Daily Digest - February 24, 2023

“I felt like I was really doing something significant when I went in these little towns and churches and met with bishops. It was a struggle, but we were doing something right, so I was encouraged.” — Bishop Woodie W. White, on his early work with the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race.


TODAY’S HEADLINES

Ask The UMC
Celebrating an advocate for racial equality
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Bishop Woodie W. White was the first top executive of the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race and the first Black person to head a United Methodist general agency. He was tasked with integrating annual conferences after the Central Jurisdiction was abolished. “It was significant and extremely fulfilling work,” he said. Ask The UMC has more on this Pioneer in Methodism.
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Read more from Ask The UMC

United Methodist ministry with Ukraine
UZHHOROD, Ukraine (UM News) — In May 2022, a team from United Methodist News, the United Methodist Committee on Relief and the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries visited church refugee ministries in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and western Ukraine to share stories of the United Methodist presence in the wake of the tragedy and ongoing need following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. On this first anniversary of the invasion, we revisit that collection of stories. 
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PRESS RELEASES

Council of Bishops
Bickerton plans midterm state of the church address
WASHINGTON — Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton, president of the Council of Bishops, will deliver a midterm State of The United Methodist Church address at 1 p.m. U.S. Eastern time on March 2. The video presentation will launch on the official United Methodist denominational website at UMC.org/Renew and be shared on Facebook.com/UnitedMethodistChurch. The news comes on the heels of Bickerton's Ash Wednesday message in which he encouraged United Methodists to use the Lenten season “to pray that God will create within us a clean heart and a renewed spirit."
Read press release
Read Lenten message

Texas Methodist Foundation 
Foundation announces grant recipients
AUSTIN, Texas — For its fall 2022 grants cycle, Texas Methodist Foundation awarded $700,000 to 36 churches, schools and other organizations. Grant recipients include El Calvario United Methodist Church in Las Cruces, N.M., which provides temporary shelter to refugees. Wiley College and Lydia Patterson Institute were among the other organizations getting funding.
Read about recipients


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.

Western Pennsylvania Conference
The merits of rest
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The Rev. B.T. Gilligan took four weeks of spiritual renewal leave last fall, and he wants to share some lessons learned. “When we rest, we are not being selfish or letting others down. Instead, we are modeling a godly command going as far back as the beginning of time,” Gilligan writes.
Read commentary


RESOURCES

United Methodist Communications
Agency seeks ethnic panel volunteers
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodist Communications is seeking pastors and lay leaders with marketing and/or communication responsibilities to join an upcoming Asian leader panel. Panelists will be invited to take part in online surveys and focus groups throughout the year to share their experiences, build relationships and help grow The United Methodist Church. Those interested are invited to take a brief survey.
Take survey 


EVENTS

Wednesday, March 8-Sunday, March 12
Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference Immersion

Tuesday, March 14
Webinar: The Church Audit — It's Easier Than You Think


TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK

New life for 196-year-old Pickett Chapel
LEBANON, Tenn. (UM News) — Pickett Chapel has been a white church, a Black church and a multiracial one in its long life as a Methodist house of worship. A local Black history group now owns the chapel and it is being restored to be a museum and event venue. A symbolic milestone in the effort was reached Feb. 18, when a group of supporters gathered during Black History Month to witness the unveiling of a new plaque recognizing Pickett Chapel’s status as part of the National Register of Historic Places. Jim Patterson reports.
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Amid budget woes, church sees slight rise in giving
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Overall giving to support The United Methodist Church’s denomination-wide ministries saw a small uptick in 2022 even in a time of rising church disaffiliations. However, worries remain — especially about the funding for bishops. Heather Hahn reports.
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Read press release

Church brings Christ to villagers’ doorsteps
BUHERA, Zimbabwe (UM News) — A United Methodist crusade helped the Marange District regain some membership lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. The three-day event brought the Gospel to more than 200 villagers’ homes and resulted in dozens of new members and the return of others. Kudzai Chingwe has the story.
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Kentucky Conference
Hunger for God on display at revival
WILMORE, Ky. — The revival at Asbury University and Asbury Theological Seminary has drawn considerable media coverage and large crowds, with United Methodists among those waiting in line to be part of worship services. Alan Wild’s on-the-scene account includes comments from a United Methodist pastor who said the revival shows “people are hungry and thirsty for God.” 
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Texas Conference
Faithful flock to new church community
BAYTOWN, Texas — The Rev. Luis Ramirez says he feels blessed to lead a new faith community of church members who want to stay United Methodist. After Ramirez’s church voted to disaffiliate in October, he was asked to start the new Houston-area church. “It’s a traditional church, but it’s also a new church. It’s a plant, but it’s also a merger. And there’s something new and refreshing about it, something I’ve never done before,” he said. Lindsay Peyton has the story. 
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