News

7/6/2023

Did you know that approximately 1/3 of Murphy-Harpst’s financial support comes from United Methodist churches? Your generous gifts allow Murphy-Harpst to transform the lives of Georgia’s most vulnerable children all year long. They cannot do the life-changing work that they do without our churches' prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. Sunday, July 16, is our Conference-wide Special Offering Sunday to benefit Murphy-Harpst, although churches may choose to hold the offering at another ...

7/5/2023

We regret that misinformation about The United Methodist Church continues to be spread in the North Georgia Conference. While it benefits no one to repeat misinformation, the following information corrects some of the latest inaccuracies encountered by the bishop and cabinet.  The truth is: Not all are traditional Not all churches that disaffiliated from The United Methodist Church in 2022 were theologically traditional congregations. The truth is: Our bishops have guarded our United Methodist...

6/29/2023

Rev. Kristin Lee welcomes the Cobb County faith community to a time of Prayer & Action East Cobb UMC in Marietta hosted people of faith from across their community to support Jewish neighbors following a hateful demonstration in front of an East Cobb synagogue during services Saturday. Participants in the Time of Prayer and Action on Wednesday, June 28, filled the East Cobb UMC sanctuary to overflowing. Organized by Rev. Kristin Lee of East Cobb UMC, Mechel McKinley-Hoffman of Marietta First ...

6/28/2023

Each summer Dallas First UMC hosts a five-day "River of Life" mission event. During River of Life, youth and adults serve as the hands and feet of Christ in the Paulding County community by providing home repairs and fellowship to those in need. This year's participants came from Dallas First UMC, Wesley Way UMC, McEachern UMC, and Hopewell UMC. Bishop Robin Dease and Central West Superintendent Rev. Dr. Jessica Terrell joined for a day and helped construct a wheelchair ramp for a local family....

6/16/2023

Discount Available Through June 30 The North Georgia Conference is pleased to announce a partnership with Amplify Media to provide United Methodist churches in our Conference with access to the streaming service at a deeply discounted rate. The discount can be activated through June 30.  Amplify is an online resource for church‐wide, group, or individual study, worship, and devotional material. Access anytime, anywhere, on any device – all with one subscription for your entire congregation. ...

6/15/2023

Each year our Annual Conference has the honor of selecting three individuals to receive the Denman Evangelism Award.  The award honors a United Methodist clergy, lay person, and youth in every annual conference who consistently introduces others to the Good News of Jesus Christ. The award is named for the late Harry Denman, a lay person whose passion was helping others to know Jesus.   This year, the following disciple-makers in the North Georgia Conference received the award: 2023 Denman ...

6/14/2023

On Sunday, May 28, Gainesville First UMC hosted a Blessing of the Boats service at their 8:30 a.m. Lakeside Worship. The boating community on Lake Lanier was invited to bring their boats to the Gainesville First UMC boat dock, and a prayer was offered along with a gift of a floating key chain. The church plans to make this an annual tradition to kick off the lake season.   Gainesville First's Lakeside Worship is held every Sunday (weather permitting) at 8:30 am from May through October on the...

6/13/2023

Aldersgate UMC in Augusta is reaching out with hope and support for single parents in its community. The congregation was recently awarded a $10,000 grant from the Foundation for Evangelism, recognizing their efforts in establishing a Single Parent Ministry. With this generous support, Aldersgate UMC is poised to create a nurturing environment where single parents and their families can find community, encouragement, and practical assistance. These ministry efforts will support those who are ...

6/13/2023

The Georgia United Methodist Foundation is pleased to introduce its new user-friendly website and branding, enabling the Foundation to better serve you. The Foundation’s new brand represents its commitment to advancing the mission of the church and church-related nonprofits through advanced faith-based financial solutions. "We look forward to remaining a trusted partner for you and the church and church-related nonprofits," shared the staff and board of trustees of the Georgia United Methodist ...

6/12/2023

At Annual Conference 2023, North Georgia United Methodists celebrated the impact of two years of Barnes Fund investments. Hear from some of the recipients in this video.  In 2023, the Barnes Evaluation and Administrative Team (or BEAT for short) is on track to invest $1,272,370 in mission and ministry across our Annual Conference. Already this year BEAT has funded 17 grants. These grants include a broad spectrum of ministry, including funds for community centers, digital and technical ...

