NEWS AND FEATURES
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.
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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.
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Duke Divinity School
Pastors find strength amid stress
FREMONT, N.C. — In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rev. Shannon Marie Berry felt worn out and defeated. She was hardly sleeping and her Apple Watch was collecting alarming heart rate data. Now, thanks to the Duke Clergy Health Initiative, the United Methodist pastor has practical solutions to the overwhelming stresses of her calling. Corbie Hill reports.
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Greater New Jersey Conference
What is ‘Normalizing Next?’
NEPTUNE, N.J. — In a recent episode of the “Uncovered Dish Christian Leadership Podcast,” the Rev. Olu Brown, who founded and led Impact Church in Atlanta for 14 years, talks about leading a church through a pandemic, nurturing leadership skills and his new calling as a coach, consultant and church growth expert.
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Commentary: Embrace your ‘next’ as part of God’s plan
The Courier
Church, Girl Scouts ‘give a crock’
FINDLAY, Ohio — Members of a Girl Scout troop are working with St. Marks United Methodist Church to assemble recipes for the church’s Give a Crock program. The outreach project provides a monthly recipe, package of ingredients and a slow cooker so those in need can make meals at home. Jeannie Wiley Wolf has the story.
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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.
Parish nurses can play a role in health care deserts
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.
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