Daily Digest - November 11, 2022

“I have an obligation to enjoy and experience life even more than I did before, as my expression of appreciation for the gift that was given to me.” — United Methodist Jennifer Loud, on her outlook after receiving a double lung transplant.


TODAY’S HEADLINES

Organ donation gives United Methodist second chance 
WASHINGTON (UM News) — If you routinely check that organ/tissue-donor box on your driver’s license, you may not give it a second thought. For United Methodist Jennifer Loud, however, that simple gesture saved her life. After receiving a double lung transplant in 2020, Loud is determined to seek and fulfill God’s purpose every day. Barbara Dunlap-Berg has the story. 
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United Methodist Communications
Empowering families by reimagining missions 
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — After more than 20 trips to Africa to work primarily with vulnerable children who often lived in orphanages, Laura Horvath has determined that centuries-old wisdom about caring for underserved areas may need reimagining. On the latest episode of the “Get Your Spirit in Shape” podcast, Laura shares how the lessons she learned while working with communities across the world have led her to engage in a radical initiative to unite and empower families.
Listen to podcast

Dakotas Conference
Meet Bishop Plambeck
MITCHELL, S.D. — Newly elected Bishop Lanette Plambeck will begin work Jan. 1 in the Dakotas and Minnesota. Christa Meland offers 10 facts about Plambeck to introduce her.
Read story
UM News: Read stories on all of the newly elected bishops

New 2022 annual conference reports posted
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — United Methodist News is posting 2022 annual conference reports. New this week is Tennessee-Western Kentucky’s inaugural annual conference.  
Read reports

Daily Digest schedule change
Due to the Veteran’s Day holiday, there was no Daily Digest on Thursday, Nov. 10. Today’s weekly digest incorporates stories from Nov. 10 and 11. The regular schedule will resume on Monday, Nov. 14.


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.

A church closing that hits home
CARNEGIE, Okla. (UM News) — The Rev. Derrek Belase grew up attending First United Methodist Church of Carnegie. The church will soon close, and in his role with the Oklahoma Conference, Belase is responsible for disposing of the property. He writes about the memories and emotions he's been having as he faces that task.  
Read commentary


RESOURCES

ResourceUMC
November is Native American Heritage Month
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — While The United Methodist Church observes Native American Ministries Sunday on the third Sunday after Easter, United Methodists are also encouraged to celebrate Native American Heritage Month in November. Also this month, United Methodists elected the denomination’s first Native American episcopal leader, Bishop David Wilson. 
See worship resources 
UM News: South Central elects Wilson as bishop 

WesleyMen 
Devotions available for Advent to Epiphany
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — As part of its FastPrayGive program, WesleyMen is offering an Advent through Epiphany devotional guide for Nov. 27 through Jan. 6. Wesley Men is an affiliate of the World Methodist Council. FastPrayGive is a global grassroots movement to end hunger by the means of grace.
Learn more and order guide

EVENTS

Monday, Nov. 21-Sunday, Dec. 18
Taking Back Advent: Moving Toward the Miraculous

Monday, Nov. 28-Friday, Dec. 16
Advent: A Photography Journey


TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK

Jurisdictions see shift in bishops, more cooperation
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Even as The United Methodist Church faces mounting disaffiliations, those who plan to remain United Methodist are working together more across jurisdictional lines. Episcopal elections also resulted in more women and people of color becoming bishops. Still, both delegates and bishops acknowledge challenges ahead. Heather Hahn, Sam Hodges and the Rev. Thomas Kim report.
Read story
Read Council of Bishops press release
UM News: US bishops receive assignments

Bishop inspires others at mission school
MACHEKE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Zimbabwe Area Bishop Eben K. Nhiwatiwa picked up a paint brush to provide inspiration for those he leads. The bishop joined a Volunteers in Mission team from the Baltimore-Washington Conference in painting a new addition at United Methodist Hanwa Mission’s primary school. Kudzai Chingwe has the story.
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Wesley's words inspire Congo missionary
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — Nine words spoken by John Wesley are the through line to the career of the Rev. Collins Etchi Ako, a United Methodist missionary serving in Congo. "I look upon all the world as my parish,” the founder of Methodism wrote in one of his journals. “When I heard this statement from John Wesley, I felt like this is my call,” Ako said. On his recent visit to the U.S., the Cameroon native sat down with UM News to talk about his journey. Jim Patterson has a Q&A. 
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Commentary: Churchgoers called to care for vulnerable
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (UM News) — For migrants seeking safety in the United States, vulnerability becomes a constant companion. The Rev. David Maldonado writes that United Methodists are called to care for the vulnerable, be their needs physical, financial, legal or political.
Read commentary

California-Nevada Conference
Pastoral letter on bishop's continued suspension
GENEVA — California-Nevada Conference Bishop Minerva Carcaño remains under suspension although her suspension is being reviewed by the committee on investigation, writes the conference’s Interim Bishop Sally Dyck in a pastoral letter. The committee on investigation is the body that recommended her suspension after jurisdictional leaders initially did so for 60 days following confidential complaints. The jurisdiction’s committee on episcopacy will consult with the committee on investigation to see if the recommendation that the bishop be suspended still holds. The episcopacy committee reassigned Carcaño to the California-Nevada Conference after bishop elections last week. 
Read letter

Mississippi Conference
Famed mass choir has United Methodist roots
JACKSON, Miss. — The world-renowned Mississippi Mass Choir has recorded a live album at Anderson United Methodist Church, its official rehearsal home. A recent UM News digest item inadvertently said the gospel choir was founded by a United Methodist pastor. It was founded by the late Frank Williams Sr. The choir’s current executive director, the Rev. Jerry Mannery, is a United Methodist pastor. Jasmine Haynes reports. 
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