News

March 27, 2020

Important Announcements for AWF Clergy

There are several important clergy-related announcements pertaining to COVID-19. 1) First, Bishop Graves has stated that all in-person worship services and church meetings should not occur before April 15. He is closely monitoring...

March 23, 2020

General Conference to move to 2021

Nashville, Tenn.: Subsequent to the announcement by the Executive Committee of the Commission on the General Conference that the 2020 General Conference will be postponed, the full Commission met March 21, 2020 to determine next ...

March 21, 2020

Group looking at new General Conference dates

(UMNS) - General Conference organizers are exploring potential new dates for The United Methodist Church’s top legislative assembly after the coronavirus pandemic forced postponement. “Details are not yet being released because ...

March 20, 2020

An Update on the 2020 AWF Clergy Appointment Process

Friends, Several weeks ago, I outlined the appointment process and asked for your prayers. On behalf of the cabinet, we have felt and appreciated your prayers around this vital work. We were scheduled to begin contacting pastors ...

March 19, 2020

A Word from Bishop Graves: Digital Devotionals

We invite you to watch an important video message update from Bishop David Graves. Click here to view. Click here to read transcript.  You may also listen to this message as an audio-only podcast by clicking here, by searching for...

March 18, 2020

A Statement from Bishops Graves on the Postponement of General Conference

On Wednesday, March 18, 2020, the Commission on General Conference announced that the 2020 session of General Conference has been postponed due to the spread of COVID-19. The Minneapolis Convention Center notified the commission ...

March 16, 2020

An Important Word from Bishop Graves: Coronavirus Outbreak Guidance

Friends, These are unbelievable times for us all. As one who could not imagine canceling worship services, I cannot remember a circumstance in my lifetime when churches were asked to suspend worship services and meetings. As I ...

March 15, 2020

Alabama-West Florida Conference Transitions to Remote Work in Response to COVID-19

Effective Thursday, March 19, 2020, many employees of the Alabama-West Florida Conference will temporarily transition to remote work as a result of the spread of COVID-19. All staff will continue to serve local churches and ...

March 13, 2020

4 Considerations for Church Leaders Regarding Coronavirus

Adapted from the information from the North Georgia Conference: Dear Clergy and Church Leaders, As we hear about cases of COVID-19, pastors and churchgoers alike are asking very important questions about how faith communities can...

March 12, 2020

Upcoming General Conference Events and Resources

The 2020 United Methodist General Conference will meet May 5 -15 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.* General Conference is the top policy-making body of The United Methodist Church which meets once every four years. The conference can ...

March 12, 2020

Update on Conference and District Meetings

All Alabama-West Florida Conference and district events are postponed as of today March 12, 2020, due to the threat of the coronavirus. We will reevaluate this guideline on April 1, 2020. At this time we are not making ...

March 11, 2020

GCFA Board Takes Additional Action on 2021-2024 Budget

(GCFA) - The Board of Directors of the General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) met in Nashville on March 9-10. The Board approved the report of the Committee on General Agency and Episcopal Matters that will reduce ...

March 09, 2020

Bishop’s Discernment Task Force Continues Work and Seeks Further Input from AWF Conference

The Alabama-West Florida Conference Bishop’s Discernment Task Force met March 2-3 at Montgomery FUMC to continue important work related to 2020 General Conference.   As a part of that vital work, over 400 clergy and laity from ...

March 09, 2020

AWF Disaster Response Director Releases Information about COVID-19

Friends of the Alabama-West Florida Conference,   By now, most of you are aware of COVID-19, commonly known as the coronavirus. At this time there is no need to panic as the threat remains low. We do have a responsibility to be ...

March 04, 2020

Emory’s Board of Trustees elects new members

(Emory University) - The Emory University Board of Trustees has elected three new members: Andrew W. (Drew) Evans of Atlanta, executive vice president and chief financial officer, Southern Company; Bishop David W. Graves of the ...

March 04, 2020

Public health awareness planned for General Conference

(Commission on the General Conference) - The Executive Committee of the Commission on the General Conference is monitoring developments in the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and will collaborate with public health authorities ...

February 20, 2020

An Important Word from Bishop Graves: A Lenten Challenge Before General Conference

We invite you to watch an important video message update from Bishop David Graves. Click here to view. Click here to read transcript.  You may also listen to this message as an audio-only podcast by clicking here, by searching for...

