“This work is not easy. It is a lifetime commitment that takes a lot of energy and personal resources. To be blessed by this award is very affirming and lets me know this work is not in vain.” — Kit Evans-Ford, winner of a 2022 Wesleyan Investive Tom Locke Award.
NEWS AND FEATURES
Ministry helping sexual violence survivors receives award
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Kit Evans-Ford, one of the Wesleyan Investive Tom Locke Award winners for 2022, started an organization to employ female survivors of sexual violence. She and the other three award winners will each receive $50,000 to grow their leadership and innovative potential. Kathy Gilbert has her story.
Read story
South Carolina Conference
Teams respond after spring tornadoes
BRANCHVILLE, S.C. — Trained United Methodist early response teams jumped into action after tornadoes ravaged South Carolina. No serious injuries were reported, but downed trees severely damaged homes. Billy Robinson, the South Carolina Conference Volunteers in Mission coordinator, writes about the teams’ response.
Read story
Aspen Daily News
Church thrift store visit leads to reunion
DURANGO, Colo. — A visit to a United Methodist thrift store in Colorado ended up reuniting a Florida couple with a family heirloom sold 48 years earlier in an Ohio garage sale. The United Methodist Thrift Shop is a ministry of Summit Church in the Mountain Sky Conference. Christian Burney reports.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops
Bishop Carcaño remains under suspension
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops and the Western Jurisdiction Committee on the Episcopacy announced that a response to complaints filed against Bishop Minerva Carcaño continues. The bishop remains under suspension as the process continues. “Suspension is not a punitive matter and does not indicate guilt or innocence,” Western Jurisdiction leaders said in a statement. Interim Bishop Sally Dyck, who is now serving the California-Nevada Conference, also shared a pastoral letter about the situation.
Read Western Jurisdiction statement
Read Interim Bishop Sally Dyck’s pastoral letter
Creation Justice Ministries
Minority climate fellowships available
WASHINGTON — Black, Indigenous and other people of color across the U.S. are invited to apply for a Faithful Climate Action Fellowship. Fellows will take part in seven weeks of online training about how faith traditions can support and guide climate activism. United Women in Faith is one of the partners of the effort. Applications are due May 23.
Read press release
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.
Main Street America
See the glass as half full in reusing church properties
ROCKVILLE, Md. — If trends continue, many venerable houses of worship in the United States will close over the next few years, fundamentally changing the fabric of a downtown area. However, people are coming together to reuse and redevelop houses of worship that are emptying or empty. Property management consultant Rick Reinhard offers some advice for communities looking to reuse church properties.
Read commentary
RECENT HEADLINES
Asking the hard questions about race
Photo essay: Strangers and sojourners
EVENTS
Monday, May 23-Thursday, May 26
2022 Oklahoma Annual Conference
Tuesday, May 24-Wednesday, May 25
2022 Minnesota Annual Conference
NEWS AND FEATURES
Ministry helping sexual violence survivors receives award
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Kit Evans-Ford, one of the Wesleyan Investive Tom Locke Award winners for 2022, started an organization to employ female survivors of sexual violence. She and the other three award winners will each receive $50,000 to grow their leadership and innovative potential. Kathy Gilbert has her story.
Read story
South Carolina Conference
Teams respond after spring tornadoes
BRANCHVILLE, S.C. — Trained United Methodist early response teams jumped into action after tornadoes ravaged South Carolina. No serious injuries were reported, but downed trees severely damaged homes. Billy Robinson, the South Carolina Conference Volunteers in Mission coordinator, writes about the teams’ response.
Read story
Aspen Daily News
Church thrift store visit leads to reunion
DURANGO, Colo. — A visit to a United Methodist thrift store in Colorado ended up reuniting a Florida couple with a family heirloom sold 48 years earlier in an Ohio garage sale. The United Methodist Thrift Shop is a ministry of Summit Church in the Mountain Sky Conference. Christian Burney reports.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops
Bishop Carcaño remains under suspension
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops and the Western Jurisdiction Committee on the Episcopacy announced that a response to complaints filed against Bishop Minerva Carcaño continues. The bishop remains under suspension as the process continues. “Suspension is not a punitive matter and does not indicate guilt or innocence,” Western Jurisdiction leaders said in a statement. Interim Bishop Sally Dyck, who is now serving the California-Nevada Conference, also shared a pastoral letter about the situation.
Read Western Jurisdiction statement
Read Interim Bishop Sally Dyck’s pastoral letter
Creation Justice Ministries
Minority climate fellowships available
WASHINGTON — Black, Indigenous and other people of color across the U.S. are invited to apply for a Faithful Climate Action Fellowship. Fellows will take part in seven weeks of online training about how faith traditions can support and guide climate activism. United Women in Faith is one of the partners of the effort. Applications are due May 23.
Read press release
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.
Main Street America
See the glass as half full in reusing church properties
ROCKVILLE, Md. — If trends continue, many venerable houses of worship in the United States will close over the next few years, fundamentally changing the fabric of a downtown area. However, people are coming together to reuse and redevelop houses of worship that are emptying or empty. Property management consultant Rick Reinhard offers some advice for communities looking to reuse church properties.
Read commentary
RECENT HEADLINES
Asking the hard questions about race
Photo essay: Strangers and sojourners
EVENTS
Monday, May 23-Thursday, May 26
2022 Oklahoma Annual Conference
Tuesday, May 24-Wednesday, May 25
2022 Minnesota Annual Conference
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