Alabama

United Methodist General Conference Alabama delegates: Removing anti-LGBTQ language top priority

Published

8 months ago

April 22, 2024

United Methodist General Conference Alabama delegates: Removing anti-LGBTQ language top priority

United Methodist delegates from Alabama will be in Charlotte on Tuesday for the start of the United Methodist General Conference, the denomination’s worldwide policy-making meeting that continues through May 3.

Delegates say the big issues are best summed up as the three R’s: Removal of harmful language regarding homosexuality; regionalization allowing more self-governing in different parts of the world; and revising the Social Principles.

“Those are the three big ones, and they’re big,” said the Rev. Kelly Clem, a retired minister for the North Alabama Conference and one of 862 voting delegates.

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What is the Global Methodist Church? Splinter group formed as United Methodist split continues

More than half of United Methodist churches have departed in Alabama, and a quarter nationwide in a denominational split. Most assume that the General Conference will have less conservative resistance to issues such as changing the denomination’s bans on same-sex marriage and ordaining openly gay clergy.

Clem says she believes this denominational meeting will be smoother than past ones she has attended, since those who didn’t want to be in the denomination any longer have mostly left.

“I feel very hopeful about General Conference this time,” Clem said. “I think there’s a lot of unity and hopefulness about our moving forward as the United Methodist Church, as a denomination. The temperature has been significantly lowered.”

Lisa Keys-Mathews, lay leader of the North Alabama Conference and a reserve delegate at the General Conference, said she believes there are enough conservative activists left in the denomination to strongly resist all the progressive proposals.

“There are some super negative voices coming out that are still part of the United Methodist Church,” Keys-Mathews said. “I find that sad, and hurtful.”

On the issue of removing language such as calling homosexuality “incompatible with Christian teaching,” there is still contention, she said.

“There are loud voices on both ends,” Keys-Mathews said. “There are people intent on causing chaos at General Conference. That disturbs me. That saddens me.”

The Rev. Brian Erickson, senior pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church of Homewood and a reserve clergy delegate, thinks there’s an opportunity for change.

“I think the proposal to remove the language around homosexuality is the most fair and balanced and frankly moderate approach going forward because it leaves the most space for our differences,” he said.

The General Conference begins with an opening service Tuesday at 2 p.m. and closes on May 3. The first week is full of committee meetings, with 17 legislative committees sorting through more than 1,000 proposals.

One of the proposals came from the North Alabama Conference, sponsored by Erickson. It recommends that the denomination remove language against homosexuality.

“The effort is to let go of some words that are offensive and put people in a box,” Clem said. “I feel like it’s better for us to remove language that separates people or that confines people to a category.”

Clem serves on the committee on financial administration, which will handle budget-cutting measures in the wake of the large exodus from the denomination.

“There will be a reduction of the budget for the general church, but also it will come down in a smaller percentage that will be asked of the members when it comes down to the local church,” Clem said.

“Overall, a big reduction, but also a little more sensitivity to the local church’s fragility after Covid, after losing members,” Clem said. “There will not be as much asked of each member to give to the General apportionments. That’s a good thing too.”

This will be the first General Conference since 2019, a special called meeting to discuss human sexuality. The 2020 meeting was postponed by Covid-19. The United Methodists traditionally meet every four years to do business.

“There’s always been controversy and especially on the homosexuality issue,” Clem said.

“Within the body, there will be harmony because these are people who have made intentional choices to stay United Methodist for reasons of really believing in who we are, our mission, our purpose, and wanting to be a part of it. There’s a lot of energy toward Let’s come together, let’s be together, let’s move forward.”

The North Alabama Conference has four clergy delegates, four lay delegates, and four reserve delegates. The Alabama-West Florida Conference has the same.

“We’re here because we want to be here; we’re not going to keep fighting,” Clem said.

“The ones who wanted to leave, who felt so strongly, especially about human sexuality issues, they’ve gone. We’re going to move forward. There’s just a real rallying of those who want to help the church move forward with its mission and stop getting bogged down in some of these controversial matters and just move forward. There will be dissent. I just think there will be a much more positive vibe.”

See also: United Methodists urge repeal of ban on same-sex marriage, openly gay clergy

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Alabama

Portion of Alabama 59 in Baldwin County closed following two-vehicle crash

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4 minutes ago

December 23, 2024

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Portion of Alabama 59 in Baldwin County closed following two-vehicle crash

BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WALA) – A two-vehicle crash on Alabama 59 near Baldwin County 34 has closed down the road, according to law enforcement.

Authorities said the crash occurred at 8:23 pm.

Law enforcement is on scene investigating and there is no timetable on when it will be reopened.

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Alabama

Alabama’s recent focus on defense pays off in blowout win over Kent State

Published

8 hours ago

December 22, 2024

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Alabama’s recent focus on defense pays off in blowout win over Kent State

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Nate Oats started his postgame press conference explaining why Alabama would have a much better winter break after its 81-54 win over Kent State. According to Oats, a happy holiday hinged on the Tide’s defensive performance against the Golden Flashes.

“Much better defensive effort so it’ll be a lot better Christmas break for us,” Oats said with a smile at the podium. “We did make a big point of emphasis on defense, especially after that debacle up in North Dakota with [Fighting Hawks guard Treysen Eaglestaff].”

It was far from a perfect offensive display for the Tide against Kent State. Alabama’s lingering turnover issues reared its ugly head for a second straight and the Tide continued shooting poorly from 3-point range.

