Friday Digest | Jul 28, 2023 |
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 | “The ruling blatantly interferes with an internal church process protected under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.” — Statement from the Oklahoma Conference
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| Judge orders Oklahoma to redo special session | | OKLAHOMA CITY (UM News) — The Oklahoma Conference is appealing a judge’s order that it re-create its April special session to vote on a church’s disaffiliation. The judge specifically called on the conference to bring back voters who are no longer United Methodist. The conference says the order violates the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment. Heather Hahn reports. | | | | |
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| UMCOR aids flood-ravaged Nigeria | | JALINGO, Nigeria (UM News) — A $150,000 grant from the United Methodist Committee on Relief is providing food and other support to thousands of people displaced by devastating flooding last year. “Today, all of us are witnesses of God’s love,” said Nigeria Episcopal Area Bishop John Wesley Yohanna before the relief was distributed. Ezekiel Ibrahim has the story. | | | | |
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| United Methodist Communications
A poetic journey to healing | | NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Stephon Void, a “cradle United Methodist,” wrote poems to help cope with his father’s terminal cancer diagnosis, as well as his own chronic health concerns. The collection has been published in a book titled "A Healing Journey." Void shares his story on the latest episode of the “Get Your Spirit in Shape” podcast. | | | | |
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| Texas Conference
United Methodists form group in Texas town | | REDWATER, Texas — “New Faith Community” is the placeholder name for a group of United Methodists who have begun worshipping together in this northeast Texas town. It’s another Texas Conference example of faithful United Methodists banding together amid a wave of nearby church disaffiliations. Lindsay Peyton reports. | | | | |
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| United Methodist Insight
Climate change conference urges action | | DALLAS — Elevated summer temperatures should spur action on climate change issues, said speakers at the "Resilience for Congregations" conference held July 15-16. The conference included workshops on urban agriculture, environmental justice, water, climate migration and energy. Cynthia B. Astle 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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| Discipleship Ministries
Throw colonialist approach away | | NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The colonization-style approach to attracting indigenous people to Methodism needs to be mothballed, says the Rev. Calvin Hill, pastor of First United Methodist Church of Newcastle, Wyoming. He suggests using a “Four C’s” philosophy — clarity, consistency, communication and compassion — as a method for cross-cultural outreach and discipleship. | | | | |
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| Lake Junaluska
Festival of Wisdom and Grace set in August | | LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. — Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center has scheduled its annual Festival of Wisdom and Grace for Aug. 21-24. The conference focuses on finding purpose and renewal in the second half of life. This year’s event, with the theme “Strong Roots, Bright Future: Our Jewish Roots,” will center on the Old Testament. | | | | |
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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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Blessing rural kids, butterflies | PARIS, Texas (UM News) — The Rev. Rob Spencer stepped down as a local church pastor to start a nonprofit that has had hundreds of rural children experiencing nature by planting native wildflowers for butterflies. Spencer, a fourth-generation Methodist clergyman, named the nonprofit Cutiv8 Community. Addressing kids’ “nature deficit” is just one of its goals. Sam Hodges reports.
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Efforts for regionalization move forward | NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Two United Methodist leadership bodies affirmed the direction of legislation to put each geographic region of The United Methodist Church on more even footing. United Methodist leaders also have gotten an update on discussions around the number of bishops on the African continent. Heather Hahn reports.
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Church honors early Congolese evangelist | KABALO, Congo (UM News) — A Congolese man who came out of slavery to become an evangelist was honored at the recent Tanganyika Annual Conference for his role in spreading Methodism. Wearing T-shirts with Banza Lubange Kaluwashi’s picture, conference members named a newly built church in his honor. The Rev. Betty Kazadi Musau has the story. | | |
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New 2023 annual conference reports posted | NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist News is posting 2023 annual conference reports. New this week are the New Mexico, North Carolina and North Texas conferences. | | |
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Ask The UMC
Our Living World: Air | NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The creation accounts in Genesis do not mention the creation of air. We often take it for granted until something about it discomforts us. This invisible gift supports nearly all creatures in our living world. In a six-part series, Ask The UMC explores how United Methodists seek to sustain and renew links to our living world. | | |
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Commentary: United Methodists are better together | LAGRANGE, Ga. (UM News) — After a tough year of debates within his own congregation about disaffiliation, Dr. John Tures writes that he is now hearing from fellow members of First United Methodist Church in LaGrange who feel United Methodists are better together. The professor at United Methodist-related LaGrange College writes that it gives him hope as his church approaches its own vote on disaffiliation. | | |
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Commentary: Looking at autonomy, connection | ATLANTA (UM News) — Recent efforts by parts of The United Methodist Church in Europe to leave the denomination raise questions about autonomy, connectionalism and church polity. Dr. David W. Scott writes about the importance of seeing autonomy “as a positive theological quality that needs to be paired with, rather than opposed to, connectionalism.” | | |
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UMAC
Register for UMAC 2023 in Charleston | CHARLESTON, S.C. — Registration is open for the 2023 United Methodist Association of Communicators annual meeting Oct. 22-25 in Charleston. The theme is Salt & Light. In partnership with United Methodist Communications, this year’s UMAC gathering also will include a special General Conference orientation for communicators. Submissions for the annual UMAC Awards are being accepted through Sept. 1. | |
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