2/3/2025

In a recent video, Kelly Roberson from the South Georgia Conference and Rev. Dr. Rodrigo Cruz, Assistant to the Bishop in North and South Georgia Conferences, bring you up to date on everything we know so far as our two Annual Conferences study and pursue unification. You're invited to: Watch and share the video Read the transcript  Listen to the update as a Special Episode of the One Georgia UMC Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Podbean

2/2/2025

By Rev. Stephanie Smith In Columbus, Georgia, something remarkable is happening: a group of people coming together to build a new faith community—a space to worship, serve, and grow. This isn’t about looking back; it’s about embracing the future with hope, guided by a shared purpose to bring Christ’s love into the world Their journey reflects the words of the prophet Isaiah: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive ...

2/2/2025

Foundation for Evangelism local-church grant applications now open The Foundation for Evangelism has opened the 2025 Equipping the Local Church grant cycle. Up to 50 grants of $5,000 or $10,000 are available to small and medium-size churches, or clusters of churches working together, in a Wesleyan-tradition denomination. Learn more   Take an online virtual tour of UM Building  The United Methodist Board of Church and Society, in partnership with the Commission on Archives and History and the ...

2/1/2025

This February, the New Creation Toolkit focuses on “New Growth” and offers a variety of resources to help individuals and churches assess where they are in their spiritual journey and take steps to grow deeper in their faith. Whether you’re leading a church community or seeking personal growth, the following tools can guide you toward new opportunities for transformation.   There are four elements to each monthly toolkit that coincide with South Georgia’s four missional priorities: resourcing ...

2/1/2025

February is Black History Month, and African Americans are—and have always been—an essential and influential part of The United Methodist Church, shaping its history and growth in profound ways. Black History Month has been observed in February in the United States and Canada since 1976. The celebration of Black history was started by historian Carter G. Woodson in 1926 as a weeklong focus to educate American people about African American history.   Black History Month is an opportunity to ...

2/1/2025

Launching Your Church Council Webinar - RECORDINGS Leaders from churches of all sizes came together for the Launching Your Church Council Webinar on Sunday, January 12. This session is designed to equip church councils with the tools they need to lead effectively. Weren't able to be part of the event? The webinar recordings, fact sheets, and slide decks are now available in one place! Head over to www.sgaumc.org/2025-leadership-training to access them. "Normalizing Next" Training – Feb. 15 & ...

1/31/2025

Education is a core value of The United Methodist Church and has been since the 18th Century in England. John Wesley believed education was the key to a fuller, richer life. He believed that everyone should have access to education regardless of gender or class. In 1748, Wesley enlarged Kingswood School, a school he had opened for the children of coal miners. Wesley wanted young people to have a high-quality education so they could go to Cambridge or Oxford. As the Methodist Movement spread in ...

1/21/2025

Hurricane Helene, once a Category 4 storm, roared through the Big Bend area of Florida and into Valdosta, Georgia, on September 26, bringing destruction in the middle of the night. As a Category 2-3 hurricane, its winds reached speeds of 100-111 mph, leaving hundreds of roads impassable, millions without power, and devastating vast swaths of the region’s timberlands. This marked the third hurricane to strike the area in just six months, following Hurricanes Idalia and Debby.   Camp Tygart serves...

1/21/2025

Photo: The Rev. Gilbert H. Caldwell (right) stands with the Revs. Martin Luther King Jr. (left) and Virgil Wood on the roof of a Boston public school in 1965. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Gilbert H. Caldwell. The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was the face of the civil rights movement throughout the 1960s until his assassination on April 4, 1968. Many United Methodists joined King in his march toward equality, and in his wake, those United Methodist voices continued to advocate for justice for all, ...

1/20/2025

The North Georgia and South Georgia Annual Conferences are excited to announce "Normalizing Next," a two-part training series designed to empower African-American church leaders and congregations as they prepare for 2025. Event Details Part 1: February 15 Part 2: March 15 Location: Methodist Children's Home, 304 Pierce Ave., Macon, GA 31204 Presenter: Rev. Olu Brown Cost: $15 per event (includes lunch and snacks) Download the flyer | Register Now  Participants will gain practical insights and ...

