“We are determined to do everything in our power to fight this disease and protect the children of the (Democratic Republic of Congo).” — Dr. Damas Lushima, coordinator of The United Methodist Church’s health department in Eastern Congo.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Church helps to fight measles in Congo
KINSHASA, Congo (UM News) — To combat a resurgence of measles in Congo, The United Methodist Church is implementing a joint emergency-response plan against the disease. With support from the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries’ Global Health unit, the initiative includes community engagement, surveillance, vaccinations and case management in health facilities. Chadrack Tambwe Londe reports.
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Greater New Jersey Conference
Case managers ease burden after disasters
NEPTUNE, N.J. — Victims of Hurricane Ida are still trying to recover two years later. When people’s lives fall apart, there are important individuals behind the scenes helping to piece things back together. Disaster case managers such as Andy Chan give of themselves to help disaster survivors get the assistance they need. Krista B. Jefferies profiles Chan’s work.
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Grist, Interlochen Public Radio
Churches across US go solar
CHARLEVOIX, Mich. — Greensky Hill Indian United Methodist Church, a majority Native American congregation, has a long history of environmental care and stewardship, grounded in Anishinaabe culture. Greensky Hill is one of the many U.S. houses of worship now going solar. A new federal rule is making such efforts easier. Izzy Ross reports.
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CoinWeek.com
Jovita Idár coin wins award
SILVER SPRINGS, Fla. — CoinWeek, an internet-based numismatic news organization, has given its Best Coin Design Award of 2023 to the Jovita Idár American Women Quarter. Idár (1885-1946) was a Mexican American and a Methodist who advocated for the rights and welfare of women and children. Her coin is part of a United States Mint series that also features Eleanor Roosevelt, Maya Angelou and Sally Ride.
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UM News: Spotlight shines on Jovita Idár, Methodist reformer
PRESS RELEASES
California-Pacific Conference
Churches issue grants for racial justice
SAN DIEGO — First United Methodist Church of San Diego and St. Paul United Methodist Church have jointly awarded $40,000 in grants to three local nonprofits that serve the Black, Indigenous and people of color communities in San Diego County. The grants are part of the churches’ long-term commitment to anti-racist work.
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World Council of Churches
Submissions sought for conference on Nicaea
GENEVA — The World Council of Churches’ Ecumenical Institute at Bossey is inviting emerging and senior scholars from diverse Christian traditions to join an international conference that will delve into the ecumenical significance of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325) and its relevance in today’s rapidly changing world. The deadline for scholars to submit abstracts is March 28. The conference is scheduled for Nov. 4-8.
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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.
Upper New York Conference
The importance of church statistics
LIVERPOOL, N.Y. — Though compiling and inputting church statistics each year can be tedious, those statistics are there to help a church’s mission. Statistics allow a church to see trends such as growth or decline in membership, revenue, expenses, attendance, membership makeup and more. These trends can help a church plan for the future, writes Autumn Wells.
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