Nominations Forms needed to serve on conference boards and agencies
Pastors, please encourage laypersons with gifts, passion, and commitment for the various conference boards and agencies to complete a Nomination Form and indicate where they wish to serve. If pastors are interested in serving on a board or agency, a Nominations Form should be completed. A letter from Bishop Al Gwinn, a Nomination Form, and a Nomination sheet have been mailed to each pastor and lay leader, as listed on the On-line Data Collection System.
Conference rules limit service on a specific board or agency to eight years. Anyone currently on a board with more years of eligibility must complete a Nominations Form to be considered for continuing membership. No one will be elected without a Nomination Form. At the bottom of the form there is a section where a pastor will recommend a layperson. Forms submitted by a pastors should be signed by the district superintendent or another member of the Nomination Committee. A form can be submitted for someone if the individual's permission has been obtained.
The deadline is March 21 for delivery to the Office of Connectional Ministries. For a copy of the latest Nomination Form and a Nomination Information Sheet, click on Nominations . If a change is made to the form, the current version will be on the Internet.
DVD on Black Methodism is available from Media Center and GCORR
An updated version of "Black Methodism: Legacy of Faith-Revival" a 31-minute DVD, is now available from the Conference Media Center or from the General Board on Religion and Race (GCORR.) The new release commemorates the 40 th anniversaries of GCORR, BMCR, and the end of the racially segregated Central Jurisdiction and the merger that created The United Methodist Church. This would be an excellent resource for Sunday school classes, new-member classes, and fellowship groups, especially during the month of February, which traditionally has been Black History month. The Conference Media has a copy for loan, llbailey@nccumc.org or order a personal copy from www.gcorr.org for $20 plus shipping.
Methodist University to present annual Bullard-Templeton Lecture
Methodist University will present the eighth annual lectureship on Religion in an Age of Science on Monday, March 10, at 11a.m. in Yarborough Auditorium of the Clark Building. The lecturer will be Margaret Wertheim, noted science writer and commentator. Wertheim has lectured at colleges and universities around the world, has written scholarly articles and books, and has produced a dozen television programs and interactive videos that seek to bridge the gap between the sciences and religion. The topic will be "On Space and Spirit: God, Physics, and the Culture Wars." The event is open to the public with no cost of admission. For more information contact Lloyd Bailey, 919-489-8731 or lloyd@duke.edu .
Resource your local church leadership with the Interpreter
Please make sure to complete and return the Interpreter magazine enrollment form. For convenience, the following ways are available for completing the enrollment process - E-mail: csn@umcom.org ; fax: (615) 742-5499; or online: Subscriptions . Contact Customer Service at 1-888-346-3862, to obtain the customer number and pass code for online enrollment.
Free Download from General Board of Discipleship
2008-2010 Worship and Music Planning Calendars for worship, music, and other congregational leaders are free for download. These calendars contain the Revised Common Lectionary citations for every Sunday and major day of the church year. Download address is:
http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=6337
ITEMS FROM YOUR TREASURER'S OFFICE
Space available for Spring Retirement Seminar
The NC Conference Board of Pension will host its annual Spring Retirement Planning Seminar on April 3-4 at the Hilton Wilmington Riverside Hotel. The seminar starts at noon on Thursday and will end at 2:30 p.m. on Friday. For individuals considering retirement in the next 6 months - 3 years, this event will include vital information. Topics will include legal and financial planning, information regarding pension and insurance benefits after retirement, and preparation for lifestyle and relationship changes. Download a copy of the brochure and registration form at the Conference Treasurer's website at Retirement Seminar . Registrations are due by March 3 . If you have questions or need further information, email JoAnna Cafferty ( jcafferty@nccumc.org ) or call 1-800-849-4433, ext. 225.
Local Church Treasurer/Finance E-mail Discussion Group
An e-mail discussion group has been started for persons interested in local church finance. The group will enable members to discuss day-to-day issues faced by peers at other congregations. This list was requested by local church treasurers because of the need for an easy way to ask each other questions about local church policy and procedures, accounting software, auditing issues, etc. To join the discussion group, click on the following link: Discussion Group .
Political election guidance for churches
As the focus grows on future political elections, churches are reminded that organizations exempt from income tax under the Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) may not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office. The Internal Revenue Service has issued Revenue Ruling 2007-41 to provide guidance on situations that may or may not be considered to fall under these guidelines. Churches involved in election matters or activities are encouraged to read the situations listed in the Revenue Ruling to make sure their involvement is not in violation of the guidelines. The Revenue Ruling can be found on IRS .
