News

1/29/2013

In the Jan/Feb edition of New World Outlook Magazine, Edgar Avitia writes about how the General Board of Global Ministries and Methodists in Latin America are creating strategic plans for ministry. "Building a mutual relationship was much more important than building a row of churches," says Avitia.  In the exerpt below he tells the story of how the North Georgia Conference has partnered with Methodist churches in El Salvador: Redefining Partnerships Some of our efforts in redefining ...

1/28/2013

By Sybil Davidson Bob Farr, author of the book "Renovate or Die: 10 Ways to Focus Your Church on Mission," spent several days with North Georgia clergy and laity giving practical tips on reaching their communities. Farr was keynote speaker for more than 550 clergy and laity, who attended the Atlanta-Emory/Atlanta-Decatur-Oxford district training at Snellville UMC. He then led a two-day retreat for AMRY District clergy. Later in the week, Farr spent a day with the 2013 START (Strategic ...

1/22/2013

Bishop Woodie White, Bishop-in-Residence at Candler School of Theology, will be the keynote speaker at the conference-wide Cross-Radical, Cross-Cultural Ministries gathering Feb. 5.  The gathering will include intercultural sensitivity training with an emphasis on the stages of developing cultural awareness and sensitivity. The event is open to all laity and clergy who want to learn more about effective ministry in a multicultural world. The event will be from 11-3 at Simpsonwood in Norcross....

1/19/2013

  By GLENN HANNIGAN    The good news on apportionments for 2012: The percentage of payments continues to increase. The bottom line: Overall giving is down a bit.     But that is to be expected says North Georgia Conference Treasurer Keith Cox.     “CFA has made the effort to reduce the Conference budget in recent years,” said Cox. “So most of the churches who had paid 100 percent in the past are still paying 100 percent but on a smaller budget amount. We are receiving a good percentage of ...

1/8/2013

The Atlanta/Decatur Cokesbury Store has announced a close date of March 2, 2013. Cokesbury Christian Resources will continue to be available through the web at Cokesbury.com and by phone at 800-672-1789. Two Cokesbury Sales Representatives will soon be hired for the Metro Atlanta market. In anticipation of the close, the store is offering 30 percent off inventory. Hours are 10 a.m to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. (Note: The sale applies to in-stock items only and ...

12/10/2012

The North Georgia Conference Treasurer, Keith Cox, has been named a member of the denomination's Economic Advisory Committee. The committee reports to the General Council on Finance and Administration. The EAC brings together economists, financial experts, researchers, and church leaders from across the country to discuss economic matters related to United Methodism, and the quantitative study of religion. The work of the committee is an important component of the church’s quadrennial budget ...

12/6/2012

As Cokesbury stores celebrate their final "Cokesbury Christmas," we are happy to confirm that Cokesbury’s in-person presence will continue at North Georgia Annual Conference, as well as all of the Annual Conference sessions in the United States.  "Cokesbury has many ways to serve customers – a Toll-free Call Center, Cokesbury.com and sales reps serving 45 markets across the country, but we consider our attendance at Annual Conference the high point of our year," said Jeffrey Barnes, Executive ...

11/27/2012

Starting Nov. 27, the North Georgia Conference is offering churches the option to make apportionment, special offering and benefits payments online. Funds can be drawn from any bank account by submitting an online remittance form through NGUMC Data Services. Payments will be processed through Suntrust Bank's Online ePay Manager System. Three North Georgia churches volunteered to test the process and have successfully used the system for several months leading up to opening the option to all ...

10/8/2012

The Conference is hosting three upcoming Webinars via Adobe Connect. To participate all you need is a computer with internet connection and a phone. UMVIM Team Leader Training - Online United Methodist Volunteers in Mission is offering a team leader training you can participate in online. The cost is $25. All you need is a computer with internet connection and a phone. The training will be Oct. 20 from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information, contact Dalton Rushing at dalton.rushing@ngumc.net. ...

9/24/2012

The North Georgia Conference Housing and Homeless Council has moved its office to Briarcliff UMC in Atlanta. Contact information for the Council and director Virginia Tinsley is: Housing and Homeless Council 4501 Briarcliff Rd. NE Atlanta, GA 30345 Phone: 678-533-1379 E-mail: director@nghhc.org Website: www.nghhc.org The North Georgia United Methodist Housing & Homeless Council is an agency of the North Georgia Conference and was created to help churches and other non-profit organizations in ...

