May 1, 2019

The Bishop’s Offering for Annual Conference 2019 will be divided evenly between a restart of the FAMU Wesley Foundation in Tallahassee and planting a new church in Lowell Women’s Prison in Reddick.

Lowell Correctional Institution
The Florida Conference is joining a trend in the US by placing a United Methodist church inside a state prison. A pastor will be assigned to serve at Lowell Correctional Institution for women in Reddick, Florida. The idea to partner with Prison Congregations of America, a consulting group that helps denominations establish worshiping congregations in prisons, came after Bishop Carter heard about a church based in a prison in Tennessee. Currently there are 34 prison-based churches in the United States, including two UMC prison churches in Tennessee and Iowa. Conference officials chose Lowell because it houses the most women (3,054) in a correctional institution in the United States, including three on death row. 

Impact at Florida A&M University Wesley Foundation
Part of our vision for IMPACT@FAMU Wesley Foundation is to create a “home away from home” for our students, an office/pastoral care area for the Executive Director, and a place to worship, gather, learn, play, and pray for the FAMU campus at large. We call this space the IMPACT House, a spiritual Living & Learning Experience for our IMPACT FAMUly. The money collected via this offering will help to make this vision a reality. 

We are asking local churches to receive an offering in May as a participation in this expression of God’s mission. Please use the attached bulletin insert as needed.

The Peace of the Lord,

Ken Carter
Florida Area Resident Bishop
The United Methodist Church