“It is not necessarily a decision that is received with the same joy or appreciation by all members of the conference. Nevertheless, this is the decision that we were able to make together.” — Bishop Christian Alsted, after his central conference voted to allow church regions to begin the process of disaffiliation.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Eurasia and Estonia begin exit from church
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (UM News) — Church regions stretching across Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Estonia have begun the process of leaving The United Methodist Church. The Northern Europe and Eurasia Central Conference has approved the departures moving forward. Heather Hahn reports.
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United Women in Faith
Bakery supports women in Sierra Leone
BO, Sierra Leone — A bakery financed by United Women in Faith will provide economic opportunities for women in Sierra Leone. The grand opening of the bakery was Feb. 11. “The bakery is a legacy that will be profitable to the women today and to generations to come,” said Rosemarie Hawa Jalloh, a member of the women’s organization. Keziah Kargbo has the story.
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PRESS RELEASES
Global Ministries
Number of grants for migrant work to double
ATLANTA — The number of Mustard Seed Migration Grants will rise from 50 to 100 in 2023. Applications will be reviewed by the United Methodist Committee on Relief on a rolling basis until Oct. 1. The grants, inspired by the biblical parable about growth, provide United Methodist congregations with up to $2,000 to support one-time, community-based service projects that assist refugees, asylum seekers, undocumented people and migrants.
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Archives and History
Digital archivist enlisted at Archives and History
MADISON, N.J. — Digital archivist Kevin Dusenberry has been hired by the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History to better preserve the agency’s extensive collection and make it more accessible. Dusenberry is set to graduate in May from Simmons University with a master’s degree in library and information science. “Making our records and our history more accessible is what archives is about," Dusenberry says. “Digital spaces offer the perfect opportunity to do just that.”
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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.
Upper New York Conference
There is power in the connection
NORTH SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Rev. Daniel J. Bradley used to dread filling out annual statistical reports before he came to realize that those reports are really about the local church's connection to its community and congregation. “What we do in our ministerial office throughout the year matters to God,” he writes.
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RESOURCES
Discipleship Ministries
Tips to protect churches from fraud
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Eight steps can help churches avoid being the victims of fraud when it comes to their finances. Among the tips are having someone different from the check signer approve invoices for payment, regular financial reports and an annual audit. Ken Sloane of United Methodist Discipleship Ministries gives the full list.
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RECENT HEADLINES
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