Bishop Merrill Announces Conference Staff Role Changes for 2025-2026
Bishop Laura Merrill is announcing the appointment of Rev. Judy Rudd to the position of Assistant to the Bishop, effective July 1, 2025. In addition, she is naming Amy Ezell as Director of Connectional Ministries (DCM), also effective July 1. Rudd and Ezell will work cooperatively to fill the roles held by Rev. Jim Polk, […]
Immigration Message from Bishop Laura Merrill
Friends in Christ: I write as your bishop, to share my thoughts on the issue of our national immigration policy and the individuals, families, and communities it impacts. I have been in prayer about sharing my experience with you and do so now in a spirit of openness, hoping to make space for conversation that […]
January 2025 California Fires Message
Friends, as folks in Oklahoma and Arkansas have been staying warm in the snow – and helping neighbors in need do so as well–we know that friends in California are in the grip of terrifying, relentless wildfires. Two churches have been burned, with many others evacuated; California-Pacific Conference Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank was evacuated from her […]
A Christmas message from Bishop Laura Merrill
Beloveds in Christ: I write to send you warm greetings this Christmas. I trust that you are surrounded by the blessings that the season brings–music, color, people, gifts, and lights in the night. Some of you have set aside time for special worship and Advent devotions; folks from all three conferences enjoyed three lovely Wednesday […]
Arkansas Conference Staff Restructuring
Greetings to the Arkansas Annual Conference! I write with a follow-up to the communication shared by our Conference Council on Finance (CFA) on their work on the conference budget and resulting staff reductions. I give God thanks for the work the CFA has done on our behalf, especially over the past 18 months. In 2023, […]
Bishop Merrill’s Vision for the Arkansas Conference
I want to let you know about a prayer effort that you’re invited to join during the season of Lent. As we prepare for the upcoming General Conference, your conference board of discipleship has created a set of prayer resources for us to use together. They’ve taken the theme of the General Conference, which comes […]
Advent message from Bishop Merrill
The following is excerpted from a sermon preached on December 2, 2023, using scripture texts from the first Sunday of Advent: Isaiah 64:1-9; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; Mark 13:24-37 – It’s Advent, as you know; ”ad” means toward, and “vent” means to come. Those are movement words. We know this is a season of waiting, and […]
Summer Message from Bishop Laura Merrill
It’s been three weeks since we gathered as the Arkansas Annual Conference in Hot Springs, and I am still reflecting on and giving God thanks for that event. As we move into full-on summer, I want to share some thoughts and information with you. Conference staff and other leaders have already held multiple conversations to […]
Episcopal Address – Annual Conference 2023
Isaiah 55:1-3 People of the Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church, as a part of this opening service of worship, I greet you in the name and spirit of Jesus Christ. We stand on holy ground today, because of Christ’s presence with us. We stand on holy ground, because in this worship, we have […]