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...

Greg Bergquist Is New Conference Superintendent for Leadership Development

Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. has announced that the Rev. Greg Bergquist has been named the new Conference Superintendent for Leadership Development for the California-Nevada Annual Conference. He will join the staff July 1, 2012. The position currently is held by the Rev. Ted Virts, who has been appointed to a local church. "I am delighted to welcome Greg Bergquist to my Cabinet," the Bishop said. "He will coordinate our work in developing lay and clergy spiritual...

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...

UMs Hold Half of DREAM Sabbaths Across Country

More than 500 events raise awareness of unjust situation thwarting ambitions of young, undocumented immigrants brought to this country by their parents. WASHINGTON, D.C. — United Methodists accounted for almost half of the observances of DREAM Sabbath across the United States this fall. The Interfaith Immigration Coalition reported more than 500 events to raise awareness of the unjust situation thwarting the ambitions of young, undocumented immigrants brought to this country by their...

Guest Speaker for 2012 ACS Is Featured in Latest Edition of Interpreter

The guest speaker for the 2012 California-Nevada Annual Conference Session will be the Rev. Rudy Rasmus – who is featured in the November/December 2011 issue of Interpreter, the official ministry magazine of The United Methodist Church. The article, "A Season of Hope; Will We Sing with Mary," examines the concept of finding hope in tragedy, in hunger, and in homelessness during Advent.  "I am often trying to offer a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. Don't...

Third Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner Planned at Valley Faith UMC, Sunnyvale

For the third straight year, Valley Faith United Methodist Church and San Jose Tongan Fellowship, both in Sunnyvale, have teamed up to provide a free Thanksgiving dinner for the community – complete with music, food, and fellowship. This year's dinner will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 23 from 3 to 9 p.m. The churches make a practice of reaching out to groups in the community – the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) of Northern California, the Filipino Workers...

Broken to Peace

Video study series helps people find faith in times of trouble Christians facing difficult life circumstances can find help dealing with them through a new inspirational video study series called Broken to Peace.  Designed for group study, the six-part series features people sharing compelling real-life stories that brought them to their knees, and telling how faith helped them cope.   The video discussion starters follow the journeys of people who have faced difficult issues...

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'...

Cal-Nevada Sponsors 10-Fold Philippines Project on Oct. 18

The California-Nevada Annual Conference is proud to be sponsoring a 10-Fold Day this year – a day that illustrates the Conference's commitment to human rights in the Philippines. 10-Fold is a 10-day online event that begins on Monday (Oct. 10), coordinated by the General Board of Global Ministries and United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) to mobilize passionate people to stand up and be counted for causes in which they believe.   All it takes is a click of a mouse to...

Monday Is Registration Deadline for November SSP Youth Service Weekends

Monday (Oct. 10) is the deadline to register for the Sierra Service Project's (SSP) November Weekend of Service sessions for junior and senior high youth groups. SSP has scheduled six of these sessions, all of which will take place at the Oak Park United Methodist Church in Sacramento. Session dates:  Nov. 4-6, 2011 (Sr. and Jr. High) Nov. 11-13, 2011 (Sr. High only) Jan. 13-15, 2012 (Sr. High only) Jan. 27-29, 2012 (Sr. and Jr. High) Feb. 10-12, 2012 (Sr. and...

Native American Ministries Giving Down This Year: Help Make up Shortfall

Native American Ministries Sunday was celebrated this year on May 8, but you may give to Native American Ministries at any time of the year! And in fact, this may be the year for extra giving. Elsie Cunningham, Director of Marketing for Native American Ministries Sunday, writes: "As I look at the financial giving reports that I received from the General Counsel on Finance and Administration, it is evident that giving in several Conferences is down significantly. In the past two...

