“A few things in (the movie) we wouldn’t dream of doing. Maybe we would if we were in our 80s again. We’re all in our 90s now.” — United Methodist Elizabeth “Betty” Pensavalle, one of the five women who inspired the new movie “80 for Brady.”
TODAY’S HEADLINES
New England Conference
Church member inspired new movie
NORTH ATTLEBORO, Mass. — The new feature film “80 for Brady,” starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Sally Field and Rita Moreno, is based on a group of real-life friends who bonded over their love of football and especially “Greatest of All Time” quarterback Tom Brady. One of the film’s inspirations is Elizabeth “Betty” Pensavalle, 94, a lifelong United Methodist. Beth DiCocco has the story.
Read story
Fourchaplains.org
Remembering four chaplains
PHILADELPHIA — The American Legion and other veterans’ groups are marking Four Chaplains Day, which commemorates the events of Feb. 3, 1943, when the troop ship USAT Dorchester sank during World War II. Four military chaplains, including the Methodist Lt. George L. Fox, gave their own life vests to others and helped as many men as possible to board the life boats. The four — who also included a Dutch Reformed preacher, Catholic priest and Jewish rabbi — then prayed together and went down with the ship. The U.S. Congress established Feb. 3 as Four Chaplains Day in 1988.
Learn more
Learn more about United Methodist chaplaincy
Madison Eagle
Arson suspected in Virginia church fire
WOLFTOWN, Va. — Charges are pending in a United Methodist church fire that police suspect was arson. The fire at the 140-year-old Rose Park United Methodist Church left its sanctuary significantly damaged. Amid the ashes, the Rev. Elizabeth Petry noted that the Christ candle remained intact — a reminder of Christ’s enduring light. Gracie Hart Brooks reports.
Read story
WXIA-TV Atlanta
$4 million grant to help Georgia church
CHUBBTOWN, Ga. — The last remaining building in the original Chubbtown Community settlement will be spruced up with a $4 million grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservations' African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. Plans are for Chubb Chapel United Methodist Church to use the money to repair windows, prevent erosion, install handicap-accessible ramps, clean and paint. Chubbtown was founded in the 1850s by several freed Black siblings. Joe Ripley reports.
Read story and watch video
UM News: Little church looms large in Black history
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.
Centrist-progressive coalition could soon unravel
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (UM News) — United Methodist centrists and progressives have made common cause in working for the inclusion of LGBTQ people in church life. Lonnie D. Brooks, a veteran General Conference delegate, argues why he thinks that coalition could be short-lived.
Read commentary
Political categories don’t capture work ahead
CHICAGO (UM News) — The United Methodist Church risks the same errors of the past if it keeps dividing itself into different factions, writes Bridget Cabrera. The head of the advocacy group Methodist Federation for Social Action notes the categories of centrist and progressive “fall flat” in the face of spreading the good news.
Read commentary
EVENTS
Monday, Feb. 13
Webinar: Clergy, Stay on Top of Your Taxes!
Wednesday, Feb. 22-Monday, April 3
Online course: Biblical Storytelling Weekly for Lent
TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK
Church leaders mourn Tyre Nichols, seek change
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (UM News) — In the days since video was released showing police officers savagely beating Tyre Nichols, United Methodists have joined in grief and prayers for Nichols and his family. Some recalled their own experiences with police violence. All called for justice and the recognition of Black people’s humanity. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Eventful 20 years added to Methodist history
MADISON, N.J. (UM News) — “American Methodism,” a history of the denomination and its predecessors, has been updated for the first time in a decade. A new chapter relates the battle over sexuality and other challenges such as technology, the COVID-19 pandemic and budget cuts. Ashley Boggan, top executive at the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History, offers her insights on the updated book. Jim Patterson has the story.
Read story
Wespath supports student pastors in Congo
KINDU, Congo (UM News) — Wespath Benefits and Investments, the pension agency of The United Methodist Church, is providing financial support to 12 theology students from Beni attending Kindu Methodist University. The students no longer receive regular assistance from their families due to insecurity in the region. Chadrack Tambwe Londe reports.
Read story
Ask The UMC
More disaffiliation questions answered
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, continues to receive questions related to local church disaffiliations. In Part 8 of its “Is The United Methodist Church Really…?” series, the team tackles more inquiries related to Paragraph 2553, including what happens when the paragraph expires at the end of the year.
Read story
Read previous installments
SBC21
Commentary: Black church matters in beloved community
HOUSTON — The Black church has been the epicenter for healing, help and hope for the least, last and lost, writes the Rev. Dr. Michael Bowie of Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century. As Black History Month begins, he sees an opportunity to explore how local Black churches can help Christians make the beloved community a reality.
