E-news: Annual Conference

Annual Conference 2012: Get Ready!

In just over two weeks, the forty-fourth session of the West Virginia Annual Conference gets underway at West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon.

General Conference 2012 has been called "the first Twitter General Conference." We fully expect social media to have a presence at Annual Conference this year as well. For those of you who tweet, we'll be using #WVAC12 as the hashtag during annual conference. Look for more information and updates on our digital and social media channels in the e-news and online at wvumc.org.

Check out this list of Annual Conference notes and reminders; and download a copy of the workbook at wvumc.org/conference. Please note that if you have not registered yet for Annual Conference, you will pick your pre-conference workbook during the on-site registration process.

If you have questions or are unsure if you've already registered, please contact Judi Kenaston, Conference Secretary.

A Bishop Reflects

Bishop William Boyd Grove has watched the United Methodist Church struggle with the concept of inclusion for nearly 60 years. Read about his experience at a "kneel-in" at the Pittsburgh General Conference in 1964; and his take on what inclusion means today. This is also the cover story of the May/June edition of the West Virginia United Methodist, in mailboxes this week.

Not all of us are bishops, but everyone has a story.

What does it mean to be a United Methodist? What are your favorite memories of Annual Conference?

Call 304-205-9224 and leave us a voicemail; we may feature your recording at Annual Conference. Be sure to tell us your name and church too! Learn more about Google Voice, the free tool we are using to collect your stories.

Prayers for the Unchurched

Many people don't know how much God loves them. Please bring the names of folks in your community who may not attend church or know God. They can be dropped off at the evangelism table in the gymnasium during Annual Conference. If you have any questions about this ministry, contact the Rev. Bill Dawson.

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.

Or, use these promotional materials in your church or ministry to help spread the word!

Contact JF Lacaria for more information at 800-788-3746 ext. 27.

Other Announcements

Click here to view a brochure from Burlington United Methodist Family Service (BUMFS), and to register for a disaster response training during #wvac12 week,We update this list between editions of the e-news, bookmark the link so you can check out the latest announcements at your convenience.

We Remember

Rev. Pam Everitt's mother, Elizabeth J. Everitt, passed away Monday evening. Visitation will be Thursday from 2-4 and 6-8 at Davis Weaver Funeral Home in Clarksburg. The funeral service will be Friday at 11am. Condolences can be sent to: Rt 1, Box 144-1, Lost Creek, WV 26385.