Daily Digest - August 31, 2023

“Water is one of the most critical lifelines for people and communities. This rain-harvesting project provides the most vulnerable of Novele residents some respite in ensuring that they have better access to this life-giving resource.” — Dan Ela, a disaster management coordinator in the Philippines.


NEWS AND FEATURES

Water project improves lives in the Philippines
CABANATUAN CITY, Philippines (UM News) — Vulnerable families in the Davao Area now have access to clean water thanks to a rainwater-harvesting project led by The United Methodist Church in the Philippines. The Davao Area encompasses the southern part of the country. Gladys P. Mangiduyos reports.
Read story

Western North Carolina Conference
N.C. disaffiliation lawsuit resolved
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — The 36 churches that sued the Western North Carolina Conference over disaffiliation policies have resolved all litigation pending between them by mutual agreement. The conference’s board of trustees announced that the churches will disaffiliate under the Book of Discipline’s Paragraph 2553 and that the conference will work through the disaffiliation process. Earlier this year, a judge in North Carolina dismissed the churches’ lawsuit, but the churches had the option to appeal.
Read statement
Read about dismissal

United Methodist Communications, Archives and History
Test your knowledge of early Methodist history 
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — What catastrophic event happened to a 5-year-old John Wesley? What university did he attend? Take this Methodist History 101 quiz to see how much you know about the founding family of Methodism.
Take quiz

South Carolina Conference
Campers engage in summer of service
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Despite relentless heat all summer long, nearly 1,000 youth and adults dispersed among 32 sites across the South Carolina Conference as Salkehatchie Summer Service returned in full force. In June and July, 920 Salkehatchie campers repaired more than 80 homes for families in need. Jessica Brodie has the story. 
Read story
 
New England Conference
Church cares for creation by reducing carbon footprint
ACTON, Mass. — St. Matthew's United Methodist Church has taken steps large (a solar panel array) and small (strategically opening or closing doors) to cut its energy bills and reduce its negative impact on the environment. The church reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 40% between 2014 and 2023, and the solar panels power the church and parsonage, completely eliminating its electric bill. New England Conference staff report.
Read story


PRESS RELEASES

Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare
United Methodist hospital honored
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — For the third year in a row, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare’s Methodist University Hospital received the highest honor from the American College of Cardiology for its treatment of patients with chest pain. The United Methodist-related hospital system has relations with the Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee-Western Kentucky conferences.
Read press release


RESOURCES

Amplify Media
Webinar planned on listening to God’s voice
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Amplify Media, part of the United Methodist Publishing House, will host a webinar, “Learning to Listen to God’s Voice,” at 1 p.m. U.S. Central time Sept. 7. In their book “On Purpose: Finding God’s Voice in Your Passion,” the Revs. Magrey deVega, Sam McGlothlin, Jevon Caldwell-Gross and Susan Robb give practical ways for Christians to attune themselves to the Holy Spirit. 
Learn more and register


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