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General Conference 2012 on Tumblr
About 1000 people from all over the world will decide the polity of the United Methodist Church over the next few weeks.
As delegates gather in Tampa, Fla., April 24 - May 4 to make decisions that impact every United Methodist (some 12 million souls worldwide), a recent survey shows many members of the denomination don't know the official positions of the UMC or how it is structured.
 As your communicators, we wanted to create a place for you to see what's happening at General Conference through the unique lens of of our delegation. We'll be posting regularly at http://wvumc.tumblr.com - and you are welcome to join the conversation.
Unlike other blog sites, Tumblr has robust, yet simple ways for members of a community to contribute. It's group blogging made simple. Please read our how-tos, and check out our digital community guidelines, which are modeled on the three simple rules of John Wesley.
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Mission Centered Ministry
 | | Doug Anderson at Annual Conference in 2011. |
At last year's Annual Conference, Dr. Doug Anderson quoted John Wesley in his evangelism presentation: "For the sake of souls, I preach in the fields." Anderson defines relational evangelism as "helping people develop their ability, capacity, and confidence to share their faith in Jesus Christ."
He returns to the Conference in May, with stops in four churches around the state:
May 21 - Trinity United Methodist Church
34 Jones St., Piedmont, WV 26750
May 22 - LIFE UMC (St. Paul's campus)
1564 Mary Lou Retton Dr., Fairmont, WV 26554
May 23 - Oak Hill United Methodist Church
250 Main Street, Oak Hill, WV 25901
May 24 - Dunbar United Methodist Church
1401 Myers Ave., Dunbar, WV 25064
Click here to register for a workshop in your area
What you'll learn in this workshop:
- What are the factors that cause congregations to make decision and plan ministries that reflect personal preference and comfort rather than the mission of Jesus Christ?
- How do you develop spiritual leaders that can help a congregation stay centered on the mission?
- How could a 21st century class meeting help your congregation develop its mission more fully?
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Register Early for Annual Conference
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Bishop's Bike Ride to Conference: The UMCOR 150
Every year, on the Saturday before Annual Conference, a group of riders pedal their way from Charleston to Buckhannon. The purpose: fun, fellowship, and fundraising for a worthy cause. This year, they ride for the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), and there are several ways to support their effort!
text-to-give - We're partnering with UMCOR to offer a text-to-give option. When you text UMCOR to 80888, a $10 donation will go directly to UMCOR (the charge will appear on your next cell phone bill).
online giving - We're also partnering with the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia to provide online giving here. You can donate with a credit card or bank account.
checks - Checks can be mailed to the United Methodist Foundation at P.O. Box 3811, Charleston, WV 25338-3811.
Support a rider - If you know a rider in your church or community, support them with a pledge in support of the ride.
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Golden Cross Offering May 5
United Methodist Churches are encouraged to take up an offering on designated Golden Cross Sundays each year. In the United Methodist Church, Golden Cross supports the health and welfare ministries of each annual conference. In West Virginia, those ministries are GlenWood Park Retirement Village and Burlington United Methodist Family Services. Use this bulletin insert in your church.
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WVWC Students Help Upshur Parish House
 Students at West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) in Buckhannon, W. Va. made 100 food bags in early April for the Upshur Parish House, a mission project affiliated with the West Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church. It was part of the college's annual Do Good Day.
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This list is updated as they are available to reflect new appointment announcements, please bookmark the link above for future reference.
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Other Announcements
Click here for information on an upcoming Spiritual Growth Retreat, a call for NEJ volunteers and more. We update this list between editions of the e-news, bookmark the link so you can check out the latest announcements at your convenience.
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We Remember
John Kase Wilson, brother of Rev. Bill Wilson, passed away Saturday, April 21. The funeral will be at Leavitt Funeral Home in Parkersburg on Tuesday, April 24 at 1:00pm. Condolences may be sent to: PO Box 2313, Charleston, WV 25328.
Rev. William (Bill) Griffin of the South Sutton Charge passed away April 23. Arrangements are incomplete.
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