6/9/2023

Wellroot Family Services encourages North Georgia United Methodists to learn more about a new opportunity for taxpayers to redirect their tax dollars to directly help youth transitioning from foster care. The new Fostering Success Tax Credit allows Georgia taxpayers a dollar-for-dollar 2023 tax credit for donations made to Wellroot’s support programs for young adults. "All children need and deserve a loving family with no expiration date. Yet, in Georgia, over 500 youth exit foster care and are...

6/8/2023

North Georgia Annual Conference The Classic Center, Athens, Georgia June 1-3, 2023 Bishop Robin Dease, presiding   The 2023 North Georgia Annual Conference session was held June 1-3 at The Classic Center in Athens, Georgia, with Bishop Robin Dease presiding. Approximately 2,000 United Methodists gathered for the session under the theme “I will pour out my spirit on all,” based on Joel 2:28. Together we worshiped, shared meals, deliberated, sang, prayed, and carried out the work of the church. (...

6/8/2023

The North Georgia Conference is excited to share a new resource: The Lighthouse Congregation Movement. "Lighthouse Congregation" is a designation for churches devoted to Christian hospitality and the welcome and care of people who've been displaced from their church home by disruption, disaffiliation, or closure. Lighthouse Congregations will be equipped to offer an assurance of calm, comfort, and stability. Good candidates are those churches that are: called to extend radical hospitality ...

6/7/2023

By Rev. Blair Boyd Zant and Rev. Richard Hunter The landscape for faith communities in North Georgia is ripe with potential. Our cities, county seats and many of our rural communities are experiencing significant population growth. We have a large population of spiritual refugees, in other words, our neighbors who have dropped out of church due to relocation, division, displacement, church closures, and loss of connections. There is an ever-growing number of “nones and dones” who have decided ...

6/7/2023

The Harbor UMC is an online faith community for anyone finding themselves without a church home—whether that's because of turmoil, timing, life changes, health challenges, disaffiliation, or displacement. And the church ultimately hopes that online attendees will receive care and fuel for their faith, and then relaunch if and when they're ready to a church in their community. The foundational building blocks of The Harbor UMC are centered around connection.    "The goal of The Harbor is to be ...

6/6/2023

We have heard from a number of North Georgia United Methodists who have been the target of a phishing scam via an email that appears to come from Bishop Dease.  This fraudulent email in particular is asking for your cell phone number. Please do not respond to the email or subsequent text messages. If at any time you receive an email that strikes you as unusual, confirm that it's legitimate before you reply. Remember to take a look at both the "from" and the "reply to" emails. Refrain from ...

6/1/2023

The Reparations Task Force in North Georgia put together a series of videos that highlight stories of racism and exclusion but also how people of faith courageously sought to heal the wounds of the past to position us for a brighter future. Thanks to Joseph McBrayer who filmed and edited these videos and to all who shared their story. 1962 Glisson Retreat  The North Georgia Conference and Camp Glisson did something courageous in 1962 when one of the first interracial overnight retreats took ...

5/31/2023

The Commission on General Conference gathered in Florence, Kentucky for an in-person planning meeting May 21-24, 2023. Participants included representatives from each U.S. jurisdiction and Central Conference members from Africa.  Members from Europe and the Philippines were unable to attend for a variety of personal reasons. During the session, important updates and continuing work were discussed in preparation for the postponed 2020 General Conference to be held April 23-May 3, 2024, at ...

5/28/2023

Bishop Robin Dease shares a message with North Georgia United Methodists as we prepare for Annual Conference 2023.   ¡De explicando a demonstrando! Joel 2.28 Aquí estoy en Athens con el equipo de planificación de la conferencia y juntos estamos finalizando las logísticas necesarias en preparación para la Conferencia Anual del Norte de Georgia.  ¡Qué alegría tenemos cuando nos unimos con otras Metodistas Unidas para alabar a Dios y realizar el trabajo de la Iglesia!  Esta Conferencia Anual nos ...

5/26/2023

Hear the story of one of our Black pastors who was refused entry into worship at a White church in North Georgia around 1960 and how the church sought to begin to heal the hurt in 2018. Long-form Video Shorter Trailer Video Podcast Format The Reparations Task Force has created a series of videos highlighting historical stories about racism and how the Conference has moved in the past to begin the work. Now is time to continue that work until racial healing is realized in our Conference.