“This is just another way of living into our vision statement to be the hands, feet and voice of Jesus Christ.” — The Rev. Harold Hendren, on New Covenant United Methodist Church in The Villages, Florida, serving as a COVID-19 testing site.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Church parking lots fill for COVID-19 testing
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (UM News) — United Methodist churches have offered themselves as testing sites since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the number of participating churches has picked up. Demand for screening is high, and some churches are focused on reaching racial-ethnic groups and other especially vulnerable people. Kathy L. Gilbert and Sam Hodges report.
Read story
Donations pour in for church hospitals, missions
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — United Methodists in Zimbabwe and the U.S., with support from the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, are helping protect front-line workers at church mission hospitals and providing food for those struggling during the pandemic. The Nyadire Connection, an all-volunteer group founded by individuals from a network of United Methodist churches in Pittsburgh, raised more than $25,000 for food relief. Kudzai Chingwe reports.
Read story
South Carolina Conference
Stress relief for Black clergy
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A weekly webinar series to help Black clergy better handle stress during the pandemic is set to begin July 7. “Recover, Restore, Retreat” will focus on self-care and care of neighbor, social injustices and social media ministry and technology. The webinar is open to clergy outside the conference. Jessica Brodie has the details.
Read story
Holston Conference
Lay’s chips in to help couple adapt wedding
ATHENS, Tenn. — Ally Lay had some big plans for her wedding to the Rev. Andrew Lay. She never dreamed a pandemic would change almost everything and lead to a vending machine full of potato chips. Annette Spence reports on how the couple celebrated even when the chips were down.
Read story
Alert: Spam email sent in bishop’s name
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — A spam email from a gmail account that purports to be from Bishop John Wesley Yohanna of Nigeria has been sent to a number of United Methodist clergy. The email’s subject line is "Peace and Blessings!" and did not come from Yohanna. Recipients are advised to disregard and delete the note.
No Daily Digest on July 3 and July 6
There will be no UM News Daily Digest on Friday, July 3, or Monday, July 6, in observance of the Fourth of July. The UM News Weekly Digest will be transmitted on July 3. The staff at UM News wishes you a safe and enjoyable holiday.
PRESS RELEASES
Garrett-Evangelical distinguished alumni
EVANSTON, Ill. — In an item in the July 1 Daily Digest about Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary's 2020 Distinguished Alums, the link to the press release about the Rev. Sue Laurie was inadvertently left off the item. Laurie, a 1995 graduate, and Bishop Bruce Ough will both be honored.
Read Laurie press release
RECENT HEADLINES
Unsnarling US and church racial history
Native ministry fills need in Tulsa food desert
EVENTS
Thursday, July 9
Webinar: Upgrading Your Annual Campaign
NEWS AND FEATURES
Church parking lots fill for COVID-19 testing
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (UM News) — United Methodist churches have offered themselves as testing sites since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the number of participating churches has picked up. Demand for screening is high, and some churches are focused on reaching racial-ethnic groups and other especially vulnerable people. Kathy L. Gilbert and Sam Hodges report.
Read story
Donations pour in for church hospitals, missions
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — United Methodists in Zimbabwe and the U.S., with support from the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, are helping protect front-line workers at church mission hospitals and providing food for those struggling during the pandemic. The Nyadire Connection, an all-volunteer group founded by individuals from a network of United Methodist churches in Pittsburgh, raised more than $25,000 for food relief. Kudzai Chingwe reports.
Read story
South Carolina Conference
Stress relief for Black clergy
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A weekly webinar series to help Black clergy better handle stress during the pandemic is set to begin July 7. “Recover, Restore, Retreat” will focus on self-care and care of neighbor, social injustices and social media ministry and technology. The webinar is open to clergy outside the conference. Jessica Brodie has the details.
Read story
Holston Conference
Lay’s chips in to help couple adapt wedding
ATHENS, Tenn. — Ally Lay had some big plans for her wedding to the Rev. Andrew Lay. She never dreamed a pandemic would change almost everything and lead to a vending machine full of potato chips. Annette Spence reports on how the couple celebrated even when the chips were down.
Read story
Alert: Spam email sent in bishop’s name
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — A spam email from a gmail account that purports to be from Bishop John Wesley Yohanna of Nigeria has been sent to a number of United Methodist clergy. The email’s subject line is "Peace and Blessings!" and did not come from Yohanna. Recipients are advised to disregard and delete the note.
No Daily Digest on July 3 and July 6
There will be no UM News Daily Digest on Friday, July 3, or Monday, July 6, in observance of the Fourth of July. The UM News Weekly Digest will be transmitted on July 3. The staff at UM News wishes you a safe and enjoyable holiday.
PRESS RELEASES
Garrett-Evangelical distinguished alumni
EVANSTON, Ill. — In an item in the July 1 Daily Digest about Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary's 2020 Distinguished Alums, the link to the press release about the Rev. Sue Laurie was inadvertently left off the item. Laurie, a 1995 graduate, and Bishop Bruce Ough will both be honored.
Read Laurie press release
RECENT HEADLINES
Unsnarling US and church racial history
Native ministry fills need in Tulsa food desert
EVENTS
Thursday, July 9
Webinar: Upgrading Your Annual Campaign
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