Ordination Service Among Highlights of Annual Conference 2013

A highlight of the 2013 North Georgia Conference was the June 11 service of Licensing, Commissioning and Ordination.  Bishop Rodolfo Alfonso Juan of the Manila Episcopal Area was guest preacher for the service held in the theater of The Classic Center in Athens. "It is not about what we can do, but what God can accomplish through us," said Bishop Juan to the ordinands and commissioners.  The North Georgia Conference commissioned six provisional deacons and 12...

Social Media Broadens Conversation at #ngac13

Twitter, Facebook and Instagram figured heavily into the conversation at North Georgia Annual Conference this week. Using hashtag #ngac13, members and guests debated, joked and shared information over the web. Bishop Mike Watson even inspired a hashtag of his own when he asked delegates to be thoughtful in their online posts. "Tweet Sweet," he said. Moments later #TweetSweet was adopted by the Twitter crowd! A highlight on Instagram was one pastor's log of all the babies she...

Bishop Watson Announces 2013-2014 Clergy Appointments

The 2013-2014 Appointment List is now available for download and viewing following the 2013 North Georgia Annual Conference. Bishop B. Michael Watson fixed the appointments during the closing worship service, Thursday, June 13, at the Athens Classic Center. Please report corrections to the Office of Ministerial Services.  Click here to view the PDF....

5 Ways You Can Help the Oklahoma Tornado Survivors

The human spirit shines in times of disaster. In the aftermath of the May 20 tornado that destroyed parts of Moore, Oklahoma and surrounding towns, individual volunteers and community groups across the country are looking for ways to lend a hand.  One Great Hour of Sharing, a program of The United Methodist Church, has put together the following list of suggestions: 5 Ways Everyone Can Provide Help And Hope To The Oklahoma Tornado Survivors 1.     Prayer Go...

A Call for Peace and Reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula

  Bishop Hee-Soo Jung of the Wisconsin Annual Conference prepares participants for communion at the Ecumenical Korea Peace Conference recently in Atlanta. He uses bread made of corn flour from North Korea and white flour from South Korea.    By Melissa Hinnen General Board of Global Ministries   “Wherever you go and whatever you may face, remember to pray to God and we will see each other in our prayers.”   These were the last words that...

Action Ministries and Rethink Church Attempt to Break World Record on Sandwich Day 2013

Action Ministries and Rethink Church will join forces on Saturday, June 29, in five north Georgia cities to attempt to break the Guinness World Record for making the most sandwiches in one hour. The current record stands at 2,706. Volunteers, local partnering United Methodist churches and Action Ministries will gather in Augusta, Atlanta, Athens, Gainesville and Rome to prepare thousands of sandwiches in support of the second annual Smart Lunch, Smart Kid program that aims to...

UMCmarket: Financial Initiative Benefits Local Church Members

The General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) Office of Corporate Partnership is announcing a new program. UMCmarket that will allow members of The United Methodist Church the opportunity to shop  online at some of their favorite places while generating a donation  to their local church.    UMCmarket – Online shopping to benefit the local church UMCmarket, an online shopping community designed especially for members of The...

Momentum building for Imagine No Malaria

Commitments double in one year Nashville, Tenn.:  Financial commitments to Imagine No Malaria have doubled in the past year, moving the campaign past its June benchmark goal of $40 million ahead of schedule. Participation continues to build with more annual conferences and churches pledging involvement for this initiative of The United Methodist Church to raise $75 million to end preventable deaths from malaria in Africa by 2015. “Imagine No Malaria stands at...

Africa University Thanks You for Giving

Africa University wants to express a special thank you to to the North Georgia Annual Conferences for giving in 2012. "We are truly grateful for everything you do to support Africa University through the Africa University Fund. Your gifts create leaders for Africa." The North Georgia Conference paid $98,931 to the Africa University Fund in 2012....

Night of Champions Raises $100,000 for Action Ministries

Night of Champions, an annual Action Ministries event, raised $100,000 to support the nonprofit’s mission to mobilize communities to address the challenges of poverty by focusing on hunger relief, housing and education. Night of Champions, which took place on May 16 at Northside UMC, honors Action Ministries client champions, who were featured speakers and guests. Bill Curry, recently retired head football coach at Georgia State University, and his wife, Dr. Carolyn Curry, hosted...

