News

Register Your Church to Change the World

In 2012, the Church will come together – not only for General Conference, but also to change the world. United Methodists will extend justice and compassion in community on May 19 and 20.  In 2011, 25 Cal-Nevada churches participated and more than 2,000 events were registered worldwide: everything from developing/enhancing community gardens to fighting human trafficking. Think now about how your congregation will Change the World!   Your event will be charted on the...

GBCS Applauds Change in Immigration Policy

Change would improve possibility for undocumented immigrants to keep their families together. WASHINGTON, D.C.—The United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) sent a statement to the White House this week applauding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) decision to enable some undocumented immigrant children and spouses to reunite with their U.S.-citizen family members.   DHS's proposed change would enable undocumented immigrants with a U.S.-citizen spouse or...

GBOD Offers Free Webinars in January and February

The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church is offering free webinars, this month and next, for church leaders. Register at www.gbod.org/committee_resources. Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 11:30 a.m. PST: Principles of Church Renewal for DSes Key factors for setting a path toward renewal of district congregations.   Tuesday, Jan. 31 at 4:30 p.m. PST: Goal Setting for Vital Congregations A guide for setting realistic numerical goals for your congregation on the...

Five New Ideas from GBOD to Start the New Year

Each month, the General Board of Discipleship (GBOD) generates a list of five new ideas to help promote vital congregations. Start the New Year off right: Click here to download Five New Ideas from GBOD for January 2012....

Vital Signs Reporting: Frequently Asked Questions

Last Monday (Jan. 2), the Communications Office emailed churches and pastors, asking for the email address they wish to use for the Vital Signs project. The response has been overwhelmingly good – with 233 churches responding. However, as more people are using the system, we've noticed that there are a few frequently asked questions. Here are three of them, along with answers.   Q: How does the time period work? Is it Sunday through Saturday, or Monday through Sunday?   A:...

Focusing on Vital Signs, Vital Congregations in the New Year

In 2012, the focus in the California-Nevada Annual Conference – and for United Methodists everywhere – will be on helping congregations be vital and focused on God's mission in the world. Our Council of Bishops, the Connectional Table's Call to Action, and the California-Nevada Conference Strategic Plan for Congregational Vitality all are in agreement on the importance of this focus. Vital Signs reporting and Vital Congregations goal setting are two separate opportunities set...

United Methodists Garner Highest Favorability Score

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—About 62% of adult Americans have a favorable impression of United Methodists. That's according to a new survey from LifeWay Research that looks at perceptions of faith groups among adults in the U.S. United Methodists had the highest percentage of favorable impressions among the faith groups included in the survey – Roman Catholics, Southern Baptists, United Methodists, Mormons, and Muslims – with 15% of respondents reporting very favorable impressions and...

Iowa Delegation Endorses Document Calling for United Methodist Church Restructure

The General and Jurisdictional Conference Delegation of the Iowa Annual Conference recently endorsed a document from the Council of Bishops titled, "For the Sake of a New World, We See a New Church: A Call to Action."  The document outlines suggested changes in The United Methodist Church; some will require General Conference legislation, and some will not. The Rev. Brian K. Milford, head of the Iowa delegation, said, "Our delegation specifically endorsed the document...

Congress on Evangelism Convenes in January in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—The Congress on Evangelism for the United Methodist Church convenes at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Conference Center in Nashville, Tennessee, Jan. 3-6, 2012. Focusing on Wesleyan evangelism in the local church, the Congress is designed for leaders, both clergy and lay – addressing their need for tools, inspiration, and community. Workshops provide practical, hands-on lessons for evangelism in the local church, led by successful practitioners (and...

Two Job Openings at GBCS

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) is seeking applicants for two grassroots organizer/educator positions: an Addictions-Prevention Consultant and a Healthcare Consultant. The Addictions-Prevention Consultant opportunity is a 12-month position tasked with building support for public policies addressing addiction issues, including confronting alcohol, tobacco, and gambling industry efforts to loosen regulation and market to young...

UMs Participate in Global Event on Migration, Development, and Human Rights

NEW YORK, NY—A delegation of 18 Methodists, hosted by the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM), is attending the People's Global Action on Migration, Development, and Human Rights (PGA) in Geneva, Switzerland, as part of the mission agency's focus on global migration and poverty. The global event began Nov. 28 and ends Dec. 2, 2011. The PGA is a grassroots event organized by Migrant Rights International that brings together migrant organizations from around the...

