"The photographs are showing missionaries doing things which are not obviously religious in nature. But they’re active in the world." — Didier Aubert, a French scholar, on the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History’s collection of photos showing Methodist missionary work in the early 20th century.
Early Methodist mission photos wow scholars
MADISON, N.J. (UMNS) — Thanks to a professor from France, scholars of various academic disciplines are beginning to explore a collection of photos showing early 20th century Methodist mission work around the world. The public is getting a look too, since the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History is steadily putting online more than 100,000 black-and-white images. Sam Hodges reports.
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Church and Society delegation to visit Appalachia
WASHINGTON (UMNS) — A delegation from the United Methodist Board of Church and Society — led by the Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe, the agency’s top executive — will travel through Appalachia July 16-21 to develop relationships in support of the denomination’s emphasis on “Ministry with the Poor.” Wayne Rhodes has the story.
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Tulsa youth take cash gifts, ‘do something good’
TULSA, Okla. — What would you do if someone handed you $500 and said go do something good with it? Two dozen young people at Christ United Methodist Church are finding creative answers to that question. Bill Sherman of the Tulsa World reports.
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Analysis: Rate of new female clergy slowing
CHICAGO (UMNS) — In its latest “Women By the Numbers,” focusing on clergy in 2014, the United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women finds “the number of female clergy is increasing but at a slower rate compared to 1992 and 2002. United Methodist clergy are getting older, with fewer young people coming up through the process to replace an aging population.”
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Faith groups, others urge support for embassy in Cuba
WASHINGTON (UMNS) — A broad representation of organizations and faith groups — including the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, National Council of Churches, Church World Service and Washington Office on Latin America — have issued a joint statement urging Congress to support the establishment of a U.S. embassy in Cuba.
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Kentucky church rebuilt after 2012 tornado
ASHLAND, Ky. — One year before its 100-year anniversary, the United Methodist church in West Liberty was one of the many structures destroyed by the tornado that wiped through the town on March 2, 2012. The congregation dedicated its new building July 11, with Bishop Lindsey Davis preaching. Rachel Adkins reports for The Independent Online of Ashland, Kentucky.
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How Legos can interlock with the unchurched
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (UMNS) — What connects the unchurched to church members, constructs relationships in the community and builds bridges between generations? Celebration United Methodist Church discovered one answer: Legos. Julie Boyd Cole has the story for the Florida Conference.
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Coyner: Reclaiming our Methodist heritage
INDIANAPOLIS (UMNS) — In the midst of talk about a potential split of The United Methodist Church over issues such as human sexuality, Indiana Bishop Michael Coyner explains that his picture of the denomination “is not either/or, but both/and.”
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Looking ahead
Here are some of the activities ahead for United Methodists across the connection. If you have an item to share, email [email protected] and put Digest in the subject line.
Wednesday, July 15
Deadline to apply master's degree programs at Wesley Theological Seminary — The United Methodist seminary in Washington has extended its deadline for the fall semester. Details.
Saturday, Aug. 1
Deadline to apply to Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University and its Houston-Galveston Extension Program — Perkins School of Theology/Southern Methodist University has extended the fall 2015 application deadline to Aug. 1, with modified course schedules in Dallas and the Houston-Galveston Extension Program to better accommodate students’ needs. Details.
You can see more educational opportunities and other upcoming events in the life of the church here.
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