Responding to Tornados: Oklahoma Conference asks for Collaborative Response

OKLAHOMA CITY (UMNS) —“I know you are seeing and hearing news reports about the devastation and want to assist. … Do not self-deploy. Best practices in times of crises call for a collaborative response, so people who can help are directed to where that help and those skills are most needed and will be most effective,” wrote the Rev. Richard Norman, disaster response coordinator for the Oklahoma Conference. The Oklahoma Confernce Disaster Response Team sent this...

Holding the People of Oklahoma in Prayer

 We are beginning to hear from North Georgia United Methodist churches and individuals who are responding in prayer to the tragic tornado damage in Oklahoma. Email sybil@ngumc.org or post a comment below to list a time of prayer or other opportunity open to your community. Oak Grove UMC, Decatur The Oak Grove community will host a service of prayer for the victims of the deadly storms sweeping across the United States Tuesday night, May 21, 2013, at 7 p.m. at...

UMR Communications, publisher of the North Georgia Advocate, to close May 31

UMR Communications and the United Methodist Reporter have announced that they will cease operations due to financial pressures on May 31, ending a tradition of Methodist news coverage that began in 1847. UMR Communications (UMRC) publishes the North Georgia Advocate.   Staff of the North Georgia Conference learned of the closure today via email and the UMR Communications website.    In 2009 the North Georgia Conference formed a partnership with UMRC in which UMRC assumed...

Mothers Day Offering is Used for Charitable Care for Wesley Woods Residents

From Mike Watson President & CEO, Foundation of Wesley Woods This Sunday we will celebrate Mother’s Day. As the scripture “Keep loving each other like family” HEBREWS 13:1 CEB reminds us, we have a responsibility for caring not only for our own parents, but also for those who have nowhere else to turn.  Wesley Woods is the older adult connectional ministry of our great Conference, and I ask each of you to continue providing your personal support to this annual...

Bishop Watson Visits U.S.-Mexico Border

Bishop Mike Watson spent yesterday on the U.S.-Mexico border near San Diego, where he joined other bishops from around the U.S., Africa, Asia and Europe.   The purpose of the bishops’ visit  was to immerse themselves in the reality of life at the border and sharpen their focus on how The United Methodist Church can be in ministry with border residents.   The bishops divided into four groups, each with different itineraries. Bishop Watson was part of a group that...

Imagine No Malaria releases updated 'Killer in the Dark' documentary

Documentary narrated by actress Pauley Perrette from top-rated TV show “NCIS” will air on NBC affiliates United Methodist Communications is releasing an updated version of the Imagine No Malaria documentary, “Killer in the Dark: An Extraordinary Effort to Combat Malaria,” in collaboration with the Interfaith Broadcasting Commission. The documentary, originally produced in 2011, is about The United Methodist Church’s work to help make the world malaria-free. Set...

Getting a New Pastor? Going to a New Appointment in June? We Have Resources to Help

Will your church be welcoming a new pastor in June? Take a look at "Receiving a New Pastor: Make a Healthy Transition." This document contains some of the most useful tools and helpful information as your church gets a new pastor and perhaps a new parsonage family. Also, find good resources for how to say goodbye to the pastor who is leaving and to honor the time they have served your congregation. Click here to download the "Receiving a New Pastor" packet. If you are...

Peace With Justice Sunday is May 26

Peace with Justice Sunday is May 26. This denomination-wide offering supports ministries that advocate for peace and justice, both in our Conference and around the world. We will celebrate true peace with justice when all people have access to adequate jobs, housing, education, food, health care, income support and clean water. Your gifts to Peace with Justice Sunday help bring us all closer to this goal. Up to 50 percent of the offering stays in North Georgia to support local efforts. Order...

Chatsworth First and Ringgold UMC Each Receive $20,000 Grant from Wal-Mart Foundation

Ringgold UMC and Chatsworth First UMCs have each received $20,000 grants from the Walmart Foundation’s Fighting Hunger Together campaign.   After a month-long online competition with more than 170 other agencies across the nation, Ringgold UMC finished fifth and Chatsworth First finished sixth in the total voting. Both churches feed more than 1,000 children every week in their communities. Pictured: Fifth and sixth graders from Chatsworth Elementary helping pack...

Young People Invited to Explore Their Calling to Ministry at Explo2013

Exploration 2013 is a three-day event for young adults age 18-26 to hear, discern, and respond to God's call to ordained ministry and to explore their gifts for service as a deacon or elder in The United Methodist Church. It will be held November 15-17 in Denver, Colorado. If you have sensed God might be calling you to ordained ministry, wondered what ministry in The United Methodist Church is all about, would like help sifting through issues involved in an ordained vocation, or want to...