Early Response Team (ERT) Class Saturday, Oct. 29
Hayes Barton UMC, 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
Open to everyone! Registration Deadline: Thursday, Oct. 27
The need for people trained in early response is critical. The mission of an early response team is to provide a caring presence in the aftermath of a disaster, under very specific guidelines that enable a team to be productive and caring while causing no further harm or being a burden to the affected community. Classes are taught by authorized UMCOR trainers, and team members are given ID badges as evidence of training. Topics covered in the class include the who, what, when, where and how of doing ministry, as well as hands on experience in the specific tasks that early responders are expected to accomplish. Until the end of the year, registration fees are being waived, so the only cost is for background checks. Most churches will conduct the background check for you, but if you want the NCC to conduct it, the cost is $15 if you have lived in NC for the past seven years, and $20 if under seven years.
To sign up for this training, go to ERT Training or contact Trevor Spear at 919-868-9574 or email: tspear68@gmail.com.
Critical Drivers Report Deadline Reminder
The third quarter of 2011 ended on September 30. As such, the deadline for the Critical Drivers Report was Friday, October 2. Pastors, if you have not yet updated the third quarter statistics, please log into the Online Data Collection System at https://nccumc.org/forms. If you have not yet entered first or second quarter statistics, please fill out those fields as well.
Update on the hurricane relief efforts
179 team leaders have called to inquire about scheduling workteams for Hurricane Irene recovery. Some have not yet scheduled their teams and some may not. Others have gone to work several times to the same location without making contact with the Conference Call Center. Locations needing assistance and with available lodging include Oriental, Aurora, Swan Quarter, Salvo, and Wanchese. This means that at least five teams can be working at all times. To inquire about or to schedule a workteam, call the Conference Call Center at 888-440-9167.
Win prizes from the Conference Media Center
October is Church Library Month and the Conference Media Center has been celebrating all month with new resources and features posted on the website every day including two contests where you can enter to win resources to keep. Share your reading and viewing recommendations to be entered to win one of 13 great books from Cokesbury or Thomas Nelson. Comment on the “What Are You Reading Post?” by Nov. 1 to enter. Participate in the “Website Scavenger Hunt” by Nov. 7 to win curriculum resources or children’s books for your church while learning about what the Media Center website has to offer. Multiple prizes donated by Cokesbury, Thomas Nelson, and BluefishTV are available. Visit Media Center to enter.
United Methodist Student Day – Nov. 27
Helping United Methodist Students Succeed
United Methodist Student Day is Nov. 27. Participation in this Special Sunday is important to so many United Methodist students who struggle to meet the financial obligations of higher education. Gifts provide scholarships and loans for United Methodist students who might not be able to pursue higher education without this support. Offering inserts, a poster, worship resources, stories, videos and a PowerPoint presentation are available online at Student Day. Order printed offering posters and leaflets online or by calling 888-346-3862.
Peace in the Holy Land?
The discussion, “Neither Quick nor Easy: Doing What’s Best for America, Israel, Palestine and the Middle East” will be held Thursday, Oct. 27, 7:30 p.m. at the Burning Coal Theater, 224 Polk St., Raleigh. Discussion leader will be Ambassador Edward Peck, who has served as President Reagan’s Deputy Director of the Cabinet Task Force on Terrorism, Chief of Mission in Baghdad, Iraq for President Carter, and State Department Deputy Director of Covert Intelligence Programs. Peck also served as a Foreign Service Officer in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt, and was Ambassador in Mauritania. Ambassador Peck has also been a commentator and resource for MSNBC, Fox News, and Democracy Now. For information, go to http://www.peace-with-justice.org/ or call 919- 490-5546.
Reggie McNeal to be Academy National Leader Speaker
“If a leader cannot lead himself, how can he lead others?”
National leader, author and speaker, Reggie McNeal, will ask this searching question at the upcoming Academy for Leadership Excellence National Leader Series event on Tuesday, Nov. 8 at Edenton Street UMC, Raleigh. Behind the question is the reality that key for effective leadership is self-leadership. The workshop will not only provide participants with practical pointers for enriching their own leadership growth but also equip them as they invest in developing spiritual leaders around them. To read more about this event, go to Reggie McNeal.
This event is intended for both clergy and laity. Members of local church Committee on Nominations and Leadership Development are especially encouraged to attend. Cost is $75 per person or $65 each for teams of three or more. Participants can register online at http://www.theafle.org/ or by phone at 919-208-2169. The event begins at 9 a.m. with a continental breakfast and a gathering time; the presentation will start at 9:30. The day ends at 3 p.m. and includes lunch.
Jack Crum Conference scheduled for April
The NC Annual Conference chapter of the Methodist Federation for Social Action will be sponsoring the 4th annual Jack Crum Conference on Prophetic Ministry on Saturday April 14, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m, at Fairmont UMC in Raleigh. The main topic of discussion will be the proposed constitutional amendment on the May, 2012 ballot to ban same-sex marriage. The NC Council of Churches is a co-sponsor of this event. There will be more details later.