NEWS AND FEATURES
Delegates: Bishops' plan oversteps bounds
BOSTON (UM News) — A group of U.S. delegates urges bishops to rethink the special called General Conference and especially plans to delay any U.S. bishop elections until 2024. The delegates argue that the bishops' actions amount to episcopal overreach. Heather Hahn reports.
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Church leaders decry attacks against Asians
ATLANTA (UM News) — Authorities are still investigating the motive for the March 16 killings of eight people, including six Asian women, at Atlanta area massage parlors. But United Methodist leaders say the horrific violence occurred amid a pandemic-related rise in anti-Asian attacks in the U.S. that needs to stop. Sam Hodges reports.
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Racism must go, but how to get there?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Black United Methodists are hopeful that current efforts to eliminate racism in the denomination will be effective, but some remain wary. The "Dismantling Racism: Pressing on to Freedom" campaign is a churchwide initiative to dismantle racism and work toward racial justice. Jim Patterson reports.
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Black clergywomen share stories
New feature invites essays on racism
Meharry provides vaccines and peace of mind
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — A United Methodist medical college serves as a COVID-19 vaccination site in an underserved neighborhood and is easing the concerns of some who mistrust the medical community. Joey Butler reports and Mike DuBose has photos.
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Gospel music sparks hope amid COVID-19
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Pandemic-induced lockdowns and suspension of in-person gatherings have proven especially difficult for those called to lead and participate in music during worship. Still, United Methodists in Zimbabwe are finding ways to keep the music alive, offering solace and uplifting spirits. Kudzai Chingwe has the story.
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West Ohio Conference
Sewing kindness, one stitch at a time
WORTHINGTON, Ohio — Women clergy from across the West Ohio Conference are finding unexpected packages in the mail. The clergy stoles are a gift from the Rev. Rebeka Maples, who understands the complexities faced by women in ministry. Kay Panovec has the story.
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South Georgia Conference
Giving Garden grows food, friendships
THOMASVILLE, Ga. — Where an empty, abandoned house once stood now grows a lush, vibrant garden, full of life. The Giving Garden established by Thomasville First United Methodist Church provides much-needed food and community connection. Kara Witherow has the story.
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Greater New Jersey Conference
Preaching and parenting during a pandemic
NEPTUNE, N.J. — The Rev. Amanda Rohrs-Dodge was on only her fourth week of maternity leave when the pandemic shutdown began last March. With a new baby and 5-year-old twins at home and three churches between herself and her pastor husband, life became a juggling act. Rohrs-Dodge said her faith and knowing that "being a pastor is never a traditional 9-to-5 job" has gotten her through. Denise Herschel has the story.
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Baltimore-Washington Conference
Pastor addresses vaccine hesitancy
WASHINGTON — The Washington National Cathedral hosted a March 16 event designed for faith leaders to show the world that receiving a COVID-19 vaccination is not only safe but also the right thing to do. One of those receiving a shot was the Rev. Ginger Gaines-Cirelli, lead pastor at Foundry United Methodist Church, who described being vaccinated as "a primary way that we love our neighbor." Erik Alsgaard reports.
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Vanderbilt University
Lawson donates photos to Vanderbilt
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Rare photographs of and by United Methodist elder the Rev. Jim Lawson were donated by the civil rights leader to Vanderbilt University. The photos will be part of the collection of the James M. Lawson Papers, which he donated in 2013.
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United Methodist Men
Highlighting agency's mission focus
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — For many, mission is an essential part of their faith, and the same goes for United Methodist Men. The spring issue of UM Men magazine highlights the many forms of mission the agency promotes, both big and small.
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Oklahoma Conference
Church gets mission done despite challenges
TULSA, Okla. — Just before the pandemic reached the U.S., Tulsa's Boston Avenue United Methodist Church adopted McCurdy Ministries Community Center in New Mexico as a mission focus. The church wasn’t able to send volunteer teams but employed local carpenters to build an outdoor counseling pavilion.
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California-Nevada Conference
Clarification on Glide settlement
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño announced March 4 that the settlement between the California-Nevada Conference and the Glide Foundation had been approved, allowing Glide Memorial in San Francisco to depart the denomination. Under the settlement agreed to in November, the conference retains control of a $4.5 million trust and receives an extra $1.5 million from the Glide Foundation, while the Glide Foundation gets ownership of the Glide Memorial building. The conference had filed a lawsuit asserting that it owned the building under the trust clause of The United Methodist Church. During negotiation, both parties agreed to drop their argument about who owned the building in order to reach a settlement and move on to the "critical work of witness and service," the bishop said later. This clarifies a brief that UM News ran in its March 4 and March 5 digests.
