News

9/26/2024

North Georgia United Methodists are praying for all in the path of Hurricane Helene as the National Weather Service projects the storm will make landfall in Florida as a major hurricane. Across Georgia, we are expecting significant rainfall and tropical storm or hurricane-force wind gusts, along with the potential for tornadoes and flash flooding. Disaster Response Coordinator Rev. Scott Parrish, along with South Georgia Disaster Response Coordinators Kelly Crane and Kelly Roberson, are ...

9/26/2024

This month Murphy-Harpst Children's Centers celebrated an incredible milestone. With its deep Methodist roots, the agency serving Georgia's most vulnerable children marked its first 100 years with friends, colleagues, and members of the Murphy-Harpst community at a celebration in midtown Atlanta. The Century Celebration was hosted by WABE's Lisa Rayam, who interviewed a former resident about the positive impact of the home. It also featured an art auction with pieces from Murphy-Harpst ...

9/26/2024

  As Hurricane Helene approaches the coast of Florida, Bishop Robin Dease invites you to join her in prayer. Tonight all 159 counties in Georgia under an official State of Emergency. Dear God,  We seek your divine shelter as Hurricane Helene approaches Florida and Georgia. Surround those who are caught in her path with your loving presence and protection from the chaos and destruction that wind and rain can bring.  Please guide and give wisdom to every police, emergency management, ERT, ...

9/20/2024

Celebrating 35 years of 'Heroes, Saints & Legends' on September 19, Wesley Woods raised a record $520,000 to create communities of connection, well-being and promise! The evening celebrated the ministry of Wesley Woods and highlighted the extraordinary 2024 honorees, Renee Lewis Glover and Susan and Glenn Warren.  Wesley Woods communities are home to 1,800 residents across the North Georgia Conference. Fifty one percent of those residents have an income below the poverty line and 75 percent ...

9/19/2024

Photo: Rev. Candace M. Lewis. By Mike DuBose, UM News. By Jim Patterson United Methodist News Service https://www.umnews.org/en/news/gammon-builds-on-legacy-as-it-looks-forward “Wherever God gives vision, there’s provision,” said the Rev. Candace M. Lewis, president of Gammon Theological Seminary in Atlanta. “We have more than enough vision to go around, and as we share vision, I feel like that really does invoke generosity.” Lewis and her staff are reinventing the only historically Black ...

9/19/2024

This Hispanic Heritage Month we're sharing inspiration and insights thanks to our Conference Hispanic-Latino Committee. Today, we hope you'll take a few minutes to listen to this beautiful hymn and the origin information and insight that follows. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ht_rOekyWo Tenemos Esperanza (Tango) Lyrics: Federico J. Pagura (Argentine) Music: Homero Perera Baez (Uruguayan) Explanation written by Rev. Juan Gatinoni of the Methodist Church of Argentina Interpretation and...

9/18/2024

It's moving day (or more accurately, "moving weeks") for the United Methodist Center!  North Georgia Conference offices at Century Center are packed and the move to 1795 Old Peachtree Road in Duluth is underway.  "We give thanks for the ministry and service to the church that flowed through the Century Center office - including three bishops, many dedicated Conference staff, countless leadership meetings, trainings, prayers, discernment, and preparation," said Allison Berg, Conference ...

9/17/2024

By Sybil Davidson Members of the Common Table of the North Georgia Conference gathered on Saturday, September 14, to discuss the values, focus, and purpose of the North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church for the next two years.  The Common Table is made up of the chairs of conference boards and committees, members of the cabinet, lay leadership, at large members, and the bishop.  Facilitated by Rev. John Wimbley, the group began the work of outlining a vision that orients the ...

9/16/2024

  Children’s will move all patients from Egleston Hospital to Arthur M. Blank Hospital in one day Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is asking for prayers as the hospital undertakes a significant logistical feat on Sunday, September 29 – moving all patients from Egleston Hospital to the new Arthur M. Blank Hospital in a single day.  The Egleston Hospital Emergency Department will close its doors at 7 a.m. and, simultaneously, the Arthur M. Blank Hospital Emergency Department will open for ...