ITEMS FROM THE CONFERENCE SECRETARY'S OFFICE
Deadline for submitting resolutions to Annual Conference is May 12
Resolutions to be considered during the 2008 Annual Conference must be in the Office of the Conference Secretary no later than Monday, May 12. Reports can be submitted electronically, if possible, to Shannon Medlin at smedlin@nccumc.org in either MS Word or WordPerfect format. If there are questions, call Shannon Medlin at 1-800-849-4433, ext. 222.
Deadline for submitting reports for 2008 AC program book has been changed
The deadline for the 2008 Program Recommendations and Reports is noon on April 9. The Conference Secretary's office, however, strongly urges persons submitting reports to please make an effort to turn reports in before April 9 to allow time for compiling and editing the book. Reports should be submitted electronically, if possible, to Shannon Medlin smedlin@nccumc.org in either MS Word or WordPerfect format. Because of the tight deadline, there will not be time to make changes or corrections. Call Shannon Medlin at 1-800-849-4433, ext. 222 if you have questions.
Planning a Special Meal?
If a group is planning to sponsor a special meal during Annual Conference, please e-mail Shannon Medlin, smedlin@nccumc.org with the date, time, and place so a master list can be compiled and published with the Annual Conference information.
ITEMS FROM THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRY
Confirmation Celebration
The Conference Confirmation Celebration will be Saturday, March 8 at Methodist University from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. New for 2008: groups must pre-register by Monday, Feb.25. The Confirmation Celebration will include lunch and the cost of $7 per person will be paid at the door on March 8. Participants are also asked to bring items for UMCOR health kits. The registration form and further information (list of items for the health kits) is available at the Conference Youth Ministry website: Youth Ministry .
Youth Rally Day NC Wesleyan College
Conference Youth Rally Day will be Sunday, April 27 at NC Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount from 3-6 p.m. Groups do not need to pre-register unless desiring to offer a recreational activity or lead a portion of the worship service. There is no cost to Rally Day although snacks will be available for purchase and an offering for Youth Service Fund will be taken. Further information about Rally Day is available at Youth Ministry .
Kaleidoscope event for youth in 6-8 grades
Kaleidoscope is a spiritual life retreat for middle school youth (grades 6-8), April 4-6 at Don Lee Center. The registration deadline is March 3. The registration form is found in the 2008 Youth Events brochure and is also available on the website: Youth Ministry .
"Let the Children Come"
The first of two children's ministry resource events will be held Saturday, April 19 at Salem UMC in Greenville from 9:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Pre-registration is not required and there is no cost to attend the event. For further information about the workshops to be offered - go to Ministries for Children . This resource event is specifically designed for leaders and workers in children's ministry of small to medium-size churches.
ITEMS FROM THE OFFICE OF MISSIONS AND SOCIAL CONCERNS
One Great Hour of Sharing
One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) is scheduled for March 2. This is the one time each year set aside to raise operational funding for United Methodist relief activities. UMCOR receives no World Service funds or any other apportionments. The special offering enables UMCOR to keep its promise that 100 percent of designated gifts goes entirely to specific causes. One Great Hour of Sharing means UMCOR will provide hands-on care for persons caught in the effects of storms, war, disaster and disease. Often UMCOR is the first to arrive on the scene and the last to leave. UMCOR's ministry is all over God's wonderful world. We are UMCOR. Please provide an opportunity for congregations to take part in this critical offering. For sermon illustrations, children's sermons, stories, and other OGHS information, please see: One Great Hour of Sharing
Restroom Accessibility Grants are available
Due to a generous grant by The Duke Endowment, restroom accessibility grant requests for rural churches are now being accepted. Grant applications must be received by March 31. Applications and guidelines are available online at: Restroom Grants
Tornado response
In the last two weeks tornadoes have ravaged much of the Southeastern U.S. Many individuals have seen their communities devastated and their lives changed forever. Stand with them in support and love through the United Methodist Committee on Relief. Gifts can be made to UMCOR in a variety of ways. Place it in the a local United Methodist Church Sunday offering and indicate on the gift: "Advance #901670 - Tornadoes." Gifts can be make on-line at: Tornado Response . Or, give by phone using a credit card at (888) 252-6174, or by check sent to Advance GCFA, P.O. Box 9068, GPO New York, NY 10087-9068.
