“It is time — no, dare I say, long overdue — for us to go back to the heart of who we are, to use words once again like reclamation, revival and renewal because we believe that those words lead to nothing less than a conversion of the heart.” — Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton in a midterm State of the Church address.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Bishop: Time to move from rancor to revival
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Amid the vitriol about rising church disaffiliations, Council of Bishops President Thomas J. Bickerton called people who are staying United Methodist to change the conversation and reclaim God’s calling on the church. Heather Hahn reports on the bishop’s midterm State of the Church address.
Read story
Watch video address
Read press release
Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference
Church participates in homeless outreach
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Rev. Kimberlynn Alexander, pastor of St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church, was moved by an encounter she had with a mother and her children who were sleeping inside of a parked car. The mother asked Alexander not to call the police because they had nowhere else to go. The meeting led Alexander to take action within her congregation and partner with a nonprofit that could help support St. Matthew’s new ministry. Tyler Sprouse has the story.
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South Georgia Conference
Volunteers serve on Navajo reservation
MACON, Ga. — Volunteers from the South Georgia Conference have a history of ministry in the 4 Corners area of the Navajo reservation. The Rev. John Stephens III, who pastors Evelyn and Pavo United Methodist churches, is doing his part to ensure the outreach continues. He says the biggest ministry he and others are involved with is the collection of gifts stored in shoeboxes for the people on the reservation. Kelly Roberson reports.
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Texas Conference
Mennonites, Amish repair storm-damaged homes
HOUSTON — Mennonite and Amish volunteers are repairing 35 homes damaged by Hurricane Harvey or Winter Storm Uri, an effort supported financially by the United Methodist Committee on Relief. The Texas Conference and Hope Disaster Recovery also provided key resources. Lindsay Peyton has the story.
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RESOURCES
Baltimore-Washington Conference
Resources for Disability Awareness Month
LAUREL, Md. — March is Disability Awareness Month. The Baltimore-Washington Conference has a host of resources to help churches hold a Disability Awareness Sunday service and conduct an accessibility audit. The Baltimore-Washington Conference Disability Commission also will hold “Accessibility Conversations” webinars at 11 a.m. U.S. Eastern time March 3 and May 5.
Resources for Disability Awareness Sunday
Training for an accessibility audit
To sign up for webinars
More information
ResourceUMC
How to plan for church emergencies
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodists have a long history of aiding individuals and communities impacted by natural disasters and other tragedies. Tricia K. Brown offers tips and other resources for how congregations can prepare for emergencies that affect their own facilities and people.
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RECENT HEADLINES
Report sheds light on disaffiliating churches
Church court addresses disaffiliation questions
EVENTS
Monday, March 13-Friday, March 24
Online course: Opening Ourselves to Grace — Basic Christian Practices
Monday, March 20-Saturday, April 1
Online course: Come to the Waters
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