Daily Digest - January 13, 2023

“Few in church music bring Dr. Young’s array of gifts — as composer, professor, editor, conductor, performer, scholar. His new book is for anyone who wants insight into the church and its music since 1960.” — C. Michael Hawn on the Rev. Carlton R. “Sam” Young’s new autobiography. 


TODAY’S HEADLINES

At 96, hymnal editor shares his story 
NASHVILLE. Tenn. (UM News) — The Rev. Carlton R. “Sam” Young, editor of The United Methodist Hymnal, shares the story of his long life and career as a church musician in the new book “I’ll Sing On: My First 96 Years.” C. Michael Hawn, himself a major contributor to church music, assesses Young’s autobiography.
Read review

United Methodist Committee on Relief
How to help amid tornadoes and floods
ATLANTA — Storms swept through Alabama, Georgia and other southern states, spawning at least 35 tornadoes and claiming the lives of at least seven people, including a child. Floods that have killed at least 19 people continue to ravage California. United Methodists can help by assembling cleaning kits and donating to the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s Advance for U.S. disaster relief.
To help with cleaning kits
To donate

Texas Conference
Faithful United Methodists form worshipping community
CYPRESS, Texas — A growing group of committed United Methodists whose churches disaffiliated has begun to meet in the Cypress Fairbanks area, near Houston. The Cy-Fair United Methodists — as they’re tentatively calling themselves — had organizing help from a veteran Texas Conference leader, the Rev. Godfrey Hubert, and now are being led by the Rev. Shuler Sitsch. Lindsay Peyton reports. 
Read story

Western Pennsylvania Conference
Church offers warmth, fellowship 
ERIE, Pa. — On the Friday before Christmas, leadership at First United Methodist Church learned that there would be a three-hour gap on Christmas morning when people on the street would not be able to access available shelter in temperatures of 25-below zero. A team was organized to host about 40 unhoused people, provide warm drinks and food, scarves, hats and gloves and fellowship, and seek ways to develop further relationships. Conference staff have the story.
Read story

No Daily Digest Jan. 16
In observation of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States, there will be no UM News Daily Digest on Monday, Jan. 16. The digest will resume on Tuesday, Jan. 17. The meme above is available to download and share.
Download MLK meme

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.

Baltimore-Washington Conference
What would Martin Luther King say in 2023? 
BALTIMORE — The Rev. C. Anthony Hunt, a United Methodist pastor and scholar on the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., offers what might be King’s message to the United States in 2023. “King helped us to understand more fully the essence of human dignity and worth, and the importance for these to be enacted among all of us if we will ever be all that God calls us to be,” Hunt writes. 
Read commentary

Alabama-West Florida Conference
Disaffiliation should not be viewed as a business deal
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — For several months, Bishop David Graves said he has heard people push church disaffiliation from The United Methodist Church as a good business deal. “If this is a business deal for you, then I ask you to please do some soul searching and reflect on your motivations,” he writes. He also explains why he is encouraging churchgoers to wait on disaffiliation decisions until after the 2024 General Conference.
Read commentary


EVENTS

Sunday, Jan. 15
Human Relations Day

Thursday, Jan. 19
Faith Talks on 2023 Mission u Studies: "Living the Kin-dom"


TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK

Churches help pay off medical debt
OKEMOS, Mich. (UM News) — Paying off medical debts is how some United Methodist churches are making their charity dollars stretch. The churches work with nonprofit RIP Medical Debt, which buys up medical debts from collection agencies, hospitals and physician groups in bundled portfolios for pennies on the dollar. By raising $15,000, Okemos Community Church retired more than $2.2 million in long-term medical debt for Michigan families. Jim Patterson has the story.
Read story

First United Methodist Latina sworn into US Congress
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Rep. Delia Ramírez Hernández (D-Ill.) was sworn into the 118th U.S. Congress on Jan. 7, becoming its first United Methodist Latina. Ramírez Hernández, who grew up attending Humboldt Park United Methodist Church in Chicago, also has been a leader in the denomination. The Rev. Gustavo Vasquez reports.
Read story
Faith on the Hill: The religious composition of the 118th Congress

North Georgia hits pause on disaffiliations
ATLANTA (UM News) — The largest United Methodist conference in the U.S. announced it is blocking church exits, for now, citing “defamatory” misinformation. The North Georgia Conference decision has been met with both celebration and consternation. Meanwhile, at least two conferences are already exploring other ways for handling church exits. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story

Congolese president donates car to Bishop Unda 
KINDU, Congo (UM News) — In recognition of The United Methodist Church’s work in East Congo, the president of the country gifted a Nissan 4x4 vehicle to Bishop Gabriel Yemba Unda. The vehicle will help with efforts to evangelize in remote areas. Judith Osongo Yanga has the story.
Read story

Ask The UMC
What is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — During the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, held Jan. 18-25, Christians everywhere are invited to remember one another in prayer and strengthen the bonds of love and mutual mission shared in Jesus Christ. Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, has more on the annual observance, which is sponsored by the World Council of Churches and the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity. 
Read story
See World Council of Churches resources
Read more Ask The UMC

New annual conference reports posted
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist News is continuing to post 2022 annual conference reports as they are submitted. New this week is the Mozambique South Conference. 
Read reports

Commentary: Physician urges update of abortion stance 
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — A U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year has put women’s lives at risk, and The United Methodist Church should revise its Social Principles, writes Dr. Amy Gordon Bono. She says in some states doctors risk being convicted as criminals for saving the lives of pregnant patients who need evidence-based care. “I urge our faith leaders to stand up for women and families and their physicians. In these times of controversy, silence is deadly,” she writes. 
Read commentary