Daily Digest - June 9, 2023

“Just fixing a basketball court was one of the greatest parts of our mission to Stebbins.” — Paul Lorson, a United Methodist who came to Alaska to help after last fall’s typhoon. 


NEWS AND FEATURES

Greater Northwest Area
Finding hope in repairing basketball court
STEBBINS, Alaska — Two disaster response team members from the California-Pacific Conference recently traveled to remote Alaska to assess typhoon-caused damage to homes. They stumbled upon a pick-up game of basketball with kids, and an opportunity arose. The Greater Northwest Episcopal Area has the story. 
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North Texas Conference
Worship service celebrates diversity 
BEDFORD, Texas — More than 100 people from across the North and Central Texas conferences gathered at Martin United Methodist Church for a worship service celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The service saw participation from clergy and laity from the Filipino, Korean and Tongan communities, as well as non-Asian allies. The North Texas Conference reports.
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North Georgia Conference
Video series highlights exclusion, healing
ATLANTA — The North Georgia Conference’s Reparations Task Force put together a series of videos that highlight stories of racism and exclusion as well as efforts to heal the wounds of the past to work toward a brighter future. Videos examine the experience of a Black worshipper, now a pastor, refused entry to a church around 1960 as well as one of Georgia’s first interracial overnight retreats in 1962.
Watch video series 

Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference
Memphis music director receives scholarship
PADUCAH, Ky. — Lone Oak United Methodist Church has announced that Cynthia Wicks-Haley is the recipient of the church’s annual $2,500 Anita Padgett Music Scholarship. She is the director of music ministries at Centenary United Methodist Church in Memphis, Tennessee, and music director for the 2023 Tennessee-Western Kentucky Annual Conference. She is starting graduate studies in Black sacred music at the University of Arkansas.  
Read Tennessee-Western Kentucky newsletter


PRESS RELEASES

United Methodist Communications
Advent ad campaign honored
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Davey Awards has honored United Methodist Communications with a silver award for the denomination’s “Connect with Joy” advertising campaign. The advertisements reminded millions of Times Square visitors during the 2021 and 2022 Advent seasons that they can connect with the hope, love and joy of Christmas and Christ’s coming by joining with the people of The United Methodist Church. 
Read press release


EVENTS

Monday, June 12-Monday, July 17
Biblical Storytelling Weekly for Summer

Monday, June 12-Tuesday, Aug. 4
Online course: Building Beloved Community in a Wounded World 


TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK

United Methodism lives on in Amarillo
AMARILLO, Texas (UM News) — This Texas Panhandle city of 200,000 was on the way to having no United Methodist church. The Rev. Margie McNeir couldn’t abide that, so she became a church planter at 82. The recent chartering of Amarillo United Methodist Church has cheered McNeir — now 83 — and other loyal United Methodists in the area. It also has offered hope for the Northwest Texas Conference, hard hit by disaffiliations. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story 

United Methodist Men is on the move
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist Men is moving fast on its four-year plan to revitalize itself after Greg Arnold took over leadership about 18 months ago. Arnold, who brings a business background to the job, has deemphasized the charter membership model, revised the agency’s relationship with the Boy Scouts and moved its offices. Jim Patterson has the story.
Read story 
UM News: Changes, expansion for United Methodist Men 

Disciple Bible Study goes digital
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Since its launch in 1987, Disciple Bible Study has drawn more than 3 million participants. Now, with the new BeADisciple Study App, people can complete daily readings on their digital devices and attend weekly meetings from anywhere in the world. Beta testing of the app will begin Aug. 1. Mary Jacobs has the story.
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From girlhood activist to denominational leader
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Harriett Jane Olson is embracing retirement as she recalls her career as a lawyer, publisher and top executive of United Women in Faith. She talks with Kathy L. Gilbert about her passion for creation care, her work with the women’s agency and what she's looking forward to as a delegate to next year’s General Conference.
Read story
UM News: Henry-Crowe reflects on almost 50 years of ministry 

Commentary: Grief, gratitude for closed church
LEWES, Del. (UM News) — Hearing that his home church was closing, the Rev. Alfred T. Day III was filled with sadness. But as he reflected on how the congregation had nurtured him, he recognized a “God moment.” The church’s legacy lives on in those whose lives it shaped.
Read commentary 

United Methodist Communications
Meet Bishop David Wilson
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In the latest episode of the "Get Your Spirit in Shape" podcast, Crystal Caviness talks with Bishop David Wilson, who made history as the first Native American to be elected as an episcopal leader in The United Methodist Church. Wilson shares how growing up in The United Methodist Church prepared him for his current ministry role.
Listen to podcast 

South Carolina Conference
Conference OKs exits, helps those who stay
FLORENCE, S.C. — In a solemn moment, the South Carolina Annual Conference approved the separation of 113 congregations — about 12% of its churches — from The United Methodist Church. South Carolina has been unusual in its approach to letting churches leave, using a process grounded in the denomination’s policy for church closures. The conference is also offering help to people in separating churches who want to remain United Methodist. Jessica Brodie has both stories. 
Read about 113 church separations 
Read about help for staying United Methodist 
Disaffiliations approved by annual conferences