Daily Digest - October 20, 2021

"Whatever I can learn will be more than I knew because I didn't know anything." — Joyce Long, an 88-year-old member of the Best Years Club at Gordon Memorial United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tenn., about a program to teach seniors about technology.



NEWS AND FEATURES

Ministry connects seniors with today's technology
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News) — The ability to use cell phones and computer tablets became more important to seniors during the coronavirus pandemic. That's why the Best Years Club for seniors at Gordon Memorial United Methodist Church is offering classes on just that. Students who finish the training are getting free tablets. Grant money from United Methodist Discipleship Ministries is financing the project. Jim Patterson has the story.
Read story
UM News: Churches weigh options to reach seniors

UMC.org
Hunger: Biblical problem-solving for today

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — United Methodists around the connection volunteer with the Society of St. Andrew to address food insecurity through the ancient practice of gleaning. Crystal Caviness writes about this ministry and the farming practice described in Leviticus.
Read story and watch video

National Public Radio
Black Methodist's statue comes to US Capitol

WASHINGTON — Educator and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune will soon make history as the first Black person to have a state-commissioned statue in the U.S. Capitol's Statuary Hall. Bethune was a pioneering Methodist who advised U.S. presidents and founded what is now Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida — one of 11 institutions supported by the United Methodist Black College Fund. Rachel Treisman reports.
Read story
Methodist Women's History: Mary McLeod Bethune

PRESS RELEASES

The Nyadire Connection
Nonprofit names new leadership team

PITTSBURGH — The Nyadire Connection, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, has selected a new leadership team as part of its "Forward 15" strategy. Chairman Drew Harvey and Treasurer Richard Dickey will be retiring from the roles they've held since the organization's inception and will be succeeded by a five-person leadership team of experienced TNC members. The faith-based nonprofit supports the Nyadire United Methodist Mission in Zimbabwe.
Read press release
UM News: TNC celebrates 15 years of sharing God's love

Wesleyan College
College president plans to step down

MACON, Ga. — Vivia L. Fowler, president of United Methodist-related Wesleyan College, announced she plans to step down in June after 15 years at the women's liberal arts college.
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.

Lewis Center for Church Leadership
What might the 2020 census mean for churches?

WASHINGTON — The Rev. Lovett H. Weems Jr. highlights key findings in the 2020 U.S. Census Report that may upend many of the working assumptions churches hold about their future. "Anything we can learn about the people God has given us will shape our ministries for the better," he writes.
Read commentary

RESOURCES

United Methodist Insurance Program
Webinar set on cybersecurity

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Insurance Program is offering church members a free cybersecurity webinar at 10:30 a.m. U.S. Central time Oct. 26. The purpose of the webinar, led by a former FBI agent, is to help ministries protect against digital threats like email scams and ransomware.
To register

RECENT HEADLINES

Ask The UMC: Exploring Asbury's influence on the role of bishops

Photo essay: 'I Was a Stranger …'

EVENTS

Tuesday, Oct. 26

Tuesdays at the Table: How do we experience God in a complex world?


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