News

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 ...

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 ...

(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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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....

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

Although the impact on the United States from Hurricane Dorian was less than predicted, we know other areas were not as fortunate. Our prayers continue for our neighbors in the Bahamas and others impacted by the storm. Our ...

Under the leadership of Dr. Sam Parkes and Rev. Jeremy Steele, clergy from around the Alabama-West Florida Conference gathered on Thursday, September 5, 2019, at Montgomery FUMC to collectively explore sermon preparation around ...

(Kari Barlow for AWFUMC) - On a summer evening in Grove Hill, Alabama, in the early 1930s, a 12-year-old Ray Whatley answered the call to pastoral ministry and never looked back.   He and his younger brother, Billy, had walked ...

The Alabama-West Florida Conference Discernment Task Force met on Tuesday, August 27, 2019, at Greenville FUMC. This group had its inaugural meeting on July 16, 2019.   Since the first gathering in July, several denominational ...

We invite you to watch a 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 "AWFUMC ...

General Conference organizers chose “…and know I am God” as the theme of the 2020 United Methodist General Conference, but not before discovering the Psalm’s words and even its verse numbers vary by translation depending on the ...

October 10, 2018, changed the lives of thousands as well as the landscape of the beautiful states of Florida and Georgia. The Alabama-West Florida Conference is home to numerous churches that received significant damage in ...

Ms. Marth Rovira, Coordinator of Hispanic and Latino Ministries, has announced her retirement, effective November 1, 2019. Rovira has faithfully served in this role for twelve years and has been a dedicated advocate for this ...

Mrs. Mary Belin, 94 of Port St Joe. FL, is celebrating her home restoration after Hurricane Michael severely damaged the residence. She started working at age 14 so she could put herself through school and moved into this house ...

It is oftentimes an eye-opening, embarrassing, and/or troubling moment when a person realizes they have offended someone with a racist comment or action. Situations like this are often the result of a lack of awareness. In an ...

Under the direction of Bishop David W. Graves, a task force of conference leaders assembled on Thursday, July 11, 2019, at Aldersgate UMC in Montgomery, AL.   In its initial meeting on Thursday, the group began by establishing a ...

To our friends, neighbors, and churches in the Alabama-West Florida Conference:   Based on the most recent forecasts from the National Weather Service, it appears that Tropical Storm/Hurricane Barry will eventually have some ...

Nashville, Tenn.: Petitions for consideration by the 2020 General Conference may be submitted to the Petitions Secretary now through September 18, 2019. According to church law, "Any organization, clergy member, or lay member of ...

(Kari C. Barlow for AWFUMC) - More than seven months after Hurricane Michael toppled countless trees around Grace United Methodist Church and peeled back the corners of its metal roof, the tiny church continues to struggle.   Most...

The 2019 Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference was held June 2-5 in Montgomery, AL, with the theme, "This We Proclaim." Bishop David Graves, presiding over his third annual conference session since becoming the resident bishop, ...

The Alabama-West Florida Conference elected ten clergy and ten lay delegates and four reserves to the 2020 General and Jurisdictional Conferences. The delegates are as follows: General Conference delegates Larry Bryars, clergy ...

In the News Full Recap, Bulletin Insert and video coming this Thursday! Stay tuned to www.awfumc.org/ac2019 for an informative bulletin insert and brief video. The insert is printer friendly and we encourage you to share it and ...

In the News Morning Worship: Day three of annual conference began with morning worship and Holy Communion. Dr. Geoffrey Lentz of Port St. Joe UMC gave the moving sermon entitled, "Washed by the Water" and based on Matthew 3:13-17....

In the News Morning Worship: For the third year at annual conference, each day began with morning worship. Bishop David Graves made this addition so that the conference session would start with a sense of Holy time and carry that ...

In the News Opening Worship: A capacity crowd attended the Opening Worship Service of the 2019 Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference session, which was held Sunday evening, June 2, in the sanctuary of Frazer Memorial UMC in ...

