CF&A seeking applicants for Conference Treasurer/Business Manager
The Council on Finance and Administration of the North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church is seeking applications for Conference Treasurer/Business Manager effective July 1. The deadline for applications is February 28. Applicants should send a resume and qualifications to Dr. Charles M. Smith, Executive Director of Conference Connectional Ministries, P.O. Box 10955, Raleigh, NC 27605.
General Conference/SE Jurisdiction Delegation Elections
Any conference deacon or elder in full connection or layperson meeting certain criteria is eligible to be a delegate to GC/SEJ. Interested clergy or laypersons should visit http://www.nccumc.org/ac2007/gc_sejforms.htm to obtain nomination forms and for information on criteria. Nominees can also be designated by "write-in" on the first ballot at Annual Conference. Please be aware that being a delegate to GC/SEJ requires a large time commitment, not only to attend the conferences themselves but also prior to and during the year of the General and SEJ Conferences. Please note: Clergy nomination forms must be sent to the Office of the Conference Secretary, PO Box 10955, Raleigh, NC 27605. Lay nomination forms must be sent to Robin Harry, Assistant to the Board of Laity, PO Box 10955, Raleigh, NC 27605. The deadline for all form submissions is April 1. Please keep a copy of your submitted form for your records.
Deadlines for Reports and Resolutions to 2007 Annual Conference
The ABSOLUTE deadline for submitting reports to be included in the Book of Reports is Thursday, March 1. Anything that comes in after that date will not be included. All reports must be 250 words or less. Resolutions are due in to the Conference Secretary's office by Thursday, May 10.
Tables I, II and III Training
On-line training sessions are available on the NC Conference website in the Video Room http://www.nccumc.org/videoroom/tablesI_II_III.htm . These sessions cover completing the statistical Tables I, II and III. If you have questions on filling out these tables, please view the on-line training sessions and email George Speake (gspeake@nccumc.org) as needed. The deadline for completing these tables for 2006 on the On-line Data Collection System is January 31, 2007.
Our Call to Hospitality- A Biblical Response to the Challenge of Immigration
As our society grows increasingly multicultural, we are faced with a broad range of reactions and feelings to both immigration and immigrants, some positive, many negative. What does the Bible say - and what should our church say - about the challenge of immigration? Explore these issues at the "Our Call to Hospitality" weekend at Lake Junaluska February 1-3. For more information or to register, go to www.umc-gbcs.org/hospitality .
Disciple Bible Outreach to hold 2007 training events
Disciple Bible Outreach Ministries is sponsoring district DISCIPLE Bible training events each Saturday in February. Thanks to the Duke Endowment, this training will be held in every district over the next three years. The training is free to all clergy and lay persons in the conference. Times and locations of the February trainings are: Feb. 3-Whiteville UMC; Feb.10-Front Street UMC in Burlington; Feb.17- St. Paul UMC in Goldsboro; and Feb. 24-St. James UMC in Greenville. DISCIPLE training will be from 8:30am-3:30pm.Rings of Fellowship training will be 4-6pm. Lunch will be provided for $5. Register online at the Disciple Bible Outreach Ministries website: www.disciplebibleoutreach.org . Call Dr. Mark Hicks, Executive Director at (336) 434-8612 or email MCHicks@northstate.net if you have questions.
Youth event registration deadlines
The registration deadlines for PK Getaway and Global Vision are approaching. The registration deadline for PK Getaway is January 25 and for Global Vision is January 26. PK Getaway will be February 9-11 at Rockfish and is a weekend retreat just for youth age (6th-12th grade) pastor's kids. Global Vision is a study seminar trip to Washington, DC and New York City for high school students. Registration forms for both events may be found in the 2007 Youth Events brochure that was mailed out in December and also at the Conference youth ministry website: www.nccumc.org/youthministry .
Vacation Bible School special events
The Raleigh Cokesbury store is offering several opportunities to assist local churches with VBS. VBS Showcase Days will coincide with the Christian Education Showcase, January 26 through February 10. Several VBS resources will be available for preview in the store and orders placed during this two week event receive a 20% discount. On Tuesday, March 20 from 7-9pm at St Marks UMC in Raleigh there will be an in-depth training event for those using Cokesbury's VBS curriculum "Lift Off!" Registration for this is not necessary. For more information, contact a Cokesbury Sales Associate at 1-866-265-2665.
Opportunities available from the Center for Continuing Education at Duke Divinity School
Three exciting opportunities to learn from experts and earn CEU credits in February are:
February 9-11 - The Channels of God's Grace: Wesleyan Resources for Spiritual Renewal with Dr. Paul Chilcote at the Springmaid Beach Resort in Myrtle Beach. See www.divinity.duke.edu/learningforlife/programs/districtevents/godsgrace for more information.
February 19-20 - What More Can We Say? Preaching the Holy Days Again . The 2007 Jameson Jones Lectures by Bishop William Willimon at Duke Univeristy. See www.divinity.duke.edu/preachingholydays for more information.
February 26-28 - Through the Valley of the Shadow: Pastoral Ministry and End of Life Care with Dr. Richard Payne and Jeanne Twohig at the Springmaid Beach Resort in Myrtle Beach. See www.divinity.duke.edu/learningforlife/programs/districtevents/shadow for more information.
NC Missionary Frido Kinkolenge - Liberia Ex-Combatant/Street Children Ministry - is in the NC Conference from January 16 - February 17.
Frido has many open dates available to come and talk with your UMW groups, UMM groups, Sunday school classes, civic groups, etc. Most of the open dates are non-Sunday dates. To book Frido, please call Jim Perry at (919) 349 3611 cell or email - jimperryassoc@nc.rr.com
Mission Team to La Esperanza Sheltered Workshop in Santiago, Chile
(Close out date is extended)
Six slots remain available for a "journey inward - journey outward" with missionary, Rev. Shana Harrison, April 20 - May 2, 2007. Close out date for registration is: February 16, 2007. First $500 deposit due on March 1. For more information, contact Becky Biegger in the Office of Missions, 800-849-4433 ext 256 or beckybiegger@nccumc.org Please see: http://nccmission.org/shana's_news.htm
Rainbow Covenant due, forms available
Local church Rainbow Covenant data is due January 31 to the appropriate District Mission Secretary. Rainbow Covenant Report Forms were mailed to pastors and mission chairs in December. A copy is available in the 2007 Mission and Service Commitment Booklet and on the following website: http://nccmission.org/rainbow_covenant.htm . After going to the website, move down the page and then click on the link that reads: Download Rainbow Covenant Report Form, click here!
Please remember, to be a Rainbow Covenant church, a church must first pay World Service & Connectional Ministries; Episcopal Fund; Interdenominational Cooperation, Black Colleges, Africa University Fund; and Past Service Liability in full, and then make a gift to one ADVANCE SPECIAL from each lane of the Rainbow Covenant. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Becky Biegger: beckybiegger@nccumc.org or call 800-849-4433 ext 256.
January is Project AGAPE Month
Please remember that January is Project AGAPE month, a time when for reflection and response to the deep needs of our brothers and sisters in Armenia. Bulletin inserts were mailed in December and are available on-line as a download at: http://nccmission.org/agape_insert.htm . Checks should be made payable to NC Conference marked for "Project AGAPE - S#00004". Place your gift in your Sunday offering or mail checks to North Carolina Conference/Raleigh Area, The United Methodist Church, PO Box 60053, Charlotte NC 28260-0053. Please see: http://nccmission.org/project_agape.htm
Missions is a focus in the February Advocate
The February Issue of the NC Conference Christian Advocate will focus on Missions across the Conference. The focus contains stories, mission information on what is being done throughout the world, and much more.
Are you in Ministry with Refugees?
Our Conference Refugee Ministry Coordinator, Rev. Lucho Reinoso, is putting together a data base of our refugee ministries. He requests that you please provide information to the following, and email him your response:
- If you are engaged in refugee ministry, please describe your involvement.
- Please indicate the name of your church.
- Who is the pastor? Who is the point of contact for the ministry?
- What is the home country of the refugee(s)?
- From where does your support come for the ministry?
- How long have you been engaged in refugee ministry?
Please send you answers to: Luis F. Reinoso - email address: reinosol@nccumc.org
Also, if you would like to become involved in refugee ministry, please contact him! You will be deeply blessed!
Here are a few of the programs offered by the Office of Missions.
All programs utilize adult popular education teaching methodology, i.e., high engagement and very interactive.
* Proclaiming Peace in a Time of Perpetual War - 2 - 4 hour workshop - scripturally based with high interaction and multi-media.
* Globalization - It's Impact on God's World & How You can Make a Difference - 4 to 6 hour in- depth study, scripturally based with high interaction & multi-media.
* Street Smarts - discerning and empowering congregations for local mission.
* Thy Kingdom Come - Moving from Charity to Justice, living in the Realm of God.
* Your Connected Ministry - Ministries you are doing as connected churches in the NC Conference (overview of mission opportunities.)
* Liberia - Land of Spirit, Land of Hope, Connecting with the Least.
* Missions - A Journey of Spirit and Justice - 6 to 8 weekly sessions, journeying in the life of
Jesus, considering how we make that same journey today.
Other missions presentations, support, training, and sermons are available for local churches from the Office of Missions . For further information e-mail Becky Biegger - beckybiegger@nccumc.org or Steve Taylor staylor@nccumc.org or call them at 1-800-849-4433.
UMVIM Work team to Liberia . April 14 - 30, 2007
A United Methodist Volunteers In Mission Work team to Liberia is planned for April 14 - 30, 2007. Passport, Visas, and appropriate vaccinations are required. The work team is open to any church member interested in Missions in the country of Liberia. Approximate total costs, including material support, in-country costs and airfare is approximately $3000. For more information please see: http://nccmission.org/liberia_umvim_workteam.htm and contact the work team leader: Jim Perry, Africa Sub Committee/Edenton St UMC/Raleigh: (919) 349 3611 cell or email - jimperryassoc@nc.rr.com
New Liberia Prayer Calendar Available
Please join us in prayer for our United Methodist ministries in Liberia. To download the calendar please follow this link: Prayer Calendar for Liberia .
