UM News Weekly Digest - Mar 13, 2020

NEWS AND FEATURES Adjusting to coronavirus threat DES MOINES, Wash. (UM News) — United Methodists in the Seattle area are in the forefront as churches and conference staff try to adapt and take precautions as exposure to the coronavirus becomes a reality. The positive test result of a staff member's spouse for COVID-19 resulted in a decision to close the Pacific Northwest Conference office until March 27. Linda Bloom reports. Read story Conference cancels all events due to coronavirus Wespath: Coronavirus and stock market volatility 8 bishops join in planning new denomination ATLANTA (UM News) — A group of United Methodist leaders, including eight bishops, has issued a statement sharing its vision for a new traditionalist denomination. Texas Conference Bishop Scott Jones helped convene the meeting that led to the statement. He said he wanted to provide good options should delegates to the 2020 General Conference vote for the protocol plan. Sam Hodges and Heather Hahn have the story. Read story Potential split leads to deep budget cutsNASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The United Methodist finance agency's board narrowly approved reductions to an already slashed denominational budget. The result would be the smallest budget since 1988. Heather Hahn reports. Read storyRead press release Houston megachurch pastor pleads guiltyHOUSTON (UM News) — The longtime pastor of The United Methodist Church’s largest congregation has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in what authorities called a multimillion-dollar investment scheme. The Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell, of Houston's 18,000-member Windsor Village United Methodist Church, entered his plea March 11 in federal court in Shreveport, Louisiana. Sam Hodges reports. Read storyRead earlier coverage 'Sacred Trust' report touts local church leadershipNASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodism should consider returning to its roots by relying more on lay people and ordained local ministers, according to a ministry study commission report. Jim Patterson reports.Read story Church members worship after tornadoes NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Church members gathered to find comfort and inspiration in worship after tornadoes killed at least 24 people and caused extensive property damage in Middle Tennessee. The UM News team reports on Sunday services. Read story Tennessee tornadoes take lives, damage churches Retired pastor’s home lost to tornado 'Liberation Methodist Church' gets a hearing DALLAS (UM News) — A proposed new denomination, tentatively called the Liberation Methodist Church, got plenty of discussion at a UM-Forward event held March 6-8 in Dallas. Others attending said they still prefer to work within The United Methodist Church for a comprehensive social-justice-focused approach to ministry. Sam Hodges reports. Read story Sierra Leone Conference approves protocol KOIDU CITY, Sierra Leone (UM News) — The Sierra Leone Conference voted to be the second United Methodist annual conference to approve and send to the 2020 General Conference legislation for the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation, a plan for an amicable separation of the denomination. Kathy L. Gilbert reports. Read story Michigan sends protocol plan to GC2020 Ask The UMC How are decisions made at General Conference?NASHVILLE, Tenn. — At General Conference, delegates gather from all over the world to consider revisions to church law and the official ritual of the church and to adopt resolutions on current moral, social, public policy and economic issues. Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, explains how the legislative body makes decisions. Read story Read more Ask The UMC Preaching the Gospel in busy marketplaceHARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Within the hustle and bustle of the Tichagarika Shopping Center, lives are being transformed through midday prayer meetings. "Lunch-hour ministry for market traders is a game changer for our connectional ministries," said the Rev. Vienna Mutezo. The Rev. Taurai Emmanuel Maforo has the story. Read story Florida Conference Pastor's call stronger than obstacles she facedTAMPA, Fla. — The Rev. Geraldine McClellan grew up serious, studious and devout. But she was a girl instead of a boy and black instead of white, and that would make things difficult later. Eventually she became the first black woman pastor and district superintendent in the Florida Conference. William March has McClellan’s story.Read story United Methodist Men UM Men mull futureNASHVILLE, Tenn. — The upcoming 2020 General Conference was on the mind of participants at United Methodist Men's March 5-8 National Association of Conference Presidents meeting. With looming budget cuts and a potential denominational split, the group discussed plans on how to weather the financial impact to its ministry, as well as how to continue to minister to any new expression of Methodism that may arise. The Rev. Richard Peck reports. Read story Fostering healthy smiles in ZimbabweCHIMANIMANI, Zimbabwe (UM News) — One thousand rural schoolchildren have brighter smiles thanks to a two-week dental outreach program led by The United Methodist Church and a Swedish dental team with Dentists Without Borders. The program provides free services, including oral health education, fillings and extractions of broken and decayed teeth. Kudzai Chingwe has the story.Read story World Council of Churches 'Refugees and migrants are not missiles'GENEVA — Clashes between Turkish and Syrian government forces in Syria’s Idlib province have taken a toll on Syrian civilians, and Turkey and Russia have a responsibility toward them, says the top executive of the World Council of Churches. "What is lost in this tragic situation," observed the Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit, "is that refugees and migrants are not missiles to be launched against adversaries, or to be deflected like incoming projectiles. They are people — children, women and men — many of whom have fled for their lives from the horrors of war in Syria." Read story Read NPR story The Herald Bulletin Butterflies are Easter tradition at Indiana churchANDERSON, Ind. — Butterflies have become a tradition during Easter season at Bethel United Methodist Church, thanks to the Rev. Kristine Marshall, who is also an artist. She said the colorful giant wings in front of the church represent the freedom Jesus offers Christians. Don Knight reports. Read story Yamika Herald-Republic 'Wish-cycling' problematic for church volunteersYAMIKA, Wash. — The problem of leaving inappropriate items at a recycling site has gotten so bad it has a name: "wish-cycling." At Wesley United Methodist Church, the Rev. Shane Moore says volunteers put in 40 hours a week, and sifting through unwanted items makes the job harder. Lex Talamo has the story. Read story South Carolina Conference Gearing up for Earth Day at 50COLUMBIA, S.C. — A group of Christian environmentalists, including United Methodists, is planning a major awareness, education and action event to help people be good stewards of God's creation. The South Carolina Statehouse event will be April 22, the 50th Earth Day. Jessica Brodie has the story. Read story Oklahoma Conference An ally to Native churchesOKLAHOMA CITY — Many Native United Methodist churches today are among the few places contemporary tribal people can hear and speak their languages. The Rev. David Wilson said communities are changing and small towns are disappearing, however, the Native churches of the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference remain a constant in those areas. Ginny Underwood looks at the history of the missionary conference and what lies ahead for Native ministries, as well as tips for supporting indigenous peoples. Read story Arkansas Conference Church makes special-needs children a priorityLITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A new special-needs ministry at St. James United Methodist Church is providing "buddies" for people with cognitive, behavioral or developmental challenges to help them be comfortable at church. Sean Dunbar, the children's ministry coordinator for St. James, said the hope is to provide a culture of belonging. Sam Pierce has the story. Read story Tampa Bay Times Parking lot sale brings windfall to churchST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A decision by Christ United Methodist Church, struggling financially, to sell the congregation's parking lot netted a multimillion-dollar fund to put the church on a path to stability while further investing in ministries. And the church will get the use of up to 120 free parking spaces on Sundays when the structure replacing the lot is finished. Waveney Ann Moore reports. Read story United Methodist Development Fund New partnership will provide church loansAUSTIN, Texas — The Kansas Area United Methodist Foundation and the Austin-based United Methodist Development Fund will provide loans to local churches in the Great Plains Conference, starting this year. Partnering with UMDF will allow the foundation to make larger loans and a greater volume of loans than it could on its own. Read story Watch video Missouri Conference Former professor now EarthKeepers instructorSPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Janice Greene is still teaching after ending her long career as a university biology instructor. Now, she leads EarthKeepers meetings at Asbury United Methodist Church and elsewhere to share ideas about helping the environment. Read story PRESS RELEASES Council of Bishops Top court asked to look at protocol legislationWASHINGTON — The United Methodist Council of Bishops has asked the denomination's highest court, the Judicial Council, to decide whether the legislation implementing the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation is constitutional. Read press release Inter-Ethnic Strategy & Development Group Inter-ethnic group calls for prioritizing regionalizationMINNEAPOLIS — Regionalization legislation that originated in the Philippines and Africa should take priority at the 2020 General Conference followed by the protocol for separation, said the Inter-Ethnic Strategy and Development Group. The group represents five United Methodist racial-ethnic caucuses.Read statement COMMENTARIES UM News includes in the Daily Digest various commentaries about issues in the denomination. The opinion pieces reflect a variety of viewpoints and are the opinions of the writers, not the UM News staff. Michigan Conference Church, land returned to Saginaw Chippewa TribeSTANDISH, Mich. — The 2 acres of the now-closed Saganing Indian Mission United Methodist Church along with its buildings were returned to the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe in a "Gratification Exchange" ceremony last month. The Rev. Benton Heisler, director of connectional ministry, attended and shares his impressions of the event. Read commentary Discipleship Ministries A prayer for the denominationDALLAS — The Rev. Mark W. Stamm, professor of Christian worship at Perkins School of Theology, has written a prayer for The United Methodist Church as it faces troubling questions about its future, including the possible departure of many traditionalist congregations. Stamm, a third-generation Methodist elder, shared with Discipleship Ministries how he came to write the prayer and background on the form he chose.Read commentary

EVENTS Here are some of the activities ahead for United Methodists across the connection. If you have an item to share, you can add it to the calendar with this submission form. Sunday, March 15Deadline for Young Clergy Initiative grant proposals Sunday, March 22UMCOR Sunday