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North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church

Events

Race Equity and Justice Ministries Announcement

Events

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.

Register Now→

Event Registration

Change the Conversation 2023

Events

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.)

Register

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:

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.

Register

H.E.A.R.T. Experience – Training 4 Trainers

Events

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:

  1. Build a Biblical and Theological foundation for the H.E.A.R.T. (Holistic Equity Anti-Racism Training) work.
  2. Encourage regular critical self-reflection in the light of the Word of God and foster a diverse community with accountability systems for racial healing. 
  3. Be a catalyst for recognizing and changing power imbalances.
  4. Promote personal and institutional accountability.
  5. Give the NCC and Church a common language to change the Church’s culture.

Schedule
The training consists of 5 one-day sessions spread out over ten months. Dates for Cohort #1 / 2023-2024: 

  • September 25
  • December 4
  • February 12
  • April 8
  • June 3

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. 

Register Here

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.

Register Here

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.

Register Here
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. 

Register Here
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.

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.

Image by congerdesign from Pixabay

Our Health, Our Changing World

Announcements, Events

In all the years I’ve been a pastor, there is one thing I can count on Sunday after Sunday: when I ask the congregation if there are prayer requests, we will hear about who is sick, who is facing surgery, and who is recovering. These prayer requests remind me: as much as we might like to spiritualize our lives, we are always irrevocably tied to this physical reality we live in. What happens to our bodies impacts our souls. This is why we Christians are, rightfully, concerned about health.

Just as we cannot separate our bodies from our souls, we cannot separate our lives from the world around us. I recently heard a podcaster say, “I’m addicted to breathing.” That’s an addiction we all share. Yet we take for granted how the world around us impacts our health. We tend to silo things, separating issues into their own category and blinding ourselves to the connections between these categories. In terms of health, we separate our physical health, mental health, and the health of our environment, often not grasping the interrelatedness of it all.

Two of our Season of Creation webinars will be addressing this connection between our health and our changing world. Read on for more information, and to register for the webinars.

(Note: Registration is required for all webinars separately. All webinars will be recorded and the videos sent to those who registered.)

Heat Resiliency and the Local Community

September 12, 2023
7:00-8:00

Our world is getting warmer and our weather is changing. Here in North Carolina, we are seeing great changes in the type of rain storms we get, the frequency of extreme storms, and, most notably yet most often overlooked, hotter nights. These changes, and the overall hotter weather, puts many of our most vulnerable neighbors at danger.

Higher heat during the day is an immediate threat to all those who work outside, who work in manufacturing, and who have underlying health concerns; it is an underlying threat to all of us. Many who are dealing with chronic illness, such as diabetes and cardiovascular problems, do not realize the increased dangers the weather has on them. Additionally, studies have shown a link between mental health and high heat, including an increase in harmful actions towards self and others.

In our webinar Heat Resiliency and the Local Community, we will learn about how rising temperatures negatively impact our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health, as well as what can be done, individually and corporately, to address these heat-caused concerns.

This seminar will be presented by Dr. Ashely Ward. Dr. Ward is the director of the Heat Policy Innovation Hub, a part of the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment and Sustainability at Duke University. Dr. Ward is a climate-health and resilience professional. Her career has focused on engaging communities to identify and address issues related to climate change, and helping communities develop long-term, sustainable strategies relevant to their community needs. As Director of the Heat Policy Innovation Hub, Dr. Ward works with communities, public agencies, and policymakers to create and inform effective policy solutions to extreme heat.

Follow this link to register for this webinar.

Eco-Grief: How Do We Respond to Climate Change?

September 19, 2023
7:00-8:00

The threat of climate change can be paralyzing. We have heard stories from many people who are despairing about the future for their children and grandchildren, with many uncertain if there will be a livable future at all.

Yet Christians are to be a people of hope.

How do we balance this call for hope with our anxiety for the future? How do we face tomorrow if we fear our tomorrows are running out? How do we move forward in the midst of such anxiety?

In Eco-Grief: How Do We Respond to Climate Change? psychiatrist Brendan Johnson and eco-theologian Ryan Cagle will consider these questions and more. They will explore this relatively new area of mental health, as well as the connection between our anxiety and our spirits.

D. Brendan Johnson MD MTS is training to be a psychiatrist at Brigham & Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School and is a recent graduate of Duke Divinity School’s Theology, Medicine, and Culture fellowship. He has published and spoken at academic conferences about topics like health as a human right, health and economics, and ethics during the climate crisis. Along with friends from across the world, he hosts the “Social Medicine On Air” podcast. He has is especially interested in how theology and religious communities can use their spiritual and material resources to take part in the fight against injustice.

Ryan Cagle is a self described trailer trash pentecostal seeking to cultivate an eco-liberation theology for the end of the world in the backwoods of Alabama. He is currently in the process of being ordained in the Disciples of Christ (Christian Church) tradition and co-organizes a ministry called Jubilee House, alongside his wife, that works to sow seeds of imagination that can grow into lives of prophetic resistance.

Please register for Eco-Grief: How Do We Respond to Climate Change? by following this link.

And don’t forget about the final webinar in our Season of Creation series:

Energy Use and God’s Creation

September 26, 2023
7:00-8:00

What measures can individuals and congregations take to save energy and reduce carbon waste? What renewable and sustainable energy options are out there? How are the Bible and God’s teachings connected to our power bills?

Join us on September 26 to learn answers to these questions and more. Our time together will be led by John Rees.
John Rees is a retired Energy Engineer from NC State University and is active with several organizations focused on care of Creation. He performs energy audits for North Carolina Interfaith Power & Light and Waste Reduction Partners.

Click here to register.

Need Help?


Got questions? Are you struggling to plan your own Season of Creation observances? Want to request a speaker to come to your church, small group, Bible study, or other group? Want to find others in your area who are involved in creation care ministries?

For any help or guidance, reach out to Jarrod Davis (jdavis@nccumc.org) and he will be glad to assist.

A New Thing

Announcements, Events

“Behold! I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not see it?”

Isaiah 43:19a

Several years back, I shared this line from Isaiah with a group of pastors as we gathered to discuss our ministry ups and downs. I will never forget one pastor’s response to these words from Isaiah:

“Nope. I don’t see it. But I really want to.”

I believe that God is continuing to do a new thing in the United Methodist Church. We have an opportunity before us to follow the Holy Spirit into a great future of building up God’s Kingdom, but sometimes we can’t see what God is up to.

Let me share with you some of the new things that God is doing with creation care in North Carolina.

Active Advocacy

Advocacy is a work of faith, fulfilling Jesus’ call on our lives to stand up for those who cannot stand for themselves, to bring about healing and justice in the land.

Advocacy can also be daunting if you have never done it before.

Fortunately, we have some great leaders who are helping to guide us in our advocacy work. Rev. Keith Sexton has been busy organizing advocacy opportunities with three of our Federal representatives who are at work on the 2023 Farm Bill. Keith’s guidance has helped many of us feel more comfortable speaking with these representatives. Check out this video that was made for our Season of Creation workshop.

Rev. Keith Sexton presents to the Season of Creation Workshop. July 29, 2023

The dates for these Farm Bill advocacy opportunities are:

  • Thursday, August 17 at 1:00 p.m. with Congresswoman Alma Adams
  • Thursday, August 24 at 10:00 a.m. with Congressman Don Davis
  • Tuesday, August 29 at 11:30 a.m. with Congressman David Rouzer

If you would like to be a part of any of these meetings (don’t underestimate the importance of a face in the crowd) please reach out to Keith at ksexton@nccumc.org.

Keith will also be leading our first Season of Creation 2023 webinar with his presentation, Advocacy: Connecting Faith with Public Policy on Tuesday, September 5, at 7:00.

Click here to register.

Eco Mission Journey

This great collaborative ministry between the North Carolina and Western North Carolina Conferences is seeking to shift how we do local mission work and disaster response. With a focus on both educating mission participants and environmental practices that can mitigate disaster, the Eco Mission Journey is partnering with rural churches in North Carolina to aid local communities.

Watch this video for more information:

Jarrod Davis shares about the Eco-Mission Journey

To register for the upcoming preview weekend at Lake Junaluska, just follow this link.

If you have any questions, reach out to Jarrod at jdavis@nccumc.org.

Other Upcoming Webinars

Heat Resiliency and the Local Community

September 12, 7:00

July 2023 was the hottest month recorded in global history, yet it seems this is just the beginning. What can we do to make our communities more heat resilient? How can local churches prepare to love our neighbors in the years ahead?

Join Dr. Ashley Ward, director of the Heat Policy Innovation Hub of the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment and Sustainability at Duke University, as she shares about the real dangers of rising temperatures, and what we can do about it.

Click here to register.

Eco-Grief: How Do We Respond to Climate Change?

September 19, 7:00

Climate change has been described as the greatest threat the human race has ever faced. As this cataclysm looms, many are reporting feeling anxious, afraid, sad, guilty and even paralyzed. The threat of climate change has already started impacting our mental health and our hope for the future.

Psychiatrist Dr. Brendan Johnson will be joining us to share about his work around eco-grief, this anxiety centered around our fears of climate change. Join us as Dr. Johnson explains this relatively new area of mental health, and provides us some guidance for dealing with it.

Click here to register.

Energy Use and God’s Creation

September 26, 7:00

What measures can individuals and congregations take to save energy and reduce carbon waste? What renewable and sustainable energy options are out there? How are the Bible and God’s teachings connected to our power bills?

Join us on September 26 to learn answers to these questions and more. Our time together will be led by John Rees.

John Rees is a retired Energy Engineer from NC State University and is active with several organizations focused on care of Creation. He performs energy audits for North Carolina Interfaith Power & Light and Waste Reduction Partners.

Click here to register.

Is Your Church Accessible?

Events

The Center for Leadership Excellence invites you to join us for the second webinar in our four-part series on Disability Ministries. 

Is your church building accessible? What about your ministry programs? Join us and learn about a tool created by and for United Methodists to help us ensure our churches are places of welcome and inclusion for people with disabilities.

Accessibility Audits and Becoming a Place that Welcomes All
Presented by the Center for Leadership Excellence
with Lynn Swedberg
Tuesday, August 15, 12pm-1pm

Learn More and Register

About the Webinar: 

Does your congregation and church building offer intentional hospitality to people with disabilities? An accessibility audit is a tool to measure not just physical accessibility but also attitudes and accommodations for sensory and communication needs. The audit process helps you set goals for continued progress in making your ministries fully inclusive so that everyone’s gifts and graces are utilized in the service of God. This webinar will give you tools and tips to complete the scorable Annual Accessibility Audit for UM churches and determine if you qualify for a badge to affirm and communicate the work you have done.

About Lynn Swedberg:

white woman with shoulder length hair, wearing glasses

Deaconess Lynn Swedberg has been part of the Disability Ministries Committee of the UMC since 2003 and serves as disability consultant and newsletter editor. Her passion is improving accessibility to ensure that people with disabilities are fully and safely included in faith communities and ministries. Identifying as a disability ally, she wrote the “Understanding Ableism” article and Toolkit with input from voices of DMC members with disabilities. She wrote a chapter addressing disability ministry needs for the new Upper Room Safer Sanctuaries book and the Leader’s Guide for the Mission u study on The Church and People with Disabilities. She and the Rev. Debbie Hills co-developed the Annual Accessibility Audit for UM Churches and the related badge program. She is certified in Ministry with People with Disabilities and recently received her Graduate Certificate in Accessibility Studies. Lynn uses her occupational therapy background in teaching accessibility and disability awareness at Central Washington University. She makes her home in Spokane, Washington.

Learn More and Register
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