Daily Digest - September 24, 2020

“Health care experts said there’s no cure for lead poisoning. The only antidote is proper daily nutrition.”The Rev. Tommy McDoniel, pastor of Asbury United Methodist Church in Flint, Michigan. 

 
NEWS AND FEATURES

Michigan Conference
God things happening in Flint

FLINT, Mich. — A chance encounter five years ago during Flint’s water crisis helped transform the small neighborhood garden tended by Asbury United Methodist Church into Asbury Farms. It was one of the “God things” that happened as pastors and church members began to care for their community. Kay DeMoss has the story.
Read story 

Kentucky Conference 
Louisville church opens for prayer vigils

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Acknowledging great tension and pain in Louisville, pastors of Christ United Methodist Church offered online prayer devotionals and the church opened its doors for socially distanced evening prayer vigils. The church was responding to prosecutorial decisions in the police shooting death of Breonna Taylor.  
Watch devotionals
Explore the church’s anti-racism resources
 
Missouri Conference
Motorcycling for Mozambique

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Bishop Robert Farr’s annual motorcycle ride fundraiser raised more than $3,500 to buy motorcycles for clergy in Mozambique. The annual event didn’t need to be canceled because of COVID-19, since riders are able to keep enough distance between each other.
Read story
View photo album
Donate


PRESS RELEASES

Status and Role of Women
Women’s commission has first virtual meeting

CHICAGO — In its first meeting since the start of the pandemic, the board of directors of the United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women wrestled with questions of how to manage a shrinking budget while carrying out the commission’s mandate of advocating for women in the church. Discussions during the Sept. 10-11 virtual meeting were framed with a focus on the agency’s core missional values.
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.

Young elder numbers near historic low
WASHINGTON (UM News) — The number of United Methodist elders under age 35 has dropped significantly, approaching the low documented when the Lewis Center for Church Leadership began to track clergy age trends. The Rev. Lovett H. Weems Jr., senior consultant for the center, offers details and analysis on the scarcity of young elders.
Read commentary
 

RESOURCES

National Council of Churches
Looking at COVID-19 challenges for churches

WASHINGTON — A series of webinars, co-sponsored by the National Council of Churches USA and the Orthodox Christian Studies Center of Fordham University, will highlight the challenges faced by churches during the coronavirus pandemic and the opportunity to do ministry together. The first of the free webinars is set for Sept. 30 at 5 p.m. U.S. Eastern time and requires preregistration. 
To register


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