“Oftentimes the church grows and flourishes at its greatest in the midst of trauma, conflict and flight. The early church did it that way.” — The Rev. Fred Vanderwerf, coordinator of In Mission Together: Ukraine.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Planting churches in war-torn Ukraine
MINNEAPOLIS (UM News) — The Rev. Fred Vanderwerf is the new coordinator for United Methodist efforts to help victims of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Vanderwerf, also an assistant to Bishop Lanette Plambeck in the Minnesota Conference, plans to go to Ukraine this fall. He served as a missionary there from 2000 to 2008, and one of his priorities is planting churches in the midst of the crisis. Jim Patterson reports.
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UM News: United Methodist ministry with Ukraine
Great Plains Conference
New spirit after church votes to stay
OGALLALA, Neb. — A few months back, Ogallala First United Methodist Church voted by a two-thirds margin to remain United Methodist. Some members left to form another church, but attendance has bounced back. Giving is coming around, and members say the church has a more harmonious, optimistic spirit. David Burke reports.
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Africa University
Tech helps university reduce food waste
MUTARE, Zimbabwe — United Methodist-related Africa University has found a high-tech solution to reducing food waste. Students place orders for breakfast, lunch or dinner on a digital platform. Bonaventure Ndorimana Dining Hall uses the order to guide how much food is cooked per service, assess what meals are best sellers and inform purchase orders. Juliet Sithole has the story.
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PRESS RELEASES
World Council of Churches
Group condemns rights abuses in Philippines
GENEVA — The World Council of Churches' central committee released a statement on the human rights situation in the Philippines. The central committee affirmed the work of The United Methodist Church of the Philippines and other members of the country’s National Council of Churches. The central committee also condemned extrajudicial killings and expressed condolences to the families of victims.
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UM News: United Methodists decry 'red-tagging' of church council
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 UM News staff.
Bouncing forward as African United Methodists
KAMINA, CONGO (UM News) — Regardless of what’s decided at the 2024 General Conference, most bishops in Africa have vowed that The United Methodist Church will continue in their areas and have resolved not to support efforts to dissolve the denomination. “Let us explore possibilities that allow us to strengthen our relationships and remain missionally connected,” writes North Katanga Bishop Mande Muyombo. “This may also mean encouraging one another in love.”
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RESOURCES
Archives and History
Classes on Methodism are online
MADISON, N.J. — Classes about John Wesley and The United Methodist Church — some of them free — are being offered online by the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History on its U.M. History Hub. “Local Church Historians School” is free. “Splits, Separations and Reconciliations: Rooted in Wesleyan Grace” is $35. See the link below for a full list of classes and how much they cost.
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