1/20/2025

Launching Your Church Council Webinar - RECORDINGS Leaders from churches of all sizes came together for the Launching Your Church Council Webinar on Sunday, January 12. This session is designed to equip church councils with the tools they need to lead effectively. Weren't able to be part of the event? The webinar recordings, fact sheets, and slide decks are now available in one place! Head over to www.sgaumc.org/2025-leadership-training to access them. "Normalizing Next" Training – Feb. 15 & ...

1/20/2025

The South Georgia Conference invites laity to participate in a variety of training opportunities in 2025 to deepen their leadership skills and enhance their service within the church. These trainings offer tools for those looking to lead, care, and communicate more effectively in their ministry roles. Online Lay Servant Ministries Training Basic Lay Servant Ministries Training introduces participants to foundational faith principles and leadership skills. The training will be held via Zoom on ...

1/19/2025

In August 2023, Christ United Methodist Church in Warner Robins opened up its Little Angels Attic, a free clothing resource for children from newborn through middle school, as well as some clothing in larger sizes for those into high school. This past November, as an enhancement to the Little Angels Attic, the clothing resource expanded to include free water, snacks, canned goods, and small personal care items with the building of The Blessing Box. The Blessing Box is located on the east side of...

1/19/2025

Camp Connect, the camping ministry of the South Georgia Conference, gives children and youth from rising 4th grade through rising seniors in high school the opportunity to spend a week away from normal everyday life in the beauty of God’s creation. Diving into scripture and sharing life stories will show campers they are created in God’s image and for a purpose. Five camps are scheduled for the summer: one week for high school students, two weeks for middle school students, and two weeks for ...

1/18/2025

Our hearts and prayers are with all in the path of this month's wildfires in California. Thousands of homes and businesses have been destroyed. United Methodists in the California-Pacific Conference are offering shelter and serving neighbors, even as they face the total loss of at least two United Methodist churches and the destruction of many church members’ homes. (Read "United Methodists see loss, offer relief" by United Methodist News Service ) UMCOR has awarded two solidarity grants to the...

1/18/2025

The North and South Georgia Conference extended cabinets, several staff, and Bishop Robin Dease took part in the Southeastern Jurisdiction Cabinet Consultation at Epworth By The Sea January 13-16.  With the theme "Holy Spirit Revival," the time included worship, devotionals, plenary sessions, and breakout meetings.  The plenary sessions, led by Rev. Lisa Greenwood and Rev. Dr. Blair Thompson of the Texas Methodist Foundation and Wesleyan Impact Partners, focused on "future back" thinking and ...

1/10/2025

Resolutions to the 2025 South Georgia Annual Conference, meeting June 1-3, will be received through noon on Monday, March 3, 2025. Please be aware of the following requirements listed below for resolutions to be presented to the Resolutions Committee. Highlights are listed here, but full instructions are found in the conference's Standing Rules (see below).   Resolutions must be submitted by the posted deadline of March 3, 2025. Resolutions must be signed by at least five persons, unless ...

1/3/2025

This year as the South Georgia Conference puts focus on its theme of "A New Creation," the Connectional Ministries staff seeks to walk alongside local congregations to provide resources. Each month a toolkit will roll out designed to empower clergy and laity in their mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.    There are four elements to each monthly toolkit that coincide with South Georgia’s four missional priorities: resourcing the local church (new ...

1/3/2025

By Stephanie Smith    A group of United Methodists in Bainbridge, Ga. are beginning an exciting journey as they launch a new faith community: Christ United Methodist Church.    These faithful laity have trusted God to guide them on this journey following the departure of their former church this past summer. Through a partnership with St. John’s Episcopal Church, which provides worship space and a shared spirit of Christian unity for this new congregation, the inaugural service of Christ UMC was...

1/3/2025

Visit GeorgiaUMC.org for Information & Updates   Scripture holds a central place in the faith of United Methodists. One of the primary tenets/teachings of scripture is unity. As we work to live into this teaching, the North Georgia and South Georgia Conferences of The United Methodist Church have officially launched an effort to study and pursue potential unification. This effort, launched under the leadership of Bishop Robin Dease, aims to explore the possibilities and benefits of becoming one ...