Vital Churches Share Common Characteristics

A UMNS Feature By Barbara Dunlap-Berg* Bishop John R. Schol shepherds the Baltimore-Washington Annual (regional) Conference, and he is always on the lookout for standout congregations. As team leader of the Vital Congregations initiative, he rattles off the description with ease.   A vital congregation, he explains, has five things: Inviting and inspiring worship Engaged disciples in mission and outreach Gifted, equipped, and empowered lay leadership Effective,...

20/20: Visioning an AIDS-Free World

The United Methodist Global AIDS Fund is working to raise $5 million through a new initiative, "20/20: Visioning an AIDS-Free World."  Persons are asked to make a contribution of $20 to $2,020 from now until the year 2020. The initiative solicits the endorsements of United Methodist leadership from throughout the denomination to contribute at least $20 and to ask others for contributions of $20 or more.   "Perfect 20/20 vision requires more than seeing...

Leadership Summit Reports Known Viewership

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — The April 6 Leadership Summit webcast drew more than 4,000 web connections. The three-hour event marked the first chance for many United Methodists to hear how denominational leaders plan to carry out the recommendations in the Call to Action Steering Team's final report to increase vital congregations. Of the 4,000 connections, 243 were sites of multiple viewers. As of May 2, 149 sites had reported a total of 3,949 participants; 94 sites haven't reported....

GCFA Thankful for Faithful Giving to World Service Fund During Recession

The General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) for The United Methodist Church has expressed gratitude that "the faithful and committed members" of the Church gave $70,850,000 to the World Service Fund in 2010, a year GCFA acknowledges was a stressful one for individuals, families, local churches, Annual Conferences, and the global UMC. Such sacrificial giving supports the connectional ministries of the Church and is "another example of the people of God giving to the...

Connectional Giving Resources for Churches Are Available

A 6.1"x9.1" bulletin insert, high-resolution photo for reproduction, and a PowerPoint slide are available for churches' use in promoting giving. The materials feature Bishop Charles N. Crutchfield of the Arkansas Area, with the following message:   "Our shared mission giving is not about us and what we get. It is all about what we provide for others and promote in mission and ministry for the kingdom of God. It is not about what we get back. It is about what we make...

UM Global Leadership Summit Webcast Viewed Live Around the World

At more than 1,000 sites across the globe, United Methodists gathered yesterday (April 6, 2011) for the United Methodist Global Leadership Summit: A Call to Action – Reordering the Life of the Church. The Council of Bishops and Connectional Table arranged for the worldwide broadcast to help UMs focus on how the denomination can make some necessary changes. Recommendations from the Call to Action report adopted by the Council of Bishops and Connectional Table provided a guideline for the...

Task Force Works to Align Conference Structure With Four Areas of Mission Focus

At Annual Conference Session last year, members adopted Item 9, Recommendation for the Suspension of Division 5 of the Standing Rules, in order to allow two years for "flexibility and innovation in realigning the work of the [California-Nevada] Annual Conference with the four areas of mission focus identified by the Council of Bishops." The recommendation authorized Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. to create a task force to work collaboratively with Conference leaders and come up with a...

Eight Cal-Nev UMCs Have Made Plans to 'Change the World,' May 14-15

Will you join them? Eight United Methodist churches in the California-Nevada Annual Conference have already confirmed their plans to help "Change the World" on this year's Change the World weekend, May 14-15. Projects are as varied as the churches and locations represented. For instance: Point Pleasant UMC in Elk Grove plans to build a community garden, with pathways and garden plots, where families in the community can grow their own produce. Church groups will grow produce...

The Foundation for Evangelism is Accepting Nominations for the '2011 Culture of the Call Church Award'

The Foundation for Evangelism is now accepting nominations for the 2011 Culture of the Call Church Award.  Each year, in an effort to recognize and highlight churches that are helping to raise up generations of leaders with a passion for evangelism, the Foundation selects one local congregation of The United Methodist Church that shows a history of having young people, 35 or younger, respond to God's call to full-time Christian service as a result of their being active in the life of that...