Friday Digest | May 19, 2023 |
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 | “What I tell churches is: ‘Prepare for the unknown.’” — Billie Fidlin, director of outreach and justice for the Desert Southwest Conference, on immigration realities after Title 42.
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| Amid policy changes, church keeps faith with migrants | | DALLAS (UM News) — The end of the COVID-19-related U.S. immigration restriction known as Title 42 had many predicting a surge of asylum seekers entering the U.S. from Mexico. So far, that hasn’t happened, but United Methodists who assist migrants remain busy — and concerned. Sam Hodges reports. | | | | |
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| Eastern Pennsylvania Conference
United Methodists join rally to recognize indigenous tribe | | HARRISBURG, Pa. — On May 1, members of the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania gathered for a peaceful rally on the steps of the state Capitol. They were there to ask legislators to give them legal status as a recognized tribe. The Rev. Bob Coombe, a member of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference’s Committee on Native American Ministries, attended the rally and said, “The spirit at the Capitol was uplifting, peaceful, powerful, fair and for justice.” Verna Colliver has the story. | | | | |
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| Louisiana Conference
Bishop Williamston honored by alma mater | | LEAWOOD, Kan. — Louisiana Bishop Delores J. Williamston has been given the distinguished graduate award by Saint Paul School of Theology, a United Methodist seminary. Williamston also was keynote speaker for the school’s recent commencement. The bishop has admitted she got off to a shaky start at Saint Paul, as David Burke reports. | | | | |
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| West Ohio Conference
Congregations to welcome displaced church members | | WORTHINGTON, Ohio — Churches are being enlisted to welcome anyone whose church has closed or disaffiliated. Local churches that join will be called North Star Congregations and will position themselves to embrace newcomers who become displaced after their congregations vote to leave the denomination amid the debate around LGBTQ inclusion. | | | | |
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| Duke Divinity School
Duke extends Colón-Emeric as seminary dean | | DURHAM, N.C. — The Rev. Edgardo Colón-Emeric will continue as dean of Duke Divinity School, one of the 13 United Methodist seminaries. Duke University officials announced recently that he will lead Duke Divinity for another five years. Colón-Emeric has held several positions at the seminary, including associate dean for academic formation and director of the Hispanic House of Studies. | | | | |
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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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Alaskan church reaches out to Native community | ANCHORAGE, Alaska (UM News) — Every Nation United Methodist Church was designed to support and minister to Alaska Natives. The Rev. Murray Crookes, one of few Alaska Native clergy in the state, hosts a weekly community dinner and Bible study as well as Sunday worship that incorporates Native traditions. Joey Butler reports, with photos from Mike DuBose.
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Judge lifts North Georgia disaffiliation pause | MARIETTA, Ga. (UM News) — A judge ruled from the bench that 185 North Georgia churches can proceed with The United Methodist Church’s disaffiliation process. Meanwhile, the Rio Texas Conference has filed suit against churches seeking to circumvent that process. Heather Hahn reports. | | |
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United Methodist Communications
'Garden girl' brings joy, veggies to homebound | LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Visiting homebound church members may not be a popular pastime for most kids, but 7-year-old Julia Eskridge has been doing it since she was 2. She's following in her mom's footsteps, and her Nana's, too. In the summer, she takes flowers and bags of produce grown in the family’s garden to those she visits. "I like making friends," says the first-grader, who attends Jeffersontown United Methodist Church. Diane Degnan has the story. | | |
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North Carolina and Western North Carolina conferences
$5.25 million grants to strengthen faith communities | GARNER, N.C. — The United Methodist Church’s North Carolina and Western North Carolina conferences are each getting $5.25 million in grant money from the Duke Endowment to launch new faith communities and strengthen existing congregations. The funds “will provide vital resources to help the conferences address the challenges posed by recent disaffiliations,” according to a press release. | | |
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United Methodist Communications
'The Recap' visits churches around the world | NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The latest episode of “The Recap” video series looks at a North Carolina church’s Easter-themed art walk as well as a flourishing United Methodist movement in Madagascar and a newly chartered Samoan congregation in Alaska. Produced by United Methodist Communications, “The Recap” aims to provide viewers a better understanding of what is going on in The United Methodist Church, find inspiration in stories of ministry and learn how the denomination is transforming the world. | |
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