NEWS AND FEATURES
Conferences to vote on forwarding protocol legislation
LANSING, Mich. (UM News) — At least two United Methodist annual conferences plan to vote next month on whether to forward to the 2020 General Conference legislation for the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation. Though the protocol itself made international news with its announcement in early January, the legislation to enact it has just been released. Sam Hodges reports.
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New effort starts for same-sex weddings
DALLAS (UM News) — A new group called Marriage Rites is seeking to connect LGBTQ couples with United Methodist clergy willing to officiate at their weddings. This effort across the U.S. comes as new mandatory penalties for performing such unions take effect. Heather Hahn reports.
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Sierra Leone church celebrates end of land disputeFREETOWN, Sierra Leone (UM News) — The Sierra Leone Ministry of Lands has closed the door on a land dispute between The United Methodist Church and the Masantigie community, but not before issuing a stern warning about keeping the peace. Last year, the Sierra Leone Conference agreed to give 60 acres of its 443-acre Pa Loko land to the village community. Phileas Jusu reports.
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Filipino United Methodists defend Lumad sanctuaryMINDANAO, Philippines (UM News) — United Methodists were among those who opposed a resolution to close down Haran Mission Center, a sanctuary to around 500 displaced Lumads. United Methodist Bishop Rodolfo A. Juan condemned the order and a subsequent raid of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines center by a paramilitary group. Gladys P. Mangiduyos reports.Read story
Plans for late-arriving GC2020 legislationNASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The group that organizes General Conference held a special meeting to discuss the process for receiving legislation — such as the protocol — after the usual petition deadline. The group also received an update on challenges to delegates getting required visas. Heather Hahn reports.Read story
German church proposes way to preserve connection
FULDA, Germany (UM News) — A roundtable appointed to find a way forward for The United Methodist Church in Germany has proposed deleting all Book of Discipline passages about ordination of LGBTQ clergy and blessing of same-sex marriages. The group also suggested creating an association for those who hold to current bans. Klaus Ulrich Ruof reports.
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United Methodist Communications
Ask The UMC: Role of General Conference delegatesNASHVILLE, Tenn. — Every four years, delegates gather from all over the world to make decisions on behalf of The United Methodist Church. Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, explains how delegates are selected and their role at General Conference.
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Pre-General Conference presentations onlineNASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Now online are videos and related materials for each of the presentations at the Pre-General Conference Briefing on Jan. 23-24. The gathering offered an overview of various proposals heading to the 2020 General Conference.
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Foretaste of what’s on the table at GC2020
Theological e-Academy is 'game changer' in East AfricaNAIROBI, Kenya (UM News) — United Methodist theological colleges in East Africa now can deliver education at a distance. Launched in December, the new United Methodist e-Academy aims to equip people for ordained and lay leadership in rural communities. Gad Maiga has the story.
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Eastern Pennsylvania Conference
Black church leaders explore GC2020 legislationPHILADELPHIA — More than 600 African Americans from the Northeastern Jurisdiction were briefed on plans for the future of The United Methodist Church that will likely be considered at the 2020 General Conference. More such events are planned for February and March. John W. Coleman reports.
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United Methodist women plan school in HarareHARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — The Zimbabwe West Conference women’s organization has embarked on what they hope will be a life-changing project: the establishment of Barrington Christian School, the first United Methodist private school in the urban part of Harare and the first to be run by United Methodist women. Kudzai Chingwe reports.Read story
Discipleship Ministries
Concern for children helps church growMENDOTA, Ill. — The Rev. Hogun Kim encouraged his congregation of Zion United Methodist Church to spend time with God. That led to the church holding its first vacation Bible school in more than 20 years, and in turn, led to several new families joining the church. The Rev. Jeff Campbell has the story.
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United Methodist Men
Methodist Scouting celebrates 100th birthdayNASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Methodist Episcopal Church officially recognized Scouting in February 1920. This month, as the 100th anniversary is celebrated, 3,111 United Methodist congregations charter 9,611 Scout units. Those serve 309,739 young people. United Methodist churches provide home base for more Scouts than any other denomination in America.
