“I think it’s accurate to say that it’s all over the map.” — Scott Miller, president of Virginia Wesleyan University, on how United Methodist-related schools are deciding vaccination and masking policies.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Colleges, seminaries grapple with shot, mask mandates
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (UM News) — United Methodist-related colleges and United Methodist seminaries are scrambling with the rest of higher education as another fall term begins in the COVID-19 pandemic. Administrators are deciding vaccination and masking polices while also trying to make campus life as normal as possible. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
Coming up: COVID-19 alters dreams at Africa University
Florida United Methodist Foundation
$100,000 grant aimed at college mental health
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Florida United Methodist Foundation is dedicating $100,000 to mental health training for students at Florida’s 10 Wesley Foundations and two United Methodist-related college campuses, Bethune-Cookman University and Florida Southern College. Derek Maul reports on why the foundation is taking action.
Read story
The Tennessean
Freedom Rider Ernest 'Rip' Patton Jr. dies at 81
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Ernest "Rip" Patton Jr., a Freedom Rider, civil rights advocate and member of Gordon Memorial United Methodist Church, has died at age 81. “He wasn’t as well-known as Congressman John Lewis and (the) Rev. C.T. Vivian and Diane Nash," said Dorothy Walker, director of the Freedom Rides Museum in Montgomery, Ala. “He didn’t have that same level of national recognition. But his courage and commitment was just as much.” Anika Exum and Melissa Brown report.
Read obituary
UM News: Patton shares his story with students
The Daily Item
Church reborn after 2019 fire
MILTON, Pa. — Fire twice threatened the future of Bethany United Methodist Church, and each time its congregants rebuilt. What locals call the Great Fire consumed its first building in 1880. After a fire in 2019, the church has now reopened its second building and is back to in-person worship. Eric Scicchitano has the story.
Read story
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 the UM News staff.
Minnesota Conference
Has the church left the building?
MINNEAPOLIS — After a long stretch without in-person worship, the Rev. Cindy Gregorson surprised herself when she realized her spirit longed more to be out in creation than sitting in a building. It made her wonder what is church if the Sunday morning worship service is not the main thing anymore? “We need to make the mindset shift from ‘I go to church’ to ‘I am the church,’” writes the director of ministries for the Minnesota Conference.
Read commentary
RESOURCES
Discipleship Ministries
Pre-register for narrative budget course
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Clergy are eligible to register for a free course on constructing a narrative budget. A narrative budget uses storytelling to help get people excited about supporting ministries. Non-clergy can take the course, tentatively scheduled to be available in September, for $25.
Read story and watch video
Pre-register
RECENT HEADLINES
Virus bedevils General Conference planning
‘Fearless’ artist launches debut gospel album at 74
EVENTS
Tuesday, Sept. 7-Saturday, Oct. 9
Online study: How to Fight Racism
NEWS AND FEATURES
Colleges, seminaries grapple with shot, mask mandates
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (UM News) — United Methodist-related colleges and United Methodist seminaries are scrambling with the rest of higher education as another fall term begins in the COVID-19 pandemic. Administrators are deciding vaccination and masking polices while also trying to make campus life as normal as possible. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
Coming up: COVID-19 alters dreams at Africa University
Florida United Methodist Foundation
$100,000 grant aimed at college mental health
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Florida United Methodist Foundation is dedicating $100,000 to mental health training for students at Florida’s 10 Wesley Foundations and two United Methodist-related college campuses, Bethune-Cookman University and Florida Southern College. Derek Maul reports on why the foundation is taking action.
Read story
The Tennessean
Freedom Rider Ernest 'Rip' Patton Jr. dies at 81
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Ernest "Rip" Patton Jr., a Freedom Rider, civil rights advocate and member of Gordon Memorial United Methodist Church, has died at age 81. “He wasn’t as well-known as Congressman John Lewis and (the) Rev. C.T. Vivian and Diane Nash," said Dorothy Walker, director of the Freedom Rides Museum in Montgomery, Ala. “He didn’t have that same level of national recognition. But his courage and commitment was just as much.” Anika Exum and Melissa Brown report.
Read obituary
UM News: Patton shares his story with students
The Daily Item
Church reborn after 2019 fire
MILTON, Pa. — Fire twice threatened the future of Bethany United Methodist Church, and each time its congregants rebuilt. What locals call the Great Fire consumed its first building in 1880. After a fire in 2019, the church has now reopened its second building and is back to in-person worship. Eric Scicchitano has the story.
Read story
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 the UM News staff.
Minnesota Conference
Has the church left the building?
MINNEAPOLIS — After a long stretch without in-person worship, the Rev. Cindy Gregorson surprised herself when she realized her spirit longed more to be out in creation than sitting in a building. It made her wonder what is church if the Sunday morning worship service is not the main thing anymore? “We need to make the mindset shift from ‘I go to church’ to ‘I am the church,’” writes the director of ministries for the Minnesota Conference.
Read commentary
RESOURCES
Discipleship Ministries
Pre-register for narrative budget course
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Clergy are eligible to register for a free course on constructing a narrative budget. A narrative budget uses storytelling to help get people excited about supporting ministries. Non-clergy can take the course, tentatively scheduled to be available in September, for $25.
Read story and watch video
Pre-register
RECENT HEADLINES
Virus bedevils General Conference planning
‘Fearless’ artist launches debut gospel album at 74
EVENTS
Tuesday, Sept. 7-Saturday, Oct. 9
Online study: How to Fight Racism
Like what you're reading? Support the ministry of UM News! Your support ensures the latest denominational news, dynamic stories and informative articles will continue to connect our global community. Make a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.