Rev. Alecia C. Glaize has been named the new director for the Alabama Course of Study Extension School (ALCOS). This school is part of a network of regional, extension, and satellite schools designed to provide vital education to ...

We are quickly approaching the 2019 session of the Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference. We are excited to see many of you soon. Click here to access a working agenda. Copies of the final agenda will be distributed at the doors ...

Hello friends of the Alabama-West Florida Conference! We are excited to share some updates on the Hurricane Michael Recovery efforts in our conference. We have had many hurdles to jump while building our recovery program. One of ...

We invite you to watch a 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 "AWFUMC ...

(UMCOR) - United Methodists in Alabama-West Florida are undertaking large-scale recovery programs for those affected by Hurricane Michael with assistance from the United Methodist Committee on Relief.   A $4.6 million UMCOR grant ...

On April 26, 2019, the Judicial Council ruled that parts of the Traditional Plan passed at the 2019 General Conference were constitutional (other parts were previously ruled unconstitutional). The Judicial Council also ruled the ...

(Linda Bloom with UMNS) - United Methodists in North Carolina and Alabama-West Florida are undertaking large-scale recovery programs for those affected by U.S. hurricanes in 2018, with assistance from the United Methodist ...

For most of our conference, there is potential for severe weather on Palm Sunday. It is impossible to know the exact timing or areas of concern, but please be aware of this possibility.  As a clergy person or a leader in your ...

(Rev. Lisa Pierce) - We appreciate your love, support, and prayers over the past five weeks. It has been a whirlwind, as you can imagine. Below you will find an update on the progress being made in Lee County.  We appreciate so ...

Annual Conference 2019 is quickly approaching! This year's theme is, "This We Proclaim." We are most appreciative to Dr. Larry Bryars and his staff at Frazer Memorial UMC in Montgomery, AL, for hosting us again this year as well ...

(Audrey Rodgers) - On Saturday, March 16, 2019, Tuskegee University installed its first female president, Dr. Lily McNair. McNair’s inauguration was a grand celebration that honored the storied history of Tuskegee University, one ...

Rev. Lisa Pierce, current Director of Alabama Rural Ministry (ARM), has been named as the Lee County United Methodist Disaster Response Director. Pierce is an ordained deacon in the conference and has served as the ARM director ...

Bishop David Graves is pleased to announce two projected district cabinet appointments. Rev. Jean Tippit will serve as the Baypines District Superintendent and Dr. Ed Glaize will serve as the Dothan District Superintendent. Dr. ...

While many people are preparing for Spring Break and the Lenten season, critical disaster relief work continues in Lee County. The afternoon of March 3, 2019, will forever be remembered as the day where lives were lost and, for ...

Over one thousand laity and clergy from around the Alabama-West Florida Conference gathered March 7-11 to hear a summary of the 2019 special-called General Conference. Three regional meetings were open to all United Methodists and...

The annual conference planning team, directed by Bishop David Graves, is pleased to announce that this year's missional giving recipient for the 2019 Annual Conference special offering is Teaming with Tanzania.   Many of you ...

(Sam Hodges for the UMNS) - Ash Wednesday gatherings at United Methodist churches in east Alabama became services of remembrance for 23 people killed in a massive tornado.  For sure, the United Methodist pastors of Lee County, ...

In preparation for the post general conference meetings with Bishop Graves this week, we are announcing a dedicated gmail address where you can send your questions ahead of time. These questions will be given priority. We will ...

Bishop David Graves has offered a Lenten challenge for the people of the Alabama-West Florida Conference and beyond. Click here or to see the video. We invite you to share this challenge with your local churches and on social ...

"The Montgomery-Opelika District suffered catastrophic damage on Sunday, March 3, 2019, as a result of violent storms and tornadoes. To date, 23 people have died and more than 50 people were injured. The response from the United ...