News

Deadline Is Near for 'Disney Keys to Excellence' Event in Modesto

The deadline to register for The Disney Keys to Excellence workshop for lay and clergy is Thursday, July 15. Don't miss out on the chance to take advantage of proven Disney strategies and techniques that can help you become a stronger leader. Sign up now for the one-day Disney Institute workshop, taking place Thursday, August 12, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., at Centenary United Methodist Church in Modesto.   Through experiencing successful Disney processes and the organizational structure that...

Bishop Brown Calls 'Gathering of the Orders' for November

Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. invites all the Orders to gather with him at Mt. Hermon Retreat Center, November 15-17, for "Bridging the Covenantal Divide" – "a time of retreat, learning, and strengthening relationships." It is by tradition and the encouragement of the Discipline that this annual gathering takes place.   This year, those attending will spend some time exploring their similarities and differences, and how those things impact the ways in which...

Four Bishop's Awards Are Presented – One by Phone!

Four Bishop's Awards were presented during the 162nd California-Nevada Annual Conference Session – and when a family emergency prevented one recipient from being present, Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. waived the element of surprise in favor of participation and pre-arranged a conference call to "deliver the news." It was the second Bishop's Award, to Billie Hall of Smith River United Methodist Church, which was presented in absentia on Friday morning. Bishop Brown spoke with Ms....

California-Nevada Annual Conference Session Report

By Cate Monaghan Interim Communications Director The emphasis was on fruitfulness when members of the California-Nevada Annual Conference gathered for their 162nd annual conference session, June 16-19, 2010. "We must be accountable for the fruit that we give," said Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. in his State of the Conference Address. "Mr. Wesley had a thing about fruit. Jesus had a thing about fruit. I guess it's in my DNA to have a thing about fruit."   After citing...

Bishop's 'State of the Conference' Address Draws Standing Ovation

"We have a responsibility to respond to the challenges that are before us - and if we move as a people of faith, we have the assurance that God is with us," Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. said, to begin his State of the Conference address this (Wed. June 16) morning, at the opening plenary for Annual Conference Session for the California-Nevada Annual Conference. If we choose not to respond, he said, we may miss the opportunity to shape our preferred future: "That's the...

Immigration Task Force Rally on Capitol Steps, on Thursday of ACS Week

Join the Immigration Task Force of the California-Nevada Annual Conference for a prayer vigil and rally in support of immigration reform – an ACS lunchtime event being held at the State Capitol, noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 17. Meet on the south steps of the Capitol at noon to take part.   Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. will participate, as will Rev. Delle McCormick of BorderLinks in Tucson, Arizona.   McCormick will be guest speaker at a Thursday evening dinner,...

Text Your Donation to Help 'Slam Dunk Malaria'

In the time it takes to make a free-throw, a child will have died of malaria. It happens every 30 seconds.   That's why this year, as the Bishop's Reception event at Annual Conference Session, we're going to "Slam Dunk Malaria"!   Friday evening has been set aside as a fundraiser for Imagine No Malaria – "a ministry of the people of The United Methodist Church to eliminate death and suffering from malaria in Africa by the year 2015." Since...

Korean, Tongan Language Translations of 'Rethink Conference' Outline Posted to Website

A Korean language translation and a Tongan language translation of the basic outline of Bishop Brown's "Rethink Conference" message have been posted to the website, in two locations. Access them by: Clicking on "Rethink Conference," located under "Quick Links" on the right side of the Home Page; or Clicking on "Resources" on the main navigation bar on the Home Page, then clicking on "Annual Conference Session...

Help 'Slam Dunk Malaria' at ACS This Year!

This year, instead of the traditional Bishop's Reception at Annual Conference Session, we're going to "Slam Dunk Malaria"! Friday evening has been set aside as a fundraiser for Imagine No Malaria – and since NothingButNets is a big part of the Imagine No Malaria initiative, we're giving the event a basketball theme.   Of course Bishop Brown will be there – and there will be several ways for to you to participate and contribute (including text contributions!), that...

Bishop Brown Participates in 'Change the World' During 'Rethink Conference' Stop in Visalia

By Mariah Allred Fresno District Office In honor of the global "Change the World" event (April 24-25), Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. joined with local ministries in the Visalia, California area to distribute food to migrant field workers during his "Re-Think Conference" visit to the Fresno District on Saturday, April 24.   At the direction of the Revs. Marcelo and Corazon Escarzaga and Vanesaa Prado, those attending the Re-Think Conference event brought...

