Daily Digest - September 15, 2021

"During its 50 years of existence, World Methodist Evangelism has consistently equipped people from around the world to share the Good News of Jesus Christ." — Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett, who leads the North Alabama and Holston conferences.

NEWS AND FEATURES

Supporting Wesleyan evangelism amid pandemic
LAFAYETTE, Ind. (UM News) — In this time of a global pandemic, World Methodist Evangelism is celebrating its 50th anniversary and continuing its work of equipping people to share Christ's love across continents. That work includes building a social media community around John Wesley's practice of prayer and fasting. Heather Hahn reports.
Read story

South Georgia Conference
Church's Green Team takes on plastics

BRUNSWICK, Ga. — Wednesday Night Suppers are nearly as United Methodist as itineracy. But those suppers often bring piles of plastic and foam cups, plates and utensils. First United Methodist Church's Green Team has found ways to reduce and repurpose such leftovers. Kara Witherow has the story.
Read story

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.

A call to examine United Methodist real estate
ROCKVILLE, Md. (UM News) — For a variety of reasons, including cost of upkeep, these days many churches are having to close some of their buildings or close altogether. Church leaders need to collect and assess real estate data to make good decisions, says Rick Reinhard, who has worked in management positions involving a number of United Methodist properties. "The real estate crisis is the church's elephant in the room," he writes.
Read commentary

North Texas Conference
Pastoral care in COVID unit proves searing

GREENVILLE, Texas — The Rev. Chris Yost, pastor of Wesley United Methodist Church, has been spending four hours a week at a local hospital, donning personal protective equipment and providing counseling in the COVID and ICU units. In an essay for the North Texas Conference, Yost recounts some of the harrowing and poignant scenes he's experienced.
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RESOURCES

United Methodist Men
Issue of UM Men celebrates Hanke, Wesley

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Fall 2021 issue of UM Men magazine celebrates the contributions of Gil Hanke, who is retiring after 12 years as the top executive of United Methodist Men. The issue also includes six facts about John Wesley, Methodism's founder.
Download issue (PDF)

Alabama-West Florida Reconciling Ministries
Webinar series looks at state of church

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Alabama-West Florida Reconciling Ministries Team, which advocates for LGBTQ inclusion, has put together a webinar series and workbook aimed at understanding the current turmoil within The United Methodist Church. The people who put together the study plan to stay in the denomination. The series "The UMC: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow" will be on Zoom from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. U.S. Central time every Thursday night in October. Registration is required.
To register
Download workbook (PDF)
Watch videos

RECENT HEADLINES

Reyes, jurist for nation and church, dies

Celebrating Asbury's impact on 2 shores

EVENTS

United Methodist Church of the Resurrection's Leadership Institute 2021

Wednesday, Sept. 29-Friday, Oct. 1


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