Daily Digest - May 11, 2018

“As the petition was processed and then the constitutional amendments were prepared to go out to annual conferences, it appears that ‘delete the second sentence in its entirety’ was missed. So the words that went to annual conferences contained text that should have been stricken before it went out.” — The Rev. Gary Graves, secretary of General Conference, on the revote on a constitutional amendment dealing with women’s equality.
 

NEWS AND FEATURES

 

Error forces revote on failed constitutional amendment

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Annual and central conferences will be revoting on one of two constitutional amendments dealing with women’s equality. The revote was announced after the Ask The UMC team and United Methodist News Service learned of an error and reported it on May 10 to the Rev. Gary Graves, secretary of General Conference. Kathy L. Gilbert reports. 
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Read previous UMNS story: Church ratifies 3 constitutional amendments

Judicial Council to consider bishops’ request 

EVANSTON, Ill. (UMNS) — The United Methodist Judicial Council will meet May 22-25 to consider a request from the bishops for a declaratory decision of law about what legislation can come before next year’s special session of General Conference. Linda Bloom reports.
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First death reported in DRC Ebola outbreak

BIKORO, Congo (UMNS) — Health officials have declared a new Ebola outbreak in the northwest part of the country, with the first death reported on Thursday. In a statement issued this week, Dr. Oly Ilunga, the Minister of Public Health, acknowledged that the country is facing a new epidemic, calling it a public health emergency of international concern. United Methodist leaders in Congo vowed to raise awareness to help stop the spread of the deadly virus. Philippe Kituka Lolonga reports.
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Nashville Public Radio 
Shared challenges link Meharry with Zambia

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Meharry Medical College is working out the details of its first international partnership. Meharry, one of 11 historically black institutions supported by The United Methodist Church’s Black College Fund, plans to focus on health challenges the U.S. shares with the southern African nation of Zambia. The partnership with the University of Zambia will involve swapping students and faculty. Research will focus on seven shared areas, including late-onset diabetes, hypertension and HIV/AIDS. 
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PRESS RELEASES

 

Commission on General Conference
The Dome selected as site for GC2019

DES MOINES, Iowa — The 2019 special session of General Conference will be held in The Dome, part of the America’s Center Convention Complex in St. Louis, the Commission on General Conference has announced. The commission also said United Methodist Communications is providing all production resources to the February 2019 meeting at no cost to the commission.
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United Methodist Men
United Methodists urged to combat domestic violence

NASHVILLE, Tenn. –– A video introducing a program to combat domestic violence will be available at many annual conferences in May and June and delegates can order the study material from United Methodist Men. Local churches will be invited to participate in an eight-week program designed to change a culture that permits violence against women. United Methodist Men worked with the YWCA of Middle Tennessee to create “Amending through Faith,” a book guiding participants through eight training sessions.
Read press release
Read UMNS story: United Methodist Men take on domestic violence

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EVENTS
 

Here are some of the activities ahead for United Methodists across the connection. If you have a United Methodist event to share, you can add it to the calendar with this submission form.

Monday, May 21-Friday, June 1

Online class: Using technology in the church — presentations and games

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