Coaches Make you UNSTOPPABLE!

Has the fresh enthusiasm of your New Year's resolution worn out and you still feel stuck?  Do you need a pair of objective eyes to help you discern what God is calling you to do and how?  Do you just need someone outside your circle to talk to confidentially?  Are you struggling with a particular issue and need to work it out?  Are you doing ok but you'd like to be great?  Coaching can make you UNSTOPPABLE.  Contact Cheri Lyon to match you with a compatible coach: 505.440.6849 or [email protected].

Taking Care of our Pastors 
Renewal Leave, Sabbatical, Vacations, & Resources
One topic the Conference Ministry Team discussed at length was how to better care for an over-taxed, stressed-out clergy.  Many pastors are not aware of the provisions available to them in the Discipline.  See Section XIV for full details.
  • A Clergy member's continuing education and spiritual growth program should include such leaves at least one week each year and at least one month during one year of every quadrennium.  Such leaves shall not be considered as part of the ministers' vacations.
  • A clergy member may request a formational and spiritual growth leave of up to six months while continuing to hold an appointment in the local church after holding a full-time appointment for at least six years.  
  • Sabbatical Leave of up to one year shall be granted by the Board of Ordained Ministry for associate members or clergy members in full connection who have been serving in a full-time appointment for six consecutive years.  There are provisions for others and the rules guiding those seeking Sabbatical Leave in The Discipline.  
  • Vacation:
    • Served full-time < 5 years = minimum 2 weeks during conference year
    • Served full-time 5-10 years - 3 weeks
    • Served full-time > 10 years - 4 weeks
    • See Conference Journal for details.
  • An informative web-site is provided to guide clergy and their families regarding health benefits & services. A toll-free number is available, which is staffed with medical, mental health and health insurance experts. 
   

Goin' to the Holy Land

Members of NMAC who visited the Holy Land with Bishop Bledsoe (astride the camel): Beverly Bonnell & husband, Lourdes Calderon & husband, Bethany Carpenter,
Laird & Tina Cross, & Greg Henneman(the very left corner).
   

APD Foothills Area Command Talking Safety at the NM Conference Office
James Large, Dru Ann Kuntz, Alli Costello, Linda Lucas, Peggy Wilson, Maryann Harrison, John Rivas & Jill Garcia
 
     Jill Garcia, Foothills Command Center Crime Prevention Specialist and several officers specializing in crisis management spoke to the Conference staff about how to prevent crime and keep our office safe.   
     Our primary area of concern is safely serving transient folks who enter our doors. Most of the time, people come in wanting to get out of the cold for a few minutes, get a cup of coffee or use our phone.  We are blessed to have Maryann Harrison at the front desk, who is experienced in working with people who may have mental health or addiction issues. However, in past weeks, several visitors have become agitated and potentially aggressive. 
     Jill & company conducted a security assessment, requested that we meet to develop an action plan and create policies and procedures to systematize how we handle visitors and keep the property & staff safe. Policies need to be consistent and well-known to all staff to maintain clear communication to the community.  For example, our policy may be that we allow people to hang out in the foyer for 10 minutes, provide one cup of coffee and one local phone call, one bus pass and one gift certificate to McDonald's per month.  We can provide a list of local services but we cannot offer food or money. 
      Local churches may benefit by going through a similar process with your local law enforcement, especially in light of recent church threats.  There is a helpful booklet on the Conference Safe Sanctuaries page - "Protecting your Church from Crime and Violence".


Do you want to know how petitions become adopted legislation? 
Do you want information on the most contentious issues facing GC2016? 
Do you want to know when Bishop Bledsoe is presiding over the GC worship service?
Here is a handy guide to all things General Conference 2016. 
Click here for the 2016 General Conference Guide 

Get Ready for One Great Hour of Sharing - March 6th
 
     UMC Giving has updated their Pastor and Leaders Kit with resources to help you promote One Great Hour of Sharing Sunday, observed on March 6, 2016. You can post these resources on all social media outlets.
    They have Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest images; mobile telephone wallpapers for five platforms and social media banners and headers for various outlets. They have other downloadable resources that you can use to promote this Special Sunday in your church.
This kit has everything you need to empower your congregation to give generously.
  
Click here for the resource kit 

 Chuck Knows Church - The Committee - The Vote
The Committee - The Vote 
The Committee - The Vote

Prayer Workshop with Rev. Tim Albin
Preparation for GC2016 Prayer Vigil
First United Methodist Church, 315 Coal Ave. SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Three Identical 3-hour Sessions are available. Come to one or more, as you choose. 
* Saturday, February 20, 9:00 to 11:30 am; or, 1:30-4:30 pm 
* Sunday, February 21, 1:00 to 3:30 pm
 
In this 3-hour training event you will:
* Learn how you, your family and your prayer team or local church
can participate in The Upper Room 60 Days of Prayer.
* Receive tools to organize a prayer vigil in your church or district.
* Create Protestant Prayer Beads that will be given to an elected
delegate, bishop, or other leader.
* Pray with others from your jurisdiction for God to give wisdom and
clarity to the leaders of our Church.

Rev. Tom Albin, Dean of Upper Room Ministries and Ecumenical Relations, co-chair of the Prayer Support Ministry for the 2016 General Conference and an ordained elder in the Oklahoma Annual Conference of the UMC.

Please register with name and Phone.  RSVP by Friday, Feb. 19th: (505)243-5646 or email: [email protected]. 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS & IMPORTANT DATES 

 
>Feb. 20
>March 3
>March 4 - 6
>March 6
>March 11-13
>April 15-17
>April 27
>April 28-May 1 
>May 10-20
>June 1 
>June 2 - 4 

Prayer Workshop - Tom Albin 
Art of the Open-Ended Question
ROC - Middle School Camp
Bishop Bledsoe in Worship
UMW Spiritual Retreat
SWIFT Young Adult Spring Work Camp
NMAC 24 hours to Pray for General Conf
Adult Retreat 
General Conference
Early Bird Workshops 
NM Annual Conference

First UMC-ABQ
St. Paul's UMC-ABQ
Sacramento
First UMC, Deming
Sacramento
Sacramento

Sacramento 
Portland, OR
Roswell, NM 
Roswell, NM

 

For more information of any of these events, click here to go to our Conference Calendar   


Classifieds
Conference Calendar
UMC website
 


RELEVANT, PASSIONATE, AND LIFE-CHANGING CHURCHES

New Mexico Annual Conference

11816 Lomas Blvd. NE Albuquerque, NM 87112

Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Receptionist Hours: 9:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.

(800) 678-8786 toll free; (505) 255-8786; (505) 265-6184 fax

Click here to view our staff listing 

 



 

Please send photos, articles, events, etc. to Alli Costello, Communications Director at [email protected].  Send classified ads to [email protected].