CONFERENCE NEWS

Summer Camps Brochure Now Available Online
This year's summer camps, “Thirsty,” promise to be bigger and better than ever! With 5 exciting camps to choose from – 3 elementary and 2 mid-high – it's not too early to start making your summer plans. Check out the brochure at www.sgaumc.com/sganew/camping/index.cfm and register today. All the dates are listed below. For more information contact Adam Ricker or Diane Giles at 888-266-7642.

MID HIGH CAMPS - 2008 Mid-High Mania 1: June 9-13 Mid-High Mania 2: June 16-20 Epworth By The Sea For those entering 6th-9th grades Counselors provided

ELEMENTARY CAMPS - 2008 Elem. Camp 1: June 23-27 Elem. Camp 2: July 7-11 Elem. Camp 3: July 14-18 Epworth By The Sea For those entering 4th-6th grades Counselors provided

Still Time to Register for the 2008 Older Adult Retreat
There is still time to register for the 2008 Older Adult Retreat, “Just As I Am – Today!”  This year's retreat is set for April 7-9, 2008, at Epworth By The Sea.  The Older Adult Retreat promises to be a wonderful experience in fellowship, worship, and outreach and will explore the mystery of God's design to use us at every stage in life, including right now.  The retreat speaker will be the Reverend Don Kea, and the Bible study leader will be Dr. Evelyn Laycock. The retreat will begin on Monday, April 7, at 1:00 p.m. and will conclude Wednesday, April 9, at 1:00 p.m.  An additional night's stay may be added to your retreat package for those who cannot get enough of beautiful St. Simons Island.  A brochure is available here. For more information please contact Diane Giles or Adam Ricker at the Connectional Ministries Office at (888) 266-7642.

Two More Sexual Ethics Workshops Available Between Now and June
According to the Conference Sexual Ethics policy, “every church professional or lay person in any status or relationship with the Annual Conference whose appointment is set or approved by the Bishop shall be required to attend a five hour seminar on sexual ethics every three years” [2007 Journal, page 45]. For most persons required to take this training, the three years ends June of 2008. There are two more workshops between now and June to help meet this three year requirement. Both workshops will begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude at 3:00 p.m. Lunch will be provided. Participants MUST register for any of these workshops by e-mailing Rev. Deborah Wight-Knight, Conference Pastoral Counselor, at fumcdwk@bellsouth.net. Please note that spouses and lay employees who are not appointed by the bishop are not eligible to attend the workshop. The following are the workshop dates:

April 19 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Americus First UMC in Americus, Ga

May 8, 2008 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. White Bluff UMC Savannah, Ga

April 1 is deadline for Nominations Pool
This district and conference nominations committees are always in search of gifted and willing servants to share leadership responsibilities in our ministries beyond the local church. There is now a form available online that clergy and laity may fill out to offer themselves for consideration by one of these committees.  Please feel free to share this with others in your local church.  The deadline to fill out the nominations pool form is April 1. 

In other news:
-- Evangelism Award Nomination Forms Now Being Accepted
-- Deadline to apply for the Georgia Florida United Methodist Federal Credit Union Scholarships is April 30
-- Butch Rhodenizer to speak at United Methodist Men Retreat April 25-27


GENERAL CONFERENCE 2008: NEWS & INFORMATION
Notices, information, and news regarding the upcoming General Conference of the United Methodist Church are featured in this section. Keep up with all the latest information at www.sgaumc.com/sganew/gc2008/index.cfm.

Sign Up for the General Conference 2008 Daily E-mail
SGAUMC.org is your home for General Conference news, resources, and information relevant to South Georgia United Methodists. Plus, the South Georgia Communications Office will offer a daily e-mail during the 10-day conference. Sign up today by clicking here.

Bulletin Insert Available
Subscribe today to receive the daily e-mails, then promote the General Conference Daily E-mail in your church by downloading and distributing the provided bulletin insert.

April Prayer Calendar for General Conference
You and your church are invited to pray daily for General Conference 2008. This daily Prayer Calendar for the month of April will help guide you in prayer. The Prayer Calendar, available in a PDF format, may be reprinted or posted online for individual use or church-wide distribution. Click here to download.