GBHEM Awards Loans and Scholarships to 40 Cal-Nev Students

GBHEM's Office of Loans and Scholarships will be awarding more than 2,600 students a total of $5.3 million in award money for 2011 – including nearly $75,000 distributed among 40 students in the California-Nevada Annual Conference. Pastors received certificates for their congregants to acknowledge these recipients on Student Day, November 27, 2011.   Overall, of those awarded, nearly 2,300 were under the age of 35, and more than 500 are enrolled in seminary pursuing a Masters of...

Speakers Urge Exploration Participants to Take God's Word to Their Generation

By Vicki Brown* Speaker after speaker told young adults attending Exploration 2011 that The United Methodist Church needs them to carry God's word to their own generation – and speaker after speaker assured them that God will equip and support those who accept that call.   The Rev. Shalom Agtarap, the 28-year-old pastor of Ellensburg First United Methodist Church in Washington State, told the 650 people attending the national event in St. Louis, Missouri, that she had been where...

Technology and Social Media Add Layers to Exploration 2011

By Vicki Brown* Blogging, tweeting, and QR codes added new levels of connection to an event for young adults considering God's call to ordained ministry in The United Methodist Church, allowing instant connections and real-time discussions about sermons, workshops, and small groups.   The Rev. Emily Oliver, associate director of the Center for Clergy Excellence, Florida Annual Conference, took a group of 35 college students and seminarians to Exploration 2011. She said Twitter allowed...

Book of Discipline Now Online

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — The 2008 edition of the Book of Discipline, The United Methodist Church's official law book, is now available online, through Cokesbury, without charge, in a read and search version only. General Conference, the denomination's top legislative body, revises and approves the Book of Discipline every four years. The Book of Discipline will be revised next at the 2012 General Conference, which will make the 2008 edition obsolete....

Follow Footsteps of Wesley Pilgrimage in Facebook Posts

Two pastors from the California-Nevada Annual Conference are off on a 10-day Wesley Pilgrimage to England and one of them – the Rev. Paul Joseph Khamdy Yang of First United Methodist Church in Roseville, California – is sharing his experiences and photos on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/#!/1stUMC.   Along with Yang, the Rev. Becky Goodwin, appointed to a sabbatical year, has joined a group of 33 pilgrims from all over the United States to embark on a spiritual journey...

Bishop Brown Elected President-Designate of Council of Bishops

Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr., episcopal leader of the San Francisco Area of The United Methodist Church and resident bishop in the California-Nevada Annual Conference, has been elected president-designate of the Council of Bishops. Bishop Rosemarie Wenner of Germany was elected to the presidency. She will begin her term on the third day of the 2012 General Conference, succeeding Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster, and will hold office for two years. Bishop Brown will succeed her in 2014.   The...

Bishops Endorse Church Restructure Proposals

By Heather Hahn November 2, 2011 | LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. (UMNS) United Methodist bishops voted overwhelmingly Nov. 1 in favor of proposals to restructure the denomination and redistribute up to $60 million in church funds.   The vote specifically endorsed a letter, titled "For the Sake of a New World, We See a New Church: A Call to Action," detailing changes — some requiring action by General Conference, some not.   "We see a new church," the bishops'...

UMCom General Secretary Is UMAC Communicator of the Year

The Rev. Larry Hollon, General Secretary of United Methodist Communications, was named Communicator of the Year at the 2011 annual meeting of the United Methodist Association of Communicators (UMAC), Oct. 18-21 in Albuquerque. In one of his nominations, Hollon was cited for being "the leading voice – often, a voice in the wilderness – for helping The United Methodist Church understand communications as a ministry that has the power to effect change and impact people's lives...

UM Communications Launches Free Mobile App

Mobile device users can easily access information about The United Methodist Church on the go – with a new free United Methodist application. Developed by United Methodist Communications and Music City Networks, the app is now available for free download for iPad and iPhone, and should be available for Android smartphone users by the end of next week. To download, go to the App Store and search for "United Methodist Church." The app is called "The Official Mobile App of...