NEWS AND FEATURES
Modeling non-anxious leadership during pandemic
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — As the U.S. coronavirus death count mounts and the economy suffers, United Methodist bishops, pastors and chaplains keep reminding the faithful that God is with us. Jim Patterson reports.
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Church leaders urge African Americans to stay healthy
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Black leaders in The United Methodist Church issued a call to action for their communities to take COVID-19 guidelines seriously. In the wake of recent findings that African Americans are dying from the disease at disproportionate rates in the U.S., Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century, in partnership with United Methodist Discipleship Ministries, hosted a virtual summit on April 9. Kathy L. Gilbert reports.
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Military chaplains deployed in pandemicLOS ANGELES (UM News) — Two United Methodist military chaplains are in deployments directly related to the coronavirus pandemic. One led Holy Week services on a hospital ship and another in National Guard armories. Sam Hodges reports.Read story
Covenant groups unite Moscow seminary studentsMOSCOW (UM News) — When self-isolation and social distancing became necessary, students of a United Methodist seminary in Moscow already had in place a way to maintain contact and fellowship through online covenant groups. The Rev. Sergei Nikolaev, seminary president, has the story.
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Mission hospital sends pregnant women home to wait
MANICALAND, Zimbabwe (UM News) — A United Methodist mission hospital is sending pregnant women home to protect them from the coronavirus while they wait for labor to start. Meanwhile, the number seeking shelter has surged. Chenayi Kumuterera reports.
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Easter celebrated amid storms, pandemicSTERLINGTON, La. (UM News) — Deadly storms, tornadoes and the coronavirus failed to overcome the spirit of Easter as United Methodists responded to multiple dangers as "resurrection people." Storms killed more than 30 people in the South. Kathy L. Gilbert, Linda Bloom and Sam Hodges report.
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Church agencies get go-ahead to seek US loansNASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The General Council on Finance and Administration board gave approval for the finance agency and other general agencies to apply for small-business loans under the U.S. CARES Act. Heather Hahn reports.
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How a new law helps churches
United Methodist Communications, Discipleship Ministries
Virtual choir sings 'Christ the Lord Is Risen Today'NASHVILLE, Tenn. — More than 300 Christians from around the globe submitted videos of themselves singing Charles Wesley's beloved Easter hymn "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today." One sang in American Sign Language. Churches can use the video throughout the Easter season.
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Ask The UMC
Understanding human sufferingNASHVILLE, Tenn. — When tragedy strikes, it is common to ask why. United Methodists often turn to their faith, but answers don't come easily. Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, looks to the words of Jesus and John Wesley to offer comfort during tough times.
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Why is the Easter season 50 days long?
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South Georgia Conference
Georgians sew masks for patients, workersALBANY, Ga. — In the midst of the coronavirus crisis, it often helps to focus on what you can do rather than what you can't. That's what many South Georgia United Methodists are doing by sewing masks for patients and health care workers. Kara Witherow has the story.Read story
World Council of Churches
Protecting women from violence during pandemicGENEVA — In many countries, the rise of domestic abuse is being called "a new COVID-19 crisis" as movement restrictions aimed to stop the spread of the coronavirus are making violence in homes more frequent, more severe and more dangerous. Supporters of Thursdays in Black, the global campaign for a world free from rape and violence, are calling on everyone to protect women from this threat.
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United Methodist Communications
The need for giving when church doors closeNASHVILLE, Tenn. — Although there are no offering plates making their way down the pews these days, pastors are still at work and ministry needs are growing. Crystal Caviness writes about how United Methodists can help.
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Global Ministries
Methodists in Mongolia envision the futureATLANTA — The Mongolia Mission Initiative, which grew out of a hospice care ministry, became part of the Southeast Asia and Mongolia Provisional Central Conference in 2016. Currently, the mission includes 13 churches led by national leaders and plans are underway for a self-sustaining future. Christie R. House has the story.
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Illinois Great Rivers Conference
MacMurray College to closeJACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Citing declining enrollment and a small endowment, the board of trustees of MacMurray College announced it will close at the end of the spring semester. The college was founded in 1846 by Methodist clergy. The coronavirus did hurt the United Methodist-related college financially, but it is not a principal reason for the closure, school officials said. Paul Black reports.
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PRESS RELEASES
United Methodist Publishing House
Far-reaching permission for online worshipNASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Publishing House says each church is free to reproduce liturgical text as needed. During the COVID-19 crisis, the publishing house also has waived the need for churches to ask permission to use liturgical texts in livestreamed or recorded worship.
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Wespath Benefits and Investments
Joining alliance for net-zero carbon emissionsGLENVIEW, Ill. — Wespath Benefits and Investments has become the 22nd member of the United Nations-convened Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance. The alliance is a group of pension funds and insurers that pursue investment strategies to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
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National and World Councils of Churches
Church leaders: Iran sanctions hinder COVID-19 careWASHINGTON — Ecumenical church leaders are urging the U.S. to lift crippling sanctions against Iran that are greatly impeding response in that nation to COVID-19. As of April 13, Iran had more than 73,000 confirmed cases and nearly 4,600 documented deaths due to COVID-19, making it one of the most affected countries in the world.
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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.
Faith community must support those suffering abuseBOSTON (UM News) — While social distancing will slow the spread of the coronavirus, isolation is both a risk factor and a weapon of abuse, writes the Rev. Anne Marie Hunter. "Sheltering in place" with someone who is abusive is at best dangerous and at worst a death sentence, the New England Conference elder writes.
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Collaboration can help eradicate COVID-19NEW YORK (UM News) — Multilateralism is often misconstrued to be about the global and not about local and daily life. But the novel coronavirus pandemic is showing that the local and the global are simultaneous realities, writes the Rev. Liberato C. Bautista, who leads the U.N. office of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society.
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RESOURCES
United Methodist Communications
Support Native American ministriesNASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Yankton Sioux Tribe on the White Swan Reservation in South Dakota was still recovering from flooding when the coronavirus pandemic was declared. The Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference helped the tribe purchase food and supplies to distribute during the crisis. The support was made possible through giving on Native American Ministries Sunday. This year, the United Methodist Special Sunday will be celebrated on April 26. During this time of social distancing, churches can encourage members to give online or choose a different date to celebrate.
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Camp & Retreat Ministries
Bringing day camp to your computer screenNASHVILLE, Tenn. — In this time of social distancing, United Methodist Camp & Retreat Ministries has established Virtual Day Camp to help people experience some of the joy of camp at home. Each day, campers can log in and follow a day camp session, exploring topics such as spiritual development, nature exploration, science, music and art.
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