“Despite the low percentage of survivors, I am determined to fight. I intend to beat the odds. I also plan on working as long as the Lord allows.” — The Rev. Junius B. Dotson after his pancreatic cancer diagnosis.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Discipleship’s top executive battles cancer
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The Rev. Junius B. Dotson, the top executive of Discipleship Ministries, told his staff and board on Jan. 28 that he has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He also said he would continue to work as he fights the disease. Heather Hahn reports.
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Ask The UMC
When did the church start celebrating Ash Wednesday?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Ash Wednesday (Feb. 17 this year) begins the season of Lent, a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. Although Ash Wednesday has ancient roots, it does not appear in the rituals of The United Methodist Church or its predecessor denominations until the 20th century. Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, has more on Ash Wednesday.
Read story
Read more Ask The UMC
Dakotas Conference
Busy Sundays for licensed local pastor
CANDO, N.D. — Pastor Rick Craig rises at 5 a.m. to travel 80 miles each Sunday to lead worship services in three churches in North Dakota. The licensed local pastor also posts a sermon online each week for those who can’t make it to services. Doreen Gosmire reports.
Read story
Western North Carolina Conference
Hen ministry helps fight poverty
PINEY CREEK, N.C. — Piney Creek United Methodist Church heads up Hens from Heaven, which aims to help people fly the coop of systemic poverty. Not only does the ministry use its eggs to feed hungry people, but it also aims to help people in the community start henhouses of their own. The Rev. David Serven has the story.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Council of Bishops
Bishops plan to meet Feb. 18
WASHINGTON — The United Methodist Council of Bishops plans to have a one-day virtual meeting of the more than 150 active and retired bishops at 9 a.m. U.S. Eastern time Feb. 18. The bishops will discuss the global denomination’s current situation and reflect on the mission and ministry of the church amid the pandemic.
Read press release
United Methodist Communications
Support for communications students
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Those interested in pursuing a career in religious communications are encouraged to apply for educational support from United Methodist Communications. The $6,000 Stoody-West Fellowship assists one United Methodist student in post-graduate study, while the Leonard M. Perryman Communications Scholarship for Racial Ethnic Minority Students awards $2,500 for the undergraduate study of religion journalism or mass communications. The deadline to submit applications is March 15.
Read press release
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.
Reaping a whirlwind: We ignore truth at our peril
DOWAGIAC, Mich. (UM News) — In light of the U.S. Capitol insurrection and growing divisions within the country, the Rev. Christopher P. Momany writes that as the church, “we should all commit to confessing ways we have allowed our preconceived notions to cloud our reception of God’s truth.”
Read commentary
RECENT HEADLINES
‘Water is Life’ chronicles global struggle for clean water
Church puts love into action amid pandemic
EVENTS
Sunday, Feb. 7, 14, 21 and 28
Mission u: Finding Peace in an Anxious World
NEWS AND FEATURES
Discipleship’s top executive battles cancer
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The Rev. Junius B. Dotson, the top executive of Discipleship Ministries, told his staff and board on Jan. 28 that he has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He also said he would continue to work as he fights the disease. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Ask The UMC
When did the church start celebrating Ash Wednesday?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Ash Wednesday (Feb. 17 this year) begins the season of Lent, a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. Although Ash Wednesday has ancient roots, it does not appear in the rituals of The United Methodist Church or its predecessor denominations until the 20th century. Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, has more on Ash Wednesday.
Read story
Read more Ask The UMC
Dakotas Conference
Busy Sundays for licensed local pastor
CANDO, N.D. — Pastor Rick Craig rises at 5 a.m. to travel 80 miles each Sunday to lead worship services in three churches in North Dakota. The licensed local pastor also posts a sermon online each week for those who can’t make it to services. Doreen Gosmire reports.
Read story
Western North Carolina Conference
Hen ministry helps fight poverty
PINEY CREEK, N.C. — Piney Creek United Methodist Church heads up Hens from Heaven, which aims to help people fly the coop of systemic poverty. Not only does the ministry use its eggs to feed hungry people, but it also aims to help people in the community start henhouses of their own. The Rev. David Serven has the story.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Council of Bishops
Bishops plan to meet Feb. 18
WASHINGTON — The United Methodist Council of Bishops plans to have a one-day virtual meeting of the more than 150 active and retired bishops at 9 a.m. U.S. Eastern time Feb. 18. The bishops will discuss the global denomination’s current situation and reflect on the mission and ministry of the church amid the pandemic.
Read press release
United Methodist Communications
Support for communications students
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Those interested in pursuing a career in religious communications are encouraged to apply for educational support from United Methodist Communications. The $6,000 Stoody-West Fellowship assists one United Methodist student in post-graduate study, while the Leonard M. Perryman Communications Scholarship for Racial Ethnic Minority Students awards $2,500 for the undergraduate study of religion journalism or mass communications. The deadline to submit applications is March 15.
Read press release
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.
Reaping a whirlwind: We ignore truth at our peril
DOWAGIAC, Mich. (UM News) — In light of the U.S. Capitol insurrection and growing divisions within the country, the Rev. Christopher P. Momany writes that as the church, “we should all commit to confessing ways we have allowed our preconceived notions to cloud our reception of God’s truth.”
Read commentary
RECENT HEADLINES
‘Water is Life’ chronicles global struggle for clean water
Church puts love into action amid pandemic
EVENTS
Sunday, Feb. 7, 14, 21 and 28
Mission u: Finding Peace in an Anxious World
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