Read Bishop Carcaño’s announcement
UM News: Legal settlement means Glide leaves denomination
PRESS RELEASES
World Methodist Council
Criteria for seeking museum artifacts
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. — The World Methodist Museum, which is closing, has released the values and protocols it will use to determine how transfers of its artifacts are made.
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New Federation of Asian American United Methodists
Asian American caucus announces name change
EVANSTON, Ill. — The National Federation of Asian American United Methodists is now officially the New Federation of Asian American United Methodists. The group, which represents the collective mission and ministry of the 12 Asian American United Methodist caucuses, is being "rebirthed during a most turbulent and challenging time," the release said.
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World Methodist Council
Webinar focuses on pandemic, refugees
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. — The World Methodist Council is holding a March 25 webinar as part of a prayer week recognizing refugees, asylum seekers and migrants as vulnerable groups in the COVID-19 pandemic. United Methodists, including Bishop Rosemarie Wenner, will be among the webinar speakers. The hourlong event begins at 11 a.m. U.S. Eastern time.
Register for webinar
Native American International Caucus
Celebrating first Native Interior secretary
WASHINGTON — United Methodist Native Americans have sent a letter of congratulations to Secretary Debra Haaland, the first Native American head of the Interior Department and any cabinet office. The Interior Department manages public land and houses the Bureau of Indian Affairs. "We will commit to keeping her in dedicated prayer and stand ready to assist in whatever ways we can to work for the benefit of the seven generations," the denomination's Native American International Caucus said.
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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.
'When did we begin profiling in our neighborhood?'
SAVANNAH, Ga. (UM News) — Pastor J. Michael Culbreth was riding his bicycle in his neighborhood when he was stopped by the police. The officers had been called by a neighbor reporting "a suspicious man riding a bicycle," writes Culbreth, who is Black. Culbreth describes what followed in his commentary, which is part of UM News' "We Are God’s Family: Personal Encounters with Racism" project.
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Share your story
Religion and Race
Church must break its silence on racial violence
WASHINGTON — In the aftermath of shootings at Atlanta area massage parlors that left eight people dead, including six Asian women, M. Garlinda Burton, interim chief executive for the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race, said enough is enough. "The United Methodist Church is a community of faith called by The Almighty to transform the world for Jesus Christ. Yet, too many laity and clergy choose to stay shut in our homes and sanctuaries, pretending gun violence — coupled with racism and sexism taken to extremes — is not a church problem," she writes.
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North Texas Conference
Black pastor champions vaccination
PLANO, Texas — The Rev. Ronald Henderson, a district superintendent in the North Texas Conference, shares why he got his COVID-19 vaccinations and why other African Americans should do the same.
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Creating a Culture of Renewal
5 ways to revitalize amid pandemic
CASPER, Wyo. — With increased vaccine distribution in sight, people are looking toward life returning to pre-pandemic normal again. But why settle for normal when something even greater is possible? The Rev. Rebekah Simon-Peter offers five ideas for revitalizing churches during the pandemic.
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RESOURCES
Council of Bishops
Registration open for Christian unity workshop
WASHINGTON — Registration is open for the U.S. National Workshop on Christian Unity, to be held online April 12-15. The United Methodist Ecumenical and Interreligious Training will be held parallel with the workshop, so United Methodists can register for both events at the same time. California-Nevada Conference Bishop Minerva Carcaño plans to participate in a panel discussion about migrant ministry in the U.S. The registration fee is $75.
To register
Council of Bishops
Dismantling Racism: 'Are You Ready to See Jesus?'
COPENHAGEN — Bishop Christian Alsted of the Nordic and Baltic Area continues the Council of Bishops' series of Lenten devotions with a message based on John 12:20-26, titled "Are You Ready to See Jesus?" The series is themed to the churchwide Dismantling Racism initiative. Each Wednesday during Lent and every day during Holy Week, people can view a 15-minute recorded devotion led by a bishop and leaders from their episcopal areas.
Watch devotionals
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