Daily Digest - January 7, 2020


"I think the message we sent is that there's a place for everyone in The United Methodist Church — regardless of what the Traditional Plan says. And that we will keep working to make it so officially." — Kathy Webb, an organizer of a Resist Harm worship service in Little Rock, Arkansas.

NEWS AND FEATURES

Resistance to Traditional Plan accelerates
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (UM News) — Across the United States, United Methodist churches kicked off the year with events aimed at showing solidarity with LGBTQ Christians. The gatherings were part of Resist Harm, an organized effort to oppose the Traditional Plan that took effect Jan. 1 in the U.S. Heather Hahn reports.
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Archivist L. Dale Patterson retires
MADISON, N.J. — L. Dale Patterson, who took the United Methodist Archives and History collection from hi-fi to Wi-Fi, retired at the end of 2019. Patterson oversaw the digitization of the collection, helping develop websites that invite the general public as well as professional researchers to engage the material. Jim Patterson reports.
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Watch video

'Live' event with separation plan developers
TAMPA, Fla. (UM News) — Members of the team that developed a new proposal for The United Methodist Church's future will be interviewed in a livestreamed panel discussion on Monday, Jan. 13. Conducted by UM News, the 60-minute interview will be streamed on the UM News Facebook page and umnews.org beginning at 9:30 a.m. Eastern U.S. Time. The interview will be recorded and archived on umnews.org for future viewing. Tim Tanton reports.
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Diverse leaders' group offers separation plan

South Georgia Conference
Sharing Christmas cheer with the Navajo Nation

MACON, Ga. — South Georgia United Methodists spread some early Christmas cheer last month when they took more than 2,000 shoeboxes packed full of gifts to the Navajo Nation. Thousands of South Georgia United Methodists contributed to the Christmas cheer. Kara Witherow has the story.
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Ask The UMC
Understanding the Season after Epiphany

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The purpose of the Season after Epiphany is to help the whole congregation get ready to accompany candidates preparing for baptism. Readings during this time offer two distinct paths to follow — one focusing inward, the other outward — but both support the church's mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
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Read more Ask The UMC

RESOURCES

Society of St. Andrew
Plan a 'Souper Bowl' party

BIG ISLAND, Va. — Held in conjunction with the Super Bowl, scheduled this year for Feb. 2, Souper Bowl of Caring events have generated over $153 million since 1990 for organizations that work to alleviate hunger. The United Methodist-related Society of St. Andrew offers resources to "join the team" and make an impact.
See resources

RECENT HEADLINES

Reaction aplenty to separation plan

Educating church leaders without internet access

EVENTS

Wednesday, Jan. 15-Tuesday, Jan. 21

Congregational Leadership online course: Pastoral care


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