NEWS AND FEATURES
Clergy care a priority in pandemic year
CASSELBERRY, Fla. (UM News) — This month marks the first anniversary of churches having to close their doors because of the pandemic, and for pastors, it has been a yearlong stress test. A grant from the Florida Conference let one pastor buy a bicycle, and other conferences have found creative ways to support clergy in taking time off and renewing themselves. Sam Hodges reports.
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Army chaplain returns to his native Korea to serve
SEOUL, South Korea (UM News) — The Rev. DooSoo Lee's latest pastoral appointment has taken him to his motherland. Lee, who is Korean American and a U.S. Army chaplain, currently serves soldiers at U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys in Pyeongtaek. The Rev. Thomas Kim reports.
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Dotson remembered for seeing all the people
HOUSTON (UM News) — While helming Discipleship Ministries, the Rev. Junius B. Dotson introduced the "See All the People" initiative. At his funeral service March 6, fellow United Methodists testified that for Dotson, "See All the People" was not just a catchy slogan but a way of life. Heather Hahn has the story.
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'Girls, Jesus is calling YOU!'
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (UM News) — In a March 3 video message for Women's History Month, Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño of the California-Nevada Conference shared some of the lessons she has learned about the value of women in helping heal the world and the plan that God has for all of us.
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New feature invites essays on racism
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — UM News is inviting people to share their stories about encounters with racism, as well as hopes and ideas for combating it, in a new forum titled, "We Are God's Family: Personal Encounters with Racism." The feature is designed to foster dialogue and build understanding of how racism affects people at a personal level.
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Ask The UMC
What is UMCOR Sunday?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — For more than 50 years, United Methodist congregations have been taking part in a special offering, laying the foundation for the United Methodist Committee on Relief's ministry of hope. Gifts on UMCOR Sunday cover the relief agency's administrative costs, so that all designated gifts go to the project givers specify. United Methodist Communications' Ask The UMC has more on this special Sunday, which will be celebrated March 14.
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UMCOR grant helps flood response in Kentucky
Church helps drill more than 80 boreholes in Malawi
LILONGWE, Malawi (UM News) — United Methodist Church of the Resurrection of Leawood, Kansas, has been working in partnership with the Malawi United Methodist Church to address a variety of humanitarian needs. Most recently, the church enabled the drilling of more than 80 boreholes in the past six months. Francis Nkhoma has the story.
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Missouri Conference
Clergy couple organizes community nourishment
ST. LOUIS — A United Methodist clergy couple works with several partner churches and a community organization to provide nearly 1,000 meals a week to their community during the pandemic. Fred Koenig has the story of the ministry of the Revs. Elsie Lisbeth Quintanilla-Perez and Jose Marino Chacon Mayorga.
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Arkansas Conference
Getting shots into seniors' arms
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — Oaklawn United Methodist Church provided building space and volunteers to help an elderly aid organization sign up seniors for COVID-19 vaccinations. Caleb Hennington reports.
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United Methodist Communications
Chainsaws: An unlikely ministry partner
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A chainsaw might seem like an unlikely ministry tool, but for hundreds of United Methodists, wielding a chainsaw takes them into the mission field. For tens of thousands more affected by disaster, the sound of the saw offers caring and hope. Crystal Caviness reports.
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Great Plains Conference
Churches hit by higher insurance costs
TOPEKA, Kan. — Winter storm damage is just one of the factors leading to insurance cost hikes for Great Plains Conference churches. The conference is offering grants to churches struggling to pay premiums. David Burke reports.
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Florida Conference
Ministry in face of cancer diagnosis
PORT ORANGE, Fla. — Connie Cox was diagnosed with brain cancer the day after Christmas. Now, her focus is working with Covenant United Methodist Church to expand a Kenyan health clinic so it can provide adequate medical care for the community of Gaitu. Joe Henderson has the story.
