News

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 ...

“I am deeply saddened as I continue to hear of the rising death toll in Lee County. Yesterday’s storms were catastrophic and will leave a permanent mark on areas of our conference. I want to express my deepest sympathy to the ...

The southern and eastern parts of Alabama have been in the line of significant storms and tornadoes today and the activity is not yet over. First responders are trying to gain access to several areas. According to Montgomery media...

A Video Message from Bishop Graves We invite you to watch a video message from Bishop David Graves related to the conclusion of General Conference. Click here to view. Click here to read transcript. You may also listen to this ...

The 2019 special-called session of General Conference has adjourned. Eight hundred and sixty-four delegates from around the world convened in St. Louis, MO, from February 23-26, 2019. The delegates examined paragraphs in the ...

We invite you to watch a video message from Bishop David Graves related to the conclusion of General Conference. Click here to view. Click here to read transcript. There are many resources available related to this special-called...

"Many wondered if we could address all of the petitions in one legislative day but today we were able to accomplish that. The delegates are very focused on the petitions and the votes consistently exemplify that. Thus far, the ...

"It’s a historical moment in our church and I wanted to be a part of that history. I also wanted to be here in support and prayer for those who make these difficult decisions.” -Rev. Jean Tippit, Discipleship Pastor at Christ UMC ...

(Rev. Jeremy Steele for AWF Conference) - In addition to our delegates, bishop and some of the conference staff, several dedicated United Methodist leaders from our conference have made the long pilgrimage to Saint Louis joining ...

“It was important for the United Methodist Church to come together and spend intentional time in prayer and fasting before we begin the legislative work. I, along with many other bishops and delegates, will be fasting during the ...

Today marked the beginning of a significant time in the life of the United Methodist Church. Bishops, media, observers, and a total of eight hundred and sixty-four delegates gathered in St. Louis at the America’s Center Convention...

St. Louis: Delegates and observers from around the world will gather at the Dome at America’s Center, February 24-26, 2019, for the Special Session of the United Methodist General Conference. The General Conference is the only ...

A special session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church will take place February 23-26, 2019, in St. Louis, Missouri. The purpose will be to receive and act on a report from the Commission on a Way Forward based...

Eight hundred and sixty-four delegates from around the world will convene in St. Louis, MO, on February 23-26, 2019, to attend the special-called session of General Conference. General Conference is the top policy-making body of ...

We invite you to watch a video message from Bishop David Graves related to the upcoming special-called General Conference. Click here to view. Click here to read transcript.  There are many resources available related to this ...

(Kari Barlow for AWFUMC) - Century Church is several steps closer to finalizing the design of its innovative new campus at The Oaks in Pike Road.   In mid-December, church members, community residents and local officials joined ...

“I am where I am in ministry because of persons who have taken an interest in me – helping me and mentoring me and providing a way for me to be the best pastor I can be,” the Reverend Walter Cash reflects. “Because so many have ...

The AWF Board of Church and Society held a Seminar on Racial and Economic Justice to bring awareness to current and past injustices. The seminar welcomed Gabrielle Daniel, a Racial Justice Fellow with Equal Justice Initiative ...

(Bishop David Graves for The Montgomery Advertiser) - My seminary professor of preaching was Dr. Fred Craddock who said, “The longest journey any of us will ever make is from the head to the heart.” Think about that for a moment. ...

(Florida Conference UMC) - Inspired by a matching funds challenge of $500,000 from First UMC Ormond Beach, Florida Conference churches raised over $1 million for Hurricane Michael relief for the Alabama West Florida Conference. A ...

(Kari C. Barlow for AWFUMC) - The Alabama-West Florida Conference staff is ushering in the new year with a renewed focus on its 2018-2020 priorities.   Those four areas—growing discipleship, cultivating exceptional talent, ...

The Alabama-West Florida Conference will hold seven pre-annual conference briefings for clergy and lay members to annual conference. These meetings will be under the direction of Rev. Ashley Davis, AWF Director of Connectional ...

Friends, Currently the Cabinet, Pastors, Staff-Parish Relations Committees (SPRC), and churches are working on the upcoming appointment year, which spans from July 2019 to June 2020. To inform you of our process, but most ...

  The Alabama-West Florida Conference is pleased to announce two new leaders for the Hurricane Michael long-term recovery efforts.   Rev. Chris Ackerman will serve as the Hurricane Michael Recovery Director and Tammy Tisher will ...

We invite you to watch and share a video message from Bishop David Graves, staff and cabinet about several exciting things happening in 2019. Click here to view. Click here to read the transcript. Closed captioning is now ...

Woodlawn United Methodist Church in Panama City hosted a Deaf Prayer Service for members of the local Deaf Community impacted by Hurricane Michael on November 24, 2018. Reverend Mark Ehrlichmann, pastor of Center Ridge United ...

New Bishop’s Clergy Learning Cohort focuses on pastoral support   (Kari C. Barlow for AWFUMC) - Bishop David Graves, in partnership with the Academy for Congregational Excellence (ACE),  has launched a new initiative—the Clergy ...

The Alabama-West Florida Conference continues to serve those in need along the panhandle of Florida after Hurricane Michael.  Conference leaders and UMCOR consultants have assisted those who setup temporary shelter at Forest Park ...

Please save the date for a post 2019 general conference regional meeting in your area. Bishop David Graves and AWF conference leadership are inviting all clergy and laity to join them for an overview of the called session and a ...

Members and friends of the Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church:   The Committee on Standing Rules has begun its work in preparation for the 2019 Annual Conference session, June 2-5, 2019, at Frazer ...

Hurricane Michael caused severe damage to Port St. Joe, Florida, a community with deep ties to the Jessie Ball duPont Fund. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 57% of structures, (homes and businesses with ...

First UMC Opelika offers Lynn Haven UMC Youth Group respite from hurricane recovery   (Kari Barlow for AWFUMC) - About two weeks after Hurricane Michael devastated Panama City and much of the surrounding area, Lynn Haven UMC ...

Giving Tuesday is today! There are many worthwhile ministries to consider. We invite you to consider giving to the Alabama-West Florida Conference for the Hurricane Michael relief efforts. This money continues to be distributed to...

We invite you to watch and share a video message from Bishop David Graves and Rev. Ashley Davis related to our Hurricane Michael recovery efforts. Click here to view. Click here to read the transcript. Closed captioning is now ...

As we continue to assess the needs in the Marianna, Port St. Joe, Panama City and surrounding areas, we will need as many ERT teams as possible. Badged out-of-conference teams are invited to the panhandle area. All teams must plan...

Thank you for your continued generosity and desire to help those in the panhandle of Florida. The response from the Alabama-West Florida Conference will be a long-term effort. It is extremely important to remind local churches and...

Thank you for the tremendous outpouring of love and support you continue to provide to those in the panhandle. There are a few important updates related to the AWF relief efforts.  If you did not see the release yesterday, we now ...

The Alabama-West Florida Conference is announcing a new online portal that will register Hurricane Michael volunteer teams. The new portal was established through the Planning Center software, which many medium- and large-sized ...

Port St. Joe and FUMC Panama City are in need of the traditional UMCOR cleaning kits (flood buckets) that we frequently encourage churches to assemble. They have received several shipments but need more due to the severe storm ...

We continue to assess the needs in the Marianna-Panama City District. As previously stated, our greatest needs are prayer and monetary donations. We are most grateful for the outpouring of love we have received.  In relation to ...

We would like to extend our deepest appreciation to Bishop Ken Carter, the Florida Annual Conference and FUMC Ormond Beach for their incredible matching challenge to raise one million dollars. Click here for article.  The ...

The Alabama-West Florida Conference is pleased to announce that Rev. Shawn York has been assigned to be the Hurricane Michael Response Director. York currently serves as the executive pastor at Gulf Breeze UMC. He will continue to...

On October 10, 2018, Hurricane Michael raged ashore making landfall in the Alabama-West Florida Conference. The catastrophic damage is far-reaching and the recovery process will be a long-term effort that the United Methodist ...

Sisters and Brothers in the Florida Conference, Thank you for your response thus far to the needs of our brothers and sisters in the United Methodist churches of the panhandle of Florida. Many of you began to receive offerings ...