focusing on leadership development, church growth and development, ministry with the poor, and health ministries. Applicant churches must have at least a 51% majority nonwhite congregation.
Applications Due 3/7/25.

Learn More & Apply→

Clergy Renewal Programs
LILLY ENDOWMENT
National Clergy Renewal Programs provide an opportunity for pastors to step away briefly from the persistent obligations of daily parish life and engage in a period of renewal and reflection.
Applications Due 3/12/25.

Learn More & Apply→

Grants/Awards for Students and Researchers
GENERAL COMMISSION ON ARCHIVES AND HISTORY
GCAH is calling for students and researchers to apply for grants and awards offered in a number of fields of study, including United Methodist history, particularly as it relates to women and ethnic groups, and archival science.
Applications Due 3/17/25.

Learn More & Apply→

Comprehensive Plan of Inclusiveness
NC CONFERENCE RACE EQUITY & JUSTICE MINISTRIES
The project must relate to the CPI and must be developed by one or more United Methodist local church(es) with priority given to ethnic churches. The project must address one or more chronic social problems or concerns that impact United Methodist ethnic local churches or ethnic persons.
Applications Due 3/31/25.

Learn More & Apply→

GBHEM Scholarships
GENERAL BOARD OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND MINISTRY
Students can submit one general application, which will be screened for all possible eligible programs. Applicant must be an active, full member of The United Methodist Church for at least one year and pursuing a degree program at an accredited institution within the U.S.
Applications Due 3/31/25.

Learn More & Apply→

UMHEF Scholarships
UNITED METHODIST HIGHER EDUCATION FOUNDATION
UMHEF scholarships help make it financially possible for qualifying students to obtain higher education, especially those attending United Methodist-related institutions.
Applications Due 4/1/25.

Learn More & Apply→

Global Youth Service Fund
DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRIES OF THE UMC
The Global YSF is a unique grant program within the UMC because all aspects involve youth. Youth create fundraisers and contribute money, youth decide what projects receive money, and all of the projects supported must be youth-designed, led by youth, and benefit young people.
Applications Due 4/15/25.

Learn More & Apply→

Grants for Ministries with Young People
DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRIES OF THE UMC
Young People’s Ministries offers these grants through their program budget because they believe that dynamic, creative individuals and groups sometimes need resources to help a ministry become reality. These grants are meant to support creative and innovative approaches to ministry for, with, and by young people.
Applications Due 4/15/25.

Learn More & Apply→

Rolling Deadlines

The following opportunities accept applications throughout the year or on a rolling basis. Follow each link for more information.

Course of Study

NC CONFERENCE OF THE UMC

The NC Conference provides reimbursement of registration costs for the Course of Study programs, including Basic and Advanced COS.

Announcements

Upcoming Deadlines

Rolling Deadlines

Course of Study

Continuing Education

Clergy Counseling

Board of Mission Church Loans

UMVIM Missional Exchange Grants

UMVIM Scholarships for Individuals

Golden Cross

One Who is Loved

Hispanic-Latinx Ministries

Refugee and Immigrant Communities

Retired/Medical Leave Clergy Grants

Farmer Fund Grant

Clergy Debt Relief Program

UMCOR Grants

Multiethnic Ministries Grants

Mustard Seed Migration Grants

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