Friday Digest | Jul 15, 2022 |
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 | "Critical decisions related to the forward movement of the church were pushed down from the General Conference to the annual conference level." — Council of Bishops President Thomas J. Bickerton, explaining why church disaffiliation policies vary. | |
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| Conferences diverge in handling church exits | NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — With no formal separation plan, United Methodist annual conferences have a lot of leeway in administering church disaffiliations. Amid varied conference policies, the number of church departures is climbing. Heather Hahn reports. | | |
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| Ask The UMC
Is The United Methodist Church really … ? | | NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, has received many questions from congregations wondering about the future of the denomination. These have included recurrent questions that reflect misperceptions or misinformation that congregations are receiving as they discern their next steps. In the second of a series of articles, the Ask The UMC team addresses matters relating to human sexuality. | | | | |
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| Sojourners, California-Pacific Conference
Building affordable housing in 'God's backyard' | | LOS ANGELES — With median home prices skyrocketing in California, a new bill in the state senate aims to make it easier for religious institutions and private universities to build affordable housing on their property. Inglewood United Methodist Church is among the bill's supporters and is already working to turn an empty school on its property into low-income studio apartments. Julia Oller reports on the congregation and the bill, labeled "Yes in God's Backyard." | | | | |
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| Indiana Conference
Indiana clergy get $275 for 'fun' | | CARMEL, Ind. — Indiana clergy used a surprise $275 grant for skydiving, a puppy, a New Kids on the Block concert and hiking on the Appalachian Trail. Those are just a few of the results of the grants from Indiana University Health and the Indiana Conference to active and appointed clergy to "invest in fun for yourself." Tim Burchill, pastor of Carmel United Methodist Church, called the grants "one of the most innovative and supportive actions I've benefitted from in my 30-plus years of ministry." Leanne Ketcham has the story. | | | | |
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| Marietta Daily Journal
Mt. Bethel completes payment to leave denomination | | MARIETTA, Ga. — Mt. Bethel Church has paid $13.1 million as part of a settlement agreement that ended a legal battle between Mt. Bethel and the North Georgia Conference. More than half of the funding came from donations, with the rest from a loan. With the payment complete, Mt. Bethel is now fully independent from The United Methodist Church. Hunter Riggall reports. | | | | |
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| Wespath, Gammon
Partnership aims to boost clergy financial health | | GLENVIEW, Ill. — Gammon Theological Seminary and Wespath Benefits and Investments announced a partnership that will expand the programming and resources used to help United Methodist clergy address financial challenges. The United Methodist seminary and pension agency will work together to foster the financial wellness of underserved/underrepresented and pandemic-impacted pastors. | | | | |
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| 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 UM News staff. | |
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| | | | Here are some of the activities ahead for United Methodists across the connection. If you have an item to share, you can add it to the calendar by clicking here. |
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97-year-old pays forward with bird sanctuary | TONTITOWN, Ark. (UM News) — Betty Hinshaw recently gave 25 acres to the Northwest Arkansas Land Trust for the creation of a bird sanctuary. The 97-year-old United Methodist's love of the land and concern for the environment prompted the gift. Sam Hodges reports. | | |
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Church members slain in Ethiopia | GAMBELLA, Ethiopia (UM News) — A $10,000 grant from the United Methodist Committee on Relief was announced July 11 after 37 people, including some United Methodists, were killed during an attack in Gambella in western Ethiopia. The UMCOR grant will provide food and hygiene kits and address other immediate needs of people affected by the civil unrest. Gad Maiga reports. | | |
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New 2022 annual conference reports posted | NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist News is posting 2022 annual conference reports. New this week are the Alaska, Desert Southwest, Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, Pacific Northwest and Western North Carolina conferences. | | |
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Churchwomen put smiles on patients' faces | MAUN, Botswana (UM News) — United Methodist Women in Maun recently celebrated Women's Month by donating food and toiletries worth $500 U.S. to female patients at Letsholathebe Memorial Hospital, a district facility in Botswana. Priscilla Muzerengwa reports. | | |
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Ask The UMC
Ask The UMC: Valuing Life | NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodists worldwide seek to bring abundant life to people at every stage through the hands-on ministries we support and the advocacy we do. In a new seven-part series, Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, explores the ways United Methodists value life and help others experience the abundance of life Jesus promises. The first two installments address maternal and neonatal health and the denomination's views on abortion and adoption. | | |
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Commentary: Have the courage to walk the messy middle | COLUMBIA, Mo. (UM News) — Missouri Bishop Robert D. Farr says the Jesus model — turning the other cheek, listening and engaging in holy conversation — does not divide us into separate groups just because we don't agree. "Division is always a choice," he writes. "If an annual conference and its churches can figure that out, they can return to doing God's mission and be amazing for God's people." | | |
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