Events

Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May

Events Published on
April 9, 2024

Join us on May 25 at Star UMC to discuss why we need Asian American and trinitarian theology for anti-racism with our own Rev. Dr. Heejun Yang. Rev. Yang is the Pastor of Star UMC, an Adjunct Professor at Greensboro College, and an Adjunct (Founding) Faculty of the Religion Department at Hampton University. He is the author of Trinitarian Responses To Worldliness / Asian Case Studies on Translating Christianity.

It will be a great opportunity for many clergy/laity families to learn and connect. Because Star is around StarWorks and Seagrove (pottery area), it will also be a good picnic spot for the day.

photo credits: Lightstock.com, Element Media

Join us June 1 for the Day of Discovery!

Events Published on
April 8, 2024

Are you looking for a way to deepen your commitment to Christ and turn your calling into actionable ministry?

Certified lay ministers (CLMs) are laity who have answered God’s call on their life through a concrete and long-term commitment to the local church. Some CLMs serve as lay pastors of congregations. Others engage in specific ministry projects as servant leaders in their own local church. All CLMs work as part of a ministry team with a clergy mentor.

Interested in learning more? We invite you to join us for a Day of Discovery, Saturday, June 1, 10am-3pm, at the NC Conference Building in Garner. We’ll share about the year-long training program and what it means to be a certified lay minister in our conference. Lunch is provided free of charge to all registrants.

On the fence? We asked our current CLM cohort what advice they would have for anyone considering joining the program, here’s what one CLM candidate said …

DO IT! Even if you are afraid and not sure where it will lead … DO IT!

If you want to understand better the structure of the UMC … DO IT!

If you want to see where you can deepen your relationship with God and become a “better” (for lack of a better word) servant in your local church … DO IT!

~ 2024 CLM Candidate, Anonymous Survey

Still thinking? What better way to learn about certified lay ministry than to hear directly from the experience of those who have benefited from the program? Check out this video from Pastor Laura Thompson and Sandy Quinn…

NC Conference to host Transition Seminar on Sunday, May 19

Events Published on
April 5, 2024

The North Carolina Conference will host a Transition Seminar for all churches and pastors experiencing changes in ministerial appointments. This year’s Transition Seminar will be on Sunday, May 19, from 3-6 pm at seven locations. Pastors will attend the meeting corresponding to the district where they have their new appointment.

At the Transition Seminar, you will receive information on ending your current appointment well and strategies to begin your new appointment enthusiastically. You will also have the opportunity to meet the S/PPRC members, who will be attending from your new church, and get acquainted with your new Lay Leader, District Superintendent, or Administrative Assistant to the DS (AADS).

Clergy retiring, taking a leave of absence, being appointed to an Extension Ministry, or taking an appointment outside of the NC Conference are not required to attend the Transition Seminar.

The S/PPRC chairperson and another S/PPRC member from each church will attend the Transition Seminar held at the event affiliated with their District.

Beacon District: Edenton UMC, 225 Virgina Rd. Edenton, NC 27932
Capital/Fairway Districts: Fuquay Varina UMC, 100 S Judd Pkway SE, Fuquay Varina, NC 27526 – Chgd 05.15.2024
Corridor District: Aldersgate UMC, 1320 Umstead Rd, Durham, NC 27712 (in the Family Life Center)
Harbor District: Wesley Memorial UMC, 1401 S. College Rd. Wilmington, NC 28403
Gateway District: Raeford UMC, 308 N. Main St. Raeford, NC 28376
Heritage District: Oxford UMC, 105 W. McClanahan St. Oxford, NC 27565
Sound District: Jarvis Memorial UMC, 510 S. Washington St. Greenville, NC 27858

If you have any questions about the Transition Seminar, don’t hesitate to contact the District Office at 919-779-9435.

Cross and Key Prison Ministries to Hold District Workshops

Events Published on
March 12, 2024

Cross and Key Prison Ministries will initiate workshops in the NC Conference of The United Methodist Church and Western NC Conference of The United Methodist Church districts throughout the current and upcoming years. The inaugural workshop is scheduled for Sunday, April 14, at St. Luke’s UMC in Sanford from 2:30 to 4:00 pm.

Rev. Dr. Mark Hicks, Executive Director of Cross and Key Prison Ministries, Inc., says that these workshops are created to train clergy and laity about opportunities for prison ministry, the steps for starting a prison ministry, and ways you and your church can become involved. In addition, attendees will learn about the need for prison ministry, our Christian theology related to prison ministry, and our long history of prison ministry within the Wesleyan tradition.

Cross and Key Prison Ministries is a cooperative ministry of the NC and the Western NC Conferences with the vision of: “Ministry to the incarcerated; Working for a more just society.” Its mission is threefold: 1) Equip churches for prison ministry; 2) Education on criminal justice issues; and 3) Advocacy for reform.

Learn more about Cross and Key Prison Ministries →

photo credit: Lightstock.com Prixel-Creative

Christian Unity in a World of Disunity

Events Published on
March 11, 2024

The Center for Leadership Excellence, in partnership with the Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships Committee, invites you to a webinar, Christian Unity in a World of Disunity, with Jean Hawxhurst.

Christian Unity in a World of Disunity
Presented by the Center for Leadership Excellence
in partnership with the Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships Committee
with Rev. Dr. Jean Hawxhurst
Monday, June 17, 2024, 1-2 pm ET

Jesus’ last prayer in the Gospel of John before he was arrested was that his followers might “be one.” That seems like a remote dream these days, and yet the call to unity is foundational to who we say we are as United Methodist Christians. This webinar will take a look at why and how we are called to Christian unity and to interreligious hospitality, and it will give some practical guidelines and suggestions for how to live that out in the life of a local congregation.

About Jean Hawxhurst:

Rev. Dr. Jean Hawxhurst is an elder in the Kentucky Annual Conference who has served three local congregations and as a district superintendent. She was appointed nine years ago to serve as an Ecumenical Staff Officer for our United Methodist Council of Bishops. Her passion is helping United Methodists see how our call to unity is foundational to our faith journeys.

Pilgrimage to the Border – May 2024

Events Published on
March 11, 2024

The reality of life on the borderlands is much more complex and unjust than most people realize. Hope 4 Humanity offers an experiential learning pilgrimage that explores the causes and difficulties of migration and the impact of U.S. immigration policies. This pilgrimage will bring to the forefront the voices of migrants and people committed to social change through hands-on experiences like visiting migrant shelters (in the U.S. and Mexico) and interacting with migrants. We will learn about the economics of migration.

Registration

Hope 4 Humanity has partnered with Abara in El Paso, TX.

Abara is linked with nearly 20 migrant shelters on both sides of the border. They partner with local leaders to facilitate connections through hospitality, advocacy, and friendship. Team Abara is resourcing shelter leaders, welcoming new arrivals, and assisting migrant entrepreneurs. We join in solidarity with families who are fleeing rivers of violence, despair, and natural disasters in search of refuge, safety, and community.
Check out Abara here: https://www.abara.org/

Dates: May 6-10, 2024

Cost:
$650 per person (includes dormitory-style accommodation, lunch, dinner, programming, and local transportation). Transportation to El Paso is at the participant’s expense. The participant should book their own transportation to arrive on May 6 and depart on May 10.

$600 per person (excludes accommodation; includes local transportation, lunch, dinner, and programming). Hotel and transportation to El Paso are at the participant’s expense. The participant should book their own transportation to arrive on May 6 and depart on May 10. We will have a block of rooms at The Hotel Indigo; single occupancy is $503, double occupancy is $252. The participant will pay the hotel at check-in.

Registration

Events

About Jean Hawxhurst:

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