General Conference Delegation Prayer Partners
WANTED: Churches to pray for delegation
 In addition to praying, the church will be asked to write at least ten letters to their assigned delegate for distribution each day during General Conference.  Dr. Charlene Black will assign the delegates beginning with the first elected delegate and will alternate lay and clergy until all delegates have a prayer partner.  The delegation followed this pattern in 2004, and the daily encouragement and uplifting prayers were a meaningful part of each delegate's experience.  You are encouraged to join with the delegation in this important event in the life of God's church.  If your church would like to be a prayer partner, please contact Dr. Charlene Black at charlenerblack@hotmail.com. She will provide you with further details about the partnership.


ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2008: NEWS & INFORMATION

Annual Conference 2008 - "Glorifying God - Bearing Fruit"

Annual Conference Logo Available
If you would like the 2008 Annual Conference logo e-mailed to you for use in your local church, please contact Kelly Roberson at kelly@sgaumc.com or 888-266-7642.

Third Annual Day of Service
On Tuesday, June 10, the people of The United Methodist Church will open the doors of the annual conference to serve the Columbus community. Opportunities range from knitting prayer shawls to preparing casseroles for the Ronald McDonald House, from participating in blood drive to painting walls at a women's shelter, from sorting items at a clothing bank to writing letters to soldiers in hospitals, from baking cookies for local EMT workers to light yard work at a home for troubled teens. South Georgia laity and clergy will scatter across the Columbus community to be witnesses of our faith in Jesus Christ by serving through word and deed. It is our prayer and intention that we make a positive impact on the community as we live out God's vision that every soul and circumstance be redeemed. The Columbus Local Arrangements Committee is coordinating this morning of service. Click here to check out all of the mission opportunities and to register.

Calling All Artists!
In conjunction with the Day of Service, the Columbus Local Arrangements Committee is seeking donated pieces of original art for a silent auction. All money raised will be donated to Higher Education and Campus Ministries. For more details, contact Beth Brown at 707-580-6379 or seth.brown36@gmail.com.

More Annual Conference Information:
--List of Hotels
--Display Information
--Banquet/Luncheon Information
--Childcare Registration
--Golf Tournament
--2008 Annual Conference Special Offering: Georgia UM Commission on Higher Education and Campus Ministry


CONNECTION NEWS

United Methodist membership down, constituency up
(UMNS) While professing U.S. membership continues to decline in The United Methodist Church, the number of constituents is steadily increasing, according to new denominational statistics. Membership decreased by eight-tenths of a percent over a one-year period to more than 7.9 million, according to the latest statistics released by the denomination March 11. Specifically, U.S. membership was 7,931,733 in 2006, the most recent year for which statistics are available, according to the United Methodist General Council on Finance and Administration, which compiles data for the denomination. More>>

Conferences will bid farewell to 16 bishops
(UMNS) Some United Methodist annual (regional) conferences meeting this spring and summer will say goodbye to retiring bishops and become better acquainted with the candidates they have endorsed to succeed them. The 2008 meetings will be the last for 11 retiring U.S. bishops. In July, their successors will be chosen by jurisdictional conferences, and the new bishops will begin serving effective Sept. 1. In addition, five bishops from the central conferences––regions in Africa, Asia and Europe––will retire this year or next. More>>

UMVIM to host annual CONNECT event June 18-20
(UMVIM) CONNECT is an annual event hosted by the United Methodist Volunteers In Mission, Southeast Jurisdiction (UMVIM, SEJ). This year's event is set for June 18-20, 2008 at Lake Junaluska.  A tradition for over 28 years, CONNECT allows participants to share experiences, gain insight and resources, as well as network with missionaries and project leaders.  Whether it is through the variety of workshops offered, the diversity of the keynote speakers, or the Christ centered worship services, CONNECT seeks to provide practical tools to equip persons seeking to serve God through short term missions. Click here for more information or to register.

