Friday Digest | Mar 10, 2023 |
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 | “I love getting them younger because that means they’ll learn what they can do before anyone tells them that they can’t.” — Amy Saffell, executive director of ABLE Youth.
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| United Methodist Communications
Woman helps empower kids with physical disabilities | | NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A lifelong United Methodist, wheelchair user and adaptive sports enthusiast, Amy Saffell is a dedicated advocate and mentor for those with physical disabilities. She leads ABLE Youth, a nonprofit organization where children are taught to Adapt, Believe, Love and Enjoy life. Laura Buchanan has her story. | | | | |
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| Church court reviews LGBTQ-related resolutions
| | NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The United Methodist Judicial Council dealt with questions about what conference statements about LGBTQ people are aspirational and what go beyond the boundaries of church law. The church court also released two memoranda that address requests for declaratory decisions related to the denomination’s complaint process and bishop elections in Africa. Heather Hahn reports. | | | | |
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| Kentucky Conference
Pastors celebrate connectionalism | | LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Uncertainty. Anger. Loss. Grief. Those are among the emotions that Kentucky’s United Methodist clergy are experiencing during this season of debate and disaffiliation. About 60 pastors who are planning to remain in the denomination gathered Feb. 28 at Christ Church United Methodist for a day of worship, fellowship, support and strategizing. Alan Wild has the story. | | | | |
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| North Georgia Conference
Online-only church plant launches | | ATLANTA — A new journey has begun in the North Georgia Conference with The Harbor United Methodist Church, the conference’s first online-only church start. The Harbor is a faith community for anyone finding themselves without a church home. Preachers will vary each week, offering an opportunity for worshippers to hear from a variety of North Georgia Conference voices. The conference has the story. | | | | |
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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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| North Texas Conference
They should be alive | | DESOTO, Texas — Philando Castile, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Atatiana Jefferson and Tyre Nichols should be alive, writes the Rev. Bryant X. Phelps, senior pastor at Church of the Disciple. Their names are among thousands of Black people killed extrajudicially by police officers in America. As United Methodists, “we must unequivocally denounce police brutality and work toward a meaningful reconstruction of our institutions that enables human flourishing,” Phelps says. | | | | |
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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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| Monday, March 20-Saturday, April 1
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Prison ministries transform inmates, volunteers | FAIRMONT, W.Va. (UM News) — Kairos Ministry, similar to an Emmaus Walk, brings volunteers into prisons to minister to inmates while Catalyst Ministries trains the inmates to minister to one another and to the prison administration. Joey Butler has the story.
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Faith communities can aid transition from prison | CHARLESTON, W.Va. (UM News) — A criminal conviction creates barriers to obtaining essentials such as housing, employment or food assistance. Churches and other faith-based groups can provide resources for the formerly incarcerated and help reduce the stigma attached to a criminal record. Joey Butler reports. | | |
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Church radio drums up support for orphans | KINSHASA, Congo (UM News) — Lokole Methodist Radio dedicates 30 minutes on air every Saturday morning to lifting up the cause of vulnerable children. The program, “30 Minutes with the Orphans,” is an initiative of Innocent Afful, a missionary with the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, who serves as the coordinator for orphans and vulnerable children for the Churches of Christ in Congo. Chadrack Tambwe Londe has the story. | | |
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Ask The UMC
Celebrating traveling preacher Sarah Mallet | NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Sarah Mallet was one of a few women preachers accepted and encouraged by John Wesley in the early days of the Methodist movement. Despite physical and financial hardships, as well as attitudes and policies against female preachers, she traveled extensively, preaching for at least 55 years. Ask The UMC has more on this pioneer in Methodism. | | |
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New 2023 annual conference report posted | NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist News is posting 2023 annual conference reports. New this week is the Liberia Conference.
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Judicial Council
Church court releases spring docket | NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Judicial Council has released a 12-item docket for its spring session. The United Methodist Church’s top court plans to meet in person this spring for the first time since the pandemic began. Briefs are due April 6 and the deadline for reply briefs is to be announced. | | |
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Commentary: Disaffiliation backers use fear tactics | WORTHINGTON, Ohio (UM News) — Bill Brownson, a General Conference lay delegate, reflects on the arguments of those advocating for church disaffiliations. He writes that many are using the same fear tactics seen in political campaigns. | | |
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United Methodist Communications
Agency seeks ethnic panel volunteers | NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodist Communications is seeking pastors and lay leaders with marketing and/or communication responsibilities to join an upcoming Asian leader panel. Panelists will be invited to take part in online surveys and focus groups throughout the year to share their experiences, build relationships and help grow The United Methodist Church. Those interested are invited to take a brief survey. | |
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