You have found the right place for resources and inspiration for your congregation, whether you're clergy or lay, looking to start a new worship service, revive your youth ministry, keep your children's ministry safe sanctuaries compliant, form a mission team -- and so much more!
The Office of Connectional Ministries supports our Conference-wide ministry focus, including age-level ministries (children, youth and young adults), Safe Sanctuaries, campus ministries, disaster response ministries, relationships with our related agencies, higher education, and camping ministries, and more.
In alignment with the Book of Discipline, the director will:
- steward the vision of the conference;
- serve as leader of the continuous process of transformation and renewal necessary for the conference to be faithful to our Christian identity in a changing world;
- ensure alignment of the total resources of the conference to its vision;
- ensure the connections among the local, district, conference, and general Church ministries for the purpose of networking, resourcing, and communicating shared ministry.
We will play a key role in equipping congregations, districts, and the Connection in actionizing the five Areas of Focus, as set forth by the Common Table.
We partner most often with District Strategic Growth Teams, District Regional Developers, Connectional Ministries Team, BEAT, Common Table, the Center for Clergy Excellence, and Community Development and Discipleship.
The Office of Connectional Ministries in it's current form was created in July 2024. You can learn more about that at ngumc.org/structure.
Events
News
Listening to Lead: Survey Insights Shape 2025 Planning in the North Georgia Conference
12/10/2024
This fall the Office of Connectional Ministries invited lay leadership and conference clergy to share feedback via a survey. Hundreds of clergy and laity responded. The survey results reflect the thoughts of highly engaged churchgoers and clergy who care deeply about their local church and the wider conference. "Conference leaders want to make sure we hear the laity and clergy and respond with resources," said Rev. Laurie Moeller, director of Connectional Ministries. "We have read every survey...
Upper New York, Susquahanna, and California-Pacific Conference ERT Serve in North Georgia
12/5/2024
PHOTO ALBUM By Sybil Davidson This week, a six-person Early Response Team (ERT) led by the Upper New York Conference of The United Methodist Church is serving in Augusta, providing much-needed assistance following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. Bishop Robin Dease and Assistant to the Bishop Rev. Dr. Rodrigo Cruz traveled to Augusta Tuesday to welcome the team after their first work day. The team, whose members are from as far away as Buffalo, New York and San Diego, California ...
Fall Retreats Rock! Hundreds of Young United Methodists Gather for Fun, Fellowship, and Growing Their Faith
12/4/2024
PHOTO ALBUM It’s fun to #BeUMC! The North Georgia Conference 2024 fall retreat season wrapped up after four weekends of children’s, youth, and college retreats. More than 745 young people from 64 local churches participated! At the Faithology children’s retreat in September, our theme was all about rocks. The fun-loving group of 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders and their adult chaperones filled up the Glisson Chapel while we learned about rock stories in the Bible and how God is our firm ...
Rev Jacque Smith Among 67 New EarthKeepers to be Commissioned Tuesday
11/17/2024
New Global Ministries EarthKeepers will launch creation care projects in the U.S. Global Ministries will commission 67 new EarthKeepers in an online service on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 8 p.m. This service will affirm the EarthKeepers in their call to the ministry of creation care and bless their work in their communities. The service will be livestreamed at www.facebook.com/GlobalMinistries. Among them is Rev. Jacque Smith, associate pastor of Impact UMC in East Point. Her creation care project is a...
Young Harris College selects John Wells as New College President
11/16/2024
Young Harris College is proud to announce that Dr. John W. Wells has been chosen to serve as its 24th President by a unanimous vote of the Board of Trustees at its meeting on November 8, 2024. Dr. Wells succeeds President Drew Van Horn, who is retiring at the end of the fall semester. Dr. Wells previously served as Provost and Interim President of Young Harris from 2005 to 2009, during the College's transition from junior college to senior college. He most recently served as Provost and then ...
Greater New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania Conference ERT Bring Help and Hope to North Georgia
11/15/2024
“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” Matthew 9:35-37 NIV PHOTO ALBUM By Sybil Davidson This week an Early Response Team (ERT) from the Greater New Jersey and Eastern ...
Paine College Recovering After Hurricane Helene Causes $4 Million in Damage Across Campus
11/8/2024
Hurricane Helene made landfall on September 27, 2024, leaving a large path of destruction across the south east. The impact of this natural disaster in the greater Augusta area was profound. At United Methodist-related Paine College, the damage to the grounds and facilities is estimated at $4 Million. Neither the insurance provider nor FEMA will cover 100% of the costs to restore the campus. There are repairs that must be addressed immediately or buildings will run the risk of further damage. ...
