August BRD Monthly
posted on July 21
AUGUST 2022
Current COVID-19 Guidelines for In-Person Worship & Ministry
(updated 7.25.2022)
View the current guidelines here.
For more resources related to COVID-19 visit
https://www.wnccumc.org/covid
Blue Ridge District Office Has Moved!
The Blue Ridge District Office is in transition to our new office at Abernathy UMC! Please note our phones are temporarily out of order. Please contact us individually by email:
Mark Ralls, mralls@wnccumc.org
Ruth Kapely, rkapely@wnccumc.org
Shonnie Streder, sstreder@wnccumc.org
Anita Adams, aadams@wnccumc.org
If you need to mail something to us, please mail it to:
P.O.Box 6302
Asheville, N.C. 28816
We will share updates on our exact physical address and new phone numbers once we have fully transitioned.
Church Historical Data Collection
The Conference Office is collecting information for the 2022 Journal, and as in years past, is requesting churches to report church and parsonage renovations, remodeling, new buildings, dedications, etc. that took place over the past year (July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022). For your reference, a copy of the 2021 Journal Historical Data pages gives examples of information reported most recently.
- Examples of information to report would be: Question #6: Churches Remodeled:
- Replaced roof
- Remodeled restrooms to be handicapped-accessible
- Remodeled chancel; painted and carpeted sanctuary
- Installed sump pump
- Other questions include:
- Dedications / consecrations
- Parsonage changes, such as purchase or building, remodeling, or selling a parsonage.
- "all other changes" are often activities such as paving the parking lot, installing a new AV/media system, or purchasing assets like a plot of land or 15-passenger van
- If in doubt about whether to include something, please do!
- If you don't have anything to report, no need to submit a form!
We know the last few years have been strange and difficult in many ways, so we look forward to hearing about these positive events in the life of your church!
To make this quick and easy, we have created an online form to share these changes. Please submit the online form by Thursday, August 25, 2022. If you had no changes at your church or parsonage, please do not submit the form. If you have questions, please contact the district office.
Please complete the form here.
FLOURISH 2.0
FLOURISH is an assessment and renewal process for clergy in the Western North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church.
The program will meet the requirement of Book of Discipline ¶349.3, "Every clergyperson will engage in a six-month process of personal and professional assessment and development every eight years…"
Join 30 colleagues for an opportunity offered by the WNC Board of Ordained Ministry to do a deep dive of reflection on your recent 8 years of ministry and life; using resources and develop ideas for renewal and reflection on your gifts, challenges, ministry settings, and life stage; with the result of growth and vision for your next 8 years of ministry. Cost is $100 with funds for renewal available from the WNC Leadership Development Team.
Register here for FLOURISH 2.0
Methodism Classes -- Fall 2022
The Catawba Valley District is offering classes on Methodism for any WNCC clergy and laity who serve in church leadership positions. Three 2-day classes will be offered this spring: UM History, UM Doctrine, and UM Polity. Each class consists of 2 days of instruction, held on a Friday - Saturday. There are also books that are required, which you will need to purchase before class and bring with you. The books are available at www.amazon.com and/or www.cokesbury.com.Classes will be held at Rehobeth United Methodist Church (2036 Rehobeth Church Rd, Shelby, NC).
** Certificates will be issued, which can then be used for CEU credit or for Catawba Valley District Advanced Lay Servant course credit.
United Methodist History
September 16 & 17, 2022
- Friday, September 16: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Saturday, September 17: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR THIS COURSE: September 8, 4 p.m.
United Methodist Doctrine
October 14 & 15, 2022
- Friday, October 14: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Saturday, October 15: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR THIS COURSE: October 6, 4 p.m.
United Methodist Polity
November 18 & 19, 2022
- Friday, November 18: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Saturday, November 19: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR THIS COURSE: November 10, 4 p.m.
Registration fee includes refreshments, snack breakfast and lunch.
The cost for each 2-day class will be $50, which covers the cost of refreshments and lunches.
