PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. -- The elephant in the room was the possible upcoming division of the denomination that could change Ministers Convocation this year, most likely by next year. By the time Holston Conference’s annual educational event for clergy ...
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- In the first large meeting organized by the unofficial group, UMCNext Holston, 103 United Methodists gathered in a downtown Knoxville church Feb. 15 to discuss and begin planning for a “more inclusive” future for the denomination....
ALCOA, Tenn. -- It was a snowy Saturday, but that didn’t deter 90 United Methodists from standing up for the Black Church by attending a “fellowship and information session” held at the Alcoa Conference Center on Feb. 8. The gathering was a ...
Feb. 14 update: Disaster-response leaders in Holston's Clinch Mountain District met Feb. 10 to prepare for possibly calling in teams for flood clean-up after assessments are made. "We have distributed many, many cleaning buckets and hygiene kits," ...
For 35 years, youth have departed auditoriums near the Great Smoky Mountains on an annual January weekend, changed by the Gospel music and message that had been carefully selected and delivered for their particular age stage. Resurrection 2020 ...
Leaders of 14 delegations representing annual conferences of the Southeastern Jurisdiction announced today their affirmation for a recently proposed separation plan for the future of The United Methodist Church. The plan is entitled "Protocol of ...
In English (Jan. 16) El año pasado, el pastor Jerry Russell decidió que ya no quería ser delegado de la Conferencia General. Ha sido elegido muchas veces para representar a la Conferencia de Holston y tomar decisiones, junto con otros líderes, para ...
Here are some of the links and stories in the January 24, 2020, email edition of The Call: Music educator from Greeneville preserves spirituals Resurrection is this weekend 5 Holston delegates attend Nashville briefing SEJ mulls number of bishops ...
span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background: white">NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Five Holston Conference delegates are in Nashville this week, joining other delegates from across the denomination as they prepare for a ...
Here are some of the links and stories in the January 17, 2020, email edition of The Call: Jerry Russell works harder to build young church leader Hixson fire chaplain offers hope through connection Chattanooga members weigh in on potential split ...
En español Last year, the Rev. Jerry Russell decided he no longer wanted to be a General Conference delegate. He has been elected many times to represent Holston Conference and to make decisions, along with other leaders, for The United Methodist ...
Here are some of the links and stories in the January 9, 2020, edition: Delegation leaders explain separation proposal Resistance to Traditional Plan accelerates Bishop Eutsler, former Holston bishop, dies at 100 Hiwassee trustee seeks return of ...
Leaders and pastors throughout Holston Conference scrambled over the last week to respond to a proposed separation plan for the denomination, released Jan. 3 by a high-profile coalition representing diverse interest groups. “Protocol of ...
By Mary Thompson Many staff parish committees of local churches have sat around a table with their district superintendent and requested the same thing: “We want a young pastor with a family.” I can remember one young family being appointed to my ...
The Holston Conference delegation to General Conference 2020 has issued the following letter in response to the document Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation. Dear Members and Friends of the Holston Conference, By now, many of ...
In 2019, we sent out 55 email editions of The Call featuring more than 400 news stories. If readers vote with their clicks, nine of our top 10 stories focused on General Conference and the denominational divide over homosexuality. It's ...
Here are some of the links and stories in the December 31, 2019, email edition of The Call: Bethlehem peace light arrives in Holston Munsey UMC remembers deadly 1989 fire Shades of Grace hosts Christmas breakfast E&H prof channels ghost of Jacob ...
A light that originally came from the grotto where Jesus was born now lives in a hot water heater in Kodak, Tennessee. In the busy days before Christmas, the same flame was transported to at least five Holston Conference churches so it could be ...
By Donn King The Christmas season is a time for joy and celebration, but it is difficult for grieving people. I’m one of those people. My oldest son died right after Christmas nearly two years ago. Only 32 years old, but fighting brittle ...
Here are some of the links and stories in the December 19, 2019, email edition of The Call: Dutch Valley decorations connect members with memories Knox pastor grieves loss of son, plans 'Blue Christmas' Young missionary dies of illness in Zimbabwe ...
CLINTON, Tenn. -- At Dutch Valley United Methodist, the Christmas decorations are beautiful, but they’re more than decorations. They're a treasured link to the heritage of a small rural church. The church is decorated with greenery from the ...
We asked Holston Conference pastors to share their favorite Christmas gifts from congregants over the years. Here's what they said. “There was a couple in one of my churches that would always be sure to invite me to their house to have Christmas ...
ALCOA, Tenn. (Dec. 13, 2019) -- Church and community members are pulling together to help a Holston Conference camp recover from the theft of three trailers containing almost all of its supplies. About $15,000 has been received in financial ...
Here are some of the links and stories in the December 13, 2019, email edition of The Call: Holston pastors share their fave Christmas gifts Camp in Community tries to recover from theft of supplies Groups show interest in re-opening Hiwassee ...
ALCOA, Tenn. – In the season of Thanksgiving, Holston Conference expressed gratitude to firefighters and emergency medical technicians who saved lives three years ago during the deadly Great Smoky Mountain wildfires. The anniversary happened to fall...
Here are some of the links and stories in the December 6, 2019, email edition of The Call: Last of the funds for Sevier Co. wildfires distributed Scouts build pavilion at First Morristown UMC Marion church to host book giveaway Scripture key to ...
Careful sharing November’s top story was certainly not good news, but it was good that so many people cared deeply when they learned about the theft of supplies belonging to Camp in the Community. The story (see #1) was not only widely read and ...
Here are some of the links and stories in the November 27, 2019, email edition of The Call: New church coming to Knoxville in 2020 St. Elmo takes Thanksgiving to Chattanooga streets Smyth Chapel invites all to Christmas open house Anna Lee: Speak ...
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Twelve years ago, Holston Conference leaders bought 22 acres in a growing part of Knoxville for $1.55 million. They were certain it would be a prime spot for a new church. After a season of economic downturn and fits and starts, ...
Commentary On a humid summer night in August 2007, I sat in one of my first seminary classes. After a brief welcome, our professor invited us to introduce ourselves to the nearest classmate. I went first. “I’m Anna, from East Tennessee, first year ...
Here are some of the links and stories in the November 21, 2019, email edition of The Call: Paul Bowman leads South Sudan fundraiser United Methodist Student Day: Meet Sally Chikomb Camp Lookout celebrates 60 years Emory & Henry receives $5 million ...
ALCOA, Tenn. -- In the last five years, Paul Bowman has visited East Africa five times. On the last two trips, he wondered if he would ever go back. And yet, in March 2020, Bowman is scheduled to lead a mission team to again visit the South ...
KINGSPORT, Tenn. -- The name "Chikomb" is fairly well-known in the Holston Conference. Rukang and Fresie Chikomb are missionaries in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Rukang is a pilot who transports bishops, mission teams, and supplies ...
From Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church ATLANTA, Ga. -- The Rev. Rachel Collins, associate pastor at Burks United Methodist Church, will be one of 67 new EarthKeepers from 23 conferences to be commissioned in an online service on Nov....
Saturday, Nov. 9, was a news-making kind of day, as Holston church members with opposing designs and hopes for the denomination’s future gathered at two separate events. The first was the Wesleyan Covenant Association’s “Global Gathering” in Tulsa, ...
Here are some of the links and stories in the November 13, 2019, email edition of The Call: Groups with opposing designs for UMC future Delegation: No bishop nominees for 2020 Bishop T: 'Let not your heart be troubled' Bristol church opens as ...
The Holston Conference delegation met Nov. 9 to continue its work of preparing for General Conference in May 2020 and Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference in July 2020. The primary work of delegates to Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference is the...
Here are some of the links and stories in the November 7, 2019, email edition of The Call: Theft devastates Camp in the Community Holston invests in new website to meet conference needs Pastor leads planning for residential drug treatment in SW ...
Holston.org is new and improved! The first phase of a major redesign and relaunch of Holston Conference’s website workhorse was unveiled earlier this week. According to the Rev. Tim Jones, the brand-new website features an "intuitive structure and ...
MARYVILLE, Tenn. -- The director of Camp in the Community is grieving the apparent theft of three trailers packed with supplies and games for children, valued at $60,000 and acquired through the generosity of church members over the last eight years....
Stephanie Livigni is executive director of The Gate — Gateway to Independence, which is holding a Nov. 9 fundraiser to support its programs for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program is at Sycamore Tree United Methodist...
Organizers of Resurrection, Holston Conference's 34-year-old youth ministry, realized their dream of expanding the annual spiritual weekend when a new event was launched Oct. 11-13 in La Fortuna, Costa Rica. After you read the main story, "...
In English El primer fin de semana espiritual Resurrection Costa Rica estaba a punto de terminar cuando las personas que tanto se esforzaron por hacerlo posible ya no pudieron contener sus emociones. Lloraron y se abrazaron al ver a cientos de jó...
En español The first Resurrection spiritual weekend in Costa Rica was in its final hour when the people who worked hard to make it happen could no longer hold back their emotions. They cried and embraced as they watched hundreds of young people go ...
Here are some of the links and stories in the October 27, 2019, email edition of The Call: Resurrection changes lives in Costa Rica 15 more things to know about Resurrection in CR $31,450 in Change for Children grants awarded Top court to look at ...
From Julie Graham, Holston Conference benefits administrator Open Enrollment for Holston Conference health insurance plans will run from Oct. 15 through Nov. 15, 2019.. The information, enrollment, and change forms are available at http://holston...
Here are some of the links and stories for the October 3, 2019, email edition of The Call: Youth member sells cheesecakes for Costa Rica mission Concord UMC has dementia ministry Chaplain 'Chappy Jack' completes Appalachian Trail Breaking up ...
GATLINBURG, Tenn. (Oct. 2, 2019) -- The boy who baked cheesecakes to raise money for a mission trip to Costa Rica will finally realize his dream. Next week, Isaac López, age 12, will join about 40 United Methodists from Holston Conference who will ...
Follow that lead Some stories require a lot of planning. Other stories are spontaneous -- no matter what you're working on, you know you've got to drop everything and follow that lead. Our top two most-clicked headlines in September are examples of...
By Susan Groseclose Thank you Holston Conference for your generous donations to the yearly Change for Children offering at annual conference – your gifts make a difference in the lives of children and families across the conference and around the ...