Daily Digest - September 28, 2020

“Everybody in the world is suddenly connected. We all need this vaccination, and we need our medical community to develop it.”The Rev. Shawn Moses Anglim, pastor of First Grace United Methodist Church in New Orleans


NEWS AND FEATURES

Black people sought for COVID-19 vaccine trials

NEW ORLEANS (UM News) — In order to ensure that any vaccine for the coronavirus will be effective with Black people, some Black church leaders are taking part in vaccine trials. Walter Kimbrough, president of United Methodist-related Dillard University, is also asking his students, faculty and staff to consider taking part. Jim Patterson reports.
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Global Ministries
5 questions for Roland Fernandes

ATLANTA — Roland Fernandes, the new top executive of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, talks with Christie R. House about his early years in India, his long tenure with the mission agency and his experiences of how mission can transform whole communities. “From a very young age, I was drawn to matters of the spirit and soul,” he says.
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Texas Conference
Ministering with homeless in innovative ways

GALVESTON, Texas — Galveston Central Church is so much more than a building with a steeple. The United Methodist congregation offers a bustling kitchen where those with homes and those without prepare "peacemeals.” The church also serves as a bicycle repair shop, laundromat and shower facility. Lindsay Peyton has the story, and Mike DuBose of UM News has the photos.
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World Council of Churches
Migration statement goes to European Commission

BRUSSELS — The advocacy statement of ecumenical organizations responding to the new European Union Migrant Pact was received Sept. 25 in the European Commission offices. The World Methodist Council participated in drafting the statement, which pointed to "the fundamentally broken state of European migration and asylum policy and the suffering it has created." 
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UM News: Fix broken migration policy, religious leaders say

Higher Education and Ministry
Breaking down gender barriers in theology

EVANSTON, Ill. — South Korea native Sun-Ah Kang says that growing up, she learned “pretty much a white male’s view of the Bible.” Now, as part of the Angella P. Current-Felder Women of Color Scholars program, Kang is breaking down barriers in theology and examining the Bible anew as a doctoral candidate at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. Jessica Love has the story.
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PRESS RELEASES

Council of Bishops
Bishops announce ecumenical grant recipients

WASHINGTON — The Council of Bishops has awarded 2021 Local Initiatives Grants to ecumenical ministries in the Philippines, Tennessee and Pennsylvania. Bishop Sally Dyck, the bishops’ ecumenical officer, said the grants aim to deepen ecumenical and/or interreligious relationships through local ministries. 
Read press release

United Theological Seminary
Seminary explores Fresh Expressions of church

DAYTON, Ohio — United Theological Seminary, in cooperation with Fresh Expressions US, has established a Fresh Expressions House of Studies to equip students called to cultivate and lead new forms of church. The Rev. Michael Beck, who led Fresh Expressions in the Florida Conference, is the director of the new program at the United Methodist seminary.
Read press release
Learn more about Fresh Expressions studies


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.

UM Disability  
Sign-language Bible now available

LAUREL, Md. — A 38-year project that included 53 Deaf translators has produced the American Sign Language Bible, available free from Deaf Missions, a nonprofit Christian organization. This new Bible not only better encourages Deaf and hard-of-hearing people to engage in studying Scripture, it reduces misunderstandings and misinterpretations, writes the Rev. Leo Yates Jr. 
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