“Although the devastation to Lahaina UMC and the community is massive, the faith, commitment and spirit of the people will be able to overcome this tragedy and they will ultimately rise from the ashes in triumph.” — The Rev. Tom Choi, superintendent of the California-Pacific Conference’s Hawaii District.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Special sanctuary lost in Maui fires
DALLAS (UM News) — Members of Lahaina United Methodist Church are grieving the destruction of their historic sanctuary in the wildfires that devastated the west side of Maui, Hawaii. Some regular visitors to the island also are feeling the pain, having formed a close attachment to the sanctuary and the congregation. Sam Hodges reports.
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Eastern Pennsylvania Conference
Two journeys to end the sin of racism
VALLEY FORGE, Pa. — United Methodists of Eastern Pennsylvania and Greater New Jersey are committed to “ending the sin of racism,” a clarion call answered in both conferences by several initiatives. They include coaching, providing grants and other support to racial-ethnic leaders and congregations, various racial learning opportunities and efforts to grow and ensure success for cross-racial and cross-cultural ministerial appointments. John W. Coleman looks at how each conference is embracing this call.
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California-Nevada Conference
Churchgoers join in immigration march
SANTA ROSA, Calif. — United Methodist pastors and laity from Sonoma County, Marin County and San Francisco joined in a 40-mile march to support legislation to provide legal immigration status to 8.5 million undocumented people living in the United States. The California-Nevada Conference reports on why the church members are involved in immigration issues.
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West Virginia Conference
Scouts assemble 5,000 flood buckets
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia United Methodists played an important role at the 2023 Boy Scouts of America National Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in Mount Hope, West Virginia. Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball led a service of communion for hundreds of Scouts participating in the national event. Throughout the 10-day Jamboree many of those Scouts helped assemble 5,000 flood buckets for the church’s West Virginia Conference Disaster Ministries. Audrey Stanton-Smith reports.
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United Methodist Communications
Why kindness beats niceness
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Courageous conversations have nothing to do with being nice and everything to do with being kind, gentle and loving. On the latest episode of the “Get Your Spirit in Shape” podcast, the Rev. Scott Hughes of Discipleship Ministries asserts that engaging in structured dialogues of learning could create space for the most radical hospitality of all: a place of deeper and more welcoming community within the church.
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PRESS RELEASES
Duke Divinity School
Duke leadership program awards 31 grants
DURHAM, N.C. — Leadership Education at Duke Divinity School, a United Methodist seminary, announced the 31 recipients of this year’s Reflective Leadership Grants for lay and ordained Christian leaders. Among the recipients are the Revs. Hannah Bonner and Larry Pickens, both United Methodists.
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