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North Alabama Conference
Free event features United Methodist author
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — John Archibald, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for The Birmingham News, will talk about his new book, "Shaking the Gates of Hell," during a free online forum on March 14. Archibald is a United Methodist and his dad and other relatives were pastors in the denomination. The book looks at his father's legacy and ponders whether he did enough to confront racism.
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UM News: Book revisits pastor's reticence on civil rights
North Carolina Conference
Responding to hate group using former church
LINDEN, N.C. — North Carolina Conference leaders expressed outrage and grief after learning a former church building sold to a private individual was then given to a group that advocates white supremacy. "I ask all United Methodists to join with all other Christians in rejecting white supremacy views, to pray for those who have such thoughts and to work to resist racism," wrote the Rev. Gray Southern, district superintendent.
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Read Washington Post story
New England Conference
COVID-19 can't stop church's food ministry
SHELDON, Vt. — Sheldon United Methodist Church had just gotten an occupancy permit on the new building where it would host free community meals when COVID-19 put those plans on indefinite hold. Now, the building is filled with food and the food is being distributed. In a video and recording, church member John Gorton tells the story.
Watch and listen to story
BBC Radio 4
BBC program takes on Wesley, Methodism
LONDON — The BBC Radio 4 program "In Our Time" recently explored the life of John Wesley and the influence of the Methodist movement he helped found. Three scholars joined host Melvyn Bragg for the 52-minute discussion. Program notes include a reading list about Wesley and Methodism.
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PRESS RELEASES
Discipleship Ministries
The Rev. Jeffrey Campbell named acting head
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Rev. Jeffrey Campbell, who oversees strategic programming at Discipleship Ministries, has been named the agency's acting top executive. Campbell was selected to take on the work of the late Rev. Junius B. Dotson while the agency's board searches for a top executive.
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United Methodist Communications
The stories behind United Methodist stories
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodist Communications invites United Methodists to join in a special World Storytelling Day celebration on March 20 for a behind-the-scenes look at telling the stories of God's work in the world. Storytellers include UM News photographer Mike DuBose as well as the Revs. Gary Henderson, Joe Iovino and Gustavo Vasquez. Videos will be released throughout the day.
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To watch online
Finance and Administration
Ace Hardware named ministry partner
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The General Council on Finance and Administration has announced Ace Hardware as The United Methodist Church's newest vetted ministry partner. The partnership will allow churches to shop online and in local Ace Hardware stores and receive 10% off purchases.
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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.
World Methodist Council
Reflecting on women leading Myanmar protests
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. — Young women are on the front lines of Myanmar's protests seeking a restoration of democracy, writes the Rev. J. C. Park, president of the World Methodist Council. In a pastoral letter, Park reflects on this "fearless generation" and urges prayer for a flourishing Myanmar.
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United Methodist Communications
How faith, gaming help us survive worst of times
MEEKER, Colo. — When the Rev. David Petty, pastor of Meeker United Methodist Church, founded an online gaming ministry in 2017, he had no idea that everyone would one day be adapting to worship in a virtual setting. "I didn't start an online faith community in order to endure a pandemic or change the world," he writes, "but the pandemic has made the necessity of such a project more evident than ever before."
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Faith and Leadership
Winter storm prompts thoughts on poverty
GALVESTON, Texas — The Revs. Michael Gienger and Julia Riley write about how Central United Methodist Church scrambled to help during Texas' winter storm. They also explain why their church should not have to do so again.
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RESOURCES
Finance and Administration
Questions about the Episcopal Fund answered
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A public webinar on Feb. 13 led to multiple questions related to the Episcopal Fund, which supports the work of United Methodist bishops. Staff at the General Council on Finance and Administration and United Methodist Communications put together answers to frequently asked questions.
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UM News: Scrutinizing the proposed hold on new bishops
United Methodist Communications
Helping others close to home
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — When United Methodists hear about church missions, they may think of big, organized programs: missionaries serving far from home or the annual church mission trip. But Jesus often talked about missions as simply helping the people we encounter every day. Get Them Talking, a series of resources to help families start conversations about issues of faith, has more on helping others.
See resource
Missions: Making the world more heavenly
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