“A number of local Taliban commanders have gone to humanitarian organizations, especially with health care, and said, ‘Please keep these centers open, keep seeing patients.’” — David Wildman, a staff executive with United Methodist Global Ministries.
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Church work continues in Afghanistan
HARTFORD, Conn. (UM News) — The chaotic scene as people fled Afghanistan while the Taliban took over doesn’t mean that United Methodists are through trying to help there. The denomination is still working with ecumenical partners to improve conditions for Afghans. United Methodists in the U.S. also are working to strengthen Christian-Muslim relations. Jim Patterson reports.
Read story
UM News: United Methodists pitch in with Afghan resettlement
United Methodist Communications
20 years later: the transformative power of 9/11
NEW YORK — A few United Methodists who survived those early days and months after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks share how 9/11 shaped their faith. Crystal Caviness has the story. United Methodist Communications also has a video on how United Methodists took action amid the tragedy.
Read story
Watch video
Judicial Council
Church court releases fall docket
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United Methodist Judicial Council has released a 22-item docket for its fall session. Because of the pandemic, the Judicial Council has been meeting online and deliberations are not yet scheduled. Briefs are due Oct. 13.
See docket
Greater New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania conferences
Conferences create Ida fund
NEPTUNE, N.J. — The Greater New Jersey Conference and Eastern Pennsylvania Conference have announced Hurricane Ida relief efforts, and welcome financial support. The storm flooded a handful of United Methodist churches in the conferences, as well as a parsonage, and caused major damage in many local communities.
Read Greater New Jersey announcement
Read Eastern Pennsylvania announcement
Watch Bishop John Schol speak on Ida’s damage
The Methodist Church in Britain
Marking 250 years since Asbury’s voyage
BRISTOL, England — This autumn marks 250 years since Francis Asbury sailed from England to Philadelphia. The future bishop went on to lead the Methodist movement in the U.S. for over 30 years. To celebrate his legacy, the Methodist Church in Britain will have a concert on Sept. 11 and a livestreamed service at 10 a.m. U.S. Eastern time on Sept. 12.
Read press release
Watch livestream
Religion News Service
New Testament translated for Native Americans
COLUMBIA, Mo. — A New Testament directed at Native Americans is now available, translated by the Rev. Terry Wildman, a licensed local pastor in The United Methodist Church. Wildman says “First Nations Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament” could also help non-Native Americans look at the Scriptures with fresh eyes. Emily McFarlan Miller has the story.
Read story
PRESS RELEASES
Methodist Theological School in Ohio
Online dialogue to focus on responses to COVID-19
DELAWARE, Ohio — “Pastors, Pandemics and Public Health: Building Collaborative Responses to COVID-19,” the first in a series of digital dialogues around science and religion hosted by Methodist Theological School in Ohio, will offer responses to the COVID-19 pandemic through scientific, social and pastoral lenses. Noted experts will discuss responding to immediate pandemic concerns and propose approaches to dealing with longer-term issues. The event begins at 7 p.m. U.S. Eastern time Sept. 16 and is free to the public with advance Zoom registration.
Register for event
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.
MARCHA
Latinx community merits more attention
NEPTUNE, N.J. — Seeing the musical “In the Heights” inspired the Rev. Lydia Muñoz to ponder the attention the Lantinx community gets in The United Methodist Church. Constantly shifting between two cultures and languages is exhausting, Muñoz writes in a commentary distributed by MARCHA (Methodists Associated Representing the Cause of Hispanic Americans), an official caucus of the denomination.
Read commentary
EVENTS
Tuesday, Sept. 21
Cultivating the Craft of Asking
Sunday, Oct. 3
World Communion Sunday
TOP STORIES FROM THE WEEK
Finding light in the darkness of 9/11
NEW YORK (UM News) — United Methodists remember two decades ago when they rose to the challenge of caring for survivors of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, but the trauma still affects many. Among the church’s responses was a program in New Jersey to help people who lost jobs because of the attacks to pay their bills and find work. Jim Patterson has the story.
Read story
Conference sues for control of megachurch
MARIETTA, Ga. (UM News) — After a failed attempt at mediation, the monthslong dispute between the North Georgia Conference and Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church has landed in civil court. The conference trustees are suing the megachurch seeking the transfer of property and assets. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story
Research shows Black churches’ resilience
ATLANTA (UM News) — In June, Gammon Theological Seminary joined with five United Methodist organizations, seeking to hear the voices of Black pastors and leaders who have faithfully led and served God's people amid the unprecedented COVID-19 global health pandemic. Barbara Dunlap-Berg reports on what the research found.
Read story
United Methodist connection kicks in after Ida
BATON ROUGE, La. (UM News) — The days after Hurricane Ida have brought more reports of damage to United Methodist buildings in Louisiana and the Northeast, but also cheering accounts of the denomination's connectional strength. The Alabama-West Florida Conference sent $100,000 to the Louisiana Conference for relief and recovery. Sam Hodges reports.
Read story
AU student copes with father’s death from COVID-19
MUTARE, Zimbabwe (UM News) — Africa University junior Mellan Nyagato would love to go back to the way things were less than two years ago. Before the pandemic, the social work major lived in the AU dorm. Her family included her parents, two younger sisters and an older brother. Today, she and her family are battling grief and worrying about the future in the wake of her father's death from COVID-19. Barbara Dunlap-Berg has the story.
Read story
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