Bishop Ward – Plumb Line
In this week’s Connections, Bishop Ward encourages us to consider the plumb line of the Good Samaritan story.
Walking Across the Road
NC Conference Connectional Ministries and The Academy of Leadership Excellence are hosting The Church for All People and staff leaders from GBGM for “Walking Across The Road: Creating Community and Building Faith Through Relationships.” The workshop, at Nashville UMC, is from 9:30am-3:30pm, September 21. Cost is $10 (plus transaction fee). The day will feature worship, reflections, breakout sessions, and a panel discussion. Access the registration form.
Summoned Toward Wholeness
Summoned Toward Wholeness: A Conference on Food, Farming, and the Life of Faith, September 27-28 at Duke Divinity School and Anathoth Community Garden. Join plenary speakers Ellen F. Davis, Joel Salatin, Scott Cairns, and Norman Wirzba and 12 workshop leaders, as they explore multiple connections between food, farming, and the life of faith.
Scholarships are available for seminary students and Rural UMC pastors. For scholarship information contact Fred Bahnson at bahnsoff@wfu.edu. Find out more and register at Summoned Toward Wholeness.
January 2014 Pension Plan Changes
Due to General Conference 2012 and NC Annual Conference 2013 actions, several changes to the clergy pension plan will take place on January 1, 2014. These changes impact the future accrual of benefits for full and part-time clergy actively serving under Episcopal appointment and the costs and billing arrangements to the local churches which they serve. Visit the Pension page for details.
Duke Divinity Thriving Rural Communities Initiative Phase 2
Duke Divinity School has named the Rev. Brad Thie as the new director of its Thriving Rural Communities initiative. Four NCC congregations – Concord UMC, Rhems UMC, Spring Hill UMC, and Prospect UMC – will participate as partner churches in the second phase of the initiative. The Bladen Charge will continue their relationship with the Thriving Rural Communities Initiative as a Partner church. Each partner church will receive educational opportunities and grant funding over the next five years as it seeks further ways to serve its surrounding community. To see more visit Thriving Rural Communities.