9/5/2024

By Sybil Davidson During General Conference 2024 in Charolotte, N.C., Rev. Dawn Wright, pastor of STAR Community UMC in Stone Mountain bumped into Rev. Dr. William Chaney, pastor of Chesterbrook UMC in the Virginia Annual Conference. Having met years before, they caught up on some of the exciting things happening in their churches.  Rev. Wright shared about her church's dream to start a baseball ministry for children in proximity to the church. The church's goal is for there to be no barrier ...

9/5/2024

The gathering will include active bishops, three leaders from each episcopal area, plus 50 emerging young leaders, theologians, innovative leaders, missional champions, and retired bishops with particular expertise. The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church is announcing a Leadership Gathering for 2026 that will advance the positive momentum of the 2020/24 General Conference and prepare the denomination for the 2028 General Conference. The Leadership Gathering will take the place ...

9/5/2024

By Sybil Davidson United Methodists across Barrow County are opening their hearts and doors to their neighbors as the community grieves the tragic loss of four lives in a school shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder. Serving at Community Resource Center Beginning September 9, North Georgia United Methodist clergy are among those who have been available to offer pastoral care to members of the Barrow County community at the Community Recovery Center established by GEMA and partners.  The...

9/4/2024

  My heart, like your heart, is reeling at the news of a school shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. Through our grief and sadness, let us lift up in prayer the precious students, faculty, staff, teachers, their families, and the community.  I am deeply grateful for our pastors and laity in Barrow County. Winder First UMC has opened its chapel for prayer today and into tonight. Bethlehem UMC is opening its sanctuary for prayer on Thursday and Friday and plans a prayer service ...

9/1/2024

My dear friends, I bring you greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am excited about this new season in the life of The United Methodist Church in the state of Georgia. As the resident Bishop for both North and South Georgia I am looking forward to the opportunities before us to collaborate, celebrate, and imagine what can be ... together.   We are, in the words of our laity, reweaving our connection with one another. Something that has been long overdue. Our work is never ...

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 ...

8/21/2024

Exciting things are happening in Dahlonega, Georgia! United Methodists in Dahlonega and Gainesville First UMC are working together to launch a new United Methodist faith community. This summer, members of Gainesville First UMC joined United Methodists in Dahlonega for a BBQ and fellowship event at Dahlonega City Park. "The turnout was incredible, with over 80 people in attendance! New friendships blossomed and meaningful connections were made, laying another strong foundation for this new ...

8/21/2024

For United Methodists in the Duluth area, there’s a wonderful opportunity to engage in fellowship and support a worthy cause! The Duluth Donut Dash 5K, taking place on Sunday, Sept. 29, offers a fun and active way to spend your morning while directly benefiting Wellroot Family Services, a related agency of the North Georgia Conference. This event is more than just a race; it's a chance to make a meaningful impact on the lives of children and families across Georgia. Wellroot, rooted in the ...

8/19/2024

By Anne Dukes Haygood Memorial UMC's recent sanctuary renovation in Atlanta was dedicated and consecrated August 11 with a celebration marked by children's choirs, orchestra music, gorgeous flowers, and a special prayer service led by Rev. Dr. Rodrigo Cruz, executive assistant to Bishop Robin Dease. "Hands down there is no better sound in a church than the joyful noise of children," said Cruz. He was speaking from the new pulpit placed prominently on a set of new wooden steps wrapping around ...

8/19/2024

Pictured from North Georgia: (back row) Rev. Ash McEuen, Rev. Dr. Rodrigo Cruz, Rev. Minho Chung, and (front row) Rev. Heather Jallad, Rev. Dr. Alissa Rothschild, Rev. Dr. Beth Sanders, and Rev. Keya Hillman Your five Regional Developers were among the attendees of the annual United Methodist School of Congregational Development earlier this month. They were inspired and uplifted, and returned home with tools that will benefit North Georgia United Methodists! The School of Congregational ...

8/15/2024

The 2025 Fresh Expressions UM National Gathering is set for February 27 - March 1 in Atlanta with the theme “Love Alike.”  Peachtree Road UMC will host the event, which is offered by United Methodist Discipleship Ministries. Registration is now open!  The gathering will bring together practitioners, theologians, and denominational leaders who are passionate about cultivating new Christian communities to reach people not currently connected to any church.  Keynote speakers include Candace Lewis,...