Daily Digest - July 21, 2020


"They don't lift up John Lewis and C.T. Vivian as models of what authentic religion is about. Authentic religion enables a country to view these issues without a spirit of revenge or hatred." — The Rev. James Lawson, retired United Methodist pastor and longtime activist, on the deaths of two prominent leaders in the civil rights movement.

NEWS AND FEATURES

Lewis, Vivian proved faith can change a nation
LOS ANGELES (UM News) — The Revs. John Lewis and C.T. Vivian were models of authentic religion, said United Methodists who found inspiration in their lives of faith. The two civil rights movement icons died on July 17. Kathy L. Gilbert has the story.
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West Virginia Conference
Walking alongside 2016 flood survivors

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — United Methodists have a reputation of being there for the long haul after a disaster. The West Virginia Conference's Long-term Recovery Team lives out that distinction. Here's an update on United Methodist dollars at work following the 2016 flood that killed 23 people and impacted 44 of the state's 55 counties. George Hohmann has the story.
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East Ohio Conference
Akron church helps build African hospital

AKRON, Ohio — Picnics and potluck dinners helped Park United Methodist Church raise $25,000 to help build a small hospital in Zimbabwe. Onias Magwe, who earned a registered nurse degree in the U.S. with help from the church, is using his salary and money saved for his retirement toward the $200,000 project. The Rev. Pamela Buzalka has the story.
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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.

Wesleyan Covenant Association
UMCOR among sources of hope during pandemic

MOSCOW — Bishop Eduard Khegay writes that COVID-19 has posed all manner of challenges for pastors and churches in the Eurasia Episcopal Area he oversees. But he draws hope from certain Bible passages and from the help provided to churches in his area from fellow United Methodists, through UMCOR's COVID-19-related grants.
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RESOURCES

World Council of Churches
Does the pandemic challenge your faith?

GENEVA — In "Healing the World: Bible Studies for the Pandemic Era," the World Council of Churches offers eight Bible studies to facilitate coming to terms — as individuals, groups and communities of faith — with the loss, fear and confusion engendered by the pandemic, and the bracing prospect of building the world anew.
See resource

RECENT HEADLINES

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