“We don’t have the final answer on anything, and every answer is accompanied by new questions. That’s true in biology. It’s true in chemistry. I think it’s also true in theology.” — Bishop Kenneth Carder
NEWS AND FEATURES
Bishop shares path from poverty to prominence
DURHAM, N.C. (UM News) — The memoir of retired Bishop Kenneth Carder is surprisingly joyful, considering it prominently features prison, dementia and the near murder of the author as a child. The book charts Carder’s journey from humble beginnings to leadership in The United Methodist Church, and his discomfort along the way. Jim Patterson reports.
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UM News: Caring for people with memory issues
Florida Conference
Church revitalized as place of compassion
OCALA, Fla. — Compassion was in short supply outside the abandoned Druid Hills United Methodist Church. Now, under the leadership of the Rev. Jill Beck, the building houses Compassion United Methodist Church, which offers a safe haven for women battling addictions or fleeing abusive situations. Joe Henderson has the story.
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Upper New York Conference
Laundry ministry fosters community bonds
PHOENIX, N.Y. — Phoenix United Methodist Church’s Loads of Love Laundry Mission offers support by providing free laundry services to those in need while also fostering community bonds. A video produced by the Upper New York Conference explores the impact of the program, highlighting personal stories, the challenges overcome and the community’s role in supporting one of life’s basic necessities.
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New 2024 annual conference reports posted
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist News is posting 2024 annual conference reports. New this week are the Great Plains, Holston, Pacific Northwest and South Carolina conferences.
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Dakotas, Minnesota conferences
Bishop Plambeck addresses flooding in Midwest
MITCHELL, S.D. — Bishop Lanette Plambeck is calling for prayers, outreach, financial support and volunteers as communities in the Dakotas-Minnesota Episcopal Area and their neighbors in Northwest Iowa face significant challenges due to flooding. “Precisely in such moments of trial the essence of our faith shines the brightest,” Plambeck said in a pastoral message.
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Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference, WTVF-CBS
Prayers asked after church fire
CENTERVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference is asking for prayer for the congregation of Centerville United Methodist Church, where a fire occurred June 24. Most of the damage to the century-old building is in the pastor’s office and church library. Forrest Sanders of WTVF reports on how important the church is to the community.
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COMMENTARIES
UM News includes in the Digest 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.
Reflecting on the deaths of three ‘giants’
INDIANAPOLIS (UM News) — Bishop Julius C. Trimble of the Indiana Conference reflects on the legacy of three “giants” who died in June. He shares how the Rev. James Lawson, theologian Jürgen Moltmann and baseball legend Willie Mays influenced his life and leadership. “All of them made contributions to humanity and died on the right side of history,” he writes.
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Lewis Center for Church Leadership
7 strategies for addressing Christian nationalism
WASHINGTON — The Rev. Lovett H. Weems Jr. outlines seven strategies for responding to Christian nationalism in measured and faithful ways. Church leaders should try to help congregants put their love of country in perspective as people of faith while not expressing judgment or devaluing the feelings of loss that often give rise to today’s iteration of Christian nationalism, he writes.
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RECENT HEADLINES
Chart maps all that General Conference passed
Recovering addicts find place to heal at ‘three-quarter’ house
EVENTS
Sunday, Aug. 4-Wednesday, Aug. 7
School of Congregational Development: See/Create/Disciple
Monday, Aug. 19-Friday, Sept. 27
Online course: Engaging the Bible in Rural Ministry
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