Daily Digest - June 13, 2023

“They gave me connection and liberation. They saved my life. And they always accompany me, in every way.” — Maria Chavalan Sut, on support from members of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in Charlottesville, Va.


NEWS AND FEATURES

Woman builds new life after 3 years in sanctuary
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (UM News) — Maria Chavalan Sut, who spent three years in sanctuary at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, is creating a new life for herself and her family. She says the care and support she received from church members and the community helped her reach her goals, including reuniting with her children, working and learning to drive. Richard Lord has the story.
Read story

United Methodist Communications
Understanding justice through a faith lens
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — After interning with the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, ViaFaith McCullough discovered a deeper understanding of justice and found that even our simplest ideas can impact social inequities. In the latest episode of the “Get Your Spirit in Shape” podcast, she discusses her justice work as a staff member of the Oklahoma Conference.
Listen to podcast

Kentucky Conference
2 preachers’ kids have elevating experience
OWENSBORO, Ky. — The teen sons of two United Methodist pastors got a bit more excitement than they expected during the Kentucky Annual Conference when their elevator got stuck between floors. Their adventure, which ended safely and happily for everyone, was the talk of annual conference. The Kentucky Conference has the story.
Read story


PRESS RELEASES

Discipleship Ministries
Grants available for ethnic churches
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The deadline is Sept. 10 for local ethnic United Methodist churches to apply for grants of up to $10,000. Racial Ethnic Local Church Concerns grants may be used for leadership training, small groups, worship, stewardship and spiritual formation. New programs will be given priority in the selection process. 
Read press release
Apply


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. 

Doubter’s Parish
The upside of religious doubt
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. — Doubts about religion can sometimes be helpful, writes the Rev. Martin Thielen, a retired United Methodist pastor. “Healthy doubt can save people from many toxic beliefs,” Thielen writes in his blog. “For example, Christians need to doubt the horrific idea that God eternally torments people in the flames of hell for holding erroneous beliefs. Or that non-Christian and nonreligious people have no hope in this life or the next.”
Read commentary


RESOURCES

ENCORE Ministry
Conference builds community with older adults
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — ENCORE Ministry, the older adult ministry of the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference, is hosting its first conference-wide event for older adults and older adult ministry leaders since the COVID-19 pandemic. The event, Building Community With Older Adults, is scheduled for Oct. 26 and will include worship, networking and sessions by area experts on topics impacting older adults. The event will also be available via Zoom.
Learn more

Religion and Race
Facing the Future 2023 registration is open
WASHINGTON — For the first time since 2018, the Facing the Future Conference will be held in person. The conference, which helps to resource pastors serving in cross-racial/cross-cultural/multicultural appointments, will be Nov. 14-16 in Atlanta. 
Learn more and register


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