“I genuinely hope the Council of Bishops hears and takes seriously the delegates' appeal to greater collaboration and transparency.” — The Rev. Jay Williams, head of the New England General Conference delegation.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Delegates: Bishops’ plan oversteps bounds
BOSTON (UM News) — A group of U.S. delegates urges bishops to rethink the special called General Conference and especially plans to delay any U.S. bishop elections until 2024. The delegates argue that the bishops’ actions amount to episcopal overreach. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Michigan Conference
Generous hearts navigate COVID slopes
HOLT, Mich. — As part of a nine-part series highlighting ministries created by 100% giving during a challenging 2020, the Rev. Mark Erbes of Holt United Methodist Church talks about how Ministry Shares — the Michigan Conference’s term for apportionment giving — made a difference for God’s people around the state. Kay DeMoss reports.
Read story
United Methodist Association of Communicators
Communicators' group announces award winners
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Association of Communicators has released its book of this year’s award winners. Derek Leek, director of communications for the North Carolina Conference, was named communicator of the year.
To watch the virtual awards ceremony
To download awards booklet (PDF)
PRESS RELEASES
United Methodist Women
Mourning loss of life, decrying racism
NEW YORK — Emily Jones, United Methodist Women’s executive for racial justice, released a statement on behalf of the women’s organization mourning the lives lost during the March 16 shooting rampage targeting Asian American women in the Atlanta area. The group also vowed to renew its commitment “to fight for racial justice for all people while paying specific attention to the ways race and gender intersect to uniquely target women of color.”
Read statement
World Methodist Council
Webinar focuses on pandemic, refugees
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. — The World Methodist Council is holding a March 25 webinar as part of a prayer week recognizing refugees, asylum seekers and migrants as vulnerable groups in the COVID-19 pandemic. United Methodists, including Bishop Rosemarie Wenner, will be among the webinar speakers. The hourlong event begins at 11 a.m. U.S. Eastern time.
Register for webinar
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.
Religion and Race
Church must break its silence on racial violence
WASHINGTON — In the aftermath of shootings at Atlanta area massage parlors that left eight people dead, including six Asian women, M. Garlinda Burton, interim chief executive for the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race, said enough is enough. “The United Methodist Church is a community of faith called by The Almighty to transform the world for Jesus Christ. Yet, too many laity and clergy choose to stay shut in our homes and sanctuaries, pretending gun violence — coupled with racism and sexism taken to extremes — is not a church problem,” she writes.
Read commentary
‘When did we begin profiling in our neighborhood?’
SAVANNAH, Ga. (UM News) — Pastor J. Michael Culbreth was riding his bicycle in his neighborhood when he was stopped by the police. The officers had been called by a neighbor reporting “a suspicious man riding a bicycle,” writes Culbreth, who is Black. Culbreth describes what followed in his commentary, which is part of UM News’ “We Are God’s Family: Personal Encounters with Racism” project.
Read commentary
Share your story
RESOURCES
Council of Bishops
Registration open for Christian unity workshop
WASHINGTON — Registration is open for the U.S. National Workshop on Christian Unity, to be held online April 12-15. The United Methodist Ecumenical and Interreligious Training will be held parallel with the workshop, so United Methodists can register for both events at the same time. California-Nevada Conference Bishop Minerva Carcaño plans to participate in a panel discussion about migrant ministry in the U.S. The registration fee is $75.
To register
RECENT HEADLINES
Church leaders decry attacks against Asians
Meharry provides vaccines and peace of mind
EVENTS
Thursday, April 15
Bishop Palmer's Leadership Clinic: "Burning Out and Coming Back"
NEWS AND FEATURES
Delegates: Bishops’ plan oversteps bounds
BOSTON (UM News) — A group of U.S. delegates urges bishops to rethink the special called General Conference and especially plans to delay any U.S. bishop elections until 2024. The delegates argue that the bishops’ actions amount to episcopal overreach. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Michigan Conference
Generous hearts navigate COVID slopes
HOLT, Mich. — As part of a nine-part series highlighting ministries created by 100% giving during a challenging 2020, the Rev. Mark Erbes of Holt United Methodist Church talks about how Ministry Shares — the Michigan Conference’s term for apportionment giving — made a difference for God’s people around the state. Kay DeMoss reports.
Read story
United Methodist Association of Communicators
Communicators' group announces award winners
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Association of Communicators has released its book of this year’s award winners. Derek Leek, director of communications for the North Carolina Conference, was named communicator of the year.
To watch the virtual awards ceremony
To download awards booklet (PDF)
PRESS RELEASES
United Methodist Women
Mourning loss of life, decrying racism
NEW YORK — Emily Jones, United Methodist Women’s executive for racial justice, released a statement on behalf of the women’s organization mourning the lives lost during the March 16 shooting rampage targeting Asian American women in the Atlanta area. The group also vowed to renew its commitment “to fight for racial justice for all people while paying specific attention to the ways race and gender intersect to uniquely target women of color.”
Read statement
World Methodist Council
Webinar focuses on pandemic, refugees
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. — The World Methodist Council is holding a March 25 webinar as part of a prayer week recognizing refugees, asylum seekers and migrants as vulnerable groups in the COVID-19 pandemic. United Methodists, including Bishop Rosemarie Wenner, will be among the webinar speakers. The hourlong event begins at 11 a.m. U.S. Eastern time.
Register for webinar
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.
Religion and Race
Church must break its silence on racial violence
WASHINGTON — In the aftermath of shootings at Atlanta area massage parlors that left eight people dead, including six Asian women, M. Garlinda Burton, interim chief executive for the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race, said enough is enough. “The United Methodist Church is a community of faith called by The Almighty to transform the world for Jesus Christ. Yet, too many laity and clergy choose to stay shut in our homes and sanctuaries, pretending gun violence — coupled with racism and sexism taken to extremes — is not a church problem,” she writes.
Read commentary
‘When did we begin profiling in our neighborhood?’
SAVANNAH, Ga. (UM News) — Pastor J. Michael Culbreth was riding his bicycle in his neighborhood when he was stopped by the police. The officers had been called by a neighbor reporting “a suspicious man riding a bicycle,” writes Culbreth, who is Black. Culbreth describes what followed in his commentary, which is part of UM News’ “We Are God’s Family: Personal Encounters with Racism” project.
Read commentary
Share your story
RESOURCES
Council of Bishops
Registration open for Christian unity workshop
WASHINGTON — Registration is open for the U.S. National Workshop on Christian Unity, to be held online April 12-15. The United Methodist Ecumenical and Interreligious Training will be held parallel with the workshop, so United Methodists can register for both events at the same time. California-Nevada Conference Bishop Minerva Carcaño plans to participate in a panel discussion about migrant ministry in the U.S. The registration fee is $75.
To register
RECENT HEADLINES
Church leaders decry attacks against Asians
Meharry provides vaccines and peace of mind
EVENTS
Thursday, April 15
Bishop Palmer's Leadership Clinic: "Burning Out and Coming Back"
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