Register Here for Methodism Classes
Racial Healing and Reconciliation Learning Cohort
WNCC Equity and Justice Ministries is excited to offer a new Fall Racial Healing and Reconciliation Learning Cohort. Under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Bill White, Jr., and in partnership with Mrs. Cindy Thompson of Boundless Impact and Rev. Dr. Vincent Howell of Partners in Ministry Leadership, the learning cohort brings together churches that are implementing intentional racial healing and reconciliation ministries. The Learning Cohort is a 7-month educational experience beginning in September 2022 through March 2023, and participating churches are represented by a team of up to 10 clergy, laity and community leaders.
While any local church in the WNCC is invited to express an interest in joining the Racial Healing and Reconciliation Learning Cohort, the experience is targeted for those churches who have participated in prior learning opportunities around racial reconciliation, equity and justice.
Interested churches are invited to complete an application providing basic information and describe their local church’s efforts in racial equity and justice. Applications will be received on a rolling basis through August 31, 2022, or until the cohort is full. Selected churches will be notified by August 31, and asked to contribute towards the cost of the program as follows:
• $250 for churches with 50 or more people on average attending weekly worship services
• $100 for churches with less than 50 people on average attending weekly worship services
To learn more or ask questions, please contact Cindy Thompson, Executive Director of Boundless Impact, at cthompson@boundlessimpact.org.
Registration for Fall 2022 Antiracism Ethics Training is open!
The Conference will be offering nine RISE! Workshops Fall 2022. One of these workshops will be offered virtually and eight workshops will be in-person.
The 2-day in-person RISE! Workshops will take place from 10am-6pm both days.
The Virtual RISE! Workshop will include self-paced lessons, online small group discussions, and scheduled Zoom meetings spanning approximately 12 days.
Antiracism Ethics Training is the Clergy Ethics Training for the quadrennium through June 2024, and thus it is mandatory for all clergy in the Western North Carolina Conference. The training will be facilitated by RISE! (Race: an In-depth Spiritual Examination) trainers. Each clergy person is to have a lay leader participate in the training. This inclusion of laity will foster more effective change in congregational culture.
Register and learn more: https://www.wnccumc.org/
Journey to Joy Women's Retreat
August 26-28, 2022 | November 11-13, 2022
Enjoy a weekend of laughter, sharing, worship and fellowship at a Journey to Joy Women’s Retreat at Lake Junaluska. After two challenging years, when we have been unable to meet and have felt isolated, these retreats led by Leigh Young offer an opportunity to come together for spiritual renewal.
Come on your own and make new friends, or come with members of your small group, women’s group, or friends and family – and friends and family in the faith – to grow closer together.
Online Registration: August Retreat November Retreat
Harvest Potatoes in Mills River!
Society of St. Andrew is extending an open invitation to assist in harvesting potatoes in Mills River the mornings of August 11 and 12. Picking begins at 8:00am. All potatoes will be delivered to WNC non-profit pantries, food banks, and outreaches. All volunteers are asked to come with clean hands and use hand sanitizer if needed. Bring a mask if you want, for times when working closer together. If you plan to attend, please bring BOXES or breathable sacks for the potatoes.
We will have a supply of boxes too. Cardboard boxes that hold 4;1 gallon milk jugs are perfect, and are FREE at grocery stores if you ask. For more information and sign-up please email Julie Sutton at gleanwnc@endhunger.org
The Man of the Shroud
Several congregations in the Elkin, NC area have gathered together to bring the traveling exhibit, known as “The Man of the Shroud”, to Elkin, NC August 14-21, 2022. This is a first of its kind exhibit in the South. It is free of charge and will provide both skeptics and believers alike with information and perspective. If it is the burial cloth of Jesus Christ, it is a 2,000-year-old piece of evidence for the most significant event in history. On the other hand, if it is a forgery from the mid- 1200s, the Shroud provides amazing medical insight into the suffering experienced by those crucified.
Though mentioned only a few times in historical writings, the Shroud came to prominence in the modern era when photographed in 1898. At that time, the photographic negative revealed the incredible details of wounds experienced by a man crucified, wounds not visible to the naked eye.
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