"We will continue to work to help church leaders and annual conferences make disciples of Jesus Christ. We do not plan to waver from that mission." — The Rev. Junius B. Dotson, top executive of Discipleship Ministries, on adapting to budget cuts at the general agencies.
NEWS AND FEATURES
General agencies cutting back
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Faced with an ongoing pandemic and denominational uncertainty, United Methodist general agencies are reducing staff while trying to stay true to their missions. Kathy L. Gilbert and Jim Patterson report in the first installment of a two-part series.
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Michigan Conference
Albanian couple still takes sanctuary in church
DETROIT — When Ded Rranxburgaj and his wife, Flora, went through the doors into Central United Methodist Church in January 2018, little did they know they would still live there three years later. But even with a new presidential administration, the Albanian immigrants have reasons to remain in sanctuary. John E. Harnish has the story.
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Florida Conference
Disaster response coordinator honored
LAKELAND, Fla. — Pam Garrison, the retired disaster response coordinator for the Florida Conference, has received the Florida Emergency Preparedness Association's 2021 Distinguished Service Award. The group recognized Garrison for "multiple contributions" to statewide emergency management. Joe Henderson has the story.
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Galveston County Daily News
Buffalo Soldier helped found congregation
DICKINSON, Texas — Faith United Methodist Church in this Texas Gulf Coast town traces its roots back to Civil War veteran and Buffalo Soldier Alex Winfield. For Black History Month, Matt deGrood reports on Winfield's contributions to what is now Galveston County.
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PRESS RELEASES
Southern Methodist University
Grants help Native Americans, others
DALLAS — Efforts by United Methodist conferences to respond to the pandemic are being bolstered by more than $100,000 in grants from the Henry Luce Foundation distributed by Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. The Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference is using its grant for food distribution, school aid and supplies for low-income and homeless Native Americans.
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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 the UM News staff.
Good News
Primary reasons for separation
THE WOODLANDS, Texas — The Rev. Thomas Lambrecht makes a traditionalist case for why a breakup of The United Methodist Church is needed. Lambrecht is a United Methodist clergyman and vice president of Good News, a traditionalist advocacy group within the denomination.
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AdamHamilton.com
A United Methodist centrist responds
LEAWOOD, Kan. — The Rev. Adam Hamilton, pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, argues that centrists and progressives have been mischaracterized in a column that the Rev. Thomas Lambrecht wrote recently for Good News magazine.
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RESOURCES
United Methodist Higher Education Foundation
Scholarships available for United Methodist students
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The March 1 deadline is fast approaching for students to submit applications for scholarships from the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation. Applicants must be members of The United Methodist Church and planning to attend a United Methodist-related school full-time for the 2021-22 school year.
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To apply
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