Friday Digest | Jan 19, 2024 |
|
|
|
|
|
 | “The gathering was to discuss and agree on a way forward and (how) we build a greater future for The United Methodist Church in Africa.” — The Rev. Lloyd Nyarota, on advocacy group United Methodist Africa Forum’s orientation for delegates in Africa.
| |
|
|
|
|
| The Rev. Lloyd Nyarota smiles with a group of children from Changombe First United Methodist Church in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, during the United Methodist Africa Forum meeting Jan 4-7. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Lloyd Nyarota.
| |
|
|
|
| African delegates commit to unity, regionalization | | HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Nearly 200 African delegates to the upcoming General Conference say they are committed to staying in The United Methodist Church and expressed their support for regionalization. The group gathered in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for an orientation organized by the advocacy group United Methodist Africa Forum to prepare for the upcoming legislative assembly. Eveline Chikwanah reports. | | | | |
|
|
|
|
| X, formerly Twitter
US House speech highlights church teachings | | WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Delia Ramírez (D-Ill.), a member of Humboldt Park United Methodist Church in Chicago and the United Methodist caucus MARCHA, delivered a Jan. 18 speech to the U.S. House of Representatives calling for “the sacred treatment” of migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers. “Thank you to my United Methodist Church and MARCHA for allowing me to make this prayer part of our Congressional Record,” she posted on X, formerly Twitter.
| | | | |
|
|
|
| Oregon-Idaho Conference
Bishop McConnell's service set for Jan. 20 | | PORTLAND, Ore. — The memorial service for Bishop Calvin D. McConnell is scheduled for 11 a.m. U.S. Pacific time Jan. 20 at Portland First United Methodist Church with a reception to follow in Collins Hall. The service will also be livestreamed on the church’s website. Bishop McConnell was elected to the episcopacy in 1980 and served the Oregon-Idaho and Pacific Northwest conferences over a 16-year period. He died on Nov. 28 at the age of 94.
| | | | |
|
|
|
| World Council of Churches, Council of Bishops
Celebrating Week of Prayer for Christian Unity | | GENEVA — Christians gathered at the World Council of Churches headquarters to worship and mark the start of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which is Jan. 18-25. The Council of Bishops also has released an ecumenical calendar for this year through 2026.
| | | | |
|
|
|
| Rethink Church
Shaking up the nice church | | NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Niceness in church communities can sometimes conceal deeper issues of injustice. On the latest “Compass Podcast,” writer, preacher and former college campus minister Liz Cooledge Jenkins discusses why it's important to disrupt the status quo and engage in conversations about patriarchy, inequality and systems of oppression.
| | | | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Emory University
Candler launches search for new dean
| | ATLANTA — Emory University has announced the search for a new dean of Candler School of Theology, one of 13 United Methodist seminaries in the U.S. Jan Love, the Mary Lee Hardin Willard Dean of Candler School of Theology, previously shared her plans to step down this summer after serving as dean for more than 17 years. | | | | |
|
|
|
| Religion Communicators Council
Celebrating the work of communicators
| | NEW YORK — The Religion Communicators Council is accepting entries for the DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial Awards through Jan. 31. The annual awards recognize excellence in religious communications and public relations. The winners will be announced during the Religion Communicators Council Convention April 4-6 in Louisville, Kentucky. Only members of the council can win awards, but there is an option to join the organization and submit work this year. | | | | |
|
|
|
|
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. | Discipleship Ministries
A guide for online giving
| | NASHVILLE, Tenn. — If your church hasn’t transitioned yet from envelopes to online giving, Ken Sloane of United Methodist Discipleship Ministries has some tips on doing it right. He suggests good data security, simplicity of use and 10 other priorities. | | | | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | 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, Jan. 29-Saturday, Feb. 10 | | |
| Thursday, Feb. 29-Friday, March 1
| | |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Heartbreak, hope follow season of church exits | CLYDE, N.C. (UM News) — The Lewis Center for Church Leadership has released its final report documenting disaffiliations from The United Methodist Church. While a quarter of U.S. churches have left the denomination, new United Methodist faith communities are springing up out of the remnants. Heather Hahn reports.
| | |
|
|
|
|
Bishop aims big in short tenure at UM Men | NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Retired Bishop James Swanson wants United Methodist Men to go beyond pancake breakfasts and prioritize getting out into the community and committing to authentic Christian discipleship. He has a small window to impact the commission as the interim top executive after the resignation of Greg Arnold. Swanson plans to stay on through General Conference. Jim Patterson has the story. | | |
|
|
|
|
Church connects communities at refugee camp | CHIPINGE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Refugees and asylum-seekers of different cultures, ethnicities and languages have established a preaching point and built a new sanctuary at Tongogara Refugee Camp in Zimbabwe. Bishop Eben K. Nhiwatiwa and his cabinet made their first visit to the camp and praised the “evangelism in action.” Kudzai Chingwe and the Rev. Taurai Emmanuel Maforo have the story. | | |
|
|
|
|
Challenge, opportunity for United Methodism | ATLANTA (UM News) — The United Methodist Church is facing major change and with it comes a challenge and an opportunity, writes Dr. David W. Scott. He believes the challenge is to shift from U.S. dominance in the church and the opportunity is to reflect better the multinational, multicultural nature of the church universal. Scott is the director of mission theology in the Office of the General Secretary at United Methodist Global Ministries. | |
|
|
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment