Florida United Methodist Review Online

Proposed plan aims at transforming churches
     Delegates to the 2002 Florida Annual Conference Event will be asked to consider a plan for a new conference office that will help stagnant or declining churches transform themselves.
     The plan is to combine two existing conference ministries into one office. The Office of Congregational Transformation will replace Operation Evangelization and take over the responsibilities for church redevelopment, which are currently part of the Office of New Church Development and Church Redevelopment. Full Story

Camps adopt new reservation policy
     In an effort to reduce operating losses at the Florida Conference's camp properties, the conference's camp facilities committee adopted a new policy that will require groups using the camps to take more responsibility for providing an accurate estimate of their needs. The policies are now in effect and apply to all new contracts.
     The new policy requires that all groups using any of the conference's four camp facilities give the camps a hard count of the number of reservations expected 60 days prior to the start of their event. The new policy also establishes a schedule of deposits for groups reserving space at the camps. Full Story

Church partners with youth club to help neighborhood kids

First U.M.C, Brandon, broke ground earlier this month on a 13,700 square foot, $2 million facility that will serve both the church and the community's Boys & Girls Club. The combination gymnasium and youth center will be used by the Club during the week to provide after-school programs for as many as 5,000 area youth. The church will use the facility on weekends for its youth group and other ministries. Full Story

Miami church supports one of its own at war
     When Derek Mills graduated from United States Marine Corps boot camp, he attended worship at his home church, Peace United Methodist Church, Miami. Ron Ohlzen, the church's co-lay leader, said he remembers Mills being very strong and singing loudly during the service.
     Now that Mills is involved in the United States' military action in Afghanistan, his home church is offering its love and support to him and members of his unit serving in Afghanistan. Full Story

Bishop Blackburn dies at 82
     Retired United Methodist Bishop Robert M. Blackburn, who led the church's Raleigh, N.C., and Richmond, Va., areas, has died following complications from open-heart surgery. He was 82.
     Blackburn died March 17, according to the Council of Bishops' office. He had undergone surgery March 7 at Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, Fla., and died there.
     He led the denomination's Raleigh Area from 1972 to 1980, then went on to the Richmond Area, where he served until retirement in 1988. Full Story

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News At A Glance

Florida receives grant for red tide relief

District decides to wait on ad campaign

Conference ships kits

Opportunities

Conference offers Christian Believer training

Summer camp offers adventure to young people

Encounter offers passionate prayer life

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