Taize 2012 Young Adult Spiritual Pilgrimage - Deadline Approaching

Taizé 2012 Young Adult Spiritual Pilgrimage July 27 - August 6, 2012 You Are Invited! If you are between 16 and 29 years of age, you are invited to join Bishop Devadhar and chaperones on a weeklong spiritual development experience. Additional adults may request to attend as space provides opportunity. The group will leave the USA on July 27 and return on August 6, 2012. Coming to Taizé is an opportunity to seek communion with God through common prayer, singing, personal...

Pre-Lenten Gathering To Be Held on February 21 at Calvary Korean UMC

Each year, Bishop Devadhar hosts a Pre-Lenten Gathering as a time of preparation for Lent.  The day includes two sessions: a daytime session open to clergy and an evening session open to all laity.  The 2012 Pre-Lenten Gathering will be held on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at Calvary Korean UMC in East Brunswick, New Jersey.  Rev. John Edgar, Executive Director of the faith-based community development organization, Community Development for All People (CD4AP), will be the guest...

Camden Urban Ministries Initiative (CUMI) Summer Camp Announcement

  The Camden Urban Ministry Initiative The Camden Urban Ministry Initiative (CUMI) is seeking volunteers to work during its 2012 Summer Camp Program. Volunteers are needed to staff three Camden City sites-Asbury United Methodist Church in East Camden, Ferry Avenue United Methodist Church in Centerville, and Parkside United Methodist Church in the Parkside section of town.   Participants include children in Grades 2 to 6.   The camps will run for five weeks - July 5, 2012...

Some Lessons Learned from Resource Day by Rev. Robert Costello

  District Resource Day  I want to thank Rev. Larry Homitsky for providng an informative, inspirating, provocative and challenging Resource Day.  I extend to Almonesson UMC and Pastor Connie Heiges my thanks for hosting both our supper meeting with Larry and those who are working in ministry in Camden, and also for hosting the laity session on Tuesday evening. My thanks to the Clonmell UMC and Rev. Rob Tomer for hosting our clergy session on Wednesday.  I especially thank...

Registration For 2012 Annual Conference Begins February 21, 2012

Registration instructions for the 2012 Annual Conference were mailed to all Lay Members on Wednesday, February 8th.  The registration packet, which also contains the Conference agenda, hotel/meal instructions and driving directions, was not mailed to Clergy Members in keeping with a 2006 Annual Conference mandate to reduce postage costs. Clergy may obtain their registration materials here.  Registration is available online with payment by credit/debit card, or by mail with paper...

Bearing Fruit Companion Study Guide Available as a Free Download

WASHINGTON, DC – The Bearing Fruit Companion Study Guide is available as a free download. Tom Berlin and Lovett, H. Weems, Jr., authors of Bearing Fruit: Ministry with Real Results, prepared the guide to facilitate reflection, discussion, and application of the book’s key points. The authors say, “We have been pleased to learn of the many ways that individual church leaders and congregational teams are using the book as a springboard for discussion and planning.”...

Annual Conference Display Tables Registration Now Open

The 2012 Greater NJ Annual Conference will be held at the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania on May 31st to June 2. It is exciting to see the various ministries represented, and we encourage you to be creative and showcase your particular ministry with informative displays. Please register by May 6th, 2012 To ensure your space. Spaces will be granted to registrants in the order they are received. Requests received after the spaces are filled will be put on a waiting...

Tax Credit for Paid Health Insurance Premiums Available to Local Churches

The Federal Government is continuing the "Credit for Small Employer Health Insurance Premiums" rebate to employers, including churches, who provided health care insurance for employees (and pastors) in 2011. Although a number of churches applied for and received these credits last year, the Conference Council on Finance and Administration feels that many churches that would have been eligible for the credit did not take advantage of the opportunity.  The credit can be...

District Days of Learning

Over 300 clergy and laity attended the Capital District Day of Learning on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at First UMC Moorestown.  The day included two learning sessions, lunch, and a keynote address by Dr. Vanessa M. Wilson.  Dr. Wilson is an experienced human resources professional with expertise in community service, higher education, and organizational transformation.  She brought a very timely message about what churches can do to help fight poverty in communities.  Her...

Camden Christmas Celebration

 Christmas Celebration   Camden:  The children of Camden received over 2,000 Christmas gifts because of the generosity of United Methodists of the Gateway South District.  The gifts were distributed by the churches of the Camden Urban Ministry Initiative (CUMI) and by the Camden Neighborhood Center.  CUMI is a cooperative ministry of the United Methodist Churches in Camden. The gift-sharing was designed as an attempt of United Methodists to demonstrate the love of...

NORTHERN SHORE DISTRICT SEEKS SUPPLIES FOR UMCOR KITS

UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) supply kits help care for the most vulnerable people during times of crisis. They also sustain life by providing basic necessities to people who lack access to essential supplies. Your help is needed now by donating supplies for Birthing Kits. At the Northern Shore District Day of Learning, March 10, 2012, we will be offering a UMCOR workshop –“Helping Hands of God”.  In this workshop those who attend will be assembling...

Workers Compensation Audit Forms Due From Local Churches By February 15

The annual payroll audit form, required of every local church, is available at the Conference web site, http://www.gnjumc.org/pages/detail/407.    FORMS WILL NOT BE MAILED to treasurers.  To make submission easier, the form is available for completion in Adobe Reader and in MS Word, which can be submitted via email.  A letter from the Conference Property Insurance Committee chair, and instructions for completing and returning the audit are included in the packet.  Be...

Year End Statistical Reports Due by March 30, 2012

  March 30, 2012 is the deadline for all Greater New Jersey Annual Conference churches to submit their 2011 year-end statistical reports, according to John Cardillo,  Treasurer for the Conference. The Conference will be using the new EZRA web-based Year-End Statistical Reporting System developed by the General Council on Finance and Administration of The United Methodist Church for input of  2011 data by local churches.  Pastors will electronically...

Annual Conference Reports and Recommendations Due by March 2, 2012

According to the Standing Rules of the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference, all Reports and Recommendations to be included in the Pre-Conference Workbook for 2012 must be submitted in writing to the Conference Secretary and signed by the author(s).  The reports should answer queries related to the Vision and Mission of the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference as recorded on Page 1 of the 2011 Conference Journal.  Please refer to the Pre-Conference Report Instruction sheet at the...

UMCOR BASIC EARLY RESPONSE TRAINING

UMCOR Basic Early Response Training March 3rd at Franklin Lakes UMC: The mission of an Early Response Team is to provide a caring presence in the aftermath of a disaster, under very specific guidelines that enable a team to be productive and caring while causing no further harm or being a burden to the affected community. Classes are taught by "authorized" UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) trainers, and team members are given ID badges as evidence of training, after...

UMCOR Basic Early Response Training at Franklin Lakes UMC

UMCOR Basic Early Response Training March 3 at Franklin Lakes UMC The mission of an Early Response Team is to provide a caring presence in the aftermath of a disaster, under very specific guidelines that enable a team to be productive and caring while causing no further harm or being a burden to the affected community. Classes are taught by "authorized" UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) trainers, and team members are given ID badges as evidence of training, after...

Apply For A Multi Ethnic Grant Today!

The Multi Ethnic Coordinating Committee of the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference offers a limited number of grants each year for churches which are broadening their ministry to explore, celebrate, or strengthen ministry across ethnic and cultural boundaries.      Applications for these grants should be requested from Rev. Sung H. Ahn, Director of Connectional Ministries, (732-359-1041 or 1-877-677-2594 x1041) or may be downloaded from the Conference Web Site at...

Conference Offers Pre-Retirement And Financial Planning Seminars

The Conference Board of Pension and Health Benefits is presenting pre-retirement and financial planning seminars for pastors and their spouses. A Benefits Educator from the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits will speak on retirement planning on March 1st for those planning to retire in the next five years. On March 2nd the Benefits Educator will speak to those ministers who are over five years from retirement about financial planning. An interpreter from the Social Security...

Conference Council On Finance And Administration To Offer Workshops

The Greater NJ Conference Council on Finance and Administration will be offering two important workshops for those in local churches who are responsible for preparing tax related documents and year end reports: 1.   Employee - Related Taxes Are the people on your churchs payroll employees or independent contractors?  What is the difference between a clergy housing allowance and a clergy housing exclusion?  What is an accountable reimbursable expense?  These and...

Seeking Youth to Participate on 2012 Youth VIM Trip to Smolensk, Russia

All Youth are invited to participate on a Youth Mission Trip that will help make disciples for Christ, challenge you to grow spiritually and allow you to make new life long friends.   A mission team of youth is being formed right now to visit our sister city in Smolensk, Russia. This is a continuation of our Russia Initiative Youth program that has been operating since the mid-1990s. The planning for the 2012 Mission Trip includes the following so far:   Sharing our faith...