1/2/2025

The North Georgia and South Georgia Conferences are beginning to share Administrative Services, a partnership designed to enhance efficiency and reduce costs for both.   This past Fall Allison Berg began serving as Treasurer and CFO of both Annual Conferences. This collaboration will be governed by a Memorandum of Understanding, which is approved by each conference’s Council on Finance and Administration, and allocates the agreed upon percentage of Berg's time between North Georgia and South ...

1/1/2025

Calling all South Georgia and North Georgia United Methodist elders, deacons, provisionals, local pastors, and certified candidates (and your families!): you are invited to the 2025 Georgia Pastors' School. This year’s school is set for July 14-17 at beautiful Epworth By The Sea on St. Simons Island. Come be inspired, rejuvenate, and reignite your inner joy! When we reignite joy, we give ourselves permission to experience the strength of our faith, wisdom, a renewed purpose, and the courage to ...

1/1/2025

"Peacemaking is not a witness to the good of peace. Peace-making is the actual activity of making peace happen." - President Jimmy Carter United Methodists across the state mourn the life of President Jimmy Carter: a justice-seeker, a peacemaker, a faithful follower of Christ, and our neighbor. The Carters had a strong relationship with United Methodists over the years. They were married at Plains United Methodist Church in 1946. United Methodist Bishop William R. Cannon gave the inaugural ...

1/1/2025

By Rev. Abra Lattany-Reed   Our churches and communities can thrive and grow if we continue to strategically and spiritually prepare. African American churches in the South Georgia Conference are doing just that: preparing for the now, next, and new.    Thirty-four clergy and laity from our African American churches are participating in a cohort called “Normalizing Next.” The Normalizing Next philosophy believes we live in the greatest evangelistic season of our lifetime. When leaders and ...

12/14/2024

By Suzanne Akins   From its humble beginnings, the founders of Epworth By The Sea envisioned a place of spiritual renewal along the nearly 100 beautiful acres of the Frederica River. Epworth has since grown into a treasured conference, retreat, and vacation center in ways the founders could have never dreamed.   This October marked a momentous milestone as Epworth celebrated 75 years as a Christian place for worship, study, and fellowship, welcoming hundreds of thousands of guests over the ...

12/14/2024

Leaders from churches of all sizes are invited to the “Launching Your Church Council” webinar on Sunday, January 12, from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm.   This training is for: Church Council chairs SPR Committees Lay Leaders Trustees Finance Committees Stewardship Chairs Nominations Teams  This session is designed to equip church councils with the tools they need to lead effectively. Multiple council members are encouraged to participate together. Even if you can’t join live, everyone who registers will...

12/13/2024

By Joyce Kramer   No one in Seminole County, Georgia will forget the day - 10-10-18 - when the eye of category 5 Hurricane Michael came over and devastated the area. With no cell phone or internet service, electricity or water, the area was helpless. This is when Pam and Dave Lerdal, members of Reynolds Chapel United Methodist Church, felt in their hearts that God was inspiring them.    Thanksgiving was approaching, and the congregation at Reynolds Chapel UMC wanted to do something for their ...

12/13/2024

The Southeastern Jurisdiction (SEJ) faced a challenging 2024, with numerous hurricanes, floods, fires, tornadoes, and other disasters affecting our communities. These events highlighted the critical need for preparedness, collaboration, and effective response strategies. To help strengthen our network and equip us with the tools and training needed to meet future challenges head-on, you are invited to the 2025 SEJ Disaster Academy, taking place January 9–12, 2025, at Warren Willis United ...

12/12/2024

As the Christmas season unfolds, the South Georgia Conference Cabinet, Staff, and Clergy Mental Health Task Force are extending a special gift to clergy in active ministry across the conference: an overnight retreat dedicated to rest and renewal. Clergy often bear unique burdens, balancing the demands of ministry with personal challenges and transitions. Recognizing this, the retreat offers an opportunity to step away from the noise and expectations of daily life and find peace in the presence ...

12/10/2024

The North and South Georgia Annual Conferences are pleased to announce that we will co-host The Upper Room Five Day Academy of Spiritual Formation at Epworth By The Sea from Sunday, May 11, to Friday, May 16. The Academy of Spiritual Formation is a program of Upper Room Ministries, providing an opportunity for laity and clergy to deepen their relationship with God through a daily rhythm of prayer and study, silence and liturgy, solitude and relationship, rest and exercise. In community and at a ...

