“The point being, it’s too late to work toward retirement when one is already old.” — Tafadzwa Ndoro, with the Harare Inner City Circuit.
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Farming ministry helps women prepare for retirement
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — More than 60 members of Harare’s Inner City Circuit United Methodist Church gathered recently at the Agriculture Research Trust farm to gain new skills that will help them prepare for retirement. The church-related farming ministry focuses on life skills while encouraging, educating and empowering women to help their families survive. Chenayi Kumuterera has the story.
Read story
Kansas Reflector
Statewide child care initiative announced at church
TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly went to Countryside United Methodist Church's child development center to announce a $53 million program to provide bonuses to child care workers in the state. Jenna Herrin, the center's assistant director, said the appreciation bonuses will help morale for the staff. Sherman Smith has the story.
Read story
No Daily Digest July 4-5
There will be no Daily Digest on Monday, July 4, or Tuesday, July 5. UM News wishes everyone a blessed U.S. Independence Day.
PRESS RELEASES
South Central Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction announces plans to elect 3 bishops
HOUSTON — The South Central Jurisdiction Committee on Episcopacy has decided, in consultation with its bishops, to recommend that the jurisdictional conference elect three new bishops in November 2022. With three elections, the South Central Jurisdiction would have a total of nine bishops available to be assigned to nine of the 10 current episcopal areas. Citing missional reasons, the committee decided the 10th episcopal area will be left open with episcopal coverage to be determined after jurisdictional conference.
Read press release
COMMENTARIES
North Texas Conference
Keeping faith with The United Methodist Church
PLANO, Texas — The Rev. Chris Dowd draws on the Benedictine monks’ vow of stability, as well as Eugene Peterson’s book “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction,” in explaining why he and his congregation are sticking with The United Methodist Church.
Read commentary
RESOURCES
Lake Junaluska
Festival of Wisdom and Grace planned
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. — The Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center will have its annual Festival of Wisdom and Grace on Aug. 1-4 to explore faith and finding purpose in the second half of life. The festival theme for 2022 is “Rest, Renewal and Delight.” The keynote speaker will be Dr. Matthew Sleeth. Retired United Methodist Bishop Ken Carder will be the festival preacher.
To learn more and register
EVENTS
Monday, July 18-Saturday, Aug. 6
Online course: Transforming the One-Room Sunday School Classroom
Thursday, July 28-Thursday, Aug. 11
Global Ministries EarthKeepers Training - Summer 2022
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
Church leaders explore ways to help migrants in Mexico
TAPACHULA, Mexico (UM News) — A group of leaders from the Methodist Church of Mexico and The United Methodist Church traveled to southern Mexico in April to meet with groups working with immigrants crossing into the country. Though there is no Methodist presence in southern Mexico, the leaders are seeking ways to partner with other denominations and organizations in the area. Joey Butler has the story; Mike DuBose has photos.
Read story
Photo essay: ‘Strangers and sojourners’
Council of Bishops
Bishops bemoan Supreme Court’s abortion ruling
WASHINGTON — Quoting The United Methodist Church’s Social Principles, the denomination’s Council of Bishops released a statement saying the U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade denied the sacred worth of women who face “the tragic conflicts of life with life that may justify abortion.” Council of Bishops President Thomas J. Bickerton noted that the overturning of Roe v. Wade is a call for the church to rise above the fray to offer words of support and hope.
Read press release
UM News: United Methodists react to end of Roe v. Wade
Church responds after mass death of migrants
SAN ANTONIO (UM News) — United Methodists are responding after the deaths of at least 50 migrants found in an abandoned tractor-trailer in Texas. Bishop Robert Schnase is among the church leaders grieving the loss and urging United Methodists to continue to work for justice for migrants. The United Methodist Church has long had a commitment to immigration reform. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Extra pay approved for bishops with extra workloads
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The board of The United Methodist Church's finance agency has approved a monthly stipend for active bishops who have led more than one episcopal area in this time of disruption. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Read General Council on Finance and Administration press release
Photo essay: United Methodists stand with Ukraine
UZHHOROD, Ukraine (UM News) — United Methodists in Eastern Europe have been welcoming Ukrainian refugees since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of their country. Be it providing short- or long-term shelter, daily necessities, help securing lost legal documents or finding schools or employment, churches are offering hope in a hurting world. UM News reporter Joey Butler and photographer Mike DuBose traveled to Eastern Europe in late May to share stories of United Methodists’ humanitarian ministry.
View photo essay
HIV and AIDS event encourages acceptance, not fear
KILGALI, Rwanda (UM News) — The church in Rwanda should no longer fear people living with HIV and AIDS as if they were lions in the jungle, said the Rev. Marc Baliyanga, dean of the Rwanda United Methodist Provisional Conference. Baliyanga spoke in early June at the HIV and AIDS Conference, sponsored by the United Methodist Global AIDS Committee and the Center for Health and Hope. The Rev. Donald E. Messer has the story.
Read story
Central and Southern Europe Central Conference
Church faces obstacles to help war-displaced
ZURICH — United Methodists continue to scramble to provide aid to war-battered people in Ukraine and surrounding countries. One recent challenge: finding new housing for displaced people in western Ukraine who had been using a school as shelter. Urs Schweizer reports.
