“I have faith and hope in the God of miracles who calls everything out of nothings, and who can bring healing and repair to any situation.” — Michael Arteen, new United Methodist missionary.
Following the vision at Bethlehem Bible College
NEW YORK (UMNS) — The Rev. Alex and Brenda Awad spent years at Bethlehem Bible College preparing Palestinian-Christian leaders before their recent retirement as United Methodist missionaries. Now, the denomination’s Board of Global Ministries has assigned Michael Arteen, raised as a Christian in Egypt, to carry on that connection. Linda Bloom reports.
NY Conference approves LGBTQ clergy candidates
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Four candidates who came out as gay in an open letter to The United Methodist Church before the 2016 General Conference were among 28 people approved for ministry by the New York Conference. Kathy L. Gilbert reports.
Panelists explore faith in the public square
WASHINGTON (UMNS) — How do you move faith from being something intensely personal to being part of the public discourse? That topic was explored by a panel that included David Gregory, former “Meet the Press” host; Mike McCurry, former White House press secretary; and the Rev. Ginger Gaines-Cirelli, pastor at Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington. Erik Alsgaard of the Baltimore-Washington Conference reports.
Argentine Methodist bishop dies
BUENOS AIRES (WCC) — Bishop Emeritus Federico José Pagura, a champion of human rights in Latin America, died June 6 in Argentina. In 1977, he was elected bishop of the Evangelical Methodist Church of Argentina. Even as a pastor, he worked to welcome Chilean refugees from Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship. The Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit of the World Council of Churches offers this remembrance.
Upper Room offers new program for young adults
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — The Upper Room is introducing a new ministry of spiritual formation for young adults, Journey to the Table. Registration is now open for the first such gathering July 8-10 at the headquarters of The Upper Room in Nashville.
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.
Friday, July 15
Deadline for School of Congregational Development 2016 — Wednesday-Saturday, Aug. 17-20. The workshops for United Methodist clergy and lay leaders will be in Evanston, Illinois, outside Chicago. United Methodist Discipleship Ministries and Global Ministries sponsor the gathering. $425. Details
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