12/1/2024

In October, United Methodist young adult clergy gathered to attend a three-day Young Adult Clergy Leadership Forum at the United Methodist Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The Young Adult Clergy Leadership Forum is an opportunity for participants to learn from Church and Society staff regarding key legislative issues debated on Capitol Hill, gain tools to relate the newly adopted Social Principles to their ministry context, build relationships with other young adult clergy from ...

12/1/2024

This Advent season, the Boards of Laity of the South Georgia and North Georgia Conferences of The United Methodist Church have united in a unique and meaningful way to share the message of Christ: daily Advent devotionals around the theme, “Unity.”   J. Knapp and Kim Powell, Conference Lay Leaders for the South Georgia and North Georgia Conferences respectively, came up with the idea for a collaborative Advent devotional series earlier this Fall. In a year marked by challenges and division, they...

12/1/2024

On November 9, the United Women in Faith (UWF) gathered for their 2024 annual meeting at Statesboro First United Methodist Church.  UWF is rooted in the tradition of The United Methodist Church, empowering women to act boldly in areas such as spiritual growth, leadership development, service and advocacy, and mission engagement. Reflecting the tradition and mission of UWF, the meeting featured the work of Linda Laye and Laurie Jo Upchurch, both Deaconesses in The United Methodist Church.   The ...

11/30/2024

Luke 21:25-28   Advent is here! We now begin preparing for the coming of the Christ child. It is that time of year again when we get all caught up in the holiday festivities of parties and Christmas carols and gift giving.   It is Advent, my friends, and there is going to be a baby born in a manger. Emmanuel is coming to be with us.   In this Lukan text, the writer talks about signs that we should be aware of. We not only look for God in the stars, but right here among us in ways that will ...

11/29/2024

Submitted by South Columbus UMC   November was a busy month for the South Columbus United Methodist Church family. Two notable events stand out: their Annual Turkey Give-A-Way and the recognition of veterans.   Dozens of families came to the church on November 19 for the annual Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway. Thanks to generous donors and volunteers, 100 shopping bags were filled and distributed. Each bag contained a turkey, a bundle of collard greens, and the fixings to have a wonderful ...

11/18/2024

By Suzanne Akins College can be an exciting, yet difficult time, full of uncertainties.  For so many students, it’s the first time away from home and the challenges they face—academic pressures, social dynamics, and questions about their identity and faith—can feel overwhelming. During this life transition, finding spiritual and emotional support is just as vital, if not more, as the academic support students need during these years.  This is where Wesley Foundations on college campuses play a ...

11/17/2024

Do you know a college student who may be interested in a summer of ministry? Camp Connect, the summer camps sponsored by the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church, might just be the place to serve!  Living at Epworth By The Sea all summer, our camp staff will be able to minister to hundreds of youth and children, while making Christian friendships with other staff members that last a lifetime. As a paid position, staff members on the Leadership Team will commit to nine weeks of...

11/17/2024

The South Georgia Conference invites laity to participate in a variety of training opportunities in 2025 to deepen their leadership skills and enhance their service within the church. These trainings offer tools for those looking to lead, care, and communicate more effectively in their ministry roles. Certified Lay Ministry Classes The Certified Lay Ministry (CLM) program consists of a series of in-person classes designed to equip participants with foundational skills for ministry. Classes will ...

11/17/2024

In the aftermath of Hurricanes Debby and Helene, Georgia communities faced the daunting task of cleaning up the widespread devastation. Thanks to the generous efforts of United Methodists across the state and neighboring conferences, hundreds of cleaning kits, also known as "flood buckets," were distributed to families in need, providing crucial supplies for recovery. Now, as we prepare for future disasters, we invite you to join the Flood Bucket Challenge to help replenish our stock of these ...

11/16/2024

By LaGrange College Communications Department   At this year's LaGrange College Homecoming celebration, Calvin Williams ’74 returned to familiar ground. The West Point, Georgia, native who arrived at LaGrange College in 1970 with dreams of playing basketball would become much more—the institution's first African American student-athlete and a transformative figure whose impact still resonates today.   His journey began with belief in possibility.    "Being on the basketball team was one of the ...