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Texas Conference
Houston churches step up after explosionHOUSTON — A Jan. 24 explosion in a manufacturing building caused two deaths, as well as injuries and widespread property damage. Local United Methodist churches went to work right away, providing shelter and home repairs.
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Florida Conference
Church makes big gift to local nonprofitGAINESVILLE, Fla. — Trinity United Methodist Church devoted a special offering of nearly $29,000 to the local nonprofit Partnership for Strong Families. The group works with youth who have suffered abuse, neglect or abandonment.
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Baltimore-Washington Conference
Church helps Deaf woman's journey to citizenshipBALTIMORE — It took a long and frustrating two years and seven months for a Deaf woman to navigate the immigration system, become a naturalized citizen of the United States, and finally sleep well at night again. Justice for Our Neighbors and the Deaf Shalom Zone — both United Methodist-supported ministries — helped the woman meet the challenges. The Rev. Emily Hart has the story.
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New annual conference reports NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist News is continuing to post 2019 annual conference reports. New reports from the central conferences include North Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe West.
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PRESS RELEASES
Global Ministries
Mission agency CEO will not stand for reelectionATLANTA — Thomas Kemper will not stand for reelection as chief executive of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. Kemper — who has led the worldwide mission and humanitarian service agency for the last 10 years — said in a memo to staff that he and his wife, Barbara, planned to relocate to their native Germany. Elliott Wright reports.Read press release
Global Ministries
UMCOR joins coronavirus fightATLANTA — Working to support the efforts of local partners in China dealing with the coronavirus crisis, the United Methodist Committee on Relief is sending an emergency grant to Amity Foundation in Nanjing, China. The grant will immediately enable infection, prevention and control measures to limit the spread of respiratory diseases such as the new virus.
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The Church in China: Focus on disaster relief
United Methodist Committee on Relief
UMCOR creates John Wesley Fund for U.S. disastersATLANTA — An anonymous benefactor has pledged over the next 10 years the income from a $5 million asset to support the training of United Methodist Committee on Relief volunteers and its continued response to U.S. disasters. UMCOR is using the pledge to create The John Wesley Fund for U.S. Disaster Response.
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Council of Bishops
Registration open for ecumenical workshopWASHINGTON — Early registration is open for United Methodists to participate in the National Workshop on Christian Unity in the U.S. on March 23-26 in Houston. United Methodists can register by selecting UMEIT. Six partial scholarships of $300 are available. To apply, email the Rev. Jean Hawxhurst at jhawxhurst@umc-cob.org before Feb. 17.
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The Upper Room
Wesley Pilgrimage 2020 remains open for sign-upNASHVILLE, Tenn. — Registration remains open for the 2020 Wesley Pilgrimage in England. The July 27-Aug. 6 event includes visits to six cities important to the Wesley family and Methodism’s founding. The Upper Room is a sponsor, along with the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry and the Commission on Archives & History.
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General Council on Finance and Administration
Board officers discuss impact of proposalsNASHVILLE, Tenn. — The board officers of the General Council on Finance and Administration on Jan. 31 discussed the potential financial impact of various proposals related to the structure of The United Methodist Church. The officers decided that agency staff will engage various bodies on the potential impact of these proposals, including the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation.
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Central Texas Conference
Bishop Lowry to take seminary postDAYTON, Ohio — Central Texas Conference Bishop Mike Lowry will become bishop-in-residence at United Theological Seminary this fall. Lowry, who will retire as bishop in September, will be the first to hold that position at the United Methodist seminary in Dayton. He currently serves on United’s board of trustees.
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RESOURCES
Foundation for Evangelism
Study guide offers 'deep dive' into evangelismLAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. — A new group study guide has been released for “The E Word” webinar, which launched in November 2019. Written by the Rev. Heather Lear, the guide provides a way for small groups and congregations to dive deep into what evangelism means and learn how to better tell the Gospel story to their community.
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COMMENTARIES
Michigan Conference
The power of love and compassionANN ARBOR, Mich. — In 25 years of adopting rescue greyhounds, the Rev. Elizabeth Hill learned that each dog came with its own distinct fears and reactions due to previous treatment, but those fears usually went away after the animal was shown compassion and love. She likens new people arriving at a church to her dogs. They bring their past hurts with them, and showing them compassion and love will go a long way, Hill writes.
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