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Today, in Holston Conference News Briefs for May 3:

Wednesday on the Webexclusive – Back From Sudan @ holston.org

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TOP STORY: It happened on May 4, 1956

Fifty years ago, the General Conference of the former Methodist Church granted full clergy rights to women. May 4, 2006, is the 50th anniversary of this historic event.

Holston Conference will celebrate full clergy rights for women at Annual Conference, beginning June 11 at Lake Junaluska, N.C. In the meantime, the General Board of Discipleship offers several worship resources for you to celebrate with your congregations at home.

Visit the GBOD's "Worship" site now

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Wanted: Clergywomen stoles for Annual Conference altar

To commemorate the anniversary of full clergy rights for women, a variety of stoles in different colors and designs are STILL needed to adorn the altar at Annual Conference.

Please send stoles that will not be used between now and June to: Rev. Sarah Martin, Hixson UMC, 5301 Old Hixson Pike, Hixson, TN 37343. Other stoles may be brought to the stage at Lake Junaluska's Stuart Auditorium by 5 p.m., Sunday, June 11. Please label the stoles with your name and phone number. Do note that every care will be taken to ensure that your stoles are protected. For more information, e-mail Sarah Martin.

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Prepare now for Peace With Justice Sunday

Holston members are encouraged to celebrate Peace with Justice Sunday on June 11 or on another Sunday designated by your local church. Peace with Justice Sunday is one of six annual church-wide special Sundays that help express the nature and calling of the church. Half of all monies collected are sent to the General Board of Church and Society -- for grants made available to United Methodist churches and agencies. The other half remains in Holston and is made available through a similar grant system.

For more information about grants, contact the Rev. Don Hanshew, Peace with Justice coordinator, at (865) 689-5175.

Download worship resources and bulletin inserts

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Renfro grants available for church building projects

The Renfro Trust Fund provides grants for building projects in rural churches of the Southeastern Jurisdiction. Church leaders are invited to submit their 2006 applications in the registration office at Annual Conference in Lake Junaluska, N.C., by Tuesday, June 13.

Download Application

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Calling the conference office? New policy

Beginning May 1, the Knoxville conference office telephone switchboard will be closed from noon to 1 p.m. for lunch. During that time, please leave a message indicating with whom you wish to speak, and your message will be placed in that person's mailbox for a response. Or, contact us via email.

The toll-free conference phone number is (866) 690-4080. The local number is (865) 690-4080.

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The decisions stand: Who said that?

"Judicial activism, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Decision 1032 is an example of judicial activism of the rankest order.”

— Four members of the Judicial Council, who joined in writing a dissenting opinion to a controversial council vote. During a meeting last week in Overland Park, Kan., the Judicial Council voted not to revisit decisions related to the case of the Rev. Ed Johnson of South Hill (Va.) United Methodist Church. Last year, Johnson blocked a practicing homosexual man from taking membership in the church.

Read the United Methodist News Service report

New event announcements appear here. Visit our upcoming events page for other events. Be sure you have the newest Acrobat Reader or you may not be able to view PDFs.

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This message is from the Holston Conference Communications Office.