888-873-3127

Call Infoserv, the United Methodist question and answer line. The toll-free number is 800-251-8140, or visit the United Methodist Church's website www.umc.org

InfoServe can be found by clicking on the link "Got Questions?"

The conference fiscal office takes journal orders. reach them at 888.873.3127 or 334.274.1051.

Guidelines for submitting information for www.awfumc.org:

• All new material for the web site should be submitted in an electronic format. We can accept information in the following document formats: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Publisher, or e-mail text. We cannot accept files in WordPerfect; but the content of WordPerfect files may be copied and pasted into the body of an e-mail message for submission.
• Photos may still be submitted as prints but are preferred as .jpg or .gif files. Prints or disks should be mailed to Meredyth Earnest, 100 Interstate Park Drive, Suite 120, Montgomery, AL 36109.
• Files may be submitted via e-mail to meredyth@awfumc.org or on a disk mailed to  Meredyth Earnest, 100 Interstate Park Drive, Suite 120, Montgomery, AL 36109.
• All new material for the web site must be submitted through the Director of Communications. 
  

For links to other United Methodist web sites, visit our "Links" page. Links are listed by categories in a drop-down menu.

Submit story ideas to editor Meredyth Earnest at meredyth@awfumc.org.

The following persons are eligible to receive financial assistance:

• A seminary student who is certified as a candidate for ministry by one of the eight district committees on ordained ministry within the Alabama - West Florida Conference and who is working toward full membership as a deacon or elder in the conference.  
• Students must be enrolled in a seminary accredited by the University Senate of The United Methodist Church. Click HERE for a list of approved seminaries. 
• Clergy from non-United Methodist denominations who seek membership in the Alabama - West Florida Conference may receive financial aid to complete required United Methodist studies.

Contact Spencer Turnipseed

Applications are due August 1 for the upcoming academic year, that begins with the fall term. If approved, this application will hold for an entire 12-month period.

Completed applications should be sent to:

Rev. Spencer Turnipseed

Yes. If your district committee is meeting close to the deadline and you anticipate certification prior to the next semester/quarter, obtain an application form and submit it prior to the application deadline. Note on your form that you are expecting to meet with your district committee and when. The district superintendent can then submit in writing to Spencer Turnipseed confirmation that you have been certified and you will be eligible for that semester/quarter.

We award on the basis of number of hours taken at a seminary approved by the United Methodist University Senate. The amounts vary from a maximum of $2,500 per semester for 9 hours or more, downward as prorated. The maximum allowed for one student per seminary academic career is $15,000.

FROM: GBOD, The General Board of Discipleship, Nashville 

The answer to both questions is"yes."An Associated Press release in this morning's (8/1/07) Nashville newspaper, The Tennessean, (p.2E) reports that local authorities recently arrested a man who copied hundreds of CDs and DVDs and was selling them from the trunk of his car. He was sentenced in Federal Court this week to 10 months in prison for copyright violation. At the time of his arrest, authorities found more than 500 copied recordings and films in his car, along with recording equipment powered by his car battery, blank CDs and DVDs, some of which were still being shown in theaters, plus $11,000 worth of illegally recorded CDs and DVDs and $10,000 in cash. The copies will be destroyed and the cash paid to the victim industries as restitution.

 The U.S. Attorney said, “Violations of intellectual property crimes and copyright laws such as this occupy a high priority with both the Department of Justice and this U.S. Attorney's office in particular."

 What does this mean for local churches? It means that if you are doing any of the following without the proper permissions or licenses, you;re in danger:

-          Showing videos at your church youth group, child care, camps, retreats, or Sunday Schools, even if those videos are legally rented or purchased.

-          Showing film clips in worship as sermon illustrations.

-          Video recording your worship services, choir concerts, children's musicals, or anything else that contains copyrighted music.

-          Making audio recordings of services, concerts, musicals, or anything else that contains copyrighted music.

-          Making copies of original recordings of choir or solo music, accompaniment tracks, or by original artists, and giving or selling them to your choir members so that they can practice the music or learn their parts outside of rehearsal.

-          Selling or giving away audio or visual recordings containing copyrighted music, including to performers, parents, members, or shut-ins.

-          Making or allowing the making of audio or video recordings of weddings or funerals in your church that contain copyrighted music.

-          Radio broadcasting or TV telecasting, live or pre-recorded, of worship services containing copyrighted music.

Need help? Look at the information on the GBOD music Web site at http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=45065&loc_id=17,19

The United Methodist TechShop offers discounted prices on software and hardware for churches.  Information can be found at http://secure.umcom.org/techshop/.

http://clipart.christiansunite.com/

http://www.christart.com/cliart/

http://gbgm-umc.org/gifts/      (this page lists the names of the images only, you have to click the file name to view the picture)

http://www.hellasmultimedia.com/webimages/default.htm