February 19, 2020

MAC Track helping teenagers discern God’s call

(Kari Barlow for AWFUMC) - The Alabama-West Florida Conference has launched a new partnership with Huntingdon College to nurture high school students who are discerning a call to ministry.   The program, Ministry as Calling or MAC...

February 18, 2020

Special Collection for Mississippi Flooding

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. -Isaiah 43:2   ...

February 17, 2020

You are invited to the AWF Bishop's Discernment Task Force Listening Session

Let us consider how to spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not neglecting to come together but doing so as the opportunity arises! -Hebrews 10:24 Brothers and Sisters in Christ:   The Bishop’s Discernment Task Force on...

February 07, 2020

A Word from Bishop Graves: The Release of Protocol Legislation

Friends,   The next step related to General Conference 2020 is the release of the legislation from the Protocol of Grace and Separation team. That information was released today, February 7, 2020.   That information may be found ...

February 06, 2020

AWF Bishop's Task Force Continues Work Related to General Conference

The Alabama-West Florida Conference Bishop’s Discernment Task Force met February 3-4 in Pensacola, FL, to continue the vital work of processing information related to General Conference 2020. The members represent various ministry...

January 29, 2020

Statement from SEJ Heads of Delegation regarding Protocol

We, the undersigned SEJ Lay and Clergy Heads of Delegations, affirm the work done on the ‘Protocol of Grace & Reconciliation Through Separation’ and recommend the Protocol be among the first legislative items considered by General...

January 27, 2020

A Word from the Bishop: Prayers for the AWF Conference Appointment Process

Friends,  Currently the cabinet, pastors, staff-parish committees, and churches are working on the upcoming appointment year: July 2020 to June 2021. To inform you of our process, but most importantly to ask for your prayers, I ...

January 16, 2020

Southeastern Jurisdiction Leaders Collaborate in Montgomery

The 2020 Southeastern Jurisdiction (SEJ) Leadership Gathering was held in Montgomery, AL, January 7-9. SEJ Bishops, Directors of Connectional Ministries, Lay Leaders and the Committee on Episcopacy gathered from nine states and ...

January 13, 2020

Disaster Response Update

As we remember 2019 and move forward into 2020, we want to thank all of our churches and partners such as UMCOR, Volunteer Florida, and the Florida Annual Conference for supporting disaster response in Alabama-West Florida.  The ...

January 08, 2020

A Special Word from Bishop David Graves

Friends, Last week the United Methodist Church was in the national media headlines regarding a potential split in the denomination. A press release about a proposed agreement for separation sparked this media attention. Many of ...

January 03, 2020

United Methodist Traditionalists, Centrists, Progressives & Bishops sign agreement aimed at separation

(Washington, D.C.) - A diverse group of representatives from United Methodist advocacy groups with contrasting views and bishops from around the world has collaborated on a proposed agreement for the separation of The United ...

December 06, 2019

A Call for Prayer from Bishop Graves on The Pensacola Naval Air Station Shooting

We invite you to receive these words from Bishop David Graves about the act of violence at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, FL, this morning. "Our thoughts and prayers extend to all those affected by the shooting that took ...

December 03, 2019

Next Steps ready for January relaunch

(Kara Witherow for the AWFUMC) - A couple of years ago, children in Calhoun County, Florida’s foster care system had to travel nearly 30 miles to have supervised visitation with their parents. Today, children and their parents ...

December 02, 2019

Standing Rules Deadline Announced for 2020 Annual Conference

Information to be publicized in preparation for the 2020 Annual Conference Session   Members and Friends of the Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church:   The Committee on Standing Rules has begun its work ...

November 18, 2019

Global Ministries to Commission New United Methodist EarthKeepers

Global Ministries will commission 67 new EarthKeepers from 23 annual conferences in an online service on November 19, 2019 at 8 pm at www.umcmission.org/live. Lavanda Paul, from Eight Mile, AL, is one of the new EarthKeepers from...

November 14, 2019

AWF Clergy Visit Bahamas to Offer Support

Several Gulf Coast pastors from the Alabama-West Florida Conference visited the Bahamas this week to show solidarity after experiencing a category five storm. Rev. Chris Ackerman, Dr. Nathan Attwood and Dr. Geoffrey Lentz visited ...

November 08, 2019

COB announces bishops' assignments to agencies, boards

(COB) - The Council of Bishops has announced the assignment of bishops to the boards and agencies of The United Methodist Church for 2020-2024 quadrennium. Bishop David Graves of the Alabama-West Florida Conference has been ...

October 31, 2019

Live in Peace Together

(Kari Barlow for AWFUMC) - Edith Brooks thought she was planning a simple trip to the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery for a few of her fellow United Methodist Women members in the Bay Pines District.   Then ...

October 30, 2019

Open Enrollment for Conference Insurance for 2020

Are you eligible for the Conference health/dental insurance?  Interested?  Have questions?  Contact BeLinda Carnegie at Office (888-873-3127) for answers about eligibility. Become a church-plan sponsor the lay employees Health ...

October 28, 2019

Ordained Deacon Leads a Life of Service

(Kara Witherow for the AWFUMC) - Whether on the plains of Auburn, in the Black Belt of West Alabama, or the deserts of Iraq, there’s one thing in Rev. Lisa Pierce’s life that doesn’t change. Her passion to serve. For decades, ...

October 28, 2019

Veterans Day Reflection and Prayer from Bishop David Graves

This commentary and prayer was originally published on November 8, 2017. We offer it again as a way to honor our veterans.  As I travel around the Alabama-West Florida Conference, I meet those who are currently serving in the ...

October 21, 2019

New Alabama-West Florida Podcast Series Focuses on Preaching Excellence

The Alabama-West Florida Conference is pleased to announce a new clergy preaching resource. “Word on the Street” is a bi-weekly podcast that was designed to offer unique ways to explore the lectionary text and other relevant ...

October 17, 2019

Hurricane Michael Tour Exemplifies Strength of Connection

October 10, 2018, will be a day not easily forgotten for thousands of people along the Gulf Coast. As with any traumatic event, the first year can be the hardest. For Hurricane Michael survivors, the first anniversary was an ...

October 10, 2019

Alabama-West Florida Conference Awarded Grant for Hurricane Michael Recovery Efforts

On the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Michael, the Alabama-West Florida Conference was awarded a $1.125 million-dollar grant from Volunteer Florida Foundation dedicated to repair and rebuild at least 73 homes. "We are truly ...

October 02, 2019

New no-cost benefits for AWF eligible clergy and conference staff

The Alabama-West Florida Conference Board of Pension and Health Benefits is pleased to announce new benefits at no cost to you starting January 1, 2020, for eligible clergy and conference staff. Rev. Steve Reneau, Pension and ...

October 02, 2019

Conference Grant Helps Congregation Serve Local School

(Kara Witherow for the AWF Conference) - A few loads of laundry, dozens of bags of groceries, and a lot of love have helped revitalize and invigorate Metropolitan United Methodist Church. They’ve also helped meet some tangible ...

October 01, 2019

AWF Clergy Trained on Ways to Resist Racism

Racism. It’s a word many do not seek to learn more about. Whether it is how a person was raised, cultural influences or simply not having resources to properly ask the tough questions, these necessary conversations are not always ...

September 23, 2019

How You Can Celebrate Disability Awareness Sunday

In the Alabama-West Florida Conference, every year we designate a Sunday to celebrate the gifts and graces of persons with disabilities. Sunday, October 20, 2019 was the date selected for this year, but churches may choose to do ...

September 19, 2019

Phishing Scam Targets Congregations

We have heard from a number of Alabama-West Florida Conference clergy whose congregations have been the target of an e-mail scam. Church members have received fraudulent emails that appear to be from the pastor and ask for help ...

September 18, 2019

Local Church Turns Charge Conference Reports into Ministry Celebrations

Charge Conference season is in full force! Many pastors view this as a time of paperwork and a necessary meeting, but others have begun to see this as a time to celebrate ministry and the ways God is working in their local church....

September 18, 2019

Panama City Church Gives Generously to Hurricane Dorian Survivors

Lynn Haven UMC (LHUMC), located in the heart of the Hurricane Michael devastation, knows the pain and heartache of losing everything. On October 10, 2018, Michael was relentless with its power. Many members of Lynn Haven UMC lost ...

September 17, 2019

Potential AWF Called Annual Conference Session Announced for 2020

Under the leadership and direction of Bishop David Graves, the Alabama-West Florida Conference has announced a potential special called annual conference session related to General Conference 2020 legislation. This is in addition ...

September 16, 2019

Hurricane Michael Remembrance Resources Now Available

As previously announced, the Alabama-West Florida Conference is planning intentional time to remember the devastation caused by Hurricane Michael, which made landfall on October 10, 2018.  Multiple resources are now available to ...
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