News

Bishop Brown and Two Cal-Nev Clergy to Be Featured in PBS Documentary

A reporter and producer-videographer from the Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) in the Bay Area spent two weeks in Tampa, documenting the activity surrounding the 2012 General Conference vote on human sexuality legislation. In the course of their work, they interviewed California-Nevada's resident bishop and new president-designate of the Council of Bishops, Warner H. Brown, Jr., for around half an hour. They also shadowed the Rev. Karen Oliveto of Glide Memorial United Methodist Church...

Week 1, GC 2012: 'Slow' Week Still Busy

By Kathy L. Gilbert* May 8, 2012 | TAMPA, FL The first week of The United Methodist General Conference – traditionally the 'slow' week – started with a bang and never stopped going. Marcia McFee, music director for the worldwide assembly, began the opening worship with loud claps of thunder and beautiful waves of sea green and blue images rolling across large video screens behind the worship area. The setting kept the seaside location of the Tampa Convention Center in mind,...

Week 2, GC 2012: Flurry of Motions, Ministry

By Linda Bloom* May 9, 2012 | TAMPA, FL (UMNS) John Wesley's followers have embraced the 21st century. That fact was demonstrated time and again as the minute-by-minute actions of the 2012 United Methodist General Conference, April 24-May 4, were watched by thousands online and tweeted, posted on Facebook, or spread through other social media platforms. While some participants in the denomination's top legislative body, such as 11-time lay delegate Ruth Daugherty, remembered a time before...

GC 2012: General Conference Wrap-up

By Rich Peck* May 5, 2012 | TAMPA, Fla. (UMNS) United Methodists from five continents addressed a wide range of challenging issues, including Church structure and human sexuality, and engaged in an Act of Repentance toward indigenous people during their 10-day legislative gathering. Meeting in the Tampa Convention Center, steps away from the waters of Tampa Bay, the 988 delegates recalled through worship, song, and sermon the healing and transforming ministry of Jesus beside the Sea of...

Leaders Announced for 'Leading Beyond the Walls' Workshop

"Church of the Resurrection really wants to help Cal-Nevada succeed in our vitalization efforts, and is sending two of its best leaders," says the Rev. Dave Bunje, in announcing leadership for next month's workshop, "Leading Beyond the Walls." The workshop will take place at First United Methodist Church of Loomis, 6:30-9 p.m. on Friday, June 8 and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, June 9.   "Leading Beyond the Walls" is being offered by the Great Northern...

More Than 600 New Churches Planted this Quadrennium

... and Counting! April 17, 2012 | NASHVILLE, TN (GBOD)   The United Methodist Church has planted more than 600 new churches so far during the current quadrennium, and is on pace to surpass the goal of 650 new church starts set during the 2008 General Conference.   Coordinated efforts by the Church's Annual Conferences and the General Board of Discipleship's Path 1 New Church Starts Division have resulted in an average of 11.8 new churches being established each month during the...

Resources to Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May

May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and The United Methodist Church offers a generous number of worship and music resources for its observance, including an official Korean-English bilingual hymnal. Click here for a list of resources from The UM Hymnal, The Faith We Sing, The Upper Room Worship Book, Worship & Song, and The Book of Worship....

FREE 'Effective Church Websites' Webinar Is May 23

Participation is limited – register now. Bet Hannon, who served for five years as associate pastor at Wesley United Methodist Church in Fresno, has developed a small business focused on helping non-profits (especially churches) develop websites and email newsletters.   "I've been trying to 'give back' by offering free workshops and webinars to help churches use these tools effectively," she says.   This month, Hannon is offering the free webinar, "Effective...

Sign up Now for GBOD's Extravagant Generosity Webinar Next Week

Thursday, May 17, 4:30 p.m. PDT Introducing "Extravagant Generosity" to Your Congregation  It's one of the key practices of fruitful congregations, and also an exciting stewardship program that is available for your congregation. Join the General Board of Discipleship (GBOD) webinar and see if "Extravagant Generosity: The Heart of Giving" is right for your church! Register now by clicking on the link above.   Also check out:   Thursday, June 21, 4:30...

Sign up for CLayM Classes Now!

CLayM@Home Cycle 1 begins July 9 All sorts of things we meant to do have a tendency to fall by the wayside once summer arrives. Don't let signing up for CLayM be one of them!   Registration for the Certified Lay Minister (CLayM) program for 2012-13, which trains laypersons for effective and expanded service in the local church and community, is open now.   There are three ways to take CLayM training. 1. CLayMAway – a two-week residential training.  2. CLayM@Home...

