“An epidemic of women and girls who are dying has got to stop, and we are the ones that have to stand up and say there should be justice.” — Mary T Newman, organizer of the annual Native Moccasins Rock event.
Weekend spotlights Native culture
BON AQUA, Tenn. (UM News) — People danced, made art projects and contemplated serious issues during the Native Moccasins Rock conference at Camp Lake Benson. The latter included discussion of the alarming number of missing Native American women and the use of stereotypical characterizations of indigenous people as sports team mascots. Jim Patterson has the story.
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Grappling with mixed news on giving, church exits
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The board of The United Methodist Church’s finance agency discussed the potential impact of rising church disaffiliations even as they celebrated an uptick in giving and the sale of the agency’s building. Heather Hahn reports.
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Rio Texas Conference
Bishop requests blessings for teachers
SAN ANTONIO — With schools beginning a new year, Bishop Robert Schnase offers a short video reflection on some of the teachers who helped him along the way. He requests prayers of gratitude and blessing for those who choose the teaching vocation.
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Global Ministries
Partnerships with Korean Methodist Church envisioned
ATLANTA — More collaborations between the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries and Korean Methodist Church were discussed at meetings Aug. 15-17 featuring delegations from both entities. Attendees heard a series of presentations, including an overview of mission cooperation between the two denominations. Bishop Chung Suk Kim, chair of the KMC Board of Mission, acknowledged several common challenges facing churches today: declining youth interest in religion, polarization and resulting conflicts and issues of peace. Susan Clark reports.
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Baltimore-Washington Conference
Island community begins recovery after tornado
SMITH ISLAND, Md. — On Aug. 4, a waterspout categorized as an EF-1 tornado hit Smith Island, a remote island only accessible by boat or helicopter. About 250 people, many of them fishermen and crabbers, live on the island, where there are three United Methodist churches. While community leaders are confident Smith Island will weather the destruction, recovery efforts will be complicated by accessibility. Conference staff have the story.
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Council of Bishops
General Conference parliamentarian dies
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — The recent death of Leonard M. Young Jr. was noted at this week’s Council of Bishops meeting. Young served as parliamentarian for the 2019 General Conference of The United Methodist Church and was a key figure in the National Association of Parliamentarians.
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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.
Christian Century
Why United Methodist breakup is a mistake
DURHAM, N.C. — Retired Bishop William Willimon offers what he calls his “pastor’s pitch for why schism from The United Methodist Church is a bad idea.” His commentary for Christian Century invokes his own experience counseling couples considering divorce. Willimon, a faculty member at Duke Divinity School, also draws from the John Wesley sermon titled “On Schism.”
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Religion and Race
Resources for bishop elections available
WASHINGTON — This November, the church in the United States and the Philippines will participate in the election process for new episcopal leadership. Delegations will have the opportunity to engage candidates in conversation about their vision, leadership, spirituality and more. The United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race has developed resources to help delegations and others in their discernment process.
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