A Pastoral Letter from the Council of Bishops on the US Elections
11/7/2024
Dear friends, I must be honest that I have struggled this week to write something that I thought would be unifying. Then I realized that I along with the Council of Bishops need to speak as one. That has been our theme this week as we have gathered at Epworth By The Sea. I share our letter with you below. Bishop Robin Dease A Pastoral Letter from the Council of Bishops on the US Elections “Now faith, hope, and love remain…and the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 CEB ...
Kind30: A Simple Idea Sparks a Kindness Movement
11/5/2024
By Sybil Davidson United Methodist layperson Beth Abernathy had a simple but powerful idea earlier this year that has sparked a movement. Kind30 is a framework that invites people to take part in intentional acts of kindness each day for 30 days. The program was months in the making but officially launched in October to align with World Mental Health Day October 10. The idea started at Peachtree Road UMC when church member Diane Moffett spoke to Beth’s Sunday School class and referenced a ...
November Is Native American Heritage Month
11/4/2024
This month, GCORR - the General Commission on Religion and Race, the UMC commission equipped to challenge and equip leaders towards greater racial equity - is recommending several resources in celebrating Native American Heritage Month. 11 Facts About Native People in Society and the Church (By Bishop David Wilson) Video: Ongoing Acts of Repentance with Indigenous People (By Rev. Chebon Kernell) Land Acknowledgement vs. Welcome by the Original People (By Ragghi Rain, Chairperson, Native ...
Dr. Lester McCorn Named Next President of Paine College
10/31/2024
The Board of Trustees of Paine College is pleased to announce the appointment of Rev. Dr. Lester A. McCorn as President-select. Known for his transformational leadership in higher education, Dr. McCorn brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to Paine College. McCorn will assume the presidency of the college on January 1, 2025. Paine College, located in Augusta, is a private, four-year HBCU affiliated with The United Methodist Church. Since 2017, McCorn has served as President and Professor...
Inter-Tribal Gathering of Native Americans Held at Ellijay First UMC
10/28/2024
Ellijay First United Methodist Church hosted the 10th Annual Gathering of Native Americans in North Georgia on Saturday, October 26. Special music included Indigenous drummers from Plant City, Florida, and the Plum Praisey Band (Pine Log United Methodist Praise Band). The music included a variety of Christian music ranging from “Amazing Grace,” which is the national anthem of the Cherokee Nation, to contemporary song of “Spirit in the Sky,” and many songs sung in the Native languages. The Rev. ...
UMCOR Relief Kits Delivered to Western North Carolina, Florida, and Across Georgia
10/14/2024
Rev. Ernesto Machado and Craig O'Hara at Faith UMC Tampa By Sybil Davidson Thanks to the generosity of Georgia United Methodists, our Disaster Response Warehouse was well-stocked with UMCOR Relief Kits at the start of the 2024 hurricane season. Since September, those kits have been deployed to areas in great need in the South Georgia, Western North Carolina, North Georgia, and Florida Annual Conferences. Craig O’Hara, a North Georgia ERT (Early Response Team member) and member of Community ...
Next Gen Ministries Align: Sligh to Bring Together Youth, Children, and Conference Retreat Roles
8/28/2024
Beginning September 1, Dr. Allison Sligh will bring together three Conference consultant roles into one cohesive position with the North Georgia Conference—the Next Generation Ministries Specialist. The work will span youth ministry, children's ministry, and conference retreats. Sligh's focus will be on maximizing and strengthening ministry to children and youth across the North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church. Collaborating with church leaders, district leaders, conference ...
Camp Glisson Turns 100 in 2025
6/24/2024
In 2025, Glisson will mark 100 years of ministry! That’s a lot of campouts and creek hikes! There are also countless stories of belonging, transformation, and calling for hundreds of thousands of children, youth, and adults across a century of camp and retreat ministry. That is a lot to celebrate! By the time it’s all said and celebrated, we hope to have properly recognized the contributions of generations of Glisson supporters and staff that have provided life-changing experiences of ...
Bishop Names Next Executive Assistant to the Bishop and Next Director of Connectional Ministries
4/14/2024
Bishop Robin Dease has announced two new cabinet-level appointments effective July 1, 2024. Rev. Dr. Rodrigo Cruz will serve as the next Executive Assistant to the Bishop and Rev. Laurie Moeller will serve as the next Director of Connectional Ministries. "I am very excited to be working with these two leaders who both have a love for the local church that will continue even as they serve in new roles," said Bishop Dease. Rev. Dr. Rodrigo Cruz Rodrigo was born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico ...
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