“I'm sure it was God, you know, giving me a little nudge.” — Melissa Shaneyfelt, a member of Antioch United Methodist Church in Nashville, on her decision to donate a kidney to Kayla Hogan.
TODAY’S HEADLINES
UMC.org
A generous gift saves a life
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Melissa Shaneyfelt decided to give something of herself — an organ from her body — to Kayla Hogan. The two, who connected on Facebook, barely knew each other when Shaneyfelt made up her mind to do it. Now, they celebrate their “kidney-versary” with a party every year. Jim Patterson reports.
Read story
Zimbabwe churches reopen to vaccinated, unvaccinated
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Mixed reactions greeted a recent government announcement that both vaccinated and unvaccinated congregants could worship together in person. While church leaders welcomed members back, they also continued to encourage vaccinations and COVID-19 preventive measures. Kudzai Chingwe has the story.
Read story
Eastern Pennsylvania Conference
Asbury celebration wraps up in Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA — The celebration of a 250-year-old journey reached its summit with weekend events commemorating Francis Asbury's 1771 voyage from his native England to America, where he spearheaded the organization and early growth of Methodism in the New World. The festivities were held at St. George's United Methodist Church — the oldest Methodist church in continuous use in the U.S. — where Asbury first preached upon his arrival. John W. Coleman has the story.
Read story
UM News: Bishop Asbury still shapes church today
UM News: Celebrating Asbury’s impact on 2 shores
Ask The UMC: What influence did Francis Asbury have on the role of bishops?
View a map of Asbury's travels
North Carolina Conference
Vietnam virtual mission trips offered
GARNER, N.C. — The United Methodist Church’s Vietnam Mission Initiative is birthing new ministries and sustaining ongoing ones. Virtual mission trips to Vietnam are available for those wanting to be part of this work.
For information and registration
Read about Vietnam Mission Initiative
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.
Church and Society
We need a ‘yes’ to climate justice
WASHINGTON — Invoking Matthew 5:37 (“Let your ‘yes’ mean yes, and your ‘no’ mean no”), Wyatt Robinson and John Hill of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society argue that world leaders’ commitments to do something about climate change must be backed up with concrete actions.
Read commentary
EVENTS
Tuesday, Nov. 9
Tuesdays at the Table: Does God love everyone? Do I have to?
Sunday, Nov. 28
United Methodist Student Day
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
Boise church pushes for global COVID shots
BOISE, Idaho (UM News) — A missions team at First United Methodist Church of Boise, better known as Cathedral of the Rockies, has sparked an interfaith campaign to raise big money for COVID-19 vaccinations in underserved countries. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
Group seeks bishops’ grace in church exits
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — A group of United Methodists is urging bishops and conference leaders to allow churches to leave the denomination with property now rather than wait for General Conference. The group released its open letter, titled "A Call to Grace," as the Council of Bishops began its fall meeting. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Read press release
Bishops urged to embrace 'more loving way'
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — As discussions about denominational separation ramp up, bishops started their fall meeting focused on the continuing United Methodist Church and anti-racism work. In this fractious time, Council of Bishops President Cynthia Fierro Harvey urged leaders to stay focused on loving God and neighbor. The bishops also elected new officers. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Read Council of Bishops press release
Global Ministries, UMCOR approve $10M in grants
ATLANTA (UM News) — The board of United Methodist Global Ministries and the United Methodist Committee on Relief approved more than $10 million in grants at their fall board meeting. The money will provide support for migrants around the world, wildfire survivors in the Pacific Northwest, malaria sufferers in Africa and more. Jim Patterson reports.
Read story
Read Global Ministries story: Board navigates a new age in mission
McClain’s ashes nourish tree at seminary
WASHINGTON (UM News) — For more than 32 years, the Rev. Dr. William Bobby McClain gave his heart and soul to the students at Wesley Theological Seminary. Now, Wesley is the final resting place for McClain after a solemn service of the interment of his ashes. Erik Alsgaard has the story.
Read story
UM News: Theologian and civil rights leader dies at 82
Why does Wespath care about sustainable investing?
GLENVIEW, Ill. (UM News) — As the COP26 climate change summit unfolds, a top Wespath executive explains how The United Methodist Church's pension agency emphasizes socially responsible investing. Dave Zellner, Wespath chief investment officer, writes that the entire global economy must adopt sustainability practices.
