News

March 26, 2024

A Statement Regarding the Closure of Birmingham-Southern College

"On Tuesday, March 26, 2024, an announcement was made by the Board of Trustees of Birmingham-Southern College (BSC) that the college will close at the end of the 2023-2024 academic year. Regretfully, possible sources of necessary ...

March 21, 2024

AWF Pastor Creates Abbreviated Disciple Bible Study

(Rev. Kelli Hitchman-Craig for AWF) - Disciple Bible Study first launched in 1987, and since then has educated over 3 million participants. Most often referred to as just “Disciple,” the resource was first developed by Bishop ...

March 20, 2024

Shared Episcopal Task Group Meets to Begin Transition Work

On Thursday, March 14, 2024, representatives from Alabama-West Florida, North Alabama and the South Georgia Conferences met in Columbus, GA, to begin the necessary work of the shared Episcopal area. The group held an introductory ...

March 18, 2024

Bishop Announces New Staff Appointment

Bishop David Graves, resident bishop of the Alabama-West Florida Conference, is pleased to announce that Dr. Jeff Wilson, current Southeast district superintendent and dean of the cabinet, will serve as the assistant to the bishop...

March 11, 2024

Alabama-West Florida Conference Delegation Gathers to Prepare for General Conference

The Alabama-West Florida Conference delegation gathered on Sunday, March 3-Tuesday, March 5 at FUMC Pensacola. Thanks to the outstanding hospitality of the host church, the delegation was able to experience fruitful meeting time ...

March 05, 2024

Magnolia UMC - A New Church for Orange Beach and Gulf Shores

(New Ministry Strategies) - When it became clear that the United Methodist Churches in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, AL, would disaffiliate, Rev. Dr. Debora Bishop formed a group that would ensure a United Methodist presence ...

March 04, 2024

A Response to Clergy Membership Withdrawal

In response to communication circulating about retired United Methodist pastors withdrawing their clergy membership, the Alabama-West Florida offers the following statement.   Conference leadership respectfully requested that ...

February 27, 2024

A Word from Bishop Graves: Appointment Timeline

Colleagues and Friends,  Currently the cabinet, pastors, staff-parish committees, and churches are working on the upcoming appointment year: July 2024 to June 2025. I have found that cabinet transparency is vital in building ...

February 21, 2024

Alabama-West Florida 2024 Annual Conference Information

The Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church will hold its 2024 Annual Conference session Sunday, June 16-Tuesday, June 18 at First United Methodist Church, Montgomery. The conference will not meet on ...

February 13, 2024

Bishop Graves and Bishop Wallace-Padgett form task group for Episcopal area transition

Dear Friends of the Alabama-West Florida Conference, Alongside Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett, we have established a task group aimed at shaping the future of our annual conferences in Alabama West-Florida, North Alabama and South ...

February 12, 2024

Bishop Announces District Cabinet Appointments and Part-time Staff Additions

Bishop David Graves, resident bishop of the Alabama-West Florida Conference, has announced two cabinet changes and two part-time staff additions.   Rev. Sheila Bates, a member of the Alabama-West Florida Conference who is ...

January 30, 2024

Take Time to Listen

(Rev. Dan Baughman for AWFUMC New Ministry Strategies) -  “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?”—Isaiah ...

January 25, 2024

Upcoming Annual Conference Deadlines Announced for 2024

Information to be publicized in preparation for the 2024 Annual Conference Session   Please be aware of upcoming deadlines specified in our Standing Rules: Any proposed changes to the Standing Rules should be received in writing ...

January 25, 2024

Point Washington UMC Sees Medical Clinic Dream Become Thriving Reality

(Rev. Kelli Hitchman-Craig for AWFUMC) - For many Floridians, access to healthcare is an increasingly inaccessible service. Issues like the increasing cost of care, access to affordable health insurance, and legal risks facing ...

January 22, 2024

New Year Brings Intentional Work on Alabama-West Florida Conference Priorities

January 22, 2024   On August 10, 2023, the Alabama-West Florida Conference announced updated priorities to guide our ministry work for the coming year. These four priorities were launched out of dedicated work, conversations, and ...

January 22, 2024

Sometimes Disaster Response Ministry looks like helping someone find their lost pig…

(Rev. Chris Ackerman) - The last couple of weeks have been busy for Disaster Response Ministry in the AWFUMC. On January 9th multiple tornados ran through our conference leaving trails of damage in their wake. While several areas ...

January 17, 2024

Wesley United Methodist Church in Troy Launches Worship Service While Continuing to Serve Others

(Amanda Leeser for AWF New Ministry Strategies) - Wesley UMC is a new church plant in Troy, Alabama, that started out as a small group that began meeting last summer. Rev. Jenni Hendrix recalls, “We did several book studies ...

