News

As the Bishop of the Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church, it deeply troubles me and burdens my heart that innocent immigrant children are being separated from their parents. It was difficult to celebrate...

As United Methodists, we look to scripture and our social principles to guide our thinking and actions in regards to social justice issues. Specifically, the social principles state about immigration, “The United Methodist Church ...

The 2018 Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference was held June 3-6 in Montgomery, AL, with the theme, "Imagine A Church That's the Hope of the World." Bishop David Graves, presiding over his second annual conference session since ...

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church is joining other faith organizations in a statement urging the U.S. government to stop its policy of separating immigrant families. Below is the full ...

June 6, 2018 In the News Full Recap and Bulletin Insert coming this Thursday! Stay tuned to www.awfumc.org/ac2018 for an informative bulletin insert. It is printer friendly and we encourage you to share it with your local ...

June 5, 2018 In the News Morning Worship: Day three of annual conference began with morning worship and Holy Communion. Jerrod Dorminey and the Frazer Praise Band provided moving music for this service. Rev. Chris Kelsey, a deacon...

June 4, 2018 Special reminder: please remember that Frazer Memorial UMC is an Alabama primary voting location tomorrow, June 5. The polls will be located in the gymnasium area away from most of the annual conference activities and...

In the News Opening Worship: A capacity crowd attended the Opening Worship Service of the 2018 Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference session, which was held Sunday evening, June 3, in the sanctuary of Frazer Memorial UMC in ...

Petitions for the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church may be submitted to the petitions secretary beginning June 6, 2018 until July 8, 2018. On May 25, 2018, the Judicial Council ruled ...

We invite you to watch a video message from Bishop David Graves, Resident Bishop of the Alabama-West Florida Conference. Click here to view. Click here to read the transcript.  You may also listen to this message as an audio-only ...

(UMNS) The United Methodist Church’s top court has ruled that other petitions — in addition to legislation from the Council of Bishops — can be submitted for the 2019 special session of General Conference. Any organization, as ...

(UMNS) - The 32-member Commission on a Way Forward for The United Methodist Church concluded its ninth and final meeting in Nashville yesterday (May 16). The Commission met nine times over 17 months. The Commission reviewed a wide...

We are quickly approaching the 2018 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 ...

(Kari Barlow for the AWF Conference) - You could hear the excitement in Laurel Akin’s and Celeste Eubanks’ voices on Monday as they made their way to Columbus, Ohio, for the 2018 Assembly of United Methodist Women.   Not even the ...

(Kari C. Barlow for the AWF Conference) -  The Dothan District of the Alabama-West Florida Conference is ready to build a house. After almost two years of fundraising, the district has raised the $40,000 needed to sponsor the ...

(UMNS) - Des Moines, Iowa: The Rev. Gary W. Graves, Secretary of the General Conference, announced today that an error was made in the text of a proposed Constitutional amendment as it was presented for voting, and which ...

We invite you to watch a video message from Bishop David Graves, Resident Bishop of the Alabama-West Florida Conference. Click here to view. Click here to read transcript.  You may also listen to this message as an audio-only ...

The 2018 Annual Conference session, June 3-6, 2018, falls during the Alabama Primary Elections. Election day is Tuesday, June 5, 2018. This is important for you to know for two reasons.  First, if you are a member of the annual ...

Friends, Nancy and I returned late Saturday night following the conclusion of the Council of Bishops meeting in Chicago, IL. We enjoyed yesterday as a day of Sabbath and worship and needed that renewal time as many of you ...

Dear Women Clergy of the Alabama-West Florida Conference, I write to you today saddened and disappointed that the two constitutional amendments related to the rights of girls, women, and vulnerable groups did not receive the ...

CHICAGO – United Methodist bishops, meeting in Chicago, engaged in a prayerful process to discern a way forward.  At the conclusion of the discernment process, the Council of Bishops strongly approved the following motion and ...

The Alabama-West Florida Conference Council on Finance & Administration is pleased to announce the new Treasurer and Director of Administration. Suzanne Krejcar will begin her service to the conference on July 1, 2018. She is ...

(Kari Barlow for AWF Conference) - Lynn Haven United Methodist Church has launched a new ministry to support the men and women in its congregation who have stepped up to care for the most vulnerable children in Bay County and ...

(Bishop David Graves for the Montgomery Advertiser) - On April 26th the National Memorial for Peace and Justice opened to the public here in Montgomery, AL. The memorial consists of 805 engraved columns, a county-by-county listing...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Bishops of The United Methodist Church will meet in Chicago from April 29-May 4 to celebrate leadership through the passing of the gavel, certify constitutional amendments and finalize their recommendations...

