“We heard testimonies of broken people who are already feeding hundreds in their communities. At times, it was honest and raw. At times, it was healing and almost hopeful.” — Florida Area Bishop Kenneth H. Carter Jr. talking about the journey across the state to assess damage left by Hurricane Irma.
United Methodists helping neighbors devastated by Irma
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Filling coolers with ice, loading trucks with diapers and chain saws and cooking community “cleaning-out-the-freezer” dinners are some of the ways United Methodists in Florida are responding to neighbors left devastated by Hurricane Irma. Kathy L. Gilbert has the story.
Read story
Survey seeks feedback on sexual harassment issues
CHICAGO (UMNS) — The United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women wants to know what has changed since its 2005 survey of sexual harassment in the church. Clergy and lay members across the denomination are asked to take the 2017 survey, now online, by Oct. 3. Linda Bloom reports.
Read story
Take the survey
Early responder blessed to bless
LAKE CHARLES, La. — In five years as an Early Response Team member, Susan Laborde had helped many people clean, muck out and tarp their houses. But having experienced flooding of her own home last year, she brings added perspective to disaster. Mark Lambert has story and video for the Louisiana Conference.
Read story
Mistaking urban decay for blackness
WASHINGTON — Brittany Campagna, founder and chief executive officer of Inner City Innovations, will talk about how to avoid conflating urban struggles with “blackness” as part of the Vital Conversations series. The United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race, which organizes the series, will present a Facebook Live conversation with Campagna at 11 a.m. EDT Tuesday, Sept. 19.
Learn more
See the commission’s Facebook page
Ensuring access to HIV treatment for children
NEW YORK (WCC) — At a Sept. 13 interfaith prayer breakfast, faith leaders came together to support a call to action — to ensure that infants, children and adolescents around the world have access to HIV prevention, testing and treatment. The breakfast was hosted by the World Council of Churches-Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance in collaboration with UNAIDS.
Read WCC news release
Leading by example: Faith and HIV testing
Church musician influenced many
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Booker T. Scruggs II, a locally renowned clarinetist and saxophonist, died after falling ill during a concert at St. Luke United Methodist Church. Scruggs was a resident musician for Bethlehem-Wiley United Methodist Church. Annette Spence of the Holston Conference has a remembrance of Scruggs’ life of service and deep roots in The United Methodist Church.
Read story
Looking ahead
Here are some of the activities ahead for United Methodists across the connection. If you have a United Methodist event to share, you can add it to the calendar with this submission form.
Tuesday, Sept. 26
Advent Resource Webinar — 11 a.m. CDT. Managing an outreach campaign is now simpler than ever. This event will carry viewers on a tour of our new Advent resources and discuss how to reach your church and your community with creative, welcoming messages. Register here
Like what you're reading? Support the ministry of UM News! Your support ensures the latest denominational news, dynamic stories and informative articles will continue to connect our global community. Make a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.