News

April 11, 2018

United Methodist Inner City Mission Awarded Grant

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 ...

March 21, 2018

WinShape Camp: Aldersgate UMC prepping for ‘best week ever’

(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 ...

March 20, 2018

A Video Message from Bishop Graves

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 ...

March 13, 2018

Bishop Ough, thousands of United Methodists to join in rally against racism

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 ...

March 12, 2018

Singing from the Heart: Auburn Wesley Foundation Forms New Student Choir

(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...

March 06, 2018

Bishop Announces District Cabinet and Staff Appointments

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 05, 2018

A Word from Bishop Graves: The Appointment Process

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 ...

March 01, 2018

Commission on a Way Forward clarifies values as it presents two sketches to bishops

(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 ...

February 27, 2018

Request for Lay Members to 2018 Annual Conference

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 ...

February 26, 2018

Healthy Growing Church Conference Draws Hundreds from Around Conference

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 ...

February 21, 2018

Renowned therapist, Real, leads Bishop's Day Apart

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 ...

February 19, 2018

McMichael, Friend of AWF Conference, Dead at 42

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 ...

February 15, 2018

A Word from Bishop Graves: Florida School Shooting

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 ...

February 09, 2018

Two AWF Staff Positions Available, Applications Now Accepted

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 & ...

February 08, 2018

Courageous Conversation Dates Announced in AWF Conference

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 ...

February 08, 2018

Three AWF Churches Land on LenWilson's Fastest Growing List

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 ...

February 06, 2018

AWF Holds Eighth Annual Prayer Breakfast for State Officials

(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 ...

January 30, 2018

A Video Message from Bishop Graves

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 ...

January 23, 2018

Bishop Graves Sends Greetings from the Holy Land

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 ...

January 22, 2018

Commission on a Way Forward prepares updated report to bishops

(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 ...

January 12, 2018

United Methodist Bishops condemn President Trump’s “offensive” remarks against immigrants

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 ...

January 10, 2018

Saint Paul UMC Adds Soccer Field to Benefit Community

(Kari Barlow for AWFUMC) - Saint Paul United Methodist Church in Gulf Breeze wasn’t looking to add a soccer field to its property on U.S. Highway 98, but God apparently had other ideas. “How it started was I just answered the ...

January 07, 2018

Three AWF Local Church Council Training Videos Now Available

Three 2018 local church council training videos are now online and available. These videos were written and produced so that committee members in the conference may be properly trained in the new year. Whether you are a veteran ...

January 04, 2018

AWF "At the Table" Ministry Receives GCORR Grant

A vision that became a reality has been awarded a $15,000 grant from the General Commission on Religion and Race. "At the Table" is an event that was held in the spring and fall of 2017 and brought together those in the conference...

January 04, 2018

Disabilities Sunday Designated in the AWF Conference

Sunday, February 25, 2018, has been designated as Disability Awareness Sunday in the Alabama-West Florida Conference. As United Methodists, "We recognize that God made all creation and saw that it was good. As a diverse people of...

January 03, 2018

Interim Treasurer Named at Alabama-West Florida Conference

The Alabama-West Florida Conference is pleased to announce that Mr. Mickey Wilson has been named Interim Treasurer in the conference office. Wilson begins his service today, January 3, 2018.  Prior to coming to the Alabama-West ...

December 13, 2017

Advent Greetings from Bishop and Mrs. Graves

Bishop and Mrs. David Graves would like to share an Advent message with the Alabama-West Florida Conference. Click here to view the message.  You may also listen to this message as an audio-only podcast by clicking here, by ...

December 11, 2017

A Video Message from Bishop David Graves

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 ...

December 01, 2017

Alabama-West Florida Grieves Blackwell, COT Co-founder

The Alabama-West Florida Conference was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Laurel Blackwell, co-founder of Communities of Transformation. Laurel bravely and successfully battled cancer but developed some recent health ...

November 27, 2017

Upcoming Annual Conference Deadlines Announced

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 2018 Annual Conference session, June 3-6, 2018, at Frazer ...

November 17, 2017

Bishops receive interim Way Forward report, elect new officers

WASHINGTON – The Council of Bishops (COB) met at Lake Junaluska in North Carolina last week to receive an interim report from the Commission on a Way Forward, elect new officers, and prepare for the 2019 Special Session of General...

November 16, 2017

Bishop Graves Announces New Staff Members

The Alabama-West Florida Conference, under the leadership of Bishop David Graves, is pleased to announce two new staff members.   Ms. Celeste Eubanks will be joining the connectional ministries staff as Director of Leadership ...

