Daily Digest - February 23, 2021

"The vision map is an image to describe the total or whole picture of the respondents' laments, aspirations and visions." — The Rev. Cristine "Tintin" Carnate-Atrero on the Out of Chaos, Creation vision map for the denomination's future.

NEWS AND FEATURES

Delegates map out vision for church future
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — An international group of General Conference delegates asked United Methodists from around the globe to help them envision a better church. Using that feedback, the group unveiled "Out of Chaos, Creation," a vision map for the denomination's future. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Coming up: Sam Hodges reports on a recent flurry of statements and opinion pieces on The United Methodist Church's future.

Church grapples with resurgence of Ebola
BUTEMBO, Congo (UM News) — As COVID-19 numbers continue to rise, with more than 25,000 cases and 700 deaths in Congo, the country wrestles with a resurgence of Ebola. With these and other diseases threatening lives and livelihoods, United Methodists are helping raise awareness and offering other assistance. Philippe Kituka Lolonga reports.
Read story

South Georgia Conference
Pastor mixes baking with Bible study

COLUMBUS, Ga. — Like thousands of others, the Rev. Adriane Burgess found solace in the kitchen amid the pandemic. The pastor of St. Mary's Road United Methodist Church now has combined her love of sweet treats and Scripture in a regular Facebook video series named "Dessert. Devotion." Kara Witherow has the story.
Read story

California-Nevada Conference
Church helps with hunger and housing

CRESCENT CITY, Calif. — "If we are to be the church that worships God on Sunday morning, we also have to be the church that creates the Kingdom of God the rest of the week," says the Rev. Dana Gill Port, pastor of Crescent City United Methodist Church. Her church is now organizing a community-wide homeless ministry. JB Brayfindley reports.
Read story

Baltimore Heritage
Birthplace of American Methodism featured

BALTIMORE — The historic preservation group Baltimore Heritage has released a short video on Lovely Lane United Methodist Church. Lovely Lane's original meeting house was where the Methodist Episcopal Church formed on Christmas Eve in 1784.
Watch video

PRESS RELEASES

Gammon Theological Seminary
Gammon elects first female president-dean

ATLANTA — United Methodist Gammon Theological Seminary has named a Florida Conference district superintendent as its first female president-dean. The Rev. Candace M. Lewis, a Gammon alumna, starts work on April 1.
Read press release

RESOURCES

Greater New Jersey Conference
Worship service honors Black History Month

NEPTUNE, N.J. — The Rev. Lan Wilson, the Greater New Jersey Conference's director of resourcing and worship, has created a worship service for Black History Month. The video service is titled "Not Soon Forgotten: a Service of Legacy, Love and Leadership."
Watch service

RECENT HEADLINES

Scrutinizing the proposed hold on new bishops

Church helps displaced in Central African Republic

EVENTS

Thursday, Feb. 25

Webinar: Justice or Just Us? The Biblical Call to Confront Racism


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