The annual conference planning team, directed by Bishop David Graves, is pleased to announce that this year's missional giving recipient for the 2018 Annual Conference special offering is Communities of Transformation.   Many of ...

Annual Conference 2018 is quickly approaching! This year's theme is, "Imagine A Church That's the Hope of the World." We are most appreciative to Dr. Larry Bryars and his staff at Frazer Memorial UMC in Montgomery, AL, for hosting...

(Kari Barlow for AWF Conference) - Julia Stinson and Carlann Scott weren’t sure what they might find when they pedaled up to First United Methodist Church of Pensacola last week. But the two cyclists, on the last leg of a ...

Bishop David Graves is pleased to announce a projected appointment for the role of Director of Connectional Ministries & Conference Secretary. Rev. Ashley Davis, current associate pastor at Woodland UMC in Pike Road, AL, will be ...

The United Methodist Inner City Mission has been awarded grant funding for their Taylor Park Afterschool and Summer Tutorial Program. Taylor Park is located in the Oakdale-Maysville community near downtown Mobile. On a daily ...

(Kari Barlow for AWFUMC) - When the school year comes to an end, many school- aged children across Montgomery are left without a safe, fun place to spend their days. Aldersgate United Methodist Church is doing its part to change ...

We invite you to watch a video message from Bishop David Graves, Resident Bishop of the Alabama-West Florida Conference. Click here to view. Click here to read the written transcript.  You may also listen to this message as an ...

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – As the nation marks the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., United Methodists will unite with members of the National Council of Churches in Washington, D.C., April ...

(Kari Barlow for the AWF Conference) - Auburn University Freshmen Chip Blake and Carsen Grant are proof positive that you can’t take the youth choir outta the kid. When Blake and Grant started college last fall, they proceeded to...

Bishop David W. Graves is pleased to announce two projected district appointments and two projected staff appointments. Rev. John Brooks, current Montgomery-Prattville District Superintendent, will be appointed as the Director of ...

March 5, 2018 Friends, The AWF District Superintendents, Rev. June Jernigan and I have been working on the appointment process since December and will continue to do so leading up to this year’s annual conference, which will be ...

(COB) - What is the Christ’s way forward for doing mission and ministry in the worldwide United Methodist Church? That is the question bishops pondered during their February meeting in Dallas this week as they received an updated ...

Friends, As a lay member to the 2018 annual conference, you will represent your local church and all of its members. With this leadership role comes great responsibility. You are responsible for honestly representing various and ...

With a heart to share best practices and encourage vitality and health in the local church, Crosspoint UMC hosted its 2nd “Becoming a Healthy Growing Church Conference" February 9-10 with almost 300 attendees from approximately ...

Over 225 clergy gathered from around the conference for the annual Bishop’s Day Apart held Tuesday, February 20, 2018, at St. James UMC. This year’s day apart addressed a necessary topic: clergy mental health. Mr. Terry Real of ...

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Rev. Robert H McMichael III. Robert was a friend of the Alabama-West Florida Conference through his musical service at annual conference. Robert and Jarvis Wilson were ...

Yesterday we, as a nation and church, shared in a day where love and the cross came together. Many of you were a part of an Ash Wednesday Service. Yet it was a day where we witnessed another school shooting in Florida. The ...

Two conference staff positions are available and applications are now being accepted. Both positions are located in the Alabama-West Florida Conference office in Montgomery, AL.  The Director of Connectional Ministries & ...

Starting February 22, 2018, Courageous Conversations will begin in the Alabama-West Florida Conference. These conversations will be held in twenty-seven locations throughout the bounds of the conference, with one session being ...

Three churches in the Alabama-West Florida Conference are on LenWilson's "Top 25 Fastest Growing Large United Methodist Churches, 2018 Edition." According to the Website, "The purpose of the fastest growing churches list is to ...

(Montgomery, AL) - The Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church Board of Church & Society hosted a prayer breakfast on February 1, 2018, at the Alabama State House in downtown Montgomery. State Auditor Jim ...

All clergy and lay members to annual conference are strongly encouraged to watch this video message from Bishop David Graves. There are preparation assignments for both Bishop's Day Apart and 2018 Annual Conference. Click here to ...

Bishop David Graves, Resident Bishop of the Alabama-West Florida Conference, offers a brief word from the Holy Land and shares his deep appreciation for setting a record of reaching 90.10% for 2017 missional giving. Click here to ...

(Dallas) - The Commission on a Way Forward is nearing the completion of its task of making recommendations of possible ways forward for The United Methodist Church regarding the inclusion of LGBTQ persons in this global ...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Bishop Bruce R. Ough, president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops, issued a statement today on behalf of the Council concerning remarks reported to have been made by President Donald Trump regarding ...