Friday Digest - Apr 28, 2023

Friday Digest Apr 28, 2023

“Typically, I write early in the morning or late into the night in my study on a desk I rescued from the trash heap on the Lower East Side of Manhattan while a seminary student.” — The Rev. Harold "Hal" Recinos, on his work habits as a poet.

Poetry helps seminary professor 'stay awake in the gospel' DALLAS (UM News) — The Rev. Harold "Hal" Recinos, a longtime United Methodist elder and faculty member at Perkins School of Theology, started reading poetry while growing up in a New York City barrio and is a published poet himself. His verse addresses such themes as dispossession, faith and border crossing, and he credits poetry with helping him “stay awake in the gospel.” For a National Poetry Month feature, Recinos answered questions from UM News’ Vernon Jordan and Sam Hodges. Read interview

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Leadership body reconsiders restructuring plan NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The Connectional Table, which has stewardship of The United Methodist Church’s mission, ministry and resources, is now re-examining its proposed restructuring. The leadership body still plans to submit legislation to the coming General Conference that aims to make the board nimbler and more international, but time is of the essence. Heather Hahn reports. Read story

Religion and Race, MARCHA Agency, caucus urge bishop's suspension be lifted WASHINGTON — The board of the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race and the MARCHA caucus have issued requests for lifting the suspension of Bishop Minerva Carcaño. The commission sent an open letter to United Methodist leaders in the Western Jurisdiction, urging that the suspension be lifted and calling for greater transparency in the case. MARCHA, which advocates for Hispanic/Latinos in the denomination, sent its request to the Council of Bishops, asking that the bishops create a panel to ensure a fair and equitable process. Read commission statement Read MARCHA statement

Mississippi Conference Safe harbor for staying United Methodist JACKSON, Miss. — In an effort to create safe places for those committing to remain United Methodist, the Mississippi Conference is designating Lighthouse Congregations. They are United Methodist churches that are specifically equipped to welcome anyone whose church has closed or disaffiliated, or anyone simply looking for a place to belong. Jasmine Haynes reports. Read story UM News: Lighthouse Congregations offer hope amid schism

Hollywood United Methodist Church Church displays part of AIDS Quilt HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — This year marks the 30-year anniversary of the red AIDS ribbons on the tower of Hollywood United Methodist Church. The church will host a display of sections of the AIDS Memorial Quilt from noon to 4 p.m. U.S. Pacific time April 29 and April 30. Some of these sections were sewn at the church in the 1990s. Learn more about church’s AIDS ministry

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PRESS RELEASES

Interdenominational Theological Center Financial crisis for African American seminary center ATLANTA — The Interdenominational Theological Center has reported that its financial challenges have become a crisis, forcing reduction in faculty and staff and temporary suspension of some academic programs. Gammon Theological Seminary, one of the 13 United Methodist seminaries, is part of the consortium of ITC schools. ITC has long been considered a vital nexus of African American theological education. Leaders say they are confident ITC has a bright future, despite a recent declaration of “financial exigency.”  Read press release

General Council on Finance and Administration Agency asks extra General Conference be revisited NASHVILLE, Tennessee — The General Council on Finance and Administration’s board of directors has voted to ask the United Methodist Judicial Council to reconsider a decision that an additional General Conference must be held between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2027. The court had decided in a 5-4 vote in March that the additional assembly was needed to get the General Conference’s four-year schedule back on track after postponements due to the pandemic. Read press release UM News: Court rules on General Conference questions

Council of Bishops Bishops hold in-person meeting CHICAGO — The Council of Bishops plans to meet April 29 to May 5 to tackle the future of The United Methodist Church, welcome new bishops who were elected in November last year and work on other topics such as disaffiliations and fighting racism. This marks the bishops’ first in-person meeting since November 2019 in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina. Read press release

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 UM News staff.

Lewis Center for Church Leadership Where churches spend too much and too little WASHINGTON — In working with more than 500 churches, The Unstuck Group identified certain expenditure areas where churches commonly invest too little and those where churches tend to invest too much. Their findings may offer clues to bringing a better balance to a church’s budget.  Read commentary

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RESOURCES

Religion and Race 'What is?' series now available in Spanish WASHINGTON — The United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race’s “What Is?” series, a compilation of concise definitions, examples and biblical/theological foundations to create common vocabulary for Christians engaging in anti-racism work, is now becoming available in Spanish. Translations for five segments are available at the agency’s R-Squared resource hub. View resource

EVENTS 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.

Monday, May 1-Friday, May 12   Class Leaders: Recovering a Tradition  Monday, May 1-Saturday, May 13   Lay Servant Ministries course: Biblical Storytelling I

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TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK

Court rules on exiting clergy and churches ST. SIMONS, Ga. (UM News) — The United Methodist Church’s Judicial Council weighed in on whether withdrawing clergy must surrender their credentials and other questions related to church disaffiliations. The church court also released rulings stemming from last fall’s jurisdictional conferences, including one examining a resolution on LGBTQ inclusion adopted by all five jurisdictions. Heather Hahn reports. Read story UM News: Rulings address LGBTQ resolution, Congo special session

Court: Bishops can intercede in complaints ST. SIMONS, Ga. (UM News) — The United Methodist Church’s top court upheld the constitutionality of a relatively new church law that allows the Council of Bishops to be involved in adjudicating complaints against its members. Heather Hahn has the story.  Read story

Commentary: Why church should care about press freedom NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — World Press Freedom Day on May 3 offers a time to reflect on the importance of newsgathering and the ties that connect freedom of expression and religion, writes Tim Tanton with United Methodist News. It is also a time to give thanks for church communicators. Read commentary Watch video Learn more

Ethicist speaks to disaffiliation struggle ATLANTA (UM News) — How might a non-Methodist Christian ethicist respond to some of the ethical questions arising from the disaffiliation struggle underway in The United Methodist Church? To find out, UM News’ Sam Hodges contacted the Rev. David P. Gushee, a Baptist and the Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University. Gushee is the author of books on Christian ethics, as well as past president of the American Academy of Religion and Society of Christian Ethics. Read interview

Global Ministries meetings focus on mission in Africa MAPUTO, Mozambique (UM News) — The board of United Methodist Global Ministries met for the first time outside the U.S. to collaborate with African United Methodists on mission work and the shared goal of helping the church in Africa become self-sustaining. During the board meeting, $5 million in funding was approved for the Yambasu Agriculture Initiative. Jim Patterson has the story. Read story

A snapshot of United Methodism in Madagascar ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar (UM News) — A delegation led by Bishop Joaquina Filipe Nhanala, head of The United Methodist Church’s Mozambique Episcopal Area, made a historic visit to Madagascar earlier this year. The bishop formalized the opening of the first United Methodist church in the country, baptized and confirmed nearly 100 new members and administered Holy Communion for the first time in a United Methodist service there. The Rev. Gustavo Vasquez offers a photo essay of this new moment in United Methodism. See photo presentation Read UM News story: Bishop makes historic visit to Madagascar

Commentary: The role of parish nurses COLUMBIA, Mo. (UM News) — Since John Wesley’s day, Methodists have strived to address a variety of social concerns, including health care. The Rev. Mel West, a retired pastor, writes that Methodists have a role to play as rural portions of the United States continue to shrink, diminishing access to services. He believes local parish nurses can help continue ministries of healing. Read commentary