9/17/2012

Skilled volunteer clergy listeners of North Georgia can be called to listen, to provide spiritual guidance, and to give information on how to how to contact appropriate authorities regarding alleged clergy sexual abuse. All calls are confidential and can be anonymous. Call 866.612.2770.

9/10/2012

The North Georgia Conference recently honored Deborah Marlowe, a lay person who has given countless hours of pro bono legal counsel to the conference in the area of immigration, with a luncheon at Simpsonwood.   It has been more than ten years since the attorney -- and active United Methodist -- first provided invaluable assistance to then District Superintendent Jim Thompson who was helping a Korean pastor serve an immigrant community.    Since then, she has provided pro bono immigration ...

7/20/2012

The Episcopacy Committee announced late Thursday evening, July 19, 2012, the assignments of the thirteen active Bishops. The North Georgia Conference proudly welcomes back Bishop B. Michael Watson. Bishop Watson was elected to the episcopacy by the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference in 2000 and served as Bishop of the South Georgia Area from 2000-2008. Bishop Watson was assigned to the North Georgia Conference in 2008. Bishop Watson is married to Margaret Lee Watson and has two children, Ben...

1/7/2011

     A new day. A new year. A chance to embrace a fresh start.      Most people relish the chance to wipe the slate clean and open a new page on life. It is a fundamental message of the cross and the underlying promise of Christianity. As one time-honored hymn explains, we have “strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.”       For many people, there is sound reason to be optimistic about 2011, from the emerging signs of an economic recovery, to the unfolding advances in medical science, ...

9/8/2010

The General Board of Pension and Health Benefits and the office of the Central Conference Pension Initiative (CCPI) recently announced the attainment of $21,227,601  to fund pensions for the central conferences (those outside the United States). Of this total, the North Georgia Conference’s contributions are now at $1,361,651.   This milestone comes approximately two years after CCPI launched its initial fundraising effort, and 10 years after CCPI was created with a General Conference 2000 ...

8/24/2010

By WILL ZANT How can local congregations pursue international mission opportunities through the United Methodist Church? That is a question the North Georgia Conference is seeking to answer.   “Bridges of Mission” is a new conference initiative that utilizes our connection of churches. Whether you are part of a large membership church or small membership church, you can help make a difference for the Body of Christ.   We chose the image of a bridge because bridges are points of connection. ...

8/11/2010

By ALICE SMITH   Mission in the United Methodist Church takes many forms, and in every avenue there are people and resources available to help.   That point was hammered home at a training event July 14 at the United Methodist Center at Simpsonwood, attended by 35 pastors who are newly appointed to their churches, along with their lay mission leaders.    The “Mission Education for Pastors Plus” was part of the “Great Start” programs being offered by Connectional Ministries. Mission work, ...

7/27/2010

All HealthFlex participants are urged to take the HealthQuotient (HQ). The online assessment is a vital first step in self-care. The General Board of Pension and Helath Benefits believes this is a critical component to wellness. This year, for the first time, there will be a financial penalty for those who do not complete the HQ. If participants (AND spouses, if a spouse is covered) do not take the HealthQuotient by August 31, 2010, their deductibles will INCREASE an additional $250 for ...

7/23/2010

By TIM GHIANNI* NASHVILLE, Tenn./GBOD/ -- Steve Manskar says the United Methodist Church can experience revival by rediscovering its heritage. “In the 19th Century, the Methodist Church decided to go ‘mainline’ in order to become ‘respectable.’ During this period congregations began to jettison some of the characteristics that set them apart as Methodists,” says Manskar, Director of Wesleyan Leadership for the General Board of Discipleship. Manskar says such practices as the focus on lay ...

7/2/2010

Candler School of Theology at Emory University has received a gift from Dunwoody UMC to support the construction of Phase II of Candler’s building program. The church’s gift will underwrite a study area in the future space. B. Wiley Stephens, a 1965 graduate of Candler and senior pastor of Dunwoody UMC, says the gift reinforces a long relationship between the church and Candler. “With only one exception since we have been our own church, all of our senior pastors and most of our staff have been...