Daily Digest - August 19, 2019

“The UMCNext Proposal allows a creative way for churches to build a new expression of Methodism if desired and a path to create a renewed global United Methodist Church for those who remain.”The Rev. Junius B. Dotson, UMCNext coalition convening team leader.


NEWS AND FEATURES

UMCNext plan would end LGBTQ restrictions

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The UMCNext coalition has released a plan that would remove restrictions against same-sex weddings and ordination of LGBTQ clergy. The plan also would let local churches vote to leave the denomination. Meanwhile, bishops from central conferences held talks among theologically diverse United Methodists, acknowledging some form of separation appears inevitable due to division over homosexuality. Sam Hodges reports. 
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Read Council of Bishops press release

Energy crisis takes toll on Zimbabwe church
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — For up to 18 hours each day, there is no electricity in Zimbabwe, and for at least six of those hours, the country is plunged into total darkness. The daily power outages are taking a toll on The United Methodist Church and its related ministries, including hospitals and schools. Kudzai Chingwe reports.
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Bishops, agency respond to GC2019 vote probe
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The United Methodist Church’s bishops and finance agency are taking action in response to the investigation into fraudulent voting at the special 2019 General Conference. Heather Hahn reports. 
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Read Council of Bishops press release

Congo Women Arise
Center for rape survivors celebrates graduation

KINDU, Congo — (UM News) Before their graduation, women at the Mama Lynn Center demonstrated newly acquired skills such as tailoring and soap-making that will help them to be self-sufficient. United Methodists in East Congo, as well as the California-Pacific, Memphis and Tennessee conferences, established the center for Congolese rape survivors. Judith Osongo Yanga reports.
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Church provides scholarships for rape survivors

West Ohio Conference
Huge sundae helps church connect

CINCINNATI — Fifth-grader Jack Crego had a delicious idea when his church was challenged to reach out to more people in the community. A hundred volunteers helped make the largest ice cream sundae in Cincinnati as part of Westwood United Methodist Church’s See All the People project.
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Memphis Conference
Jewelry ministry connects Memphis church, Zambia

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — For the past 15 years, members of Mullins United Methodist Church have been crafting hand-beaded jewelry that makes money for missions. Through a ministry called “Maanza a Leza,” the Memphis church and villagers in Sichebeya, Zambia, make and sell the jewelry to fund the building of additional school classrooms in the village. Margaret Carbaugh reports.
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