Flood Update: How to Help, Share, and Stay Informed

Communicate With North Georgia Disaster Response The North Georgia Conference disaster response organization is one of the best in the Connection. They have specific plans and procedures in place that assure they’re doing the right things in the right times and places.  If you know of a church or a parsonage in your district that has sustained any damages from the recent storms (or any other damage in your area), please contact your District Superintendent. He/she will know...

Conference Finance Committee is 'Cautiously Optimistic'

By Glenn Hannigan Editor North Georgia Advocate The prevailing mood is one of cautious optimism. But for churches that have been hit hard by the ongoing economic downturn, any indication that the worst may be over is more than welcome news. But the key word is "cautious." "Perhaps we’ve reached a point where, economically, things are stabilizing," said Keith Cox, treasurer of the North Georgia Conference. "There are some indicators that the recession may...

Bishop Watson Names 12 Lay People, 5 Clergy to Task Force

At our 2009 annual conference session, a recommendation from the Conference Council on Finance and Administration was adopted which asked Bishop Mike Watson to appoint a task force for the purpose of conducting a comprehensive analysis of the functions of the North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church.  The goal is to define better coordination of efficient and effective programs and ministries to facilitate the mission of The United Methodist Church in making disciples of...

Church Food Co-ops Plant 'God's Gardens'

By Glenn Hannigan Editor North Georgia Advocate   Charles Barnes is enjoying a return to his roots.    Barnes, a retired minister and former director of church development in the North Georgia Conference, fondly remembers growing up on a farm in Carroll County.    “It was how we lived,” said Barnes. “We farmed about 100 acres. We had livestock, grew cotton, corn and wheat, and were completely self-sustaining.”    Now Barnes,...

CCPI Update: North Georgia Has Raised More Than $1 Million

The stories are numerous, and the theme is always the same—years of devotion and sacrifice and dedication to the Church, followed by years of hardship during retirement. "The North Georgia Conference is responding to critical needs of retired clergy and surviving spouses in many of the Central Conferences of The United Methodist Church through the Central Conference Pension Initiative," said Bishop Mike Watson. "Those of us who are so richly blessed are grateful to...

UMMen Volunteers Begin Rebuilding Children's Home Cottage

The foundation is poured, and the framing is underway. Volunteers from United Methodist Men's groups recently began rebuilding Leigh Cottage at the United Methodist Children's Home in Decatur. The cottage was destroyed by fire in 2007. "We have had two great teams the last Saturdays in August working on Leigh Cottage at the UMCH," said Robert Rylee, Volunteer Coordinator, UMCH Leigh Cottage Rebuild Project. "Teams from Brightstar UMC and Jodeco Road UMC have lead the way...

Candler Conference to Focus on Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations

Come discover how your church can experience congregational health, vitality and fruitfulness by practicing radical hospitality, passionate worship, intentional faith development, risk-taking mission and service, and extravagant generosity. These will be the topics as Bishop Robert Schnase, author of Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, leads Candler School of Theology’s Fall Congregational Conference Oct. 11-13 at Gainesville First UMC and on the Emory campus. The three-day...

Emory names graduate school for the Rev. James Laney

The board of trustees for United Methodist-related Emory University has approved naming the graduate school in honor of President Emeritus James T. Laney, who led the university from 1977 until 1993. "The naming of the James T. Laney School of Graduate Studies honors the vision and leadership of Jim Laney, whose ambitious plan for Emory revolved around graduate education," Emory President James W. Wagner said. Laney, a United Methodist pastor, taught at Yonsei University in...

Welcoming Training Draws Large Turnout

By Sybil Davidson What would the world lose if my church ceased to exist?   That is just one of the many challenging questions raised during a recent Rethink Church workshop at Peachtree Road UMC. Nearly 300 participants gathered earlier this month for “Welcoming Training” as part of the Rethink Church initiative.   Among the other questions addressed:  • When is the last time I invited someone to accompany me to an activity?  • What are the...

United Methodists and Lutherans Enter Into Full Communion

By Linda Bloom* August 20, 2009 | MINNEAPOLIS (UMNS) Celebrating with a Charles Wesley hymn, the largest Lutheran body in the United States entered into full communion with The United Methodist Church. Delegates to the churchwide assembly of the 4.7 million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America sang “O, For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” Aug. 20 after voting 958-51 in support of the historic agreement. After the vote, Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson hugged Bishop Gregory...