January 10, 2024

A Response from Bishop Graves Regarding Southeastern Jurisdictional Episcopal Areas

Friends in the Alabama-West Florida Conference, On Monday, January 8, 2024, the Southeastern Jurisdiction (SEJ) Committee on Episcopacy announced a recommendation on new episcopal areas to take effect September 1, 2024. That ...

January 09, 2024

Former Dexter Avenue UMC Home to Valiant Cross Academy and winner of Yass Award

(Bishop Lawson Bryan) - The Valiant Cross Academy has been chosen to receive the $1,000,000 Yass Award for excellence in education innovation. This is  good news to be celebrated throughout the Montgomery area. But it is of ...

January 08, 2024

Southeastern Jurisdictional Episcopacy Committee Releases Letter Regarding Episcopal Areas

Dear SEJ Delegates: Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ as we begin the new year of 2024 with great confidence that God is with us. The Southeastern Jurisdiction (SEJ) Committee on Episcopacy (COE) and SEJ College of...

December 14, 2023

AWF Church Starts Explore New Advent Traditions

(Amanda Leeser for New Ministry Strategies) - Advent is in full swing, and Christmas is just around the corner. Although most churches have Advent and Christmas traditions established, the new church plants are forming traditions ...

December 13, 2023

A Word from CFA Regarding 2024 Apportionmets

December 13, 2023 Friends in Ministry, We recognize that although we are officially in Advent, a time of hope and anticipation, the journey here has been a long season of difficulty for so many of you. To help alleviate the ...

December 07, 2023

Alabama-West Florida Conference Delegation Provides Update Leading into 2024

The Alabama-West Florida Conference delegation continues to meet monthly in preparation for the 2024 General Conference and Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference.   The October and November Zoom meetings focused on the delegation...

November 30, 2023

Alabama-West Florida Conference Celebrates Retiring Chancellor and Welcomes New Leadership

The Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church is announcing the retirement of Mr. Bob Northcutt, chancellor of the conference. Mr. Northcutt has faithfully served in this role since 2019 and has provided ...

November 28, 2023

Alabama-West Florida Cabinet Announces New District Names and Lines

As a result of an annual conference vote at the June 2023 session, the Alabama-West Florida Cabinet is announcing four new district names and lines, effective January 1, 2024. The new names and lines are as follows:   West Central...

November 16, 2023

AWF and Tanzania Conferences Renew Partnership After Trip

(Rev. Kelli Hitchman-Craig) - The global connection of the United Methodist Church continues to thrive in the Alabama-West Florida Conference! This Summer, a group from across the annual conference travelled to Tanzania to further...

November 14, 2023

New Ideas Emerge from Rural Church Conference

(Rev. Mike von Keyserling) - The New Ministry Strategies team gathered clergy and laity of the Alabama-West Florida Conference to attend the Rural Church Rising Conference in Fruitland, FL, at the Warren Willis Camp and Conference...

November 13, 2023

An Update on the Local Church Disaffiliation Lawsuit

As previously announced, a lawsuit was filed against the Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church (AWF) on October 31, 2023, by a group of local churches within the conference requesting the court intervene ...

November 12, 2023

Alabama-West Florida Conference Ratifies Eight Churches for Disaffiliation at Special Session

The Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church ratified eight local church disaffiliations at its special-called session held on Sunday, November 12, 2023. This special session was called by Bishop David ...

November 07, 2023

3 Rivers UMC Reaching Community in Unique Ways

(Pastor Victoria Scofield) - 3 Rivers UMC is a new church designed to reach the generations not engaging in church. The design of 3 Rivers is to build community in a table fellowship environment. What will that look like? It will ...

November 01, 2023

A Response to the Local Church Disaffiliation Lawsuit

The Alabama-West Florida Conference (AWF) of the United Methodist Church is aware of several churches in our conference that have filed a lawsuit requesting the court intervene in the disaffiliation process. These churches have ...

October 31, 2023

AWF Order of Elders Presents Halftime Huddles

Dear Provisional and Appointed Elders of the Alabama-West Florida Conference, You all are amazing. As I look around the Annual Conference, I see your work and the resilience that you embody. The work you do is sometimes difficult....

October 26, 2023

2024 AWF Quadrennial Nominations Form

October 26, 2023 Dear Friends, Each quadrennium, the United Methodist Church seeks new leaders for open positions on conference boards and committees to serve for four years. The current quadrennium draws to a close in December ...