November 09, 2017

Bishops uphold values of mission, unity, space, contextuality in interim report on Way Forward’s work

(LAKE JUNALUSKA, NORTH CAROLINA) - Placing emphasis on the values of unity, space and contextuality - all for the sake of mission – the Council of Bishops (COB) is exploring sketches of three models as possible directions for a ...

November 08, 2017

Bishop Carter elected as president of Council of Bishops

(Lake Junaluska, NC) - Florida Area Bishop Kenneth H. Carter today was officially elected as the next president of the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church. Bishop Carter will take over from Dakotas-Minnesota Area ...

November 08, 2017

Veterans Day Reflection and Prayer from Bishop David Graves

November 8, 2017 As I travel around the Alabama-West Florida Conference, I meet those who are currently serving in the military and many veterans who have previously served our country, including some who are combat wounded. Rev. ...

November 07, 2017

A Reflection from Dr. Darren McClellan

For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.  He shall judge between many peoples, and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and ...

November 06, 2017

A Word from Bishop Graves: Church Shooting

This morning my heart is heavy as we read once again of another act of violence in a church where 26 people were killed and 10 injured. It leaves us with questions of, "Why? When will this stop? When will we lay down our ...

November 06, 2017

Alabama-West Florida Conference Announces Staff Changes

The Alabama-West Florida Conference announces two staff changes in the finance and connectional ministries offices. Mr. Frank Dunnewind, AWF Treasurer and Director of Administrative Services, has announced his retirement effective...

October 31, 2017

Commission on a Way Forward Working on Interim Report to Bishops

(COB) -  The Commission on a Way Forward, which is working to find unity for The United Methodist Church regarding human sexuality, began its sixth meeting on October 30, 2017, with a devotion that challenged the members to be as ...

October 30, 2017

New Service at Christ UMC Targets Millennials

(Kari C. Barlow) - Rev. Jeremy Steele didn’t need a think tank’s statistics to know millennials weren’t attending Christ United Methodist Church in Mobile.   All he had to do is look around the sanctuary.   Like so many churches ...

October 24, 2017

QuadW Missional Outreach Receives $2.6 Million Grant

(Rev. Jean Tippit, Board President, QuadW Missional Outreach)  - The QuadW Foundation of Dallas, TX has awarded up to $2,600,000 for the expansion of QuadW Missional Internship and Residency programs, as well as the launching of ...

October 16, 2017

Teams Needed from Texas to Florida

Alabama-West Florida has received requests for ERTs (Early Response Teams) and mission teams from Annual Conferences affected by recent storms. Coastal communities in Texas, Florida, and South Georgia can all use our help, as can ...

October 12, 2017

Gulf Breeze UMC Offers Up Safe-and-sober Homecoming Event

(Kari Barlow for the Alabama-West Florida Conference) - When high school homecoming dances end, most teenagers are nowhere near ready to call it a night. In Gulf Breeze, there’s a tradition of partying hard in beachfront houses ...

October 11, 2017

Foley UMC Unites Community with Path to Peace

(Kari C. Barlow for the Alabama-West Florida Conference) - Skeptics were proved wrong in a big way Sunday at Foley United Methodist Church. More than 500 people turned out for “Path to Peace: A Reconciliation Celebration” that ...

October 06, 2017

A Video Message from Bishop Graves

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 ...

October 05, 2017

Preparing for Tropical Storm Nate

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 Nate will eventually have an impact ...

October 04, 2017

RIOM Goes Digital

(Kari Barlow for the Alabama-West Florida Conference) - A shift toward digital resources in the Alabama-West Florida Conference is making it easier for newly commissioned ministers to navigate the challenging path to ordination.  ...

September 27, 2017

Friday Night Lights: UMC pastors, congregations show the love during football season

(Kari Barlow for the Alabama-West Florida Conference) On Friday afternoons during high school football season, the folks at First United Methodist Church of Marianna don’t have a lot of time to stand around and chat.   They’re too...

September 12, 2017

A Word from Bishop Graves: Hurricane Aftermath

Over the last several days, we have watched the destruction from Hurricane Irma as it traveled through the Caribbean, Cuba, up South Florida, and into Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Here in the Alabama-West ...

September 11, 2017

AWF Conference Participates in "Praying Our Way Forward"

The Alabama-West Florida Conference is participating in the "Praying Our Way Forward" initiative. The denomination-wide initiative launched on New Year’s Day 2017 with 75 weeks of focused prayer for The United Methodist Church. ...
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