10/30/06

Mental health conference on November 7
The Conference Committee on Disability Concerns is sponsoring a Mental Health Conference for Clergy and Laity on Nov. 7 from 10 am-3 pm at St. Mark's UMC in Raleigh. Registration is $5.00 which includes lunch. To find out more about more about the conference and registration: www.nccmentalhealth.org .

Nothing But Nets campaign raises money to fight malaria
(UMNS) - More than 100,000 insecticide-treated bed nets will be delivered to Nigeria in November as part of a new malaria prevention campaign called Nothing But Nets. Partners in Nothing But Nets include the United Methodist Church, the United Nations Foundation, Sports Illustrated , the National Basketball Association, Millennium Promise and the Measles Initiative. The United Methodist Board of Global Ministries and United Methodist Communications are coordinating the church's participation in the campaign, which will include a major initiative for youth groups.
The goal is to raise funds to eradicate malaria in Africa, where the mosquito-borne disease causes the death of one-fifth of all children under 5 years old. Hanging nets over children while they sleep is an inexpensive way to kill or deter the mosquitoes. For more information: http://www.umc.org/site/c.gjJTJbMUIuE/b.2194171/k.5F96/Nothing_But_Nets_campaign_raises_money_to_fight_malaria.htm

Lutheran-United Methodist dialogues issue full communion text and study guide
"Confessing Our Faith Together" is the theological statement recently produced by the ELCA-UMC dialogue team.  The statement concludes with a call for a relationship of "full-communion" between The United Methodist Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.  The two denominations have approved a relationship of "interim eucharistic sharing," which is a preliminary step toward full communion.   
Churches and individuals are invited to respond to "Confessing Our Faith Together."  The study document includes a response form.  The dialogue team will meet again in late 2006 to consider the comments and responses and hopes to perfect the document.  The North Carolina Conference Commission on Christian Unity & Interreligious Concerns encourages pastors and churches to consider ways of using "Confessing Our Faith Together" with neighboring ELCA churches. 
It may be downloaded from the United Methodist General Commission on Christian Unity & Interreligious Concerns website- www.gccuic.org (click on "Download ELCA document).  If you have any questions please contact Randy Innes, CUIC chair at randyinnes@nccumc.org