October 24, 2023

St. Paul UMC Set to Open Thrift Store

(Amanda Leeser) - St. Paul UMC in Gulf Breeze, Florida, is opening a thrift store. It is aptly named New Hope Thrift Store because it is located on New Hope Road and because it will be a source of new hope for the area. “The ...

October 23, 2023

AWF New Church Starts Partner with Established Congregations to Launch Ministry

(Rev. Kelli Hitchman-Craig) - From Toomer’s Corner to the Pensacola Bay, United Methodists of the Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference continue to champion connectionalism as new churches are planted. Over the past year, ten new...

October 18, 2023

A Response to the Auburn Methodist Coalition Lawsuit

The Alabama-West Florida Conference (AWF) of the United Methodist Church is aware of the lawsuit filed by a group named the “Auburn Methodist Coalition” requesting the court intervene in the disaffiliation process and issue an ...

October 18, 2023

New Beginnings at the ARK in Panama City Beach

(Rev. Corey Truett) - Starting a new church will have its challenges and be done in multiple phases. The Ark hasn’t had a United Methodist presence in several years, so the first phase has been getting to know the ministry, staff,...

October 12, 2023

An Update from the AWF Conference Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees of the Alabama-West Florida Conference has worked diligently since Annual Conference 2023 to process local churches seeking disaffiliation under Paragraph 2553 of the Book of Discipline. They have been ...

October 11, 2023

Registration for November 2023 Special Called Session

Dear Clergy and Lay Members of the Alabama-West Florida Conference, Registration is now open for the November 12, 2023, Special Called Session of Annual Conference to be held by Zoom Webinar. The purpose of the special session is...

October 03, 2023

Disaster Response Ministry Continues to Serve Tornado Survivors

(Rev. Chris Ackerman) - AWFUMC’s Disaster Response & Recovery Ministry has been actively walking alongside survivors of the January 2023 tornado outbreak that impacted several counties across central Alabama. Thanks to multiple ...

September 25, 2023

FUMC Cottondale relaunched as Restoration UMC

(Amanda Leeser) - Restoration UMC in Cottondale, Florida, officially launched on January 1, 2023, after a soft opening on Christmas Eve. “There were a lot of fellow United Methodists who had helped to restore the old First UMC of ...

September 18, 2023

Glimmers of hope and reconciliation emerge following AWF Annual Conference

(Rev. Kelli Hitchman-Craig) - Following a difficult year processing over 190 church disaffiliations, the Alabama-West Florida Conference Board of Trustees is proud to share their newly adopted re-affiliation policy. The policy was...

September 14, 2023

AWF Conference Trustees Release ¶2549 Policy for 2024

As requested by the Dean of the Cabinet at the 2023 Alabama-West Florida Conference, the AWF Conference Trustees have approved a ¶2549 agreement and policy for churches to use for exit from the denomination. This policy goes into ...

September 13, 2023

Alabama-West Florida Conference Announces New Treasurer

The Council on Finance and Administration (CFA) of the Alabama-West Florida Conference proudly announces Rev. Angie Long as the new treasurer and director of administrative services. Rev. Long is an ordained elder in the ...

September 12, 2023

AWF Delegation Gathers for Fall Retreat

The Alabama-West Florida Conference delegation met on Sunday, September 10 and Monday, September 11 on the campus of Huntingdon College for a time of work, worship, and fellowship. This delegation was elected in 2019 and 2023 due ...

August 31, 2023

Foundry UMC Welcomes Full Congregation in Renewed Building

(Rev. Kelli Hitchman-Craig) - Like many small towns across the United States, there’s something special about Opelika, Alabama. Though nestled right next door to Auburn University, Opelika’s story and legacy holds its own place in...

August 28, 2023

Tropical Storm Idalia Perparedness

Friends, As many of you have seen in the news, tropical storm Idalia is expected to be upgraded to a hurricane soon. At this time we do not expect this storm to make a significant impact on the Alabama-West Florida Conference. ...

August 24, 2023

Open Door UMC Open to All

(Amanda Leeser) - With Open Door UMC’s success in reaching out to the community, this church plant is living up to its name as being a place where everyone is welcome. Pastor Mark Lilly remarks, “It has been exciting and ...

August 23, 2023

Bishop Appoints Wilson to lead Healthy Clergy and Congregations Initiative

Bishop David Graves, resident bishop of the Alabama-West Florida Conference, has announced that Rev. Robin Wilson will be appointed to lead the Healthy Clergy and Congregations Initiative.   The conference recently announced four ...

August 15, 2023

2023 Charge Conference Information

Dear Pastors, I hope that you have found some time for rest and renewal this summer. I am praying this fall that you and your congregation will be reenergized for the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the ...

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