Daily Digest - March 14, 2023

“I am happy today because I have just found food, which will help my family of five survive for a few weeks. My husband was murdered by the rebels and I am grateful to United Methodists for this assistance.” — Bwiza Muhawe, who received aid from The United Methodist Church in eastern Congo.


NEWS AND FEATURES

Church increases aid to displaced people in Congo
KIVU, Congo (UM News) — More than $400,000 from the United Methodist Committee on Relief and the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries helped provide emergency relief to approximately 25,000 displaced people in Congo. Jean Tshomba, coordinator of UMCOR’s disaster management office in eastern Congo, said people have fled their homes because of war to take refuge in Goma and other camps, and their situation is a major concern to the church. Chadrack Tambwe Londe reports.
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United Methodist Communications
Leading with love in the classroom
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Across 30 years as a tireless and innovative educator, Tiffany Anderson has achieved a long list of accomplishments. In the latest episode of the “Get Your Spirit in Shape” podcast, Anderson shares where she finds joy, including how living out the gospel for her includes sitting on the floor with a classroom of kindergartners.
Listen to podcast

Opelika-Auburn News
Church helps Afghan interpreter escape Taliban
AUBURN, Ala. — After one year, five months and 18 days of fear and uncertainty, an Afghan interpreter for U.S. and NATO forces, his wife and three young children escaped the threat of the Taliban in Afghanistan. They landed in the U.S. and came to Alabama to start a new life. Helping to make that journey possible was Auburn United Methodist Church and its pastor, the Rev. Cory Smith. Lauren Johnson reports.
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Michigan Conference
Disaster ministry renamed
LANSING, Mich. — Michigan Disaster Response and Recovery is being rebranded as After the Storm, to avoid confusion with the names of government agencies. After the Storm was launched last year as an affiliated nonprofit because its work had outgrown the Michigan Conference’s ability to manage it. James Deaton has the story.
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Learn more


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. 

The many meanings of connectionalism
DECORAH, Iowa (UM News) — Church divisions have raised a host of questions about what it means to be connected, prompting a new look at this basic characteristic of Methodist community. David W. Scott asks, “If some people and churches leave The United Methodist Church, are they still ‘in connection’ with United Methodists?”
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Greater New Jersey Conference
What is and what could be
NEWARK, N.J. — During this season of Lent, the Rev. William D. Carter III has been thinking much about the power of storytelling and how every story has an arc that starts with “what is” and ends with “what could be.” As people of faith, Carter writes, “we use this arc in our daily witness to spread hope, joy and love.”
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RESOURCES

Finance and Administration
Webinar to help churches with tax issues
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Does your church rent its parking lot or manage a coffeehouse? The General Council on Finance and Administration plans to hold a webinar for churches that receive revenue through nontraditional avenues. The finance agency has scheduled the webinar on unrelated business income tax for 11 a.m. U.S. Central time March 28. 
To register


RECENT HEADLINES

Plan to add 5 African bishops faces challenges

International group pursues regionalization


EVENTS

Monday, March 20-Monday, April 3
Online course: Cultivating a Resilient Spirit

Monday, March 20-Sunday, April 2
Online course: Aging and Ministry in the 21st Century