“People need Jesus everywhere. But when people are in jail or prison, a lot of them have hit rock bottom and often are more interested or more willing to hear the Gospel.” — The Rev. Kris Schonewolf, on leading a United Methodist ministry within a Florida women’s prison.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Florida Conference
Conference starts ministry in women’s prison
OCALA, Fla. — The Florida Conference recently established a United Methodist ministry inside Lowell Correctional Institution, where about 3,000 women are incarcerated. The Rev. Kris Schonewolf is the appointed pastor, and when she’s not at the prison she’s on the road raising money for the program. Getting churches to embrace newly released ex-prisoners is a priority. Ed Scott reports.
Read story
Minnesota Conference
Document preserves Minnesota Methodism history
MINNEAPOLIS — Information about United Methodist congregations in Minnesota spanning 200 years has been collected into an online document. The project was begun by former archivist Thelma Boeder, who said she hopes it will help congregations to understand their own local church beginnings. Christa Meland reports.
Read story
West African Writers
United Methodist takes reins at University of Liberia
MONROVIA, Liberia — As the new president of the University of Liberia, the Rev. Julius S. Nelson shared his commitment to academics and his plans for the future. “We must be intentional about building a culture of tolerance and nonviolence,” he said. Nelson served as director of youth and young adult ministries for The United Methodist Church in Liberia for over a decade. E Julu Swen has the story.
Read story
World Council of Churches
WCC sets vision ‘for one human family’
BOSSEY, Switzerland — With a focus on hope, the World Council of Churches Executive Committee issued seven public statements on topics that include the climate crisis and the U.S. position on West Bank settlements. The committee also worked on plans for the 11th assembly in 2021. Members of the executive committee include retired United Methodist Bishop Mary Ann Swenson, the council’s co-vice moderator.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Commission on Archives and History
Longtime United Methodist archivist to retire
MADISON, N.J. — Dale Patterson, archivist-records administrator for the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History for the past 26 years, will retire at the end of 2019. He’s overseen the creation of databases and digital collections and raised United Methodist archival standards “to the highest possible level,” said the Rev. Alfred Day III, top executive of the agency.
Read press release
Tennessee, Memphis conferences
New name chosen for combined conferences
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference of The United Methodist Church will be the new name for the combined Tennessee and Memphis conferences. “We United Methodists are in a time of anticipation,” the announcement said. “We hold out hope for the birth of this new mission field that stretches from Memphis to Crossville to Paducah and all the places in between.”
Read press release
Joint Public Issues Team, Methodist Church in Britain
‘Glove, Pray, Vote’ aims to bridge divide in UK
LONDON — As part of a “Glove, Pray, Vote” initiative, United Kingdom church members are encouraged to pass out warm gloves to all candidates in the Dec. 12 general election in an effort to help bridge divisions over Brexit and other issues. The Joint Public Issues Team, representing the Methodist Church, Baptist Union, Church of Scotland and United Reformed Church, is sponsoring the initiative.
Read press release
RECENT HEADLINES
Bishops’ group backs US regional conference
Filipino United Methodists focus on HIV epidemic
EVENTS
Friday, Dec. 6-Sunday, Dec. 8
Balsam Range Art of Music Festival
NEWS AND FEATURES
Florida Conference
Conference starts ministry in women’s prison
OCALA, Fla. — The Florida Conference recently established a United Methodist ministry inside Lowell Correctional Institution, where about 3,000 women are incarcerated. The Rev. Kris Schonewolf is the appointed pastor, and when she’s not at the prison she’s on the road raising money for the program. Getting churches to embrace newly released ex-prisoners is a priority. Ed Scott reports.
Read story
Minnesota Conference
Document preserves Minnesota Methodism history
MINNEAPOLIS — Information about United Methodist congregations in Minnesota spanning 200 years has been collected into an online document. The project was begun by former archivist Thelma Boeder, who said she hopes it will help congregations to understand their own local church beginnings. Christa Meland reports.
Read story
West African Writers
United Methodist takes reins at University of Liberia
MONROVIA, Liberia — As the new president of the University of Liberia, the Rev. Julius S. Nelson shared his commitment to academics and his plans for the future. “We must be intentional about building a culture of tolerance and nonviolence,” he said. Nelson served as director of youth and young adult ministries for The United Methodist Church in Liberia for over a decade. E Julu Swen has the story.
Read story
World Council of Churches
WCC sets vision ‘for one human family’
BOSSEY, Switzerland — With a focus on hope, the World Council of Churches Executive Committee issued seven public statements on topics that include the climate crisis and the U.S. position on West Bank settlements. The committee also worked on plans for the 11th assembly in 2021. Members of the executive committee include retired United Methodist Bishop Mary Ann Swenson, the council’s co-vice moderator.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Commission on Archives and History
Longtime United Methodist archivist to retire
MADISON, N.J. — Dale Patterson, archivist-records administrator for the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History for the past 26 years, will retire at the end of 2019. He’s overseen the creation of databases and digital collections and raised United Methodist archival standards “to the highest possible level,” said the Rev. Alfred Day III, top executive of the agency.
Read press release
Tennessee, Memphis conferences
New name chosen for combined conferences
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference of The United Methodist Church will be the new name for the combined Tennessee and Memphis conferences. “We United Methodists are in a time of anticipation,” the announcement said. “We hold out hope for the birth of this new mission field that stretches from Memphis to Crossville to Paducah and all the places in between.”
Read press release
Joint Public Issues Team, Methodist Church in Britain
‘Glove, Pray, Vote’ aims to bridge divide in UK
LONDON — As part of a “Glove, Pray, Vote” initiative, United Kingdom church members are encouraged to pass out warm gloves to all candidates in the Dec. 12 general election in an effort to help bridge divisions over Brexit and other issues. The Joint Public Issues Team, representing the Methodist Church, Baptist Union, Church of Scotland and United Reformed Church, is sponsoring the initiative.
Read press release
RECENT HEADLINES
Bishops’ group backs US regional conference
Filipino United Methodists focus on HIV epidemic
EVENTS
Friday, Dec. 6-Sunday, Dec. 8
Balsam Range Art of Music Festival
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