Daily Digest - May 20, 2021

“We are unwavering in carrying out our mission to prepare our graduates ‘to become agents of transformation and healing in churches, local communities, schools, nonprofit institutions and the world at large.’”The Rev. Kah-Jin Jeffrey Kuan, president of Claremont School of Theology. 


NEWS AND FEATURES

Claremont pivots to two-campus strategy

CLAREMONT, Calif. (UM News) — For financial reasons, Claremont School of Theology planned to sell its California campus and move to Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. But litigation setbacks have limited how much the United Methodist seminary could get in such a sale, so the new plan is to operate both in Claremont and Salem while also offering lots of online instruction options. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story

Holston Conference
Woman rises above addiction to serve others

ROCKY TOP, Tenn. — Rocky Top United Methodist Church delivers a weekly meal to 48 neighbors. Andrea Cooper, the woman making the deliveries, represents the church and the community she serves. “Whenever I meet someone, I let them know I’m a recovering drug addict,” she says. Annette Spence has the story. 
Read story

East Ohio Conference
Ministering through trauma at children’s home

NORTH CANTON, Ohio — Abused and neglected children get their childhoods back at Christian Children’s Home of Ohio in Wooster, a ministry partner of the East Ohio Conference. The home provides counseling, therapy and support. “It truly is like one big summer mission trip, but it keeps going on every day. The spirit here is something special,” said The Rev. David Walker of Belden United Methodist Church. Brett Hetherington reports.
Read story


PRESS RELEASES

IAMSCU
Vaccine equity pushed by Methodist schools’ group

ATLANTA — The International Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges and Universities has issued a “Declaration on Global Vaccine Equity,” urging governments, businesses and its own member institutions to work toward fair distribution of vaccines worldwide.
Read press release
Read statement (PDF)

United Methodist Communications
UM podcaster receives fellowship

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodist podcaster Michelle L. Eunice has been selected by United Methodist Communications for the 2021 Stoody-West Fellowship. The $6,000 education award assists post-graduate study at an accredited U.S. college or university for one United Methodist student who intends to pursue a career in religious journalism. Eunice started the “Christ Over Culture” podcast in 2016 to encourage millennials to follow God’s plan for their lives over the expectations and pressures of society. 
Read press release

Church and Society
Racism webinar set for May 25

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A webinar on “Misogyny, Racism and Asian American Women” is set for 7 p.m. Central time on May 25. The Rev. Sung Yeon Choimorrow will be the presenter. The New Federation of Asian American United Methodists and the United Methodist Board of Church and Society are sponsors. 
To register


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.

Faith & Leadership
‘Hope is the antidote’

PHILADELPHIA — Writing for Duke Divinity School’s Faith & Leadership website, Anthea Butler argues that the approaching anniversary of George Floyd’s killing is an occasion for hope, as difficult as that may be amid other episodes of racial injustice and violence. “Hope is the antidote,” she writes, offering examples from the Bible and U.S. civil rights history. Butler is an associate professor of religious studies and Africana studies at the University of Pennsylvania.
Read commentary


RECENT HEADLINES

Annual conferences plan online, hybrid events


Woman in sanctuary relishes new freedom


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