News

April 27, 2020

A Word from Bishop Graves for the Montgomery-Prattville District

Friends in the Montgomery-Prattville District,   I hope this correspondence finds you well despite the ongoing pandemic in the world.   Perhaps you read the announcement that the Montgomery-Opelika district superintendent, Dr. ...

April 23, 2020

In-person Worship Cancellations Extend into May for Alabama-West Florida Conference

Bishop David Graves, in conjunction with Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett of the North Alabama Conference of the UMC, is recommending the cancellation of all in-person worship and church meetings through (and to include) May 17, 2020....

April 19, 2020

COVID Statement from Tanzania for AWF Conference

Greetings from the Tanzania Annual Conference. We greet you in the name of our Risen Savior and with the Hope of the Easter Season.   Thank you for letting us know how you are doing and ways in which to pray for you. This global ...

April 13, 2020

Bishop Announces District Cabinet Changes

Bishop David Graves has announced one change to the AWF Cabinet. Dr. Jeff Wilson, current Montgomery-Opelika District Superintendent, will also serve the Montgomery-Prattville District, effective July 1, 2020.   Rev. Allen Newton,...

April 11, 2020

AWF Online Easter Service Now Available

Friends, The comprehensive online AWF Easter service is now available in two formats. This service is dedicated to the glory of God and as a gift to the clergy and laity of our annual conference. All eight districts participated ...

April 06, 2020

Being the hands and feet of Christ in a pandemic through curbside delivery

While being the hands and feet of Jesus Christ can be difficult under normal circumstances, consider this challenge with state and national shelter-in-place mandates. When all hands and feet are ordered to stay at home, several ...

April 02, 2020

Alabama-West Florida Conference Releases Updates on In-person Worship and 2020 Annual Conference Session

The Alabama-West Florida Conference has released a revised date for all conference- and district-related gatherings in the bounds of the conference. To comply with the recommendation of President Trump, all in-person worship and ...

April 01, 2020

Important Announcements from the AWF Treasurer

Friends, In the midst of COVID-19, important information is rapidly changing and evolving. There are several urgent actions you or your church might need to take to maximize your potential financial assistance.  1) The Coronavirus...

March 31, 2020

Alabama-West Florida Conference Responds to Financial Needs of Local Churches Due to COVID-19

We are grateful for the numerous ways the Alabama-West Florida Conference churches are continuing ministry in the midst of great uncertainty. Through technology and creativity, pastors are ensuring their congregations are still ...

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

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 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 ...
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