Daily Digest - March 11, 2022

NEWS AND FEATURES

Meeting at church shut to district leader, wife
MONTICELLO, Fla. (UM News) — Conflict in The United Methodist Church took an unusual and highly public form on March 8, when a Florida Conference district superintendent was denied entry to one of the churches he oversees. His wife was told to leave as well. The leader of the Wesleyan Covenant Association Florida Chapter said the meeting his group was having at Waukeenah United Methodist was only for people wanting to leave the denomination. Facebook videos — widely shared — offer different accounts of the controversy. Sam Hodges reports.
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Louisiana Conference
Wordling through the season of Lent  
BOSSIER CITY, Louisiana — For the congregation of Asbury United Methodist Church, the Lenten season has been puzzling — literally. The church has been embracing and utilizing the popular word game Wordle to share reflections and daily devotions for each of the 40 days of Lent. Louisiana Conference staff reports.
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UMC.org
It’s a fake! The John Wesley counterfeit caper 
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Though John Wesley preached about “honest industry,” the founder of Methodism became the target of a counterfeit campaign. Crystal Caviness reports on the forged letters that aimed to dupe Wesley’s fans. 
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PRESS RELEASES

Judicial Council 
Court adds conference-separation questions to docket
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Judicial Council has added to its docket the request from the Council of Bishops to rule on whether an annual conference can separate from the denomination under church law. Opening briefs are due April 12, and reply briefs on April 22.
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Read Council of Bishops press release
Read rules for brief submissions


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.

Greater New Jersey Conference
What ‘hello’ can do
NEPTUNE, N.J. — An encounter with an ice cream store employee who remained friendly and patient with customers despite being incredibly busy made the Rev. Glenn J. Conaway think about the importance of welcoming people back to church after the long pandemic. He devised a mnemonic device based on the word “hello” to remember some important steps in greeting visitors.
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EVENTS

Wednesday, March 30-Thursday, March 31
2022 United Methodist Association of Communicators (UMAC)


TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK

Ask The UMC
How can I help when disaster strikes?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — When disaster strikes anywhere in the world — whether it’s a hurricane or a refugee crisis — United Methodists want to know how they can help. Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, tells how to respond through The United Methodist Church’s relief channels, along with best practices on what to do and what not to do.
Learn more
Read more Ask The UMC

Western Jurisdiction, California-Nevada Conference
Bishop Minerva Carcaño placed on leave 
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Western Jurisdictional leaders have placed Bishop Minerva Carcaño on leave from her episcopal duties as two complaints against her are under review. Bishop Sally Dyck will serve as interim bishop of the California-Nevada Conference. No details regarding the substance of the complaints will be shared, the jurisdiction said.
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Questions, anger follow General Conference delay
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodists are responding to the third General Conference postponement with strong emotions ranging from outrage to relief. Even as some theological conservatives prepare to launch a new denomination, they also see the postponement as unnecessary. For everyone, questions remain. Heather Hahn and UM News staff report. 
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Commentary: Stop fighting over something Jesus never mentioned
NEW YORK (UM News) — The Rev. Chongho James Kim said that Korean American churches are caught in the middle of the denomination’s divide over human sexuality, as many of them are theologically traditionalist congregations located in progressive conferences. “Even if we are divided, we share common history and values as Methodists and still need to be mission partners,” he writes.
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Church in East Congo celebrates 100 years 
KINDU, Congo (UM News) — During a special Feb. 22 service, United Methodists of the East Congo Episcopal Area commemorated the centennial of the church in eastern Congo. The first American missionaries made a covenant with the local residents in February 1922. Chadrack Tambwe Londe and Judith Osongo Yanga have the story.
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Sierra Leone university celebrates first graduates
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (UM News) — The United Methodist University in Sierra Leone, founded by the late Bishop John K. Yambasu, graduated its first class — 32 students in all — on Feb. 26. Speakers at the ceremony recalled Yambasu’s zest and passion as he worked around the clock to realize this dream. Phileas Jusu reports.
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