Read commentary
TODAY’S HEADLINES
New England Conference
Church member inspired new movie
NORTH ATTLEBORO, Mass. — The new feature film “80 for Brady,” starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Sally Field and Rita Moreno, is based on a group of real-life friends who bonded over their love of football and especially “Greatest of All Time” quarterback Tom Brady. One of the film’s inspirations is Elizabeth “Betty” Pensavalle, 94, a lifelong United Methodist. Beth DiCocco has the story.
Read story
Fourchaplains.org
Remembering four chaplains
PHILADELPHIA — The American Legion and other veterans’ groups are marking Four Chaplains Day, which commemorates the events of Feb. 3, 1943, when the troop ship USAT Dorchester sank during World War II. Four military chaplains, including the Methodist Lt. George L. Fox, gave their own life vests to others and helped as many men as possible to board the life boats. The four — who also included a Dutch Reformed preacher, Catholic priest and Jewish rabbi — then prayed together and went down with the ship. The U.S. Congress established Feb. 3 as Four Chaplains Day in 1988.
Learn more
Learn more about United Methodist chaplaincy
Madison Eagle
Arson suspected in Virginia church fire
WOLFTOWN, Va. — Charges are pending in a United Methodist church fire that police suspect was arson. The fire at the 140-year-old Rose Park United Methodist Church left its sanctuary significantly damaged. Amid the ashes, the Rev. Elizabeth Petry noted that the Christ candle remained intact — a reminder of Christ’s enduring light. Gracie Hart Brooks reports.
Read story
WXIA-TV Atlanta
$4 million grant to help Georgia church
CHUBBTOWN, Ga. — The last remaining building in the original Chubbtown Community settlement will be spruced up with a $4 million grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservations' African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. Plans are for Chubb Chapel United Methodist Church to use the money to repair windows, prevent erosion, install handicap-accessible ramps, clean and paint. Chubbtown was founded in the 1850s by several freed Black siblings. Joe Ripley reports.
Read story and watch video
UM News: Little church looms large in Black history
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.
Centrist-progressive coalition could soon unravel
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (UM News) — United Methodist centrists and progressives have made common cause in working for the inclusion of LGBTQ people in church life. Lonnie D. Brooks, a veteran General Conference delegate, argues why he thinks that coalition could be short-lived.
Read commentary
Political categories don’t capture work ahead
CHICAGO (UM News) — The United Methodist Church risks the same errors of the past if it keeps dividing itself into different factions, writes Bridget Cabrera. The head of the advocacy group Methodist Federation for Social Action notes the categories of centrist and progressive “fall flat” in the face of spreading the good news.
Read commentary
EVENTS
Monday, Feb. 13
Webinar: Clergy, Stay on Top of Your Taxes!
Wednesday, Feb. 22-Monday, April 3
Online course: Biblical Storytelling Weekly for Lent
TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK
Church leaders mourn Tyre Nichols, seek change
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (UM News) — In the days since video was released showing police officers savagely beating Tyre Nichols, United Methodists have joined in grief and prayers for Nichols and his family. Some recalled their own experiences with police violence. All called for justice and the recognition of Black people’s humanity. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Eventful 20 years added to Methodist history
MADISON, N.J. (UM News) — “American Methodism,” a history of the denomination and its predecessors, has been updated for the first time in a decade. A new chapter relates the battle over sexuality and other challenges such as technology, the COVID-19 pandemic and budget cuts. Ashley Boggan, top executive at the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History, offers her insights on the updated book. Jim Patterson has the story.
Read story
Wespath supports student pastors in Congo
KINDU, Congo (UM News) — Wespath Benefits and Investments, the pension agency of The United Methodist Church, is providing financial support to 12 theology students from Beni attending Kindu Methodist University. The students no longer receive regular assistance from their families due to insecurity in the region. Chadrack Tambwe Londe reports.
Read story
Ask The UMC
More disaffiliation questions answered
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, continues to receive questions related to local church disaffiliations. In Part 8 of its “Is The United Methodist Church Really…?” series, the team tackles more inquiries related to Paragraph 2553, including what happens when the paragraph expires at the end of the year.
Read story
Read previous installments
SBC21
Commentary: Black church matters in beloved community
HOUSTON — The Black church has been the epicenter for healing, help and hope for the least, last and lost, writes the Rev. Dr. Michael Bowie of Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century. As Black History Month begins, he sees an opportunity to explore how local Black churches can help Christians make the beloved community a reality.
Read commentary
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