Read commentary
Related Wespath blog: Climate change and why COP26 matters
TODAY’S HEADLINES
UMC.org
A generous gift saves a life
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Melissa Shaneyfelt decided to give something of herself — an organ from her body — to Kayla Hogan. The two, who connected on Facebook, barely knew each other when Shaneyfelt made up her mind to do it. Now, they celebrate their “kidney-versary” with a party every year. Jim Patterson reports.
Read story
Zimbabwe churches reopen to vaccinated, unvaccinated
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Mixed reactions greeted a recent government announcement that both vaccinated and unvaccinated congregants could worship together in person. While church leaders welcomed members back, they also continued to encourage vaccinations and COVID-19 preventive measures. Kudzai Chingwe has the story.
Read story
Eastern Pennsylvania Conference
Asbury celebration wraps up in Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA — The celebration of a 250-year-old journey reached its summit with weekend events commemorating Francis Asbury's 1771 voyage from his native England to America, where he spearheaded the organization and early growth of Methodism in the New World. The festivities were held at St. George's United Methodist Church — the oldest Methodist church in continuous use in the U.S. — where Asbury first preached upon his arrival. John W. Coleman has the story.
Read story
UM News: Bishop Asbury still shapes church today
UM News: Celebrating Asbury’s impact on 2 shores
Ask The UMC: What influence did Francis Asbury have on the role of bishops?
View a map of Asbury's travels
North Carolina Conference
Vietnam virtual mission trips offered
GARNER, N.C. — The United Methodist Church’s Vietnam Mission Initiative is birthing new ministries and sustaining ongoing ones. Virtual mission trips to Vietnam are available for those wanting to be part of this work.
For information and registration
Read about Vietnam Mission Initiative
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.
Church and Society
We need a ‘yes’ to climate justice
WASHINGTON — Invoking Matthew 5:37 (“Let your ‘yes’ mean yes, and your ‘no’ mean no”), Wyatt Robinson and John Hill of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society argue that world leaders’ commitments to do something about climate change must be backed up with concrete actions.
Read commentary
EVENTS
Tuesday, Nov. 9
Tuesdays at the Table: Does God love everyone? Do I have to?
Sunday, Nov. 28
United Methodist Student Day
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
Boise church pushes for global COVID shots
BOISE, Idaho (UM News) — A missions team at First United Methodist Church of Boise, better known as Cathedral of the Rockies, has sparked an interfaith campaign to raise big money for COVID-19 vaccinations in underserved countries. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
Group seeks bishops’ grace in church exits
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — A group of United Methodists is urging bishops and conference leaders to allow churches to leave the denomination with property now rather than wait for General Conference. The group released its open letter, titled "A Call to Grace," as the Council of Bishops began its fall meeting. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Read press release
Bishops urged to embrace 'more loving way'
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — As discussions about denominational separation ramp up, bishops started their fall meeting focused on the continuing United Methodist Church and anti-racism work. In this fractious time, Council of Bishops President Cynthia Fierro Harvey urged leaders to stay focused on loving God and neighbor. The bishops also elected new officers. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Read Council of Bishops press release
Global Ministries, UMCOR approve $10M in grants
ATLANTA (UM News) — The board of United Methodist Global Ministries and the United Methodist Committee on Relief approved more than $10 million in grants at their fall board meeting. The money will provide support for migrants around the world, wildfire survivors in the Pacific Northwest, malaria sufferers in Africa and more. Jim Patterson reports.
Read story
Read Global Ministries story: Board navigates a new age in mission
McClain’s ashes nourish tree at seminary
WASHINGTON (UM News) — For more than 32 years, the Rev. Dr. William Bobby McClain gave his heart and soul to the students at Wesley Theological Seminary. Now, Wesley is the final resting place for McClain after a solemn service of the interment of his ashes. Erik Alsgaard has the story.
Read story
UM News: Theologian and civil rights leader dies at 82
Why does Wespath care about sustainable investing?
GLENVIEW, Ill. (UM News) — As the COP26 climate change summit unfolds, a top Wespath executive explains how The United Methodist Church's pension agency emphasizes socially responsible investing. Dave Zellner, Wespath chief investment officer, writes that the entire global economy must adopt sustainability practices.
Read commentary
Related Wespath blog: Climate change and why COP26 matters
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