NEWS AND FEATURES
Africa University vice chancellor Furusa dies at 59
MUTARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Professor Munashe Furusa, Africa University's fourth vice chancellor, died suddenly Jan. 13 at a local hospital. He was 59. He is being remembered as an innovative educational leader. Eveline Chikwanah and Kathy L. Gilbert report.
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United Methodists killed in Congo massacre
BENI, Congo (UM News) — At least 25 civilians, including seven United Methodists from two families, were killed in the latest violence in this East Congo territory, according to the Rev. Dumas Balaganire. The church members were killed as they prepared for a baptism. Philippe Kituka Lolonga reports.
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Former megachurch pastor sentenced
SHREVEPORT, La. (UM News) — Kirbyjon Caldwell, former pastor of Houston's Windsor Village United Methodist Church, was sentenced to six years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a $3.5 million investment scheme. Caldwell, who has made restitution of more than $4 million to victims of the scheme, apologized for his conduct during a Jan. 13 sentencing hearing in federal court.
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2020: The year in UM News photos
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The year 2020 was an eventful and difficult one for The United Methodist Church. Photographers from UM News, the denomination's official news service, documented a year in the life of United Methodism worldwide.
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Grappling with postponed General Conference
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Organizers have yet to determine whether the pandemic-postponed General Conference can go forward as planned on Aug. 29-Sept. 7 in Minneapolis. They have decided not to reopen the usual process for accepting proposed legislation to the lawmaking assembly. Heather Hahn reports.
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Ask The UMC
Why do United Methodists observe Human Relations Day?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Every January, on the Sunday before the observation of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, United Methodists come together to help bridge the gap between church and community by participating in an offering on Human Relations Day. Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, has more on this churchwide Special Sunday.
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Council of Bishops
Bishops call for action in changing times
WASHINGTON — The upcoming commemoration of the birth of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Inauguration Day that follows offer some much-needed opportunities for reflection and rededication, writes Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey. The Council of Bishops president and her fellow bishops invite United Methodists to take seriously the call to follow Jesus during these challenging times.
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United Methodist Communications
84-year-old body builder finds strength in joy
BALTIMORE — United Methodist Ernestine Shepherd is an 84-year-old body builder who has broken records and appeared in a Beyoncé video. She also has struggled with anxiety and depression. Crystal Caviness reports how Shepherd found restoration through joy and faith.
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West African Writers
Church in Liberia celebrates new computer center
MONROVIA, Liberia — In partnership with Asbury United Methodist Church in Smyrna, Delaware, the church in Liberia has launched a new computer center and training program. During the dedication, Liberia Area Bishop Samuel J. Quire Jr. urged United Methodists, especially young people, to take advantage of the opportunity to enhance their computer knowledge. E Julu Swen has the story.
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Baltimore-Washington Conference
Girl Scout raises funds for water in Africa
ELLICOTT CITY, Md. — If you've ever doubted "girl power," you haven't met 9-year-old Julia Barnes. The member of Glen Mar United Methodist Church has set out to change the world, and she's using her gifts as a storyteller to raise funds for a water well in Africa. Melissa Lauber has the story.
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Kentucky Conference
Second Life reaches people on life's margins
MONTICELLO, Ky. — Monticello United Methodist Church has a new faith community that is reaching marginalized people on the edge of Appalachia. Now, Second Life ministry is seeking permanent space for worship and Bible studies, as well as health and wellness clinics. "No matter what box life puts us in, we all need Jesus," says Monticello's pastor. Alan Wild has the story.
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Oklahoma Conference
United Methodist helps lead monastic order
OKLAHOMA CITY — For some, the term "monasticism" may bring up images of chanting monks or helpful nuns. For the Rev. Matt Scraper, monasticism is an important part of his life and expression of faith. Scraper, an elder in the Oklahoma Conference, helps lead the Order of St. Patrick, a secularly cloistered monastic order for clergy and lay contemplatives.
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Great Plains Conference
Pandemic claims pastor
COFFEYVILLE, Kan. — The Rev. Mark Demas died of COVID-19-related complications on Jan. 6, at 61. He led Coffeyville First United Methodist and Edna United Methodist churches in southeast Kansas and was recalled by a church member as "such a caring person." David Burke reports.
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Holston Conference
Women ensure church flowers bless twice
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A committee of five women at Church Street United Methodist Church wants to make sure the flower arrangements on the altar brighten more than Sunday worship. Kylie Hubbard writes about how the women bring blessings to nursing home residents and hospital patients.
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Perkins School of Theology
Seminary a partner in play 'Do No Harm'
DALLAS — United Methodist Perkins School of Theology and Soul Rep Theatre Company are partners in putting on the new play "Do No Harm." It's about three enslaved Alabama women operated on without anesthesia by Dr. J. Marion Sims, credited as the father of modern gynecology. The play is available via video on demand through Jan. 31.
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South Carolina Conference
Church members help man after car accident
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — After Andre Holliday was severely injured in a car accident while driving through South Carolina, United Methodists from New Hope and Branchville provided help, including a place to stay while recovering, food, gas and even a Christmas tree. D. Halvorsen, Holliday's aunt, tells the tale.
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New 2020 annual conference reports posted
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist News is posting 2020 annual conference reports. New this week is Peninsula-Delaware.
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PRESS RELEASES
Religion and Race
Black leaders discuss ministry and racism
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race and Abingdon Press will host an online panel discussion at 2 p.m. U.S. Central time Jan. 19 with the 10 Black United Methodist leaders who contributed to the new book "I'm Black. I'm Christian. I'm Methodist." Garlinda Burton, Religion and Race's interim top executive, will moderate.
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Black United Methodists want changes
Greater New Jersey Conference
$6 million budget shortfall to be addressed
NEPTUNE, N.J. — The Greater New Jersey Conference has discovered an approximate $6 million shortfall in its budget, according to a statement from Bishop John Schol. A report on conference finances, a plan to balance the budget and rebuild the reserves, a staffing plan and proposed legislation will be discussed at a Jan. 22 Special Annual Conference.
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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.
Iowa Conference
What can we yet become?
DES MOINES, Iowa — Bishop Laurie Haller, who leads the Iowa Conference, said the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol was sobering, especially on a day that Christians celebrate the story of the wise men. "The season of Epiphany reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world who commanded his disciples to preach the gospel of faith, hope and love to all the nations," she writes. "I believe God is calling you and me to speak out, as our membership vows affirm, 'against evil, injustice and oppression in whatever form they present themselves.'"
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United Methodist Insight
End of the world as we know it
PASADENA, Calif. — The world is changing and there is no going back, writes Erin M. Hawkins, executive director of connectional ministries for the California-Pacific Conference, in the wake of last week's attack on the U.S. Capitol. "No amount of antiracism training and diversity book club discussions will fix what is core to the display of unfettered white supremacy that has been building for years and that reached an inflection point (on Jan. 6)."
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United Methodist Insight
Undoing America's white supremacy
MESQUITE, Texas — Watching the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, United Methodist Insight editor Cynthia B. Astle saw an unmasking of the nation's problems with white supremacy and what Christians must do to confront it. "The only way for Christians to get beyond this inherent evil in America's identity is to surrender fully to the good news embodied in Jesus Christ," Astle writes.
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RESOURCES
United Methodist Communications
Safe ways to celebrate the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — While COVID-19 continues to keep people at a distance, churches still have ways to mark the U.S. observance of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday on Jan. 18. Philip J. Brooks writes about four ideas.
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Society of St. Andrew
Hunger relief group offers Lenten devotions
BIG ISLAND, Va. — The Society of St. Andrew, a United Methodist-supported hunger relief ministry, is offering free Lenten devotional booklets and daily email devotions for Feb. 17-April 4. This year's theme is "Walk Humbly" from Micah 6:8.
To order
Feeding people is complicated but joyful
World Council of Churches
'Light of Peace' book available in Korean
GENEVA — The National Council of Churches in Korea has published a Korean translation of "The Light of Peace: Churches in Solidarity With the Korean Peninsula," a book the World Council of Churches fellowship is using to recognize 70 years of unresolved conflict on the Korean Peninsula. The translation is available online.
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Lewis Center for Church Leadership
Survey responses sought from young adults
WASHINGTON — The Lewis Center for Church Leadership for many years has tracked United Methodist clergy age trends. The center, part of United Methodist Wesley Theological Seminary, currently seeks input from younger adults — age 40 or younger — who may have sensed a call to ministry but decided not to pursue ordination or dropped out of the ordination process.
To take survey
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