Read story
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Farming ministry helps women prepare for retirement
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — More than 60 members of Harare’s Inner City Circuit United Methodist Church gathered recently at the Agriculture Research Trust farm to gain new skills that will help them prepare for retirement. The church-related farming ministry focuses on life skills while encouraging, educating and empowering women to help their families survive. Chenayi Kumuterera has the story.
Read story
Kansas Reflector
Statewide child care initiative announced at church
TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly went to Countryside United Methodist Church's child development center to announce a $53 million program to provide bonuses to child care workers in the state. Jenna Herrin, the center's assistant director, said the appreciation bonuses will help morale for the staff. Sherman Smith has the story.
Read story
No Daily Digest July 4-5
There will be no Daily Digest on Monday, July 4, or Tuesday, July 5. UM News wishes everyone a blessed U.S. Independence Day.
PRESS RELEASES
South Central Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction announces plans to elect 3 bishops
HOUSTON — The South Central Jurisdiction Committee on Episcopacy has decided, in consultation with its bishops, to recommend that the jurisdictional conference elect three new bishops in November 2022. With three elections, the South Central Jurisdiction would have a total of nine bishops available to be assigned to nine of the 10 current episcopal areas. Citing missional reasons, the committee decided the 10th episcopal area will be left open with episcopal coverage to be determined after jurisdictional conference.
Read press release
COMMENTARIES
North Texas Conference
Keeping faith with The United Methodist Church
PLANO, Texas — The Rev. Chris Dowd draws on the Benedictine monks’ vow of stability, as well as Eugene Peterson’s book “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction,” in explaining why he and his congregation are sticking with The United Methodist Church.
Read commentary
RESOURCES
Lake Junaluska
Festival of Wisdom and Grace planned
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. — The Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center will have its annual Festival of Wisdom and Grace on Aug. 1-4 to explore faith and finding purpose in the second half of life. The festival theme for 2022 is “Rest, Renewal and Delight.” The keynote speaker will be Dr. Matthew Sleeth. Retired United Methodist Bishop Ken Carder will be the festival preacher.
To learn more and register
EVENTS
Monday, July 18-Saturday, Aug. 6
Online course: Transforming the One-Room Sunday School Classroom
Thursday, July 28-Thursday, Aug. 11
Global Ministries EarthKeepers Training - Summer 2022
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
Church leaders explore ways to help migrants in Mexico
TAPACHULA, Mexico (UM News) — A group of leaders from the Methodist Church of Mexico and The United Methodist Church traveled to southern Mexico in April to meet with groups working with immigrants crossing into the country. Though there is no Methodist presence in southern Mexico, the leaders are seeking ways to partner with other denominations and organizations in the area. Joey Butler has the story; Mike DuBose has photos.
Read story
Photo essay: ‘Strangers and sojourners’
Council of Bishops
Bishops bemoan Supreme Court’s abortion ruling
WASHINGTON — Quoting The United Methodist Church’s Social Principles, the denomination’s Council of Bishops released a statement saying the U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade denied the sacred worth of women who face “the tragic conflicts of life with life that may justify abortion.” Council of Bishops President Thomas J. Bickerton noted that the overturning of Roe v. Wade is a call for the church to rise above the fray to offer words of support and hope.
Read press release
UM News: United Methodists react to end of Roe v. Wade
Church responds after mass death of migrants
SAN ANTONIO (UM News) — United Methodists are responding after the deaths of at least 50 migrants found in an abandoned tractor-trailer in Texas. Bishop Robert Schnase is among the church leaders grieving the loss and urging United Methodists to continue to work for justice for migrants. The United Methodist Church has long had a commitment to immigration reform. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Extra pay approved for bishops with extra workloads
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The board of The United Methodist Church's finance agency has approved a monthly stipend for active bishops who have led more than one episcopal area in this time of disruption. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Read General Council on Finance and Administration press release
Photo essay: United Methodists stand with Ukraine
UZHHOROD, Ukraine (UM News) — United Methodists in Eastern Europe have been welcoming Ukrainian refugees since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of their country. Be it providing short- or long-term shelter, daily necessities, help securing lost legal documents or finding schools or employment, churches are offering hope in a hurting world. UM News reporter Joey Butler and photographer Mike DuBose traveled to Eastern Europe in late May to share stories of United Methodists’ humanitarian ministry.
View photo essay
HIV and AIDS event encourages acceptance, not fear
KILGALI, Rwanda (UM News) — The church in Rwanda should no longer fear people living with HIV and AIDS as if they were lions in the jungle, said the Rev. Marc Baliyanga, dean of the Rwanda United Methodist Provisional Conference. Baliyanga spoke in early June at the HIV and AIDS Conference, sponsored by the United Methodist Global AIDS Committee and the Center for Health and Hope. The Rev. Donald E. Messer has the story.
Read story
Central and Southern Europe Central Conference
Church faces obstacles to help war-displaced
ZURICH — United Methodists continue to scramble to provide aid to war-battered people in Ukraine and surrounding countries. One recent challenge: finding new housing for displaced people in western Ukraine who had been using a school as shelter. Urs Schweizer reports.
Read story
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