NEWS AND FEATURES
COVID-19 testing czar gets home church support
WASHINGTON (UM News) — Since mid-March, Admiral Brett Giroir has led the federal effort to coordinate and expand testing for the coronavirus. The 59-year-old pediatrician and public health specialist has spoken at White House briefings, given national TV interviews and attended many high-level meetings. Busy as he is, he finds time to read encouraging texts and emails from members of his home church, Dallas' Lovers Lane United Methodist. Sam Hodges reports.
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Pandemic tests church's justice commitments
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Bishops during their first virtual meeting discussed how COVID-19 is exacerbating already existing injustices. They also discussed how the church could help alleviate suffering. Heather Hahn has the story.
Read storyRead Council of Bishops press release
Bishops look at financial sustainabilityNASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the fund that supports bishops' work was at risk of running out of money in four years. During their online meeting, bishops agreed to examine ways to prevent that. Heather Hahn reports.
Read storyBishops urge attention to GC2021 date request
Helping out creatively during the pandemic
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — As United Methodists everywhere are working to get food where it's needed and give people attention while they are stuck inside, some are giving more unusual gifts. A bagpiper, two pastors and a licensed counselor are among this group. Jim Patterson reports.
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Native caucus sounds alarm over tribal land disputeMASHPEE, Mass. (UM News) — While most people in the United States have been focusing on the COVID-19 pandemic, a decision to revoke the reservation status of a Native American tribe's more than 300 acres in Massachusetts has gone relatively unnoticed, according to the Native American International Caucus of The United Methodist Church. Ginny Underwood reports.Read story
Publishing house laying off about 70 workersNASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The United Methodist Publishing House is laying off about 70 workers beginning in June, partly because of the impact of the coronavirus on church attendance. The layoffs, about one-fourth of the 296 employees, were announced as the denominational publishing agency predicted as much as a 50% decline in sales. Kathy L. Gilbert reports.
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Conference reports
Pandemic leads conferences to lay off, furlough staffMONTGOMERY, Ala. — The financial fallout of the pandemic is affecting United Methodist conferences. The Alabama-West Florida Conference plans to eliminate 14 conference and district positions and cut senior staff salaries. The Virginia Conference has laid off five employees and reduced two positions to part-time. The Greater New Jersey Conference is furloughing executive staff for three-quarters of a month and the rest of staff for half a month.
Read Alabama-West Florida Conference story
Read Virginia Conference story
Read message from Bishop Schol
United Methodist Communications
A pandemic changes everything, even griefNASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMC.org) — When Gerri Helms lost her husband to a sudden heart attack, she learned firsthand how COVID-19 changes grief. "People are finding ways to let you know they are there for you," Helms said, "but it's nothing like a family being together." Crystal Caviness reports.
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East Ohio Conference
Caring for truck driversCONNEAUT, Ohio — A church in eastern Ohio is easing the load on truck drivers who come through the area delivering food during the coronavirus pandemic. Members of Amboy United Methodist Church have set up shop at a rest stop to hand out goody bags with snacks and bottled water for truckers. A prayer is stapled to the outside of each bag. Brett Hetherington has the story.
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Various advocacy groups
Groups press forward amid General Conference delayMINNEAPOLIS — With General Conference on hold for at least a year, various United Methodist advocacy groups are pressing ahead with the church future they envision. Mainstream UMC is asking bishops for a moratorium on church trials and a more gracious exit for churches that want to leave. The Wesleyan Covenant Association continues with plans to launch a new traditionalist Methodist Church. UM-Forward released a video of its vision of a Liberation Methodist Church. Reconciling Ministries Network held a virtual worship service.
Watch Mainstream UMC town hall
Read Wesleyan Covenant Association's essay
Watch UM-Forward videoWatch Reconciling Ministries Network service
South Georgia Conference
Georgia churchgoers share Agape MealMACON, Ga. — In this time of crisis, the things people need most are prayer, support and encouragement. On May 3, the South Georgia Conference gathered for a virtual Agape Meal to bring these three elements together. The conference reports that it was embracing a tradition the Moravians introduced to John Wesley.
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Kentucky Conference
COVID-19 case quarantines campus ministryLEXINGTON, Ky. — A female resident of the University of Kentucky Wesley Foundation has tested positive for COVID-19, and a dozen students in the dormitory are in quarantine for 14 days, staff said. The resident is experiencing symptoms but is not expected to need hospitalization.
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World Council of Churches
Korea recognizes ecumenical effort for peaceOSLO, Norway — To recognize the decades-long work of the World Council of Churches to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula, the Republic of Korea presented a civil merit medal to the Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit on May 5 during a ceremony at its embassy. Anne Casparsson reports.
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Western North Carolina Conference
Being the rural church in a pandemicHUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — Rural churches have a unique opportunity to provide resources, connections and hope during these stressful times. The Means of Grace podcast features a conversation with the Revs. Santosh Niroula, Kristen Richardson-Frick and Allen Stanton, three leaders who have experience and expertise in leading and understanding churches in rural areas.
Listen to podcast
PRESS RELEASES
Greater New Jersey Conference
Conference plans push for food securityNEPTUNE, N.J. — Bishop John Schol addressed more than a thousand United Methodist leaders of Greater New Jersey via Zoom and YouTube to discuss a plan to address the realities of COVID-19. "The plan’s first step is to turn the church outward during the pandemic by modifying current spending and raising new funds to allocate $500,000 for food security," Schol said. Two Greater New Jersey clergy and more than 100 laity have died because of COVID-19 and more than 600 clergy and laity have been infected with the virus.
Read press release
Church and Society
Webinars to focus on COVID-19, social justiceWASHINGTON — The United Methodist Board of Church and Society will offer a series of webinars on COVID-19 and social justice issues on Thursdays, May 21-June 18. The series will feature experts talking about taking action for a long-lasting change post-COVID-19, said Aimee Hong, director of education and engagement.
Learn more or register
United Methodist Communications
#IGiveUMC campaign honors loved onesNASHVILLE, Tenn. — The new #IGiveUMC campaign launched this week invites donations in honor of a loved one to the church their honoree attends, their own church or a church with family ties. The giving campaign by United Methodist Communications in partnership with the General Council on Finance and Administration encourages donors to post a photograph or video on social media using the campaign hashtag.
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Project Transformation
Summer youth program makes COVID-19 changesDALLAS — Project Transformation, a nonprofit that gives college-age students the opportunity to work with vulnerable youth, will not have in-person summer camps this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, virtual programming will be offered, along with food distribution. Urban United Methodist churches are principal locations for Project Transformation's work.
Read press release
Archives and History
New leader sought for Archives and HistoryMADISON, N.J. — The Rev. Alfred T. Day, top executive, United Methodist Commission on Archives and History, has announced his plans to retire before the end of 2020. Day served 45 years in pastoral and supervisory ministries in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and globally in his role with Archives and History. People wishing to apply for the general secretary position must submit materials by June 15.
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World Methodist Council
Postponement for 2021 World Methodist ConferenceLAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. — The next World Methodist Conference, originally scheduled for Aug. 18-21, 2021, in Gothenburg, Sweden, has been postponed to Aug. 10-14, 2022. The decision came after the pandemic forced member churches, including The United Methodist Church, to delay their General Conferences.
Read press release
United Church of Christ
Bishop joins in National Day of PrayerWEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In this time of COVID-19, the United Church of Christ has assembled 46 original prayers for healing written by people of many faiths. Among the contributors is Bishop Minerva Carcaño of the California-Nevada Conference.
Read prayer
Read press release
LaGrange College
College names new presidentLAGRANGE, Ga. — Susanna Baxter, current president of the Georgia Independent College Association, was named the 26th president of United Methodist-related LaGrange College after a unanimous vote by the institution's board of trustees. She is the second woman to serve as the college's president.
Read press release
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.
Baltimore-Washington Conference
Online communion 'sacramentally impossible'WASHINGTON — Some United Methodist bishops have given permission for online communion while the coronavirus pandemic continues to keep many churches from meeting in person. But Ryan Danker, who teaches at Wesley Theological Seminary, writes that online communion is "sacramentally impossible from a United Methodist perspective."
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Church Topics
10 reasons for online communionDALLAS — The Rev. Owen Ross recalls how, as a Peace Corps volunteer in rural Ecuador, he was desperate to experience communion. He gives his 10 reasons for why, in the current pandemic, online communion should be an option available to United Methodist churches. Ross is director of church development for the North Texas Conference.
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Florida Conference
The difficulties are real, but no one is aloneSAN ANTONIO — If you are struggling to find a sustainable rhythm or sense of balance in this time of isolation, know that you are not alone. The Rev. Lenora Rousseau, a pastoral director and chaplain, offers suggestions for dealing with the stress and responding positively to God.
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