Ugandan Guest Missioners Available to Visit Cal-Nev Churches This Summer

Chinese Community UMC hosts 2012 summer mission exchange Churches – take advantage of a special mission itineration opportunity. This summer, CCUMC will host two members of Youth and Child Visionary Ministries (YCVM) from Kumi, Uganda. Silver Omakenyi and Grace Among will share the Spirit-infused story of YCVM, as well as their dream of a primary school for the poorest and most vulnerable in Kumi. You are invited to learn about what God is doing through YCVM in Kumi and how you might get...

Set-up and Teardown Help Needed at ACS

Even if it looks that way, the "magic" of Annual Conference Session actually does not happen magically. In fact, it is only through the efforts of many servant-minded people that we are able to enjoy four days of holy conferencing each June. We invite you to be a part of "making the 'magic' happen!" Volunteers are needed to help with construction of the ramp to the stage, in particular, which happens on the Tuesday of ACS week – June 19, this year – and to help...

Reminder: ACS Childcare Registration Closes June 1

Childcare for Annual Conference Session is only by pre-registration on the Conference website, and the deadline is June 1 (a Friday). Sign your child(ren) up at www.cnumc.org/register (or click on the link on the 2012 ACS page).   Contact the Rev. Helen Mansfield at helenmansfield55@gmail.com or 530.558.5473, if you have questions....

GC 2012: Judicial Council Ruling Invalidates Change in Episcopal Fund Apportionment

By Linda Bloom May 3, 2012 | Tampa, Fla. (UMNS) A decision to have each of the five U.S. jurisdictions of The United Methodist Church separately bear the cost of episcopal leadership was deemed "unconstitutional" in a May 3 ruling by the denomination's top court, which reverses General Conference approval given on the consent calendar.   The United Methodist Judicial Council also found action that authorizes the General Council on Finance and Administration to negotiate...

GC 2012: May 3 Wrap - Gay Rights Protest Closes Morning Session

By Joey Butler May 3, 2012 | TAMPA, Fla. (UMNS) What the May 3 mid-morning session of General Conference 2012 lacked in productivity, it made up for in drama.   After attempts to change language regarding The United Methodist Church's stance on homosexuality failed, dozens of protestors, led by Common Witness Coalition, a gay-rights group, gathered on the plenary floor after the break, singing "What Does the Lord Require of You?"   Indiana Area Bishop Michael Coyner,...

GC2012: Conference Lowers Apportionments

By Rich Peck May 4, 2012 | Tampa, Fla., (UMNS) General Conference 2012 approved a budget of $603.1 million for seven general church funds during the 2013-2016 period; that total is 6.03 percent less than the amount apportioned for the 2009-2012 quadrennium — the first time the assembly has accepted a lower budget than the amount set for the preceding four-year period.   That sounds like a whopping amount, but local churches should not count on huge savings since only 2 cents out...

GC 2012: Plenary Hall Closed to All Observers - Demonstrators Intend Arrest

TAMPA, FL (11:20 a.m. EDT)—The plenary of General Conference 2012 will be closed to observers "of all kinds" following the lunch break, Bishop Mike Coyner of Indiana has ruled. He made the announcement after throngs protesting the failure of the Human Sexuality petition did not comply with his request that they leave the bar of the conference after the morning break, so that business could resume. The bishop said the ban (presumably to include the press) is for reasons of...

GC 2012: Afternoon Plenary to Be Open, After All

TAMPA, FL (11:51 a.m. EDT) Bishop Scott Jones, presiding officer for the afternoon plenary at General Conference 2112, after consultation with the Chair of the Commission on the General Conference and other episcopal leaders, has ruled that the afternoon session will be open in accordance with Rule 3.3. Earlier, Bishop Mike Coyner of Indiana had announced the session would be closed to "all observers" after demonstrators against the defeat of the Human Sexuality petition refused to...

GC 2012: May 2 Wrap - Delegates Approve New Structure

By Rich Peck*  May 2, 2012 | TAMPA, Fla. (UMNS) After several false starts to create a new structure, the May 2 session of the 2012 General Conference approved a modest realignment of the 13 general agencies that serve the 13 million-member United Methodist Church.   The Rev. Scott Campbell, a pastor in Cambridge, Mass., called for a declaratory decision from the Judicial Council on whether any part of the structure plan is unconstitutional. The request was granted, 505-344,...

GC 2012: Delegates Cannot Agree That They Disagree on Sexuality Issue

By Kathy Gilbert and Tita Parham May 2, 2012 | Tampa, Fla. (UMNS)   The United Methodist Church cannot agree that it disagrees over the issue of homosexuality.   After more than an hour of passionate debate and clear disagreement, two items stating Christians have different opinions about homosexuality were not approved by the 2012 General Conference, leaving the original language in the Book of Discipline intact.   The Book of Discipline, Paragraph 161F states: "The...