Another Fantastic Summer for Glisson Campers and Staff

By Glenn Hannigan Editor, North Georgia Advocate Like the swallows returning to Capistrano, they predictably reappear each year. The youngsters returning to Camp Glisson. Throughout the summer camp season, like clockwork, high-energy boys and girls stream into Glisson like a miniature invading force.             The campers arrive with overstuffed backpacks and oversized canvas bags. They arrive with a rush of adrenaline and high...

North Georgia Advocate Update

Have you been reading the new North Georgia Advocate? If not, you don’t know what you’ve been missing. Regular contributions from Bishop Mike Watson, Mike Selleck, Phil Schroeder, Cathy Lee Phillips, Jim Hollis, among others, as well as Sunday school lessons, listing of upcoming events . . . and more. News, features and trend stories from across the conference, and a detailed church notebook compiled by our new editor, Glenn Hannigan. And you might have missed the...

North Georgians Compete in HealthMiles Challenge

North Georgia HealthFlex insurance participants recently accepted a walking challenge from other United Methodist Conferences. For six weeks competitors pounded the pavement (or the treadmill, or the bike, or the water), logging steps on their GoZone pedometers. In the end, our team walked 337,048 miles! That's an average of 119 miles per person. The top 10 walkers were: Wes Privett Wallace Wheeles Helen Simmons Jane Blessit Ed Tomlinson Diana Durie L. Edward Phillips James Camp...

Simpsonwood’s Center for Renewal to Foster Spiritual Growth

By Glenn Hannigan Editor, North Georgia Advocate   It is a bucolic, heavily-wooded oasis just a short drive from Atlanta. The Simpsonwood Conference and Retreat Center, on the western edge of Gwinnett County and bordering the Chattahoochee River, has unquestioned beauty and charm. What has been a more open question over the years: Is Simpsonwood being used to its best advantage? This month, the North Georgia Conference is launching a new initiative with the hopes of helping...

Back-to-School Ministry 'Gives Kids a Chance'

By Glenn Hannigan Editor, North Georgia Advocate   It’s a mission-oriented church that meets in rented space in Canton.       There are more empty seats than worshippers each Sunday when Liberty Hill UMC gathers in the spacious Cherokee High School auditorium. But that doesn’t mean the 160-member congregation is shy about taking on huge projects.          Indeed, Liberty Hill’s remarkable...

Arbor Pointe Teens Minister to Children in Belize

Staff Reports North Georgia Advocate       While many teenagers were hanging out at the pool, 15-year-old Whitney Kendrix and other youth from Arbor Pointe UMC were baking under the hot sun in Belize, showing their love for youngsters coming to vacation Bible school.        The 15-year-old was one of 17 Arbor Pointe members who visited the Central American nation this summer – the second foreign mission trip in the...

Vince Dooley to Speak at Action Ministries 46th Annual Meeting

by Nancy Hruschka   Coach Vince Dooley, an iconic figure in Georgia, will be the keynote speaker at the 46th Annual Meeting of Action Ministries, Inc. on September 10. The evening’s event, held at Dunwoody United Methodist Church, is a celebration of Action Ministries’ life-changing programs all over north Georgia. In addition to Coach Dooley’s remarks, the dinner event will recognize several individuals who have made significant contributions to Action Ministries...

Rev. Joseph Lowery to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom

By Kathy L. Gilbert* (UMNS)  The Rev. Joseph Lowery, 87, a United Methodist pastor and leader in the civil rights movement, is one of 16 people who will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest honor for a civilian.   Lowery said he was especially honored to be in President Obama’s “first class” of award recipients. The medals will be presented at a White House ceremony Aug. 12. "I'm really excited to be in the company of the...

Tucker First satisfies hunger behind motel doors

By Lori Johnston* UMNS TUCKER--Jalyn Young, 8, cracks open the door, excited about the weekly pepperoni pizza delivery. He walks just a few steps to a bed, plopping down to devour two slices of pepperoni pizza in his family’s dimly lit, 450-square-foot room at the Northlake Inn.   Members of Tucker First United Methodist Church make the free pizza delivery. Church members began delivering lunch to children at the budget motel during school breaks in December 2008 after learning...

Annual Conferences Report Defecits, but also Good News

--Click Here to Read Wrap-Ups From All United Methodist Annual Conferences-- A UMNS Report By Linda Green and Elizabeth Guye* The recession cast a shadow over United Methodist annual conference sessions in May and June. At least 35 of the 62 U.S. annual conferences reported financial deficits, which resulted in flat or decreased budgets, frozen salaries, reduced insurance benefits and decreased apportionment payments. The recent bankruptcies of Chrysler and General Motors, for example, as...