However, after defensive letdowns nearly sprang an upset in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Alabama got back to the basics over the next few days at practice. The team worked on defensive fundamentals rather than solely focusing on film study.

That extra emphasis paid off as Alabama equaled its lowest points allowed in a game this season with 54. Tide forward Grant Nelson swatted a shot attempt by Kent State’s leading scorer VonCameron Davis in the opening few minutes, which helped set the tone the rest of the way.

“I think that [block] and just really everyone loading in the gaps, helping each other out,” Nelson said of Alabama’s defensive performance. “I thought that was huge. I think we kept them to six points in the first three media timeouts, that was huge for us. We emphasized that like I said and just a lot of credit to our guys for carrying it over on the court.”

While Alabama didn’t shoot the ball well, it made sure Kent State’s shooting was even more ineffective. Alabama communicated well on switches and contested shots from beyond the arc. It honed in on Davis, who averages 14.9 points per game but was limited to under 10 points for just the second time this season. Davis scored nine on an inefficient 4 of 15 from the field and had a minus-31 box plus-minus rating.

Coming into the game, Oats also felt like Kent State guard Jalen Sullinger (9.7 points per game) could be a dangerous weapon against Alabama’s defense with the potential to do the same thing Eaglestaff did for North Dakota. The Fighting Hawks guard scored a career-high 40 points, single-handedly pulling them back into the game late.

After missing the mark severely on guarding Eaglestaff, the Tide understood the assignment when it came to Sullinger and locked down the Kent State senior.

“He ended up shooting 1 of 14 and didn’t score in the second half,” Oats said. “So I think we did a little bit of a better job being locked in to a perimeter guy. We held them to a pretty good field goal percentage, they only shot 28%. Traditionally, this has been one of the hardest playing teams — I was in the MAC for six years and they get all of the O Boards. We gave up too many second-chance points but I thought for the most part our first-shot defense was good.”

Alabama continued to play effective post-defense in spite of the offensive rebounds. The Tide finished with six blocks as a team. Center Clifford Omoruyi won the Hard Hat Award for the most blue collar points and grabbed 12 rebounds while Nelson had 14. Off the bench, Derrion Reid had a pair of steals while Mouhamed Dioubate chipped in with two blocks.

Following the win, Alabama jumped from No. 57 to No. 42 in adjusted defensive efficiency, according to KenPom.com. As the Tide looks to build on its defensive momentum, better play on offense will have to follow. Alabama’s defense is much improved from last season when it was at its best, but it won’t be able to win games on defense alone when league play tips off on Jan. 4.

“We struggled a little offensively, and we’re gonna have to figure some stuff out here before SEC play,” Oats said. “The turnovers have been really just way too many — 13 in the first half. We did the same thing two games in a row. We only had one the second half against North Dakota. We ended up with six in the second half here. So we’ve got to do a better job at turnovers. I don’t have an answer for the free throw problems, but the only way to fix that is get in the gym and work. The good thing for us is we don’t have any school for a few weeks here, so after they get back from Christmas break, we’ll be in the gym and putting some time in.”

Alabama will conclude non-conference play against Summit League side South Dakota State. The Tide and Jackrabbits will tip off at 2 p.m. CT Dec. 29 inside Coleman Coliseum. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network+.

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Alabama

How cold did Alabama get last night? These cities had the lowest temperatures

Published

16 hours ago

December 22, 2024

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How cold did Alabama get last night? These cities had the lowest temperatures

Very cold temperatures greeted Alabamians on Sunday morning.

The National Weather Service said temperatures overnight bottomed out in the low 20s in parts of the state and even were at the freezing mark in south Alabama.

Here were the lowest temperatures between midnight and 6 a.m. Sunday from around Alabama from the National Weather Service:

* Alexander City: 30 degrees

* Anniston: 23 degrees

* Auburn: 28 degrees

* Birmingham: 24 degrees

* Decatur: 25 degrees

* Demopolis: 25 degrees

* Dothan: 30 degrees

* Evergreen: 28 degrees

* Eufaula: 28 degrees

* Gadsden: 21 degrees

* Haleyville: 22 degrees

* Huntsville: 26 degrees

* Mobile: 31 degrees

* Montgomery: 25 degrees

* Muscle Shoals: 24 degrees

* Ozark: 29 degrees

* Prattville: 25 degrees

* Sylacauga: 24 degrees

* Talladega: 22 degrees

* Troy: 26 degrees

* Tuscaloosa: 25 degrees

Temperatures today will be a few degrees higher than on Saturday. Highs will range from the low to mid-40s in south Alabama to the 50s in central Alabama, to the mid-50s in south Alabama (today’s forecast is at the top of this post).

Tonight will be chilly again, but not as cold as last night. Here are the forecast low temperatures from Sunday night into Monday morning:

Tonight’s low temperatures won’t be quite as cold as last night.NWS

Gradual warming is expected to continue this week, with the next chances for rain arriving on Wednesday, Christmas Day. The weather service isn’t expecting a lot of rain, and no severe weather is anticipated.

High temperatures on Christmas Day will be warmer, with 60s expected across a wide area and possibly some 70s near the coast. Here are the expected Christmas Day temperatures:

Wednesday highs — It will be warmer across much of Alabama on Christmas Day. Above is the forecast for Wednesday.NWS

The warming trend looks to hold past Christmas. Here is the six- to 10-day temperature outlook, and it shows a high probability of above-average temperatures for Alabama through the end of December: