“What I tell churches is: ‘Prepare for the unknown.’” — Billie Fidlin, director of outreach and justice for the Desert Southwest Conference, on immigration realities after Title 42.
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Amid policy changes, church keeps faith with migrants
DALLAS (UM News) — The end of the COVID-19-related U.S. immigration restriction known as Title 42 had many predicting a surge of asylum seekers entering the U.S. from Mexico. So far, that hasn’t happened, but United Methodists who assist migrants remain busy — and concerned. Sam Hodges reports.
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Eastern Pennsylvania Conference
United Methodists join rally to recognize indigenous tribe
HARRISBURG, Pa. — On May 1, members of the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania gathered for a peaceful rally on the steps of the state Capitol. They were there to ask legislators to give them legal status as a recognized tribe. The Rev. Bob Coombe, a member of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference’s Committee on Native American Ministries, attended the rally and said, “The spirit at the Capitol was uplifting, peaceful, powerful, fair and for justice.” Verna Colliver has the story.
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Louisiana Conference
Bishop Williamston honored by alma mater
LEAWOOD, Kan. — Louisiana Bishop Delores J. Williamston has been given the distinguished graduate award by Saint Paul School of Theology, a United Methodist seminary. Williamston also was keynote speaker for the school’s recent commencement. The bishop has admitted she got off to a shaky start at Saint Paul, as David Burke reports.
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PRESS RELEASES
West Ohio Conference
Congregations to welcome displaced church members
WORTHINGTON, Ohio — Churches are being enlisted to welcome anyone whose church has closed or disaffiliated. Local churches that join will be called North Star Congregations and will position themselves to embrace newcomers who become displaced after their congregations vote to leave the denomination amid the debate around LGBTQ inclusion.
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Learn more
UM News: Lighthouse Congregations offer hope amid schism
Duke Divinity School
Duke extends Colón-Emeric as seminary dean
DURHAM, N.C. — The Rev. Edgardo Colón-Emeric will continue as dean of Duke Divinity School, one of the 13 United Methodist seminaries in the U.S. Duke University officials announced recently that he will lead Duke Divinity for another five years. Colón-Emeric has held several positions at the seminary, including associate dean for academic formation and director of the Hispanic House of Studies.
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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
Pastor explores faith and his mental health journey
LIVERPOOL, N.Y. — May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the Rev. Tom LeBeau has shared his mental health struggles, which he calls a “sacred wound.” He writes about the many steps it has taken to treat and accept his mental illness, learning that it does not define him.
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EVENTS
Tuesday, May 23
Clergy Discretionary Funds webinar
Wednesday, May 31
Webinar: The impact of new immigration laws on church witness
TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK
Alaskan church reaches out to Native community
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (UM News) — Every Nation United Methodist Church was designed to support and minister to Alaska Natives. The Rev. Murray Crookes, one of few Alaska Native clergy in the state, hosts a weekly community dinner and Bible study as well as Sunday worship that incorporates Native traditions. Joey Butler reports, with photos from Mike DuBose.
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Church food pantry helps Alaskans ‘on the edge'
Samoan congregation in Alaska celebrates new charter
Judge lifts North Georgia disaffiliation pause
MARIETTA, Ga. (UM News) — A judge ruled from the bench that 185 North Georgia churches can proceed with The United Methodist Church’s disaffiliation process. Meanwhile, the Rio Texas Conference has filed suit against churches seeking to circumvent that process. Heather Hahn reports.
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United Methodist Communications
‘Garden girl’ brings joy, veggies to homebound
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Visiting homebound church members may not be a popular pastime for most kids, but 7-year-old Julia Eskridge has been doing it since she was 2. She's following in her mom's footsteps, and her Nana's, too. In the summer, she takes flowers and bags of produce grown in the family’s garden to those she visits. "I like making friends," says the first-grader, who attends Jeffersontown United Methodist Church. Diane Degnan has the story.
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North Carolina and Western North Carolina conferences
$5.25 million grants to strengthen faith communities
GARNER, N.C. — The United Methodist Church’s North Carolina and Western North Carolina conferences are each getting $5.25 million in grant money from the Duke Endowment to launch new faith communities and strengthen existing congregations. The funds “will provide vital resources to help the conferences address the challenges posed by recent disaffiliations,” according to a press release.
Read press release
Watch announcement video with Bishops Ken Carter and Connie Mitchell Shelton
United Methodist Communications
‘The Recap’ visits churches around the world
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The latest episode of “The Recap” video series looks at a North Carolina church’s Easter-themed art walk as well as a flourishing United Methodist movement in Madagascar and a newly chartered Samoan congregation in Alaska. Produced by United Methodist Communications, “The Recap” aims to provide viewers a better understanding of what is going on in The United Methodist Church, find inspiration in stories of ministry and learn how the denomination is transforming the world.
Watch episode
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