Bishops Cast out Fear With HIV Tests

By David Briggs* May 3, 2010 | COLUMBUS, Ohio (UMNS) Bishop Nkulu Ntanda Ntambo of the Democratic Republic of Congo sat down in front of a health care worker and extended his left arm forward.   Less than two minutes later, his blood had been drawn and he was finished being tested for HIV/AIDS.   Just that simple.   That is the witness Ntambo and scores of other United Methodist leaders shared with the world May 3 as they went through HIV/AIDS testing on the first full...

Church Rejects Move Toward Regional Bodies

By David Briggs* May 4, 2010 | COLUMBUS, Ohio (UMNS) The United Methodist Church rejected several amendments that could have paved the way for making the church in the United States one of several regional bodies throughout the world.   More than 49,000 representatives of the worldwide church rejected 23 amendments to the denomination's constitution that would have allowed for the organization of groups of annual conferences in a single nation or area into a larger regional...

Watch 'Rethink Conference' Video, Attend Last Event on Saturday

The sixth "Rethink Conference" event is scheduled for this Saturday, May 1, from 10 a.m. to noon at Sparks United Methodist Church in Sparks, Nevada. If you have not attended one of the five previous such events, we encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity. Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. looks forward to the chance to meet with you, share his vision for the California-Nevada Annual Conference, and respond to your questions. We invite you to send a question or observation to...

United Methodist Council of Bishops to Meet in Columbus May 2-7

Columbus, Ohio: More than 111 United Methodist bishops from Africa, Europe, Asia and the U.S. will converge in Columbus, Ohio for the semi-annual United Methodist Council of Bishops meeting to explore ways to sharpen the church's focus on ministry with the poor and eliminating the global diseases of poverty. "The people of The United Methodist Church are reaching out to end poverty and its causes, as well as working to combat the preventable diseases of poverty," said Bishop...

Join Bishop Brown for 'Rethink Conference' Event in Visalia This Saturday

You're invited to join Bishop Warner H.  Brown, Jr. this Saturday, April 24, for the fifth of six  "Rethink Conference" events at Visalia United Methodist Church 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The bishop will cast a vision for the California-Nevada Conference and outline some key pieces of legislation which will be before Annual Conference Session in June. They are:   ·         A recommendation to suspend the conference rules...

Warm Reception in Stockton for Bishop; Livermore, Palo Alto Are Next on Rethink Conference Tour

Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. was warmly received, last Saturday, by Central United Methodist Church in Stockton – the most recent stop on his "Rethink Conference" tour. Following welcomes and introductions by Superintendent Mariellen Yoshino and Stockton Central pastor Dave Bennett, the bishop began by calling attention to the "Change the World" event coming up on April 24-25. "There are a number of these kinds of exciting things going on; we are not alone in...

Additional Confirmation Event Planned for June 5

More than 200 youth were commissioned by the Bishop at the April 9-10 Bishop's Confirmation Retreat. However, there were others who wanted to participate but couldn't, due to full registration.     Because of that, Bishop Brown will hold a one-day worship, Communion, and commissioning service for confirmation candidates on Saturday, June 5, with a celebration meal immediately following. Cost will be just $20 per attendee.    This special event will be hosted by...

Join Bishop Brown for 'Rethink Conference' Event in Stockton This Saturday

You're invited to join Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. this Saturday, April 10, for the second of six "Rethink Conference" events. From 3 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, at Stockton's Central United Methodist Church, the bishop will cast a vision for the California-Nevada Conference and outline some key pieces of legislation which will be before Annual Conference Session in June.   The bishop's message is one of purposeful aspiration as he extends a call to United Methodists to...

Council of Bishops Expands 'hopeandaction' Website

Fully featured site offers diverse resources, including Bible studies and social networking links, for 'God's Renewed Creation: A Call to Hope & Action.' The United Methodist Council of Bishops announces the launch of a fully featured website dedicated to "God's Renewed Creation: Call to Hope & Action," its most recent pastoral letter. The website, www.hopeandaction.org, offers resources and social networking capabilities to enable United Methodists to engage with the...

'Full House' in Redding for First 'Rethink Conference' Event

It was nearly SRO at Redding United Methodist Church on Sunday, March 14 for the first "Rethink Conference" event with Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. The bishop outlined his vision for the conference, along with some legislative changes to be put before Annual Conference Session in June, and answered questions for more than half an hour.   The bishop next will travel to Stockton (Central UMC) on Saturday, April 10, 3-5 p.m.   Then on Saturday, April 17 he will be at...