“When will we be able to worship in a crowded church again?” — The Rev. Thomas Risager, a superintendent in the Denmark Conference, on worship after the coronavirus.
NEWS AND FEATURES
European churches ease back into live worship
ODENSE, Denmark (UM News) — Worrisome questions remain as United Methodist churches in Europe and Eurasia reopen for in-person worship and COVID-19 cases decline. Jim Patterson reports.
Read story
North Georgia Conference
Clergy spouse launches phone sermon option
MILTON, Ga. — Guy Wyant knows not everyone has internet, so he created a sermon-by-phone option for people who wanted to hear his wife’s sermons. The Rev. Jennifer Wyant records her latest sermon, which is downloaded as an automated message. Once the Wyants realized other churches might want something similar, Sermon by Phone was born. Rebecca Wallace reports.
Read story
Minnesota Conference
Churches continue help after George Floyd’s death
MINNEAPOLIS — From food to mental health bags for children, churches in the Twin Cities are continuing to provide help to the community where George Floyd died in police custody. Christa Meland reports.
Read story
World Council of Churches
Show of solidarity with COVID-19 victims in Brazil
GENEVA — Several church-based organizations have launched a campaign calling for solidarity with all who have lost family members and friends due to the coronavirus pandemic and systemic consequences related to inequality — such as hunger, violence and racism. Brazil is among the Latin American countries hit hardest by the pandemic.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Duke Divinity School
Carter named seminary’s bishop-in-residence
DURHAM, N.C. — United Methodist Duke Divinity School will welcome Bishop Kenneth H. Carter Jr. as bishop in residence starting July 1. He will teach on a limited basis as a consulting faculty member alongside his service as bishop of the Florida Conference.
Read press release
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.
Discipleship Ministries
Racism is not a black problem
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Rev. Junius B. Dotson, top executive of Discipleship Ministries, urges white people to raise their voices against systemic racism. “Declaring racism a black problem is like men declaring domestic violence a women’s issue,” he writes.
Read commentary
RESOURCES
Candler School of Theology
How to resume ‘care-filled’ worship
ATLANTA — “Resuming Care-filled Worship and Sacramental Life During a Pandemic” is a 35-page guide for churches as they prepare to return to in-person worship halted because of COVID-19. An ecumenical team convened by three United Methodists, two of them from Candler School of Theology, produced the guide. It draws on a range of experts, including the Centers for Disease Control.
Read guide
RECENT HEADLINES
Filipinos speak out against anti-terrorism bill
IT heroes keep church going during COVID-19
EVENTS
Thursday, June 18
Webinar: Anti-racism 201 for faith leaders
NEWS AND FEATURES
European churches ease back into live worship
ODENSE, Denmark (UM News) — Worrisome questions remain as United Methodist churches in Europe and Eurasia reopen for in-person worship and COVID-19 cases decline. Jim Patterson reports.
Read story
North Georgia Conference
Clergy spouse launches phone sermon option
MILTON, Ga. — Guy Wyant knows not everyone has internet, so he created a sermon-by-phone option for people who wanted to hear his wife’s sermons. The Rev. Jennifer Wyant records her latest sermon, which is downloaded as an automated message. Once the Wyants realized other churches might want something similar, Sermon by Phone was born. Rebecca Wallace reports.
Read story
Minnesota Conference
Churches continue help after George Floyd’s death
MINNEAPOLIS — From food to mental health bags for children, churches in the Twin Cities are continuing to provide help to the community where George Floyd died in police custody. Christa Meland reports.
Read story
World Council of Churches
Show of solidarity with COVID-19 victims in Brazil
GENEVA — Several church-based organizations have launched a campaign calling for solidarity with all who have lost family members and friends due to the coronavirus pandemic and systemic consequences related to inequality — such as hunger, violence and racism. Brazil is among the Latin American countries hit hardest by the pandemic.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Duke Divinity School
Carter named seminary’s bishop-in-residence
DURHAM, N.C. — United Methodist Duke Divinity School will welcome Bishop Kenneth H. Carter Jr. as bishop in residence starting July 1. He will teach on a limited basis as a consulting faculty member alongside his service as bishop of the Florida Conference.
Read press release
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.
Discipleship Ministries
Racism is not a black problem
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Rev. Junius B. Dotson, top executive of Discipleship Ministries, urges white people to raise their voices against systemic racism. “Declaring racism a black problem is like men declaring domestic violence a women’s issue,” he writes.
Read commentary
RESOURCES
Candler School of Theology
How to resume ‘care-filled’ worship
ATLANTA — “Resuming Care-filled Worship and Sacramental Life During a Pandemic” is a 35-page guide for churches as they prepare to return to in-person worship halted because of COVID-19. An ecumenical team convened by three United Methodists, two of them from Candler School of Theology, produced the guide. It draws on a range of experts, including the Centers for Disease Control.
Read guide
RECENT HEADLINES
Filipinos speak out against anti-terrorism bill
IT heroes keep church going during COVID-19
EVENTS
Thursday, June 18
Webinar: Anti-racism 201 for faith leaders
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