The staff and congregation of West Nash United Methodist Church welcome the public to attend a free concert on Saturday, October 26, to celebrate the church’s 65th anniversary.
Stories
2024 Quadrennial Orientation: Building on Mission and Ministry
On September 9, the 2024 Quadrennial Orientation brought together conference committee members and staff, setting the stage for the next four years of mission and ministry within the North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church. The event focused on unity, effective leadership, and the church’s shared commitment to its mission, creating a day filled with thoughtful worship and practical guidance for the work ahead.
Rev. Ismael Ruiz-Millán, Executive Director of Connectional Ministries, and John Hall, Conference Lay Leader, offer this brief video recap highlighting key points from our time together at the 2024 Quadrennial Orientation.
The gathering opened with a time of worship, where Rev. Rhonda Grant Jordan began with a reading from Ephesians 3:14-21. Bishop Connie Mitchell Shelton followed with a sermon centered on unity, peace, and justice, urging those present to embrace their calling with renewed energy. She warmly welcomed attendees and expressed her deep appreciation for their dedication to the mission of the church.
Using the metaphor of a dance, Bishop Shelton shared her reflections on the vibrancy of church life. She spoke about congregations across the NC Conference that are fully engaged in Disciple Making, Leader Forming, and Peace Building, as well as those facing challenges in adapting to changing times. Through these examples, she highlighted the importance of staying flexible and open to new perspectives as congregations move forward in their work.
Bishop Shelton also introduced a practical leadership approach—Reflect, Adjust, Do (RAD)—that encourages leaders to take a step back to see the bigger picture, make adjustments, and then act. This framework, she explained, would help guide the work of leaders as they navigate the evolving needs of their congregations and communities.
As worship concluded with Holy Communion, attendees shifted gears as conference staff took the floor to share critical insights about the work ahead. Participants heard presentations about the work of the Connectional Table, the budgeting and apportionment process for 2024-2027, and key policies, such as nominations, travel, and meeting attendance. Each detail mattered, underscoring the transparency and dedication required to lead effectively.
To bring these ideas to life, attendees engaged with case studies designed to explore how the conference can better partner with local churches. These collaborative discussions allowed committee members to visualize practical solutions and think creatively about the future. It also gave conference staff an opportunity to listen to the needs of the local church.
The 2024 Quadrennial Orientation provided a valuable opportunity for leaders to connect, reflect, and prepare for the work ahead. With a clear focus on collaboration and effective leadership, the conference reaffirmed its commitment to the mission and ministry of The United Methodist Church, setting a hopeful tone for the next four years.
Answering the Call: Local Church and a Mobile Kitchen Feed Hope Following Hurricane Helene
Local churches across the Conference have united to offer their gifts and time to help the people of Western North Carolina recover from Hurricane Helene.
Bart Ramsey, a member of University UMC in the Corridor District, recently purchased a mobile kitchen for his business. Just after Hurricane Helene, Ramsey and Rev. Justin Coleman discussed the storm’s impact on Western NC while preparing for a church picnic.
Coleman said he woke up on Sunday with an image of people driving out west with the mobile kitchen to help feed the emergency response workers and people in the community. Ramsey reached out to Coleman the same day and shared how he felt God’s call to make the journey to Western NC to help provide meals for the community.
University UMC rallied to collect food and supplies for the mobile kitchen. On October 3, Ramsey, Coleman, Corridor District Superintendent, Claire Clyburn, and seven people from University UMC gathered to pray and help load supplies as Ramsey prepared to make the journey to Newland, NC.
Ramsey felt called to serve as long as the Lord needed him in Western North Carolina. He emphasized that everyone has skills that the Holy Spirit provides to help in times like these.
Coleman shared that teams from University UMC will travel over the next few weeks to resupply the kitchen and help Ramsey as they feed the community. Check out pictures of the teams and updates about the mobile kitchen on University UMC’s Facebook page. Read about Ramsey serving with Rev. Lory Beth Huffman, Appalachian District Superintendent, in the Western NC Conference.
We are grateful for the ways Ramsey, University UMC, and local churches across the Conference are sharing their gifts with the people of Western North Carolina. Thank you for providing hope, love, and comfort during this time of need.
Visit our Hurricane Helene Disaster Response page to learn how you can help.
An Encouragement for October
The Center for Leadership Excellence, in partnership with COSROW, is pleased to lift up the voices of women in ministry encouraging fellow women in ministry. Please enjoy this month’s Encouragement from Casey Mursten, pastor of St Paul UMC and Duke’s Chapel UMC Cooperative Parish. Anyone can sign up to receive Encouragement emails here.
Read Mark 4:35-41 (NRSVue):
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And waking up, he rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Be silent! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Reflect: And then the disciples took him with them in the boat, just as he was. In other words, Jesus was tired. Tired? Is that how we like to imagine the Lord of lords? Sleepy and dozing Jesus? Jesus is always so active in scripture: praying, teaching, healing, and helping. But even Jesus needed a nap.
The disciples, and others from the crowds, were traversing the sea when a great windstorm arose, with waves beating against the boat. But Jesus was in the stern, fast asleep. Scripture even provides this wondrous detail that he was resting on a cushion. I imagine it was pretty chaotic, wind and waves, disciples scared and shouting. But there is the Prince of Peace. Peacefully asleep in the same great storm. Asleep on a cushion.
I am preparing to take a renewal leave for the month of November. I have some things planned and days with no plans. I will take a social media fast. I will see friends and visit the beach. I am so grateful for the women who have taken Sabbatical and renewal leave. So many have been encouraging both from their example or non-example: “I wish I would’ve taken more rest.”
I need rest. I need renewal to continue into this beautiful and rigorous calling of pastoral ministry. Things will be left undone, but that’s okay. I saw once an out-of-office message that said, “If there’s an urgent need take a deep breath; many things are not that urgent.”
At the “Taste of the Spiritual Academy” last week, we were led in the meditation, “Time is urgent. I must slow down.”
Take Action: I printed this list of nine types of rest to keep close during my renewal leave. Which one speaks to you? How will you rest this week?
- Time away
- Permission to not be helpful
- Something unproductive
- Connection to nature and art
- Solitude to recharge
- A break from responsibility
- Stillness to decompress
- Safe space
- Alone time at home
In partnership,
Center for Leadership Excellence and the Commission on the Status and Role of Women
General Conference Delegate Caleb Parker included on Time100 Next 2024
General Conference Lay Delegate Caleb Parker, a member of Duke Memorial United Methodist Church in Durham, was included on the Time100 Next list for 2024. He is listed in the “Advocates” section and recognized for his role at General Conference.
United in Mission: Bringing Relief to Those in Need
Hear how laypeople and pastors across the Conference are coming together to build cleaning kits to assist those in need in Western NC.
Want to Build an UMCOR Cleaning Kit?
We encourage you to help build cleaning kits or gather kit supplies at your church! Several churches across the Conference are serving as collection centers to gather completed kits and kit supplies. We will continue to update our website as more centers are established. If you are interested in serving as a collection center, please complete our form.
Kits for Hurricane Helene relief will be collected through October 11.
View Cleaning Kit Supplies and Assembly Instructions→
View an Amazon Wish List of the kit materials→