“The UMC lost a servant leader who stood for the truth and fought courageously for the rights of the marginalized.” — Retired Bishop Rodolfo A. Juan on Bishop Solito K. Toquero.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Bishop Toquero remembered as ‘champion of the poor’
CABANATUAN CITY, Philippines (UM News) — Friends and colleagues of Bishop Solito K. Toquero say he was a father figure and tireless advocate for the marginalized and disadvantaged members of society. Toquero, who served the Manila Area from 2001 to 2008, died Dec. 1 at age 81. Gladys P. Mangiduyos reports.
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Council of Bishops
Bishops call for hope, joy and especially peace
WASHINGTON — Ahead of the second Sunday of Advent, Council of Bishops President Thomas J. Bickerton acknowledges that it is especially hard to light the Advent candle representing peace when so much conflict rages around the globe, including in Ukraine and the Middle East. In his Advent message on behalf of United Methodist bishops, Bickerton says the candles representing hope, joy, love and Christ must burn brighter in people’s hearts this year.
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North Texas Conference, Dallas Morning News
Dallas Hispanic leader was United Methodist
DALLAS — Trinidad “Trini” Garza has died at age 92. He was the first Hispanic board member of the Dallas public schools and served as deputy regional director of the U.S. Department of Education in the Clinton administration. He and his wife also were early Latino concessionaires at the Texas State Fair, introducing fajitas to many fairgoers. Garza was an active United Methodist. A service celebrating his life will be Dec. 8 at Dallas’ Kessler Park United Methodist Church. The Rev. Owen Ross has a tribute for the North Texas Conference, and María Ramos Pacheco has the obituary for the Dallas Morning News.
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Global Ministries
Reimagining missions work
ATLANTA — Nearly 250 United Methodist mission leaders from 53 U.S. annual conferences gathered to discern ways to reimagine, reinvent and reignite mission work in the U.S. “The church is being led to a new focus on mission and meaning, and it is rewarding and exciting to join in God’s mission as the Holy Spirit sweeps us into a new mission age,” said Roland Fernandes, top executive of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, during the U.S. Mission Partners Consultation Nov. 28-29. Sara Logeman reports.
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UM News: Joint Mission Consultation welcomes regionalization
West Virginia Conference
Church begins In Loving Remembrance initiative
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Christ Church United Methodist is spreading its love to women and families who have dealt with the loss of a child through miscarriage, stillbirth and early infant death. One in four mothers experiences this loss. The outreach mission, called the In Loving Remembrance Initiative, creates awareness and gives encouragement to women and families during this difficult time. The Rev. Jay Perkins has the story.
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Foundation for Evangelism
Grant recipients share transformation stories
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. — The Foundation for Evangelism recently heard from recipients of the foundation’s Equipping the Local Church Grants. The Rev. Mary Beth Eberle from Grace United Methodist Church in Jackson, Tennessee, shared how the grant helped bring energy to the small congregation. “A lot of the work we’re doing is UN-doing church harm that people have experienced,” she said. Foundation staff have the story.
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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 UM News staff.
Michigan Conference
Try a little kindness this holiday season
LANSING, Mich. — Two chance encounters led Bishop David Alan Bard to reflect on the need for kindness during the Christmas season. “In a world where people feel a profound need to be cared about and where that need can be met too often by cold shoulders or apathetic indifference, might our Advent be a journey into kinder hearts and a recommitment to living with greater kindness, gentleness, tenderness and love?” Bard writes.
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RECENT HEADLINES
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