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Interfaith Groups Come Together for the Cause of Creation

By J.A. Buchholz  |  April 13, 2011 {1281} Representatives from various religious communities will gather April 16 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Gainesville to participate in a “Care of Creation” event. It is designed to generate dialogue about what various faiths have to say about caring for creation. The interfaith meeting, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., will explore various ways faith communities can live out their beliefs by being good stewards of the earth. The cost is $10 per person and includes lunch. Sunshine State Interfaith Power and Light, a faith-based environmental concerns group, is organizing the event. full story

Florida Methodists Join Forces To Advocate For Children In Tallahassee

By Cary McMullen | March 25, 2011 {1278} Florida United Methodist Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker and AME Bishop McKinley Young will lead a joint delegation to Tallahassee next week to advocate on behalf of policies to help the children of the state. United Methodists have the opportunity to join the effort. Whitaker and Young and people from their respective jurisdictions will participate in Florida Advocacy Days, a two-day event that brings rank-and-file church members and their leaders together with state legislators. The goal is to push for state laws that maintain programs and funding for the health, education and welfare of children. full story

Conference celebrates final touches to new building

The Florida United Methodist Center completed finishing touches on its grounds in early March, and the City of Lakeland's Beautification Board awarded the Florida Conference a certificate of merit during a City Commission meeting.  The city awards the certificates to citizens or places of business in Lakeland who have made improvements to their property that contribute to the overall beauty of the City. . . full story

All The Children Are Ours: Methodist Counselor Awarded GreenFaith Fellowship

By Derek Maul | March 18, 2011 {1277} In 2009, Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker’s theme for the Florida Annual Conference focused on “Transforming the World by Cherishing the Creation.” Pastors and lay leaders were inspired, and many returned to their congregations bursting with plans for creation-friendly change. But inspiration can be short-lived in the face of economic reality, points out the Rev. Andy Bell, director of the Lakewood Methodist Counseling Center in St. Petersburg. Bell, an eloquent voice in the Creation Care movement, believes environmental concerns can be understood theologically as well as ecologically, a perspective that calls for courageous and informed leadership from faith-based communities. full story

Bishop Whitaker Joins with Other Religious Leaders to Oppose Florida Immigration Bill

By Cary McMullen | Mar.18, 2011 {1276} Several religious leaders in Florida, including Florida United Methodist Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker, said in a conference call on March 11 that a proposed immigration reform bill in the Florida Legislature should be rejected. The religious leaders said the legislation would divide communities, separate families and prevent churches from ministering to those in need. The proposed legislation, known at this point only as PCB JDC 11-01, was approved by the Judiciary Committee of the Florida House of Representatives on March 8. It is similar to a measure passed in Arizona last year, mandating the use of an employee verification program and requiring law enforcement personnel to check the immigration status of anyone who has been arrested, even for minor offenses. The religious leaders called on state legislators to reject it. full story

Issues of race aren’t just black and white, leaders say

The Florida Conference is taking a closer look at race relations within the walls of the church on both the conference and local church level. A task team was formed following the 2010 Florida Annual Conference Event to take a more in-depth look at the role race plays in the life of the annual conference. full story

Ministry cooks up good thing

The neighborhood lunch program at Trinity United Methodist Church in Arcadia is more than a delicious meal served on real china. It is church members and volunteers in action to meet community needs. full story

Ministry helps low-income residents get must-have state I.D.

Ministry helps people with low income and often homeless get the identification they need for work, school and assistance programs. It is the combined effort of five founding Orlando-area churches. full story

People with disabilities find open doors at Tampa church

Committed to the practice of radical hospitality, Tampa church offers "Special Connections", a ministry designed to address the unique needs of both children and adults with disabilities and their families. full story

Haiti trips postponed & new leader for Covenant

Postponing non-essential travel to Haiti was recommended in a mass e-mail to mission directors and clergy in mid-December. Strengthening personal relationships with the people of Haiti is the best way to stay involved with Haiti’s needs, said the Rev. Dionne Hammond, who is the new chairperson of the Haiti/Florida Covenant. full story

Missional Vital Signs Update

Research from a process that regularly gathers data on the five “missional vital signs” of the Florida United Methodist Church is pointing toward fruitful progress in a couple of key areas. full story

Preparation for 2011 Annual Conference & 2012 General Conference

With thousands of details to oversee and hundreds of volunteers to recruit, preparations for two major events in the life of the Florida Conference keep moving ahead. The Florida Conference will provide hospitality for the General Conference delegates and bishops. But before General Conference occurs, the Florida Conference will host its Annual Conference from June 1 to 4, 2011. Both events will be held at the Tampa Convention Center. full story

Members catch spark to live out faith, reach others

Impressive membership numbers tell only part of the story. Church members more concerned with reaching the masses than adding more names to its roster. full story