Student Forum to meet in Washington
(UMNS) United Methodist college students will visit different ministry sites in Washington and learn about issues relating to social justice and The United Methodist Church during Student Forum 2008 at American University, May 22-25. Student Forum is the national leadership training conference of the United Methodist Student Movement, sponsored by the campus ministry section of the Board of Higher Education and Ministry. The denomination's only annual event for college students, Student Forum provides a means for students to engage in legislative discussions including leadership training, spiritual formation and networking. The theme of the conference, which is planned and organized by college students, is "Be the Change: The Fruit of Love." To register or learn more about the event, visit www.umsm.org/studentforum.

Global Ministries to hold summit for mission initiatives
(UMNS) United Methodist mission initiatives in several countries and regions countries will jointly come together April 17-18 at St. Andrews United Methodist Church in Plano for "The Mission Summit." This gathering, sponsored by the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, will be the first time since United Methodism established a new missional thrust in these nations that representatives will meet to learn how God is moving mightily in places where the Wesleyan witness is sharing the Gospel. Countries or areas to be represented are Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Nepal, Thailand, Central Asia, Balkans, Eastern Europe, Mongolia, Senegal, Cameroon and Honduras. The Rev. Mike Slaughter of Ginghamsburg Church in Tipp City, Ohio, will discuss how to be a missional church in today's challenging world. A bonus meeting, "Missional Church in A Flat World: A Global Conversation for Next Generation Leaders in the Emerging Church," will occur April 18-19. For more information, including registration and lodging, visit http://new.gbgm-umc.org/news/events/?C=2923&i=16762.

African-American Clergy Leadership Development Event
(SEJ) Good news: A limited number of $75 scholarships toward the registration fee are now available. To request a scholarship, the registration form must be faxed in with the words "Scholarship Requested" written upon it, and the remainder of the fee paid for by the registrant.  Fax to 828.452.1956. This event, designed for African-American clergy, will provide tools for building greater self-awareness of soul, spirit and mind. The unique opportunities and challenges of being an African-American in ministry will be explored. The event is sponsored by the Southeaster Jurisdiction Office of African-American Ministries and will be held April 7-9 at Lake Junaluska, NC. For brochure, schedule, and registration information, click here or call 828.454.6681 or e-mail  tmcdowell@lakejunaluska.com.

Volunteers needed for Mountain T.O.P. adults program
(UMNS) Last fall, Mountain T.O.P. (Tennessee Outreach Project) got some good news. The interdenominational ministry, which is affiliated with the United Methodist Tennessee Annual (regional) Conference, was awarded a $60,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That grant, along with USDA loans, gives the ministry the funding to help Cumberland Mountain families badly in need of home construction or renovation projects. There's just one problem. "Now, we need people," said the Rev. Ed Simmons, executive director. He cited a special need for volunteers for its Adults In Ministry program this summer. For more information, visit www.mountain-top.org, e-mail info@mountain-top.org or call (931) 692-3999.

Connection News in Korean
Click here.

Connection News in Spanish
Click here.


RESOURCES

Curriculum invites children to build ‘rock solid' faith
(UMNS) Hank the Hammer and friends will help children build a "rock solid heart of faith" with a new Sunday school curriculum being offered this fall by the United Methodist Publishing House. "Rock Solid: Building a Heart of Faith" will invite children ages 3-13 to lay a solid biblical foundation and construct a personal relationship with God. The cornerstone of "Rock Solid" is Matthew 7:24, the story of the wise man who built his house on rock. It includes multisensory activities, crafts, stories and games, supplemented by an interactive Web site at IAmRockSolid.com. More>>

New GBOD Hynmal Survey Now Available
(GBOD) The General Board of Discipleship wants to know what you think about our current hymnal (The United Methodist Hymnal, 1989) and some common practices related to congregational worship and singing. We invite you to participate in a survey open to all United Methodists – pastors, musicians, laity, children, youth, adults. Your responses will be used in planning future resources in the areas of congregational worship and music. The survey consists of approximately 35 simple statements related to the hymnal, worship, and congregational singing. You will be asked to register your agreement or disagreement with each statement by clicking on a button. The entire survey should take no more than 15 minutes to complete. To take the survey now, go to www.gbod.org/hymnal.