NEWS AND FEATURES
Retired pastor starts online 'Doubter's Parish'
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The Rev. Martin Thielen's retirement project after United Methodist ministry is a new website called Doubter's Parish, where skeptics and what he calls "thinking Christians with questions" can read his writings and get in touch. Thielen, a popular author and former megachurch pastor, is quick to acknowledge his own faith struggles. Sam Hodges reports.
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A less welcoming place for refugees
BREMEN, Germany (UM News) — The United Methodist Church of the Redeemer has offered a host of services to refugees and migrants in recent years. But the coronavirus pandemic has put a temporary halt to such ministries, and Europe is turning more people away as the migration crisis continues. Linda Bloom reports.
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31 United Methodists serve in 117th Congress
WASHINGTON (UM News) — A near-equal number of United Methodists serve on each side of the aisle in the 117th U.S. Congress, which faces the work of responding to a wounded nation and breached Capitol building. The newly started Congress has 31 United Methodists. Albert J. Menendez reports.
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North Macedonia ministry provides hope
STRUMICA, North Macedonia (UM News) — Though COVID-19 has changed the lives of many, leaders of the Miss Stone Center, a United Methodist diaconal facility, have been able to care for more than 200 people without interruption. Urs Schweizer has the story.
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South Georgia Conference
Pastor survives severe COVID-19 case
DUBLIN, Ga. — The Rev. Wes Moye, pastor of Pine Forest United Methodist Church, is recovering at home after more than 100 days in the hospital with COVID-19, including 38 days on a ventilator. He credits "incredible" support from his congregation and other United Methodists. Kara Witherow reports.
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Kenya-Ethiopia Conference
Bikes extend evangelism during pandemic
RIRUTA, Kenya — Thirty student pastors at Wesleyan United Methodist Training College have new bikes to help them carry out their mission during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bikes were gifted through The United Methodist Church's Bikes and Bibles program. "This will allow me to give more time to ministry, and less time walking," said Pastor Joseph Nanyanga. Gad Maiga has the story.
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United Methodist Communications
Believing you can make a difference
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Lindsey Krinks is a street chaplain and difference maker. On the Compass Podcast, she shares how other people can be difference makers, too. She is an activist and a cofounder of Open Table Nashville, a nonprofit that aims to disrupt cycles of poverty.
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Living with faith and doubt
Western North Carolina Conference
Evangelism through hops and hymns
LINCOLNTON, N.C. — The Rev. Amy Vaughan, pastor of Marvin United Methodist Church, took having Bible study in a bar to the next level when she decided to team up with the Rev. Mike Collins, pastor of Emmanuel Lutheran Church. The Rev. Meg Gaston tells their story.
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KFSM-TV
Church and Walmart honor front-line workers
FORT SMITH, Ark. — First United Methodist Church and Walmart in this northwest Arkansas city wanted to show support for hospital workers dealing with the surge of COVID-19 patients. With donations from Walmart, church members assembled and delivered food baskets to workers at two local hospitals. In a few weeks, church members plan to return to pray with the workers. Tiffany Lee has the story.
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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 Zambia.
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PRESS RELEASES
Council of Bishops
Bishops mourn loss of AU chancellor
WASHINGTON — The United Methodist Church has lost a "great visionary" and leader with the death of Professor Munashe Furusa, vice chancellor of Africa University, the Council of Bishops said in a statement. With his death, "a dark cloud has passed over the valley of dreams, our crown jewel of Methodist education in Africa," the statement said.
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Higher Education and Ministry
Agency eliminates jobs under new structure
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The church agency charged with leadership development has reorganized and will cut 25% of its labor force by the end of January. Budget decreases and falling collections made the cuts necessary, said the Rev. Greg Bergquist, top executive of the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry.
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World Council of Churches
Online prayer scheduled for Christian unity
GENEVA — The World Council of Churches invites the global ecumenical family and friends to join a livestreamed public prayer service at 8 a.m. U.S. Eastern time Jan. 25, the final day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. This year's theme, from the Gospel of John: "Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit."
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Vanco
Vanco now offers software for child care
MINNEAPOLIS — Vanco, a digital-giving platform for churches, has acquired Smartcare, a provider of software specifically for child care centers. Vanco is part of the General Council on Finance and Administration’s ministry partner program for churches.
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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.
What would Jesus tell the US Capitol rioters?
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (UM News) — Some of the protesters who stormed the U.S. Capitol offered a prayer from the presider's desk in the Senate chamber. The Rev. William B. Lawrence examines the rioters' claims of Scriptural authority.
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Assault on US Capitol dismays United Methodists
The content of our character
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the interim top executive of the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race calls for the church to address its institutional racism. “Ignoring racism, or any sin, does not repair, nor restore,” writes M. Garlinda Burton. “It is only when people of character and courage have walked out, shouted down and sat in that institutional racism has been brought to its knees.”
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Read Burton’s tips for addressing racism
Pastor writes birthday letter to MLK
FLORENCE, S.C. (UM News) — On the occasion of the 92nd birthday of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the Rev. Reginald Lee, pastor of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, penned a birthday letter to the civil rights icon. Looking back on a trying year, “progress is slow, and the climb dizzying, yet, we are still ‘marching to Zion,’” Lee writes.
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The Arkansas United Methodist
Clergy should advocate for vaccination
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Rev. Chase Green calls on fellow United Methodist clergy to be cheerleaders for the COVID-19 vaccines rolling out. His essay notes the keen interest of John Wesley, Methodism's founder, in health and remedies.
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RESOURCES
United Methodist Communications
Easter outreach resources available for churches
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Many people in your community will be searching for a place to find renewal and hope this Easter. United Methodist Communications sells a wide variety of customizable outreach resources to invite people to church, including postcards, banners and digital